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“And I love you more in it each time. It reminds me of the night at the opera. And how much has changed since.”
Maddy lets out a contented sigh as we dance. “Yeah. So much has changed.” She casts her eyes around the packed ballroom, then brings them back to mine. “You’ve worked so hard to get here. You’re incredible.”
“I’ve had a pretty great cheerleader with me the entire way.” I squeeze her hips, and she bites her bottom lip.
“Take the compliment, Rich.” She smiles. “This was you.” She looks around the room again. “This was all you,” she whispers.
It’s the official launch for Vex tonight. A huge, glamorous affair with more champagne than anyone can drink, and canapes made from ingredients that had to be specially flown in from around the world. Spencer insisted on it. He wanted to pull in not only Vex’s investors, but also London’s elite with deep pockets. The charity auction we’re holding later is to raise money for victims of natural disasters. A cause that has been close to his heart ever since he first learned about Matias. Spencer’s now a proud and doting grandpa, telling Dad at every opportunity how it’s the best thing that’s happened to him.
I don’t take my eyes off Maddy as we dance to another song. When it ends, we move toward the bar. Dad catches my eye from where he’s standing with Mum. He no longer looks exhausted, like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. He’s made cutbacks, and since I gave him the money from selling the island and the patent, his business is getting back on track. Dad’s always loved a challenge. I think he’s secretly in his element. He grins and tips his glass toward me as Mum says something in his ear. I know what they’re discussing. Spencer’s constant grandpa talk is giving them ideas.
“What’s so funny?” Maddy narrows her eyes playfully.
“Mum and Dad, mentally listing baby names in their heads.”
Maddy follows my gaze to my parents, who fluster and then smile before averting their attention away.
She laughs. “They’re just happy. Business is good. Your dad’s back in his own bed. And they’re insanely proud of their talented son. Just like I am.” She grins and I press a kiss to her lips.
“Maybe so,” I murmur, smiling against her mouth before drawing back. “But they still want me to get you pregnant.”
“A fact I don’t want to fucking think about,” a voice grumbles.
Maddy laughs as she spots Drew and Tanner standing next to one another in dinner jackets.
Drew tips his chin at me, and Tanner rolls his shoulders until they click, groaning as he takes a sip from his glass. “Don’t do it. Parenting is a trap.”
Drew looks at Tanner with a smirk. “You’ve been a grumpy bastard ever since Ruby was born.”
“I had three hours sleep last night. Broken into eight parts. Newborns,” Tanner mutters into his glass.
“You say that now, but you’ll have another on the way soon,” Drew says.
“No fucking chance.” But his tired eyes twinkle.
“Fucker.” Drew smiles in envy before he lifts his glass to his lips, his gaze moving to someone across the room.
I follow his attention. Dax has his arm around Rose, and they’re talking to two women. One I don’t recognize, but the other is Sophie, the lawyer.
“How long ago did she turn you down? And you’re still not over it. A decade?” I ask.
Tanner snorts into his glass as Drew’s jaw tightens. “Fuck off,” he snaps without taking his eyes off Sophie.
“Almost four years,” Maddy says, her voice soft as she looks at her brother.
Drew’s eyes flit to hers and then back to Sophie, and his gaze dials up a notch in its dark intensity. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone else. But the night he met Sophie, he got this look of pure fixation in his eyes. The same one that’s in them now. I thought he’d let the idea go. But ever since Dax needed a lawyer last year and Sophie helped him because she’d moved to London, we suspected their paths were bound to cross again.
Tonight, it seems, is that night.
“Why don’t you go and talk to her?” Maddy asks.
“Rose said she’s dating someone,” Drew replies flatly before draining the rest of his whiskey.
He holds his empty glass up and gestures to the bar.
I shake my head. “We need to speak to some people,” I say to Maddy as I spot Sterling.
Drew nods and him and Tanner move off in the direction of the bar.
