“You didn’t think I’d show, did you?” Matt asked. “I’ve got a meeting with the CEO of Larke and I’m gonna have a job—abetterjob—by the end of the night, no thanks to you.” He tossed back a shot.
Like a cat stalking its prey, Providence slowly pivoted toward them.
Dakota leaned down. “You should be thanking me you’ve still got a career in real estate. Don’t push your luck with me, Hastings.”
“Fuck you, Luck,” Matt growled.
“Dakota, can I buy you a drink later?” Mia asked.
“Unfortunately, I can’t stay.” Dakota slid his gaze from Mia to Providence and a zing shot through her. He extended his hand to her. “Dakota Luck with Goode-Luck.”
As Providence rose, she slipped her hand into his. His shake was firm, his skin warm. “Elaine Jones with Larke.” Strangely, she did not want to let go.
His piercing blue eyes drilled into her. “Have we met?”
She released his hold. “I just moved here from Boston.” Being that he went to college there, she hoped he didn’t call her out on her accent. It was good, but it wasn’t authentic.
“One of my favorite cities. Enjoy your evening.” Dakota peered into her eyes for another second before moving on.
As she slid her gaze to Matt, she inhaled a calming breath. In a room of five hundred masked attendees, she’d come face-to-face with her target.He might have made me.
The woman beside Providence held out her hand. “Look, I’m shaking.” Providence eyed her trembling hand. “He’s the reason I became a realtor.”
“Seriously?” Providence asked.
“Oh, puhleeese.” Matt guzzled half the beer down. “He’s a total douche.”
“He’s so beautiful, it hurts to look at him.”
Providence barked out a laugh. “Isn’t that a bit over the top?”
“No, that man is absolutely gorgeous. And smart. And successful. And filthy rich. He’s the perfect storm that I could get swept away in.”
Both Providence and Matt laughed.
And he could also be a murderer.
The woman extended her hand. “I’m Mia Jefferson with Larke in College Park.”
Providence shook her hand. “Elaine Jones. Good to meet you.” Since she was there to learn as much about Dakota as possible, she addressed Matt. “So, what’s your beef with Luck?”
“Can you keep a secret?” Matt asked, before tossing back the second shot.
“That’s what I do for a living,” Providence replied.
Both Matt and Mia cracked up.
“Good one,” Matt said. “Can I use that with my clients?”
“Go for it.” Providence needed to know what happened before the event started and Matt got too shit-faced to utter a string of coherent words.
“You wanna sit?” Matt gestured toward the chairs. After they did, he continued. “I won tonight’s Realtor of the Year award, but they fired me instead.”
“How’d you manage that?” Providence asked.
A crooked smile lifted Matt’s lips. “In a word…kickbacks. It’s the secret to my success.”
Mia shook her head. “Not cool.”
