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I kissed her again, removing my hands from beneath her dress before taking a step away from her.
“You’re right,” I said, holding my hands up innocently. “I’m sorry.”
Her skin was beautifully flushed, her eyes slightly hazed. “Don’t be sorry,” she said, straightening herself. “Be ready when I get home.”
Home.
The word clanged through me, rooting me to the spot. Brynn had practically been living at my place for the last four months, and while I loved hearing her call it home, it only made me realize that it wasn’t.
It wasn’t her home. Not in the way that mattered.
But it’d only beenfourmonths, I highly doubted she was ready for me to ask her to move in, and most certainly not minutes before she had to leave for a business trip. Were we ready for that? Fuck, I was ready for anything that would make her mine in a more official way, but she this was all so new. Plus, she’d been so busy lately, juggling her new career and still maintaining my day-to-day things on top of it. Making a huge move like that would only put added pressure on her that she didn’t need.
“Right,” I said, fumbling my words. “You should get going.”
She tilted her head, reaching up to cup my cheek. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said, giving her an assuring smile. “Long day. Ready to go home, but I have to do one last round of face time with the donors.”
“Poor, Wes,” she said. “Get some rest tonight, okay? And don’t you dare watch Love Is Blind without me!”
“I would never,” I called after as she headed toward the hotel lobby, her pumps clicking on the marble floor.
My gut twisted once she was out of sight, a sort of emptiness taking up a sore spot in my chest. I shoved it down and headed back into the gala, the event still going strong, never once missing my presence. Just a couple more rounds of mingling and I could get out of here—
“Weston,” Lena’s voice sounded from behind me where I’d found myself near the entrance of the event room. “I haven’t seen you all night!”
She swept up to me, her silver dress sparkling under all the lights as she kissed either side of my cheek. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered.
“Lena—”
“There he is,” Mr. Nelson—Lena’s father and owner of Nelson Tech—said, cutting me off. “Quite the event you have here,” he said, reaching out to shake my hand. “As always. Very impressive.”
I dipped my head, trying my best to step away from Lena and focus on him, but she kept sticking to my side. “Thanks, Mr. Nelson, we do all right.”
“Can we get a picture?” a media photographer called from right behind Mr. Nelson, and I shifted into my paparazzi role on instinct.
I straightened my stance, situating my facial features in a way that couldn’t be misconstrued. I’d dealt with paparazzi long enough to know a calm, aloof face was better than any with real emotions—which would be irritation right now if I actually showed anything because Lena slipped her hand against my chest, leaning into me for the picture.
The camera snapped a few times, Mr. Nelson joining us for a couple pictures, and then thankfully, the photographer moved on to begging Nixon for the spotlight.
“We have to set a meeting,” Mr. Nelson continued as if the photographer hadn’t interrupted us. “I think our newest innovation could be applied to your Raptors’ technology.”
I raised my brows, immediately intrigued. Nelson Tech was one of the leading industries when it came to artificial intelligence programs and all their endless applications.
“Yes,” Lena said. “I’m sure his assistant would be more than happy to schedule us in.” She glanced around like she was expecting Brynn to pop up any moment. “Where is she? She should be available to you—”
“Brynn is away on business,” I cut her off. “I’ll make sure I set up a meeting, Mr. Nelson.” I nodded to him as he winked at me and headed across the room to talk to someone else.
“You haven’t been returning my calls,” Lena said once he was out of earshot.
“I’ve been busy,” I said. “And I thought you understood where I stand.”
“And I thought you understood I don’t give up that easy,” she said. “Especially when it’s something I want.”
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Lena, I’m sorry if I made you believe otherwise, but what was between us was never anything serious—”
“I know that,” she said. “I’m not talking about commitment in that way. I explained that to you.”
