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Kimmie studies me with open amusement. “What’s wrong, Avery? I swear, you look like you just swallowed a bug.”
It feels like I swallowed an entire hornet’s nest, but I’m not going to dignify her needling me by giving her any kind of response.
I down my wine and set the empty glass on her tray without comment. I hear her outraged scoff as I brush past her, but I don’t turn around to enjoy the moment. I don’t hesitate for a second as I step through the crowds at a brisk clip, desperate to get away from her. With any luck, I can find a ladies’ room to hide in somewhere until I’m able to calm my jittery nerves enough to return to the party and wait for Nick.
I’m so preoccupied with that mission, I hardly register the presence of a tall, handsome man emerging from out of a cluster of tuxedoes up ahead. Warm brown eyes dance with friendly greeting as Jared Rush flashes his megawatt smile at me.
“This party just got vastly more interesting,” he drawls as I slow to a pause in front of him. “Good to see you, Avery.”
“Jared, hi.” Summoning my composure, I return his welcoming smile. “Nice to see you here too.”
As rattled as I am, his laid-back charm helps calm my nerves. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s incredibly easy on the eyes. Tonight, his long brown waves are contained in a loose ponytail at his nape. The look is considerably tamer than the first time I saw him, but even dressed in an impeccably tailored tuxedo with his wild mane swept back off his face, Jared still exudes a swaggering, rebel vibe that he wears without a trace of apology.
I like that about him and am genuinely glad to think I have at least one ally here tonight.
Making his excuses to the other men he’d been talking with, he turns his full attention on me. “Where were you heading so fast? Don’t tell me you’re about to leave.”
“No, um . . .” I shake my head in vague denial. “I was just thinking about getting some air.”
“Can’t say I blame you. Anytime you have this many politicians in one room, all that hot air makes it damn hard to breathe.” Jared nods toward the open French doors of the ballroom. “I’d be happy to escort you outside if you’d like. If you’d like something better to eat than the frou-frou appetizers they’re passing off as food tonight, I’d be happy to buy you dinner as well.”
“Oh, I—” My gaze drifts away from him, searching out Nick on the other side of the gathering. He’s still talking with the mayor, and, since I last looked, there is a growing crowd of other men and women all vying for his time now too. “I’m actually here with someone, Jared.”
“Ah.” He inclines his head in acknowledgment. “I should’ve known I wouldn’t be so lucky to find you here unattached.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” The grin he gives me is boyish. And a little wicked. “Although, I have to wonder what kind of fool would leave a woman as lovely as you all alone for even a minute in a room full of wolves like me.”
“She’s not alone.”
Nick’s deep voice slashes through the din of the room, low and level. I turn and find him standing directly behind me, as if he crossed the length of the room in an instant. He must have broken away just as I’d searched him out a moment ago. Even the mayor and his companions seem befuddled to have lost him so abruptly, their stares rooted on him from across the ballroom.
Nick seems utterly unconcerned with anything other than me.
From the thunderous look on his face, I half-expect Jared to stammer an apology and retreat as fast as he can. But he doesn’t. Instead, he exhales a sardonic chuckle and slowly shakes his head.
“Well, I’ll be damned. I guess if I’ve got to lose out to someone, it might as well be you, Baine.”
“Glad you feel that way, Rush. As for wolves looking to encroach on my date, you’d be wise to keep your paws to yourself. Be a shame to lose them.”
Nick says it with wry
humor, but to me, his eyes tell a different story. There’s a warning in his eyes as he jokes with Jared, who’s clearly a friend. And I’m sure I’m not imagining the flare of possessiveness I see in Nick’s face when he turns his sharp blue gaze on me.
“Didn’t expect to see you here tonight, Jared,” he says as he reaches out to give his offered hand a firm shake. “Don’t tell me you’re suddenly taking an interest in politics?”
“Me? Hell no. I’m just here as part of Kathryn’s entourage. You know she lives for this crap.”
At the mention of another woman—one Jared is evidently attending tonight’s event with—I can’t help but look at him in question, especially considering he’d been putting a fairly strong move on me.
“Kathryn is an old friend of mine and Nick’s. She’s practically family.”
“Oh.” I smile, curious to know more. But as I glance in Nick’s direction, I swear I catch the slightest hint of a shadow skate over his schooled expression.
Jared seems to sober a bit now too. “You should say hello to her, Nick. It’s been too long. She’ll never say it, but she misses you.”
Nick remains silent for a long moment. “I’ve already endured one command performance. That’s enough for one night.”
