Cassidy was definitely enjoying this, a new energy having come over her. “There’s this romance novel tension that surely bubbled over until neither of you could stand it.” She wasn’t wrong. A thought seemed to occur. “I have to tell my Aunt Stevie. She lives for this stuff.”
Reese held up a hand. “Aunt Stevie is probably fine. But we keep this to ourselves for now. There’s no academy rule against fraternization. I looked it up. But I think we’d both like to remain discreet.”
“What now?” Marissa asked with a sly smile. “Are you two moving toward a full-fledged relationship? Do you have a girlfriend, Reese Maddox?”
“No,” Reese said automatically. Even she hadn’t thought that far. “I think we’re just enjoying ourselves. Life is short, right?”
Delaney stared at Reese like she wasn’t even close to buying it. “I know what you’re like when you’re only enjoying yourself, and this isn’t it. You’re in this.”
Reese tossed an arm around her teammate’s shoulder. “Then you’re just gonna have to trust me.”
“Mayday. She’s looking this way,” Marissa said. “Oh, and now she’s walking by. Should we wave her over?” Marissa stood taller and adjusted her posture.
“Why are you pushing your boobs out?” Reese asked. “Stop that.”
“These aren’t for Sloane,” Marissa said. “I share them with the room.” She followed up the quip with a playful wink.
“Already protective,” Delaney said with a satisfied raise of her brow.
Reese laughed. “Not at all.”
Cassidy leaned in. “Do you want me to come up with some questions about the car to ask Sloane? It’s a good excuse to get her over here.”
“No. How about I just go say hi like a regular human?” Reese said.
“She has the best moves,” Cassidy murmured, as if taking notes.
Reese ignored her. Or tried to. She finished her prosecco and handed the empty flute to a passing server, like that settled something.
“Be right back,” she said, already stepping away.
She made it three strides before Sloane turned, excusing herself from the small cluster of executives with an apologetic smile. She didn’t rush. She never did. She crossed the terrace with that same unhurried confidence Reese had learned meant she knew exactly where she was going.
Including toward Reese.
“Hey,” Reese said when Sloane stopped in front of her, her voice softer than she meant it to be.
Sloane smiled immediately, warm and familiar. She was happy to see Reese, and it showed. “Hey, yourself.”
They stood there for half a second longer than necessary, the sounds of the party rushing in around them.
“You look so good,” Reese said, then laughed quietly. “I had a better line planned, but it disappeared.”
Sloane’s eyes softened. “I like the honest one.”
She glanced Reese over, the attention sending a flutter through Reese’s midsection. “You clean up nicely, too. I almost didn’t recognize you without a helmet.”
“Devastating,” Reese said. “I’ll try harder next time.”
“No need. You’re gorgeous.”
They stared at each other as Reese did everything in her power not to let her eyes dip to that neckline she so wanted to drink in.
“Come walk with me?” Sloane asked, already turning.
Reese followed easily. “I was hoping you’d ask.”
“Well, tonight is your lucky night,” Sloane said, glancing back with a smile. Reese raised a brow at her choice of words, which won her a “stop that.”
