“Cal said there was a beautiful woman from Denver staying out at Bridlepath.” His gaze moved over her slowly. “Turns out he was right.”
There it was.
That look.
She knew it instantly.
Men like Wade existed at every major gallery opening she’d ever attended—wealthy men with expensive watches and practiced charm who thought money gave them ownership of every beautiful thing in the room.
Usually, she handled them easily.
She still did.
Izzy laughed softly, polished as glass.
“Well, now I’m worried Cal’s standards are too low.”
Wade smiled at that, but his eyes stayed fixed on her in a way that felt less admiring than assessing.
Like he was pricing something.
“You’ve got people talking already,” he said.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“In this town?” Wade chuckled. “Everything’s dangerous eventually.”
The song slowed around them.
His hand settled more firmly at her waist.
Not enough to cause a scene.
Enough to feel deliberate.
Izzy’s smile held.
But her instincts sharpened.
And then another hand appeared at her elbow.
“Mind if I steal her?”
Grant.
Relief moved through her so quickly it almost embarrassed her.
Wade looked over slowly.
Grant stood there… looking nothing like Wade Hollis.
The two men just looked at each other.
Old tension.
Old history.
Then Wade smiled faintly.
