Page 67 of Nothing to Win

She smiled.That hadn’t been her point, but to see the transformation and how being with him completely inverted his mood?Wow.Jenna was right.Brogan Spurn.She had magical powers.

TWENTY-ONE

HER PARENTS THREW PARTIES.Threwmight be the wrong word as they didn’t exactly tear up the tiles.Heldseemed more apt though suggested something much drier.Bingo, drier, that was a Sear house party to a tee.

At those events, she played hostess-lite, deputy, understudy.Well, no, that wasn’t quite right.Rather than host the guests exactly, she spotted her mom, running around and offering a sounding board for her mother’s venting.

At those parties, her mom was always tense.Always.Always.Always.The guests didn’t know it, or they didn’t say anything if they did, but tension often seized her mom.

Huh, at Bram’s party she hadn’t seen much of her mom.That may come back to bite her at some point.

There, at Brogan’s, she was center stage.Not so much gaped at, but responsible for keeping things going.And the funny thing?She wasn’t tense.Roxie’s people had come through, Jenna was amazing, and Brogan’s place was beautiful.

The music was just right, the lighting… She wouldn’t tell her mom, but Brogan’s party was much more refined and beautiful than those at their family home.It could be argued she was slightly biased, but, hey, she had a buzz.For now, she’d take it.

“It’s outstanding,” Brogan said, appearing at her side, offering another glass of wine.

Even though she shouldn’t, she took it.“I said I wasn’t going to drink too much tonight.”She’d told him while getting ready.“And this is the third glass of wine you’ve brought me.”

“You deserve to enjoy the party.You’re the star of the evening.”

Guests smiled, chatted, danced, it was a wonder how quickly it all came together.

The kitchen was blocked from view by temporary screens that fitted in perfectly with the decor.Anyone unfamiliar with the place wouldn’t think anything of it.The apartment might be in costume for the night, but she still recognized the space that had become part of her everyday life.

The air aroused and comforted.This was her place.For a short time only.For the first time she could belong somewhere as she’d never belonged anywhere else.

Admiring the glow, her gaze floated south.Though she hid her smile behind her glass, Brogan obviously saw it.

“And you’re thinking…?”

She relaxed until her upper arm came to rest on him.“We’ve had sex on the floor right there,” she whispered.

“Yes, we have.”Her eyes rose to his.“Would you like to do it again?”

Laughter leaped out.“Right now?”

“Why not?”He shrugged without a hint of amusement.“We own the joint.”

“Isn’t Roxie the one due to make a spectacle of herself?”

He tipped up her chin with a finger.“As soon as I kiss you, you’ll forget everyone else.”

Yes, she would.With him, everything in the world melted away.They could go upstairs to bed, no one was up there.Security kept partygoers away from anything vital.And valuable.Good thing too.Brogan’s gifts were stacked up in her closet; there had to be a good few mill just laying around.Most of the guests were friends, and rich in their own right, that didn’t stop her slight tilt toward paranoia.

“Cousin!”

The call came just a second before someone slapped a hand to Brogan’s shoulder.Cousin?Did he—the last person she expected to see was the security chief.

“You made it back?”Brogan asked.

“Got everything straightened out.”

“Carver,” she said unintentionally.“You’re Brogan’s cousin?”

“Last I checked.”

“I—how—”