He nods toward the dance floor, and as I follow his gaze, rising slowly to my feet, I catch sight of what he’s talking about.
“From where I’m standing, she and your sister seem to be having quite a bit of fun,” he remarks.
Fun?
The word echoes in my head like a taunt.
He’s got to be kidding me.
But as I scan the crowd, I instantly see what he means. My breath falters, a rush of adrenaline floods my body, and I freeze in place. I can’t move, can’t speak; I can only stare.
Down there, a dance battle is unfolding, and Amelia is in the middle of it, moving like she was born to do it.
Her slender yet curvy figure is wrapped in tight, ripped jeans that cling to her perfect ass. When she spins, a toned, taut stomach comes into view, adorned with a glinting navel piercing.
A piercing. Amelia has a piercing.
Fuck.
Her off-shoulder shirt barely reaches her navel, and underneath, she’s wearing a halter bikini top, essentially nothing. Her full breasts, though partially covered, are impossible to miss.
Damn it, this woman has a killer body.
But what shocks me the most is her hair.
Her long, wild curls cascade down her back, free and untamed. Not twisted into one of her tight buns. LOOSE.
Double fuck.
My hands grip the railing so tightly that my knuckles turn white, and my jaw clenches hard. I don’t blink as I watch this woman move, utterly transfixed.
Adam, one of my former street kids, spins her into a twirl, her hips swaying perfectly to the rhythm. She laughs, her entire face lighting up with pure joy. They’re recreating the final dance from a movie, and damn, she’s incredible.
I soak in every movement, desperately searching for the dull, plain woman I’ve always seen her as. But she’s nowhere to be found. There’s nothing plain about this golden-haired siren. My brain can’t process it.
“Seems like the little lady’s been keeping a few secrets,” Ced comments, clearly amused. “Judging by how our boys are acting, they know her. And since Lizzy’s involved, I’d bet Amelia’s the second trainer we’ve never met.”
Amusement radiates from Cedric as he observes me. I see his smug grin from the corner of my eye and flip him off without looking away. I won’t take my eyes off her for even a second, though. I CAN’T.
The idiot beside me laughs out loud.
“Oh, it’s going to be fun, watching you free-fall, my friend. I can’t wait to see Amelia bring you to your knees, piece by piece. Because believe me, she will.”
He pats me on the shoulder with fake sympathy, and I grit my teeth, slowly turning my head to face him. A strange mix of disgust, anger, and desire churns in my stomach, and my dick is already craving Goldilocks. Not exactly helping my situation.
“SHE WON’T DO ANYTHING. SHE’S NOBODY! And anyone who means nothing to me can’t bring me to my knees. She was Phil’s dream girl, not mine. And if you want to keep that smug grin, you better shut up now. Otherwise, your dentist’s office is going to get a hefty bill soon,” I growl, and the asshole laughs even harder.
“If you say so. You know best,” he says with a grin, and I really want to punch him. My hand twitches, but Amelia demands all my attention. My mind can’t process the fact that the beautiful, carefree woman down there is the same one I’m supposed to marry.
Well, things could be worse,a nagging voice in my head chimes in. But even if it’s right, I wish that voice would just shut the hell up.
“By the way, you might want to keep an eye on your sister. She looks pretty out of it if you ask me,” he adds, and suddenly I’m fully focused on him.
I glance to the right, and sure enough, Lizzy is clinging to the bar, swaying as she tries to steady herself, doing a terrible job of it.
Dammit.
Concern swells in my chest, because I know how much she’s been struggling since Phil’s death. But at that moment, a sleazy guy catches my attention. He’s standing slightly behind Lizzy, eyeing her greedily. The look on his face makes my skin crawl. Cedric notices it too, his eyes narrowing.
