My eyes meet his, and in an instant, I’m back in his trance. I immediately forget the past and let my emotions rule over every thought and feeling.
I turn toward Addie. “You coming with us, Ads? Leo will be there.”
“Nah. You go ahead.”
I frown. I don’t want to leave her. “Since when don’t you want a nightcap?”
“Since I really am going home with Mr. Mysterious.” She stands and waggles her brows.
I stand in a rush after her. “Wait. You don’t know the guy.”
“I didn’t know half of the guys I’ve slept with, Maddie. You meet at a bar, you go home, and then sayonara.”
My nerves must show enough to concern Nate.
“Who is he, Adelaide?”
She points across the room, and Nate narrows his eyes, but no recognition crosses his face.
He takes out his phone, types out a message, waits a minute, then smiles. “All right, you’re good to go.”
“Wait. Wait. Wait. This doesn’t feel safe.” I turn toward Addie. “I know you’re an adult, but I’ll be worried sick all night.”
Nate leans down for only me to hear. “I checked with my security. That’s Cal Elliot.”
My eyes bug out. “The running back for New York?”
He nods. “Probably liked being hidden behind his mask. From what I know of him, he’s a pretty private person. He hates jersey chasers.”
“That’s the last thing Addie is.” I turn to her, smiling, all teeth. “Okay, you’re good. But I’ll warn you, my brother’s going to kill you.”
“I don’t know what that means, but it makes me want to do it even more.” She hugs me and Nate goodbye, and when she’s halfway across the room, she turns and blows me a kiss.
“Alrighty. We ready to roll?” Leo comes up holding a bottle of champagne and three glasses.
“Do we need more drinks?”
He looks at me deadpan. “The night is young, Madeline Grace Cunningham, and we have a twenty-five-minute car ride back downtown.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
Nate
“You shouldn’t have let me drink anymore,” Maddie mumbles, her eyes closed, while her head rests on my shoulder, just as we pull up to our building. “I’m sooo sleepy.”
“You’re cute when you’re drunk. I guess I’ll show you your surprise tomorrow.”
Her eyes fly open, and she sits up. “I’m good.”
Leo barks out a loud laugh. “You look so unsteady that if I blow in your direction, you’ll fall over.”
“Well, it’s your fault. You kept force-feeding me champagne.”
Our driver opens the door of our limo, and we all pile out.
“Thanks. Have a good night.” I hand him a hefty tip for sticking around longer than we’d hired him to.
He’s not our typical driver, since I rented the limo especially for Claudina tonight.
