Then she was gone.
I stayed long enough to appear polite before excusing myself to begin preparing for tonight’s event.
But in reality, I needed a fucking drink.
I endedup in the same bar where this whole mess started. It was half-empty, low lights, a piano humming somewhere in the background.
I loosened my tie, sat at the counter, and ordered a neat bourbon.
I needed the burn to clear my head.
There’s a lesson in this. One I’m too afraid to unpack. Like if I had just kept it in my pants I wouldn’t be going through this.
If I had been sober last night I may have been able to place her. After all, she’s the spitting image of Alice.
Fuck.
If she’s Dillon’s kid, that means she’s Alice’s kid too.
Fuck, that thought made me sick.
I’d just taken the first sip when her voice sang out behind me.
“You’re making it obvious, Mr. Sinclair.”
I turned slowly and exhaled through my nose, setting the glass down. “Did you know who I was when you came onto me last night?”
Her brows lifted in amusement.
“If I remember correctly, you came onto me.” She approached the bar and slid into the seat beside mine, close enough for her perfume to wrap around me again. “And no. I had no idea who you were.”
“Convenient,” I muttered.
“It’s true.” She crossed her legs, making the hem of her skirt inch higher. “If I did know, maybe I would’ve asked for two bottles instead of one.”
I gave her a flat, unamused look. “This isn’t funny.”
“Oh, but it is.” She leaned in, resting her chin on her hand. “You should’ve seen your face when Daddy introduced us. I could literally see the gears in your mind turning. Priceless.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“What, afraid someone’s gonna overhear?” Her tone was light, teasing. “Relax, Mr. Sinclair. You’re not my first secret.”
The knot in my chest pulled tighter. “I don’t give a fuck about your other secrets. This one could ruin me.”
Her smile widened like I’d said something cute. “Ruin you? Please. It was a hook up not tax evasion.”
I shifted on the stool, trying to put some space between us. She closed it right back up, her knee brushing mine.
“What do you want, Aurora?” I asked finally.
Her lashes fluttered, her smirk softening into something almost thoughtful. “Honestly? I don’t even know yet.”
“Well, I know what I want.” I clenched my jaw, swallowing another sip of bourbon. “You need to stay away from me.”
“Mm, I don’t think I do.” She tilted her head, eyes catching the light. “Besides, you didn’t seem to mind me being close last night. Didn’t you say you love me too, Mr. S?”
I kept my stare on the glass because looking at her was dangerous. “Last night was different.”
