That's what I wanted to say, but I took a sip of the champagne instead.
“So, tell me.Did you come alone?”And there it was.The question she’d been dying to ask since the second I walked in alone.“I told Grandmama that you were still recovering from the breakup and all, so—”
“Actually,” I said, my lips curving into a practiced smile, “my plus one isn't here yet.He's just running a little late.”
My tone was light and breezy, but on the inside, my pulse was hammering.Jaxon still wasn’t here.
Her perfectly shaped brows arched.“He?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding once.“My boyfriend.”
She blinked, clearly surprised, then recovered with a sugary laugh.“Oh, that’s so great!I didn't know you were dating someone.What’s his name?”
I took another sip of champagne, buying time as I glanced over her shoulder toward the entrance.Still no sign of him.
“Jaxon,” I said finally, the name feeling like a dare on my tongue.
Her smile faltered—just barely—but it was enough to make something darkly satisfying stir in my chest.In her eyes, I could see the spark of curiosity and interest.
“Well, I can't wait to meet this… mystery man.Until then, we simplyhaveto catch up.I've been doing fabulous!And can you believe how beautiful this place is?My love, Chase, gave me everything I've ever wanted…”
I tuned her out as she went on and on about theirlovingrelationship.She droned on about how difficult it was to get the floral arrangements together on such short notice.
There was no missing the underlying gloating in anything she said.She wanted to make sure I was fully aware of ‘her love’, Chase.
Then there was the hum of chatter around us.It started as a ripple—quiet murmurs, the tilt of heads toward the entryway.
“—and there was no way I was going to…” Lori’s words faltered, her attention drawn elsewhere.
I followed her gaze and nearly forgot how to breathe.
Jaxon Cage.
Late, unapologetic, and obscenely out of place in a room full of pastel perfection.
Every conversation in the room seemed to pause the moment he stepped through those wide double doors.
Beside me, Lori murmured under her breath, “Who is that?”—her voice laced with open admiration.
I hated that I understood the sentiment.
Because, yes, he looked devastating.The kind of man mothers warned their daughters about—the bad boy.The man who would turn your life upside down and still have you begging for more.My pulse tripped in irritation.At him.At myself.At the simple fact that, if I wasn't careful, I'd be one of those women begging for chaos.
Jaxon’s gaze swept across the crowd slowly, then something dangerous flickered in his eyes when he found mine.The faintest hint of a smirk ghosted across his lips as he made his way toward me, moving with that same careless confidence that used to drive me insane in high school.
Dressed in dark slacks and a crisp white shirt with two top buttons undone and his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, he was the definition of sin.I caught the faint glint of a chain at his throat and definitely didn't miss the tattoos that peeked from under his cuffs when he shoved his hands into his pockets.His dark hair was slightly wet and messy, almost like he’d just walked out of the shower.
Dangerous, beautiful sin.
He was late, infuriatingly smug, and somehow ridiculously goodlooking.
Lori straightened beside me, clearly mistaking that look for herself.
“Oh,” she said softly, adjusting a curl of her hair, “I think he’s coming over here.”
Lori’s lips parted into a practiced smile just as Jaxon reached us, then promptly went rigid when he slid his arm around my waist.
Every muscle in my body locked.
