“No, I’m fine. Go do your work. I’ll be okay.”
With another concerned glance at Evangeline, Sadia moved away reluctantly. “Call me if you need me.”
“Flirt with the blonde,” Livvy said, trying to sound like her peaceful evening hadn’t just become anything but.
Livvy fidgeted with her glass for a couple of long moments, the back of her neck itching. She’d assumed some people had recognized her, but she hadn’t felt exposed until this minute.
She picked up her glass and took another sip. She had a weakness for good, expensive alcohol. She’d tried to shake it, since it was a little too much of a reminder of the extensive stash in her father’s office that she’d started sneaking sips out of when she was around seventeen. This top-shelf drink could have been made entirely with water, though, for all the appreciation she could spare it now.
This isn’t a big deal.It was entirely possible Eve was simply out on the town and a coincidence they’d both ended up at the same practically-a-dive bar. She was, what, twenty-three now? At that age, Livvy had been hanging out in way more disreputable places than this. But then, Livvy hadn’t had much more than a few hundred bucks to her name then. Eve had millions.
Millions that should have been ours, Paul muttered in her ear.
Nope. Adjusting to not having limitless funds had been tough in the beginning, but once she’d grown comfortable, she hadn’t missed it too much.
She was moving forward, not looking back.Livvy swung her leg on the barstool, trying to find the rhythm of the music again. She ate a peanut from the bowl, but it tasted like ashes. She tapped her fingers against the glass and snuck a peek at the sevens down the bar. They were, indeed, still eyeing her, but Livvy couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm.
Fuck it.
Pretending to stretch, she glanced over her shoulder. Then looked again, forgetting to be casual.
Eve wasn’t alone. Her fingers were clenched tight around her drink while the man who had dropped into an empty seat at the table leaned over the smaller girl. He was big and muscular, every inch of his body screaming predatory animal who had found his prey.
“Hey there.”
Livvy cast a single glance at the man standing next to her. One of the sevens. Ginger. Late twenties. Polo shirt. “Hey.”
Eve had shrunk back in her seat, her gaze downcast as she picked at the napkin on the table. The man was doing all of the talking.
Not your business. Not your—
“... Buy you a drink?” Polo Shirt asked.
The man leaned in closer, and Eve flinched back.
Ugh. She wasn’t one to cockblock a lady, but Eve’s body language was not screaming receptiveness.
Livvy grabbed her glass and her jacket. “Got a drink, thanks. Sorry. I see a friend.”
She strode up to the table. “There you are, Karen. I was looking all over for you.”
Eve’s face turned to her, and Livvy had to control her flinch. Her ridiculous disguise couldn’t hide the similarities she shared with Nicholas. Her jaw was the softer, feminine version of his.
“Karen? You said your name was Evangeline,” the guy said, disgruntled annoyance on his face. Livvy wasn’t sure if it was annoyance at the interruption or at having been given a fake name, but either way, getting annoyed at such a simple thing was a screaming red flag.
“Evangeline? That’s a new one.” She dropped down in the seat on the other side of Eve and stared coolly at the man. “Girls’ night, bro. Scooch along.”
“I don’t like being called a bro,” he sneered.
She glanced over his styled blond hair, spray tan, and V-neck T-shirt. “Okay.” She paused. “Bro.”
“We were having a good time—”
“You want to talk to this guy here?” she asked Eve.
A single shake of her head.
“You heard the lady.” Livvy bared her teeth at him. “Off you go.”
