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Herheart beat hard and fast in her chest as she stepped into the familiar ballroom, its shades of white and gold almost blinding.Noisebounced everywhere, voices and music and the clinking of glasses ricocheting off of the marble floors and filling her ears with an uncomfortable buzz.Adamlaid his hand over hers and squeezed gently.
“Justbreathe,Hazel.I’vegot you.”
Sheglanced over at him and felt her heart slow almost instantly.Knowinghe was here with her, that he had her back, was everything.Evenwhen she’d been married toSeth, she’d always felt so lonely at events like this.
Sheblew out a steadying breath and nodded subtly. “It’sjust a party.”
“Right.”Hedipped his head, his lips brushing against her ear and making her shiver. “Injust a few hours, we can go back to your place andIcan bury my face between your legs.”
“Yes, please,” she whispered.
“Aslong as you promise to leave the dress and heels on.Thisslit is driving me crazy.”
Hernipples beaded beneath her dress and she blushed slightly. “Isit time to go yet?”
Helaughed, the sound warm and sexy, and her heart melted at the sight of him.ShelikedAdamin his usual sweater and jeans, or in nothing but low-slung gray sweatpants, and obviously she liked him in nothing at all.ButAdamin a suit…yes, please.Thesuite was dark gray, and he was wearing a white shirt and black tie.Simple, classic, and sexy as hell.
Fora moment, she stood at the entrance to the gala, surveying everything.Clustersof people talked while servers circulated with trays of champagne and tiny canapés.Onthe left side of the room was a crescent-shaped bar, and a burbling fountain added to the cacophony from its recessed spot in the middle.Aliving wall took up space on the right, making the air smell like chlorine, dirt, and the faint astringent tinge of cleaning products.
Onceupon a time, she’d thought events like this were fun and glamorous.Now, they felt different, and it wasn’t just because of everything that had happened withSeth.Theyfelt different becauseshewas different.Andwalking in onAdam’sarm, she knew she could handle whatever tonight threw at her.
“Oh, look.There’sAlex,” she said, tugging gently onAdam’sarm. “Let’sgo say hi.”
Theywove their way through the little groups of people, andHazelfelt as though she was getting smacked in the face over and over again with the thick scents of cloying perfumes and the braying, fake laughter.Alexsaw them as they approached, and he lifted his hand in a wave.
Hewas tall and wiry thin with black hair shot through with streaks of gray.Hisstylish glasses complimented his eggplant-hued suit and colorful skinny tie.
“Hazel,” he said in his distinctive nasal voice and almost monotone inflection. “Soglad you came.And, this, this must be, uh,Adam,” he said, raising his eyebrows.
Hazelnodded. “AdamShephard, this is my agent,AlexGoldblatt.”
Adamextended his hand and offeredAlexan affable smile. “Niceto meet you,Alex.”
“Andyou.Mygoodness, you don’t look like a writer.Youlook more like a lumberjack.Orlike thatBritishactor.Youknow the one.Withthe smile and the muscles,” he said, pantomiming a flex. “HenryCavill.”
Adamlaughed, his cheeks going slightly pink, which madeHazelwant to maul him. “Uh, thank you,Ithink, butIcan assure you,I’mdefinitely a writer.Ihave the terrible posture to prove it.”
Alexlaughed. “Funny, too.Youknow,Hazel,I’mstarting to think there’s something more than just co-writing going on here,” he said, gesturing at where her hand lay onAdam’sthick arm.
“Youwould be right,” she said. “Adam’salso my boyfriend.So, have you talked toSethany more about the book?”
Alexshook his head. “Notreally, uh, no.He’sgot the pages, the synopsis, everything, and he’s supposed to be smoothing it all over with the editorial team and legal.”
Hazelnodded slowly. “Andif he can’t?”
“Don’tstress,” he said emphatically. “We’llfigure it out.Trustme.You’retoo big a name for them to not make this work.”
Theytalked for a little while longer,AlexaskingAdamabout hisRobertBradymysteries, asking them about how co-writing was working out, before he was called away by someoneHazeldidn’t know.
“Yousure you don’t mind me riding your coattails?” askedAdam, a slight frown on his face.
Sheturned to him, cupping his cheek. “You’renot.Thisbook wouldn’t be happening if we weren’t riding it together.Yeah,I’mthe one with the agent and the connections right now, but without you, this project wouldn’t exist.”
Thecorner of his mouth kicked up in a smile, and for a moment, it felt as though they were lost in their own little world, the party swirling around them.
“Hazel,I…”Hestared at her, his heart in his warm, golden eyes.
“Oh, shit,” she said, catching sight of a familiar head of black hair. “HerecomesSeth.”
