Page 52 of Nothing to Tell

“People will be talking about that for months.Years!You’ll be legendary.”

And that was exactly what she didn’t want to hear.Years?Long after she’d returned to her mess of a life, when Bastian was just trying to get along, people would remember…

“Nothing wrong with that.”

No?She felt sick.“Years?”

“Geez…” Roxie said, putting down her glass and twisting her stool around to scan the space.“Let’s clear this up now…”

“Clear it up?”

“Watch and learn.”Roxie kicked out her leg as she pounced off the stool.Her set pace and determination cleared people from her path, opening up a direct route to her husband—Roxie swept away his glass so fast that it fell from his hand.Then she was grabbing him down, kissing him like—oh and there was the leg to his hip, a bounce and… Wow, Roxie was—wow.

Keely’s giggle came with a sigh.“I love her so much.Isn’t she amazing?”

Zairn would wonder where such passion came from so suddenly.Or maybe he wouldn’t.They weren’t a couple who apologized for their love and were proud of it everywhere.

Maybe she could take a leaf from their book and learn a few things… If she didn’t terrify Bastian in the process.

Wait.No.Not Bastian.She wasn’t with Bastian, she was… they really needed to figure this out.

NINETEEN

A NIGHT FOR THE BOOKS.With Roxie, Keely, and the attentive man currently driving her home.Oh, but she wasn’t ready.He’d been utterly focused on her all night without crowding her.With his dad and Zairn part of their group, the men did their own talking while she got to know Keely and Carolyn better.

Despite only meeting Roxie once before that night, it already felt they’d been friends for years.Something about Roxie just put her, and everyone else, at ease.The woman was a magnet for people and could talk to anyone.Literally anyone.Except Ricardo Whey.He got the stink eye with a slight side-smirk, the two must have history.

Every once in a while, Bastian would sweep her away to hold her tight on the dance floor.It gave them time to talk alone, without lies.Those moments reinforced their duplicity.What a view they must’ve made to those who believed their mistruths.

At the end of the night, as the Hunt parents and Keely said goodnight and left the hall, Harper gathered her clutch, ready to tell Bastian she was going too.Before a word left her lips, he wrapped her in his jacket and draped a possessive arm over her shoulder to lead her outside.

A valet brought his car around.He helped her inside and moments later they were on a long, dark road.

“Did you have a good time?”he asked.

The smile on her face probably said it all.Though tired, the night still stirred her blood.

“Yeah,” she said.“Better than I thought I would.”

“You were worried about coming out with me?”

He’d been the simplest part of the whole night.

“No,” she said, slipping her feet from her shoes.“But when we drove up to that house… everyone looked so… refined.”

“You look amazing,” he said.“That dress plays peek-a-boo with your leg.Drives me crazy.”

Without their audience, he didn’t have to be sweet with her.The habit would wear off.

“Not while you’re driving,” she said.“Speaking of which, you can drop me anywhere and I’ll get a cab to—”

“Why would you get a cab?”

“You can’t drive all the way to my parents’, and it would be a heck of a long walk.It’s forever away.”

For a second, neither of them said anything.The silence was his acquiesce… wasn’t it?Except their route didn’t change.

“You told Damon and Charissa we had a date tonight.”