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I looked up at him. His expression was rougher than usual, though he still had a slightly amused look on his face.
“Enjoy would be an overstatement,” I said, and took a sip of champagne.
Leo smiled. “Davis didn’t dazzle you, huh?”
“I’m not easily dazzled,” I replied, and Leo’s grin only widened.
“Oh, I’m aware. But that’s the problem.” He tilted his chin in the direction of Colin, who was at the other side of the room, glancing in my direction. “You’re a chase, Red. And you’re in his sights now.”
I faced Leo fully with the intention to defend against that stupid notion. I also wanted to look somewhere other than at Colin.
“I’m not out to be chased.”
“Yes you are, and I’m not the only one who can sense that.” Leo leaned in closer. I could smell him and feel his heat. “You’re just not out to be caught.”
I swallowed hard and realized I was doing it again. Getting caught up. Inhaling deeply, I forced the tiny pricks of lust popping up on my skin away and kept my tone even.
“Is there something you wanted, Leo? Or were you just coming over to inquire about my dance card?”
“I just wanted to remind you that Davis is my competition.”
“I’m aware.”
He nodded. “Good. So I can expect your dance was nothing more than a friendly mingle?”
My glare hardened. I would never breach the professional trust Leo put in me. Not to mention the reason I’d danced with that A-hole in the first place was to keep him from talking to Harris about Davis stock. The fact that Leo questioned my integrity smarted something deep down. I was learning quickly that Leo was a master of give and take. He gave me a little, like trust in th
is slip deal, then he took. With a single comment, he took the warm fuzzy feeling away by poking holes in the very trust he’d bestowed on me. I couldn’t win.
Or perhaps there really was something about me that people couldn’t fully believe in. The thought made that ache in my stomach pulse.
“A friendly mingle,” I assured, and the words tasted sour.
Leo glanced over my shoulder and his face dropped. “Ah shit . . .” he mumbled lowly. “Stay close, Red. I think you’re my lucky charm.”
He spun me and we faced . . . I didn’t even know what to call her. Fashion Diva, maybe? With bleached-blonde hair, a good amount of plastic surgery, and heavy makeup, a dramatic woman walked our way. Her body said she was in her twenties, but her hands gave her away as late forties.
“Leandro Savas, it’s been ages!” the woman said.
When Harris kissed her cheek, I figured it must be his wife. The wife Leo put me on deflection duty for.
“Good to see you, Siobhan.”
When Siobhan leaned in and gave Leo a hug, I didn’t miss that her hands were a little south on his back. Looked like Leo wasn’t exaggerating.
Another man approached, with very similar build and looks to Leo.
“Kyros!” Leo said, and embraced the man.
“Cousin,” Kyros said back. The men patted each other’s backs. “Sorry I’m a little late.”
“It’s no problem.” Leo smiled.
Kyros’s flight got in earlier this morning. Though I’d coordinated with his assistant and made arrangements for his stay, I hadn’t had the chance to meet him or even lay eyes on him. When the day drew on with still no sign of him, I figured he’d been sleeping off his jetlag so I had arranged a second car to bring him to the event this evening.
“It’s going to be a good month,” Kyros said lowly, and smiled at Leo.
My thoughts exactly. He was here to get on board with purchasing the new slip in London and, standing in the middle of two Savas men, I could see how this force was something to be reckoned with.
