Page 86 of Nothing to You
“No, you’re done,” he said, plucking the pen and binder from her hands to toss them onto a nearby stainless-steel table.
“Rourke,” she said, grabbing for her authority.
It was stolen again when he snagged her wrists to drape them around his neck.
“The party’s started.The work is done, Radley.Everyone is out there waiting for you.The people want to see you.”
Everyone was out there?
Blinking, her attention landed on the door beyond his upper arm.“Everybody’s here?”
She’d seen the first few guests arrive when the doors opened and had shaken half a dozen hands.Then the lighting director had a question about additional power, diverting her focus.
“Yes,” he said.“Everyone we care about.The party is in full swing.You did it.”He laced their fingers together.“Come see what you’ve done.”
It wouldn’t hurt to take a peek for a few minutes.When he led her into the main nightclub, with its chandeliers and draped silk, she almost couldn’t believe it was the same Crimson as before.They even had oak hardwood floors brought in and installed specifically for the event.A limitless budget made everything possible.
People smiled at them and nodded their way.Some appeared eager to chat, but Rourke tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and ignored them.
“This is the part of the night when everybody tells you what a good job you’ve done and how impressed they are that it all came together so quickly,” he said and stooped lower to rest his lips in her hair.“I’m not impressed.For the record.I think you could’ve done better.Much better.Parties like this are a dime a dozen.”
“I know.I modeled it on your house parties.Your example was my framework.”
“Ah, so that’s why you weren’t taking part?”
“You don’t have to be here, you know,” she said.“You’ve shown face.You’ve done your bit.This isn’t your idea of fun.If you want to leave—”
“Why would I want to leave?If there’s any chance of you falling on your face, I want to soak up every second.”
After passing through the people at the edge of the dance floor, he swung a left and escorted her to the back of the room.They ascended to the slightly elevated seating area, teeming with familiar faces.
“Roux!”Roxie exclaimed, jumping up to climb over Zairn and give her a hug.“Where have you been?This is wonderful!”
“It is,” Jane agreed.“It absolutely is.You used the caterer I recommended!”
“I did.Their samples were by far the best.You were right.”
“So is this a preview of the wedding?”Roxie asked, sitting on Zairn rather than returning to her own place at his other side.
Zairn didn’t twitch in objection.He combed Roxie’s hair away from her shoulder to lay his lips against her.
Lilya was next to stand up and kiss her cheek.“You’ve done a really good thing.”Stepping aside, she presented the man who’d sat at her side.“And this is Zach.”
“Fiancé,” he said, standing up to offer a polite cheek kiss.
“Kintyre,” she said.“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Oh, I didn’t—” Jane flapped her hands.“I don’t know where Knox is.”
“Upstairs,” Zairn said, brushing his lips back and forth on his fiancée’s skin.“He’ll be down in a minute.”
“Why aren’t we upstairs?”Rourke asked.“I don’t like being with the minions.I told you that on the Kyst-meister’s birthday.”
“Roxie’s birthday was friends and family only, not the general public.”
“Minions,” he said.“How many figures were they worth?”
“You don’t even care about money,” she said, jabbing him with an elbow.“Stop looking at the negatives.This is a target rich environment.There’s plenty of heirs and heiresses eager to take you out for a spin.”
