Page 47 of His Reckoning

The wealth alone tends to make people careful. Kayla, however, seems unaffected. She says something that makes the entire group laugh, and I find myself wondering what it was.

“Still staring,” Walker says.

I drag my attention back to the room. “I wasn’t staring.”

Roman gestures toward the women. “She’s interesting.”

“She’s Melissa’s friend.”

“That’s not what we’re talking about.”

Colton leans against a chair at a high-top table to the left of my bar. “You like her.”

“I don’t.”

“You do.”

“I don’t even know her.”

Walker grins. “That hasn’t stopped you before.”

“That’s different.”

Roman tilts his head slightly. “How?”

I don’t answer. I’ve dated plenty of women. But I’ve never spent this much time noticing someone’s movements across a room.

Kayla picks up her glass of wine and turns slightly before she catches me looking at her.

For a moment, neither of us looks away—and then she smiles. It’s a small, knowing smile.

She turns back to the conversation.

Roman exhales slowly beside me. “Oh, yeah, this is definitely happening.”

I finish my drink.

Walker raises an eyebrow. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Before I can respond, Kayla suddenly appears beside the bar.

“Okay,” she says while everyone looks at her. “I have a solution to this party.”

Walker lifts his glass. “That sounds dangerous.”

“It’s not dangerous,” she says. “It’s fun.”

Roman looks suspicious. “Those are not the same thing.”

Kayla ignores him. “I’m getting something.”

Before anyone can stop her, she disappears down the hallway.

Walker looks at me. “You’re letting this happen?”

“I don’t know what this is yet.”

“That’s never stopped you from stopping things before.”