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She places her soft, warm palm in my hand and she steps out of the car like a movie star. I look her over, all glowing and gorgeous beside me. She turns every head, and I’m the luckiest man alive to be at her side.
I stand back in awe and watch her climb the wide concrete staircase ahead of me. Head up, shoulders back, with the quiet confidence of a woman who knows she’s the shit and doesn’t feel the need to prove it.
Fuck, she’s badass.
I’m frozen at the foot of the staircase, staring after her. She throws a glance at me over her shoulder and her brows crinkle adorably. “Why are you grinning like that?” She eyeballs me suspiciously.
I jog up beside her and take her arm again. “Mark my words. Tonight will go down in history as the night I officially sweep you off your feet.”
Our eyes hold and I see my smoldering desire reflected back in her gaze.
But she won’t make this easy for me. She scoffs quietly. “If you say so…”
She may try to act unaffected but her body language can’t lie.
She’s affected.
16
NADIA
Avalet takes off in Harry’s car and we stroll arm-in-arm into the venue. The whole time, I’m quietly reminding myself that this event is just an extension of work. Yes, I’m dressed fancier than normal but I’m here representing my boss. That objective has to remain front of mind in all my actions this evening.
Normally, I’m perfectly comfortable at these sorts of events. Tonight feels different, though. I don’t know if it’s the butterflies provoked by the charming, gorgeous man at my side. Or if it’s the simmering sense of anxiety over the man I’m dreading running into.
I make my best effort to stay in the moment. We check in our coats and slowly make our way into the oversized ballroom.
A gorgeous blonde woman with a sweeping updo makes her way across the room, her beaming smile pinned on Harry and me.
“Mom,” Harry greets her, taking her into his arms with a quick kiss to the cheek. “You look so gorgeous.”
“Look at you!” she tells him. “You’re handsome in a suit. We’re gonna have to talk to your coach about letting you wear this on the field.” Then her glittering eyes swing to me. “I’m Noelle. I’m so pleased to meet you.”
“Nadia,” I say with a smile when she takes both of my hands in hers.
“Oh, I know,” she laughs heartily. “Harry told me about you.”
My gaze twists in his direction, wondering what on earth this man told his mother about me. The sheepish expression that comes over his face tells me I have every right to be worried.
Noelle laughs again, strangely putting me at ease. “It was all good things. Don’t worry.”
A thin man with stringy salt-and-pepper hair catches up with Noelle, laying his knobby fingers on her hip. I see the way Harry’s eyes zone in on that hand like he wants to snap it in four different places.
“Harry,” the man says, extending a hand.
Mr. Suddenly Grumpy accepts it with a firm shake. “Troy.”
Troy’s gaze swings my way. “And who is this lovely lady?”
“This is Nadia!” Noelle beams. “Harry’s date tonight.” This woman’s enthusiasm is intoxicating. I find myself grinning along with her, feeding off of her good energy.
“It’s great to meet you both,” I say, allowing Troy to shake my hand. Probably for a second too long. When I try to slip my hand from his, he only squeezes it tighter.
I see the way Noelle’s eyes shift uncomfortably to where are hands are joined.
Harry nips that shit in the bud, though. “We’re gonna go find our seats.” He discreetly extracts my hand from Troy’s.
“We’re seated all the way on the other side of the room.” Noelle pouts.
