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The outline of my shaft strains against the fabric, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise.

I grab her clothes from the bed and walk them over instead of tossing them.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.” Her voice is breathless, and instead of stepping away to get dressed, she stays exactly where she is.

If I don’t leave right now, something is going to happen. So I make myself turn for the door.

“I’ll send for shoes to match the dress.” I pause in the doorway. “You’re going to turn some heads tonight.”

Nina doesn’t say anything as I close the door behind me. In the hallway, I let out a long breath and press the heel of my hand against my cock through my pants, trying to get it to settle. It has the opposite effect.

Nothing’s stopping me anymore. Not the rules, not my family. Just the fact that the moment I touch her, I won’t be able to let her go once her contract is over.

I’m not sure how much longer that’s going to be enough.

CHAPTER 23

ZANDER

The party is exactly what I expected—glitz, glam, and over-the-top Aspen luxury. Not my taste. If this were my party, I’d tone it down by half. Real wealth doesn’t need to announce itself with a hundred chandeliers and appetizers the size of a postage stamp.

Nina is the most gorgeous thing here.

When the four of us walk in, I take her arm and escort her through the door. She’s here as my guest, and tonight, she’s not an employee. I want her to enjoy every minute of it. We all do.

None of us says a word, but Jarek, Pascal, and I are equally stunned by her tonight. In that scarlet dress, she looks like she’s wearing Christmas itself. Her cheeks are pink from the cold, and her hair is swept up, a few loose strands falling against her bare shoulders.

If we weren’t in public, I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off her. The other two are thinking the same thing. Even Pascal, though he’d never admit it. He doesn’t have to. It’s all over his face.

I know he wants her, but he prefers relationships to flings. He’s still struggling with how temporary this arrangement is.

We’re barely three steps inside, champagne flutes in hand, when I hear whispering. Normally, I wouldn’t pay attention to anyone here. Tonight, Nina gets my undivided attention. But when I hear her name, I turn my head.

Jarek and Pascal hear it too. Before any of us can decide what to do, the whisperer walks straight toward us, eyes fixed on Nina.

“Nina Adler?” He extends his free hand, champagne in the other.

“Yes.” She sounds wary. “Do I know you?”

“No.” He chuckles, like it’s cute that she’d think she might. “But I’ve heard of you. My goodness, it’s been ages since we’ve had a good scandal at one of these parties. So tell me, is there any truth to what that relationship podcaster keeps saying? Is that why you’re here? Shopping for a richer man?”

I bristle, and Nina’s grip tightens on my arm. She stumbles over her words, trying to answer. This guy doesn’t deserve a second of her time.

“Hey, buddy.” Jarek beats me to it. “Show some class and fuck off.”

The man takes a slow sip of champagne, unfazed.

“Who are you to tell me what to do? You might be a big deal in Hollywood, my friend, but up here, you’re just another tourist.”

Pascal steps closer. He doesn’t raise his voice. “My family has had a house here since before you could afford a lift ticket. Walk away.”

I’ve known Pascal for years. I’ve never seen him this close to losing it.

“Are you threatening me?” The jerk is still pretending he isn’t a coward. “Just because I asked the lady about her very public past at a very public event?”

He turns back to Nina, and the way his eyes narrow tells me something nasty is coming.