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Scarlett followed Lucian but stopped long enough to lean down beside me.

“Don’t send the good ones too early.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

She grinned, kissed my cheek, then hurried after her husband.

I watched the two couples disappear along the balcony.

That left Lachlan and me sitting alone in the booth.

He still hadn’t said anything, so I finally turned toward him.

He locked his phone and slipped it into the inside pocket of his jacket.

“That was a mistake, Mouse.”

“Sending you a Valentine’s picture?”

“Thinking you can sit beside me looking pleased with yourself after sending me that and walk away without consequences.”

I leaned closer. “Who said I wanted to?”

His hand landed high on my thigh.

Heat shot straight through me.

For a second, I thought our evening at Xyst might end exactly as Lucian had threatened his and Scarlett’s would.

Then Lachlan pulled his hand away and stood.

Damn.

“I need to get something from the safe upstairs before we go.”

“Now?”

“Aye.”

I finished the last sip of my wine and placed the glass on the table. “All right.”

He held out his hand, and I took it.

The farther we moved from the main floor, the quieter Xyst became.

The private elevator carried us above the balcony levels, and when the doors opened again, the pounding music had softened to a distant vibration beneath my feet.

A sleek reception area stretched ahead of us.

Aria sat behind the desk in a fitted black suit, reviewing something on a tablet. She lifted her head when we stepped out.

Her eyes immediately found me, and for half a second, the professional expression slipped.

I saw the amusement.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she said.

“Thank you for the spa and everything else,” I said, laughing softly.