She gives him another clearly unimpressed sideways glance. ‘I know who you are.’
‘And yet I don’t know whoyouare,’ Teddy says, shaking his head. ‘You’ll have to forgive me.’
‘Will I?’
I choke on a laugh, earning a quick side-eye from her that saysdon’t you dare encourage him.
‘I hope so.’ Teddy flashes her a smile that shows off adimple I would bet money has probably caused at least three women to faint this month alone. ‘At least tell me your name so I know what to have engraved on my heart when you inevitably break it.’
She doesn’t even blink. ‘Sloane,’ she says flatly.
Teddy waits a beat for her to elaborate and say something else, but she doesn’t. This doesn’t seem to bother him though.
‘Beautifulandefficient,’ he says, looking at Sloane like she just hung the sun. ‘A rare combination. Tell me,Sloane,’ he practically purrs her name, ‘do you always look like this, or is tonight special?’
Her expression doesn’t flicker. ‘Depends. Do you always flirt this badly, or isthatspecial?’
I nearly snort into my glass but manage to catch myself at the last second. Teddy’s eyes flick towards me, then back to Sloane, his unshakable grin still firmly in place.
‘Ouch,’ he says, pressing a hand to his chest. ‘But I forgive you. People usually get nicer once they fall in love with me.’
‘I don’t see that happening,’ Sloane says smoothly, scanning the crowd like she’s already bored. ‘Might want to focus your efforts elsewhere.’
Teddy laughs. ‘Challenge accepted.’
‘Not a challenge,’ she corrects, taking another sip of champagne. ‘A suggestion. You should take it.’
‘Ah,’ he says, unconcerned. ‘You’ll come around. They always do.’
‘I doubt that.’
‘Then maybe you’ll be my first exception.’
She sighs and mutters, ‘God give me strength,’ under her breath.
Teddy, clearly having the time of his life, gestures towards the bar across the room, where bottles of champagne and wine gleam under amber light. ‘Alright, alright, since I’ve been so thoroughly rejected, allow me to offer a peace treaty. Drinks? On me.’
Sloane tilts her head. ‘You do realise they’re free?’
‘My family are footing the bill,’ Teddy says with a shrug. ‘So technically, theyareon me.’
I can’t help but laugh at his roundabout reasoning, and Sloane shoots me a withering glare.
‘Fine,’ she says finally. ‘Go. Bring back something strong enough to erase this conversation from my memory.’
Teddy salutes her with his glass. ‘Coming right up,Sloane.’ He turns and strolls towards the bar, moving like a man entirely certain of his charm.
The moment he’s out of earshot, Sloane lets out a long and dramatic exhale. ‘Fucking hell, he’s exhausting.’
‘Incredibly,’ I agree. ‘But you have to admit—’
‘Well, well,’ Emmy drawls, suddenly appearing at Sloane’s side like smoke. ‘I’ve been looking for you.’
Every muscle in my body tightens.
‘Emmy,’ I say evenly, lifting my chin. ‘Lovely to see you.’
‘Oh, I’m sure,’ she says sweetly. Her gaze flicks towards the bar, where Teddy is chatting animatedly with the bartender, his smile as blinding as ever. ‘It looked like you were getting quite cosy with Teddy Vouvalis just now.’
