“Best you don’t know.” She wipes her eyes as she looks over the documents.
“How long have I worked with you? This sounds like a conversation I should be involved in.” He crosses his arms across his chest.
“One word, Ted.” Jade sits back, throwing her pen on the desk. “Lily.” The grin that spreads across his face is feral. “You know!” She points her finger at him, and he holds his hands up in surrender.
“No idea what you’re on about.” He starts to back away out of her office as Jade jumps out of her chair, following him. “See you later, boss.”
“Ted, you get back here and tell me.”
“Miss Wilde’s office.” He picks his desk phone up, pretending to answer a call.
“Ted, there’s no one there; it didn’t even ring.”
“Yes, of course.” He covers the mouthpiece and whispers, “I’ve got to take this.” I walk out to stand in Jade’s doorway, watching the scene unfold.
“Ugh!” She spins on her heel, shaking her head and grinning. “If you’re in on whatever this is,”—she motions behind her atTed, who is trying his best not to laugh as she glares at me—“I swear I will get you back, Ria.”
Jade has been giving me the eye all week and has tried to get out of me what Lily has planned, but I’m more scared of Lily than I am Jade, so I keep my mouth shut. I just hope Jade knows what she got herself into when she told Lily she could plan the bachelorette party, because that woman and the workings of her brain scare me. I was told to pack for Vegas. Her exact words were “less is more.” I have no idea how Marcus, her boyfriend, copes, but from what I’ve seen of them together, he gives as good as he gets. Those two fight and call it foreplay.
I let out a huge sigh of relief as I take my seat on our family’s private jet Friday evening, heading for Las Vegas. I’ve been preparing for my meeting with Cole, and I think I’ve got a proposal set for when we get back, but right now, I’m leaving all that behind and am ready to let loose.
“You look like you’re really in the party mood, Ri Ri.” Leo comes bouncing in, his normally perfectly styled hair tucked underneath his backward ball cap and his gray eyes twinkling with pure mischief. Taking the seat next to me, he bumps my shoulder with his. “You good?”
“Yeah, I will be. It’s been a bit of a week.” I huff out a small laugh.
“It has.” His playful look is replaced with concern. “You okay with spending time with Trixie?”
“Of course. I’ve only ever known her with Ezra. It’s fine.” I gently squeeze his forearm and his fingers flex. “Plus,” I say with a sigh, “it will be quite nice to have time with her without that douchebag around, you know?”
“Yeah, it will. She's pretty awesome. But you’re right; she is different around him.”
“Was I different when he was around?” I question, my stomach churning at the thought. I don’t want a man to change me.
“Toward the end, yeah.” He quickly grabs my retreating hand as my gaze drops to my lap, shame washing over me. “But only because you lost your glint, that Ri Ri sparkle.” He tips my chin up with his finger, his eyes connecting with mine. “But you’ve got it back. Don’t let anyone take that from you again because you’re one incredible woman.”
“You flirting with me, Leo?” I tease.
“Always, Ri Ri,” he whispers as his gaze flicks to my lips briefly. Feeling my body lean toward his, instinctively I lick my lips, my heart beating wildly in my chest.
“Have you seen what Kai is doing?” Lily’s voice has me jumping in my seat and staring wide-eyed at Leo as he gives me a look that I can’t quite interpret.
What the hell was that?
Lily is laughing uncontrollably as she comes into view, her arm tucked through Jade’s, with Trixie on Jade’s other arm.
“The man is so weird.” Marcus snickers as he follows behind the girls. My brother's other best friend, Deacon, follows closely behind, his permanent scowl set on his handsome face as he texts furiously on his phone.
“He was yours first,” he grumbles without looking up.
“I know. I have a lot to answer for.” Marcus swipes his hand through his wavy locks. Kai is Marcus’s best friend, and when he started dating Lily, Kai and Leo instantly connected. It was as if the universe decided one Leo Brent wasn’t enough for this world, so it created Kai Harris, using Leo as the prototype and doubling his crazy. They are a double act that constantly has us in fits of laughter.
“The man has made my day. He is always down for a laugh. A literal genius, I tell you.” Jade giggles as she takes her seat. “You okay, Ria? You have crazy eyes.” She frowns across at me.
“Who, me?” I point to myself, my voice pathetically high, and feel my cheeks flush as everyone turns toward me.
“Yes, you.” Jade raises her eyebrow.
“Just tired. Been a bit of a week.” Waving her off, I slide deeper into my seat, hoping it will swallow me whole. “Think I’m going to try and get some sleep.” And try and work out what the hell that was with Leo. I’m not blind. The man has grown up to be most women’s wet dream, but Leo has never looked at me like that before—his eyes full of desire and heat. And the way my body gravitated toward him didn’t feel wrong.
