“I can have it added to your tab.”
I nod. But she doesn’t walk away. Instead she lingers, her lips softly parting as she slowly reaches across me to pick up the glass Sadie left.
“Would your guest like another drink?” she asks.
“She’s gone.” I smile tightly because I’d like the check before Sadie walks out of the bathroom.
“Oh.” Her smile widens. “Sorry to hear that. If you need company tonight, I finish at eleven,” she breathes.
“I won’t.” My reply is flat, because it’s not even a remote possibility. The only woman I want to spend time with is currently standing naked in my shower, waiting for me to stalk her.
I sign the bill, finish my whiskey, then walk out into the reception area. There are a few people milling around, arriving for dinner or drinks. A couple are checking in.
“Zach,” a voice calls out from behind me.
I let out an internal groan before I turn to see my sister and Parker walking across the lobby. No sign of Elijah, I assume they got a babysitter.
“Date night?” I ask tightly.
Autumn smiles. “Something like that. I had some last minute details to arrange with Martin.” I must look blank. “For the gala. You know, this weekend.”
Fuck, yeah. The trail and the gala start on Friday. Between everything else that’s happening, it had dropped out of my mind.
“Great.” I give her a smile.
“You have a tuxedo, right?” she asks. “Because you’re hosting one of the tables. We’re all doing it. Schmoozing the donors, flirting with the art lovers, that kind of thing.”
“Sure.” I nod and look at my watch again.
“So, there was something else I wanted to ask you.” She tips her head to the side, looking so much like the kid I remember her being. Shifty. Nosey as hell. “Should I allocate you a plus one?”
I narrow my eyes at her.
Parker lets out an audible groan. “Babe, we talked about this.”
“I know. But I need to confirm the seating arrangements.” She tips her head to the side and gives him the kind of smoldering look that makes him clear his throat. “So,” she says, turning back to me. “What about Sadie?”
“What about her?”
“God, you’re aggravating.” She shakes her head. “She’s staying with you. You walked into her place and got her. Are you two a thing or what?”
I tip my head to the side. “None of your business.”
“I’m just trying to help. Otherwise, I’m seating Sadie at a table with all guys. Hot, eligible ones with huge wallets and even huger?—”
“Sweetie,” Parker says, his voice low.
Autumn presses her lips together. And I get the point.
“Okay, she’s my plus one. And now I have to go.”
Her eyes light up. “Where is she anyway?” Autumn asks, looking around me like I’m hiding her in my back pocket. “Why don’t we all get a drink? We can head to the cocktail bar, it’ll be fun.”
“I thought we were getting dinner,” Parker says, shooting me an apologetic look. “It’s date night, remember?”
“Don’t leave the man hanging,” I say to Autumn. “I know how grumpy he gets when he’s hungry.”
It’s a lie. Parker’s the mildest man in the world. But there’s a naked woman in my apartment and that’s all I can think about right now.
