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I stare up at Tate while the photographer scrambles away from us, Tate glaring the entire time, his body tense, his jaw tight. Only when the photographer is gone does Tate ease up some. He loosens his hold on me, and I step away from him, hating how woozy I suddenly feel.
It couldn’t be the kiss that affected me. Not like that. Maybe it was the champagne I’ve consumed tonight. I don’t really drink. Not even at parties when I was still in high school. But maybe the few glasses I’ve snuck tonight went straight to my head.
“Sorry about that,” Tate says grimly, running his fingers along his jaw. “I didn’t think the paparazzi would care enough to snap photos of me.”
Were they really here for Tate Ramsey? Or did my father let them in?
“I can’t believe they snuck into my party.” I bend my head, shaking out my skirts, trying to fight another wave of disappointment. My eighteenth birthday, and the only reason I kiss a guy is so we could distract a photographer.
Ian wasn’t impressed by my dress, my party... none of it. I don’t even know where he is. I’ve wasted a lot of time crushing on him, when clearly, he’s not interested in me.
He’s made that more than obvious.
“Your father spared no expense for this party.” Tate smiles, and a fleet of butterflies erupts in my stomach, making me breathless. “An event like this always draws a lot of media attention.”
“My parents did mention they invited a few reporters and photographers they’re close to, to cover the event. Mostly from fashion magazines and sites.” My parents’ wedding was featured inVogueandTown & Country. They were the chicest couple in New York City at one point during the early years of their marriage.
“I’m sure that’s who the photographer was with,” Tate reassures me, but I catch the worry in his gaze. “Though he did look pretty familiar. I might’ve met him... before.”
“Right.” I’m distracted as I glance around the massive ballroom, realizing that we’re in a very dark and private corner tucked away from everyone else. The party is raging on without me. I can hear conversations flowing, accompanied by laughter. Music is playing, a slow, sensuous beat, and that’s when I spot two women draped in pearls and not much else dancing across the stage, massive pink feather fans in their hands.
I vaguely remember my father mentioning he hired dancers for the party. Looks like they started their performance.
“I should go.” I turn to Tate, his gaze lifting to mine rather guiltily, and I wonder what he was staring at. My butt? How could he even see it in this dress? “I’m sure my father expects me to watch the dancers.”
“Looks like burlesque.” When I turn to him, he explains further. “Pretty sexy stuff. They’re barely dressed.”
A spotlight hits the stage, revealing two scantily clad women in a giant champagne glass tossing their arms up in the air, strings of pearls covering their chests and almost revealing their nipples. In fact, I’m fairly certain I just saw a flash of pink. “Oh. This is kind of...”
“Scandalous?” Tate finishes for me.
I nod, turning to look at him once more. “My father likes to go a little overboard when he throws a party.”
I adore my father, but he also likes to make it all about him. Such as the burlesque dancers. That’s really not my kind of thing.
“Isn’t this your party, though?” Tate lifts his brows questioningly, and I can only shrug helplessly, unable to explain.
“Shouldn’t it be all about you?” he continues when I still haven’t said anything.
“I suppose.” It’s never been about me.
Not that I can remember.
“I have a question.” He leans back on his heels, contemplating me.
“What is it?”
“Are you mad at me that I kissed you?”
I gawk at him for about two seconds before I realize what I’m doing and snap my lips shut, shocked at his change of subject. “N-no.”
“You sure?” He lifts his brows, his gaze locked on me and no one else.
I stand up a little straighter, trying to appear composed. Like the mature adult woman I now am. As if it’s normal for me to be kissed by random men on my birthday.
“Positive,” I say firmly.
His smile is slow, spreading wide upon his handsome face until it’s a devastating, breath-stealing grin. “Good. I know I’ll never forget it.”
