Page 112 of Timelessly Ours

“Ten,” I murmur.

“Super,” Jace beams and I notice him grip Nick’s stiff arm. “We'll see you there.” He tugs his friend. “Come on. Help me find my girlfriend.”

When they leave, I turn to Nicole—her expression is sharp but blank. “You alright? You’re usually very vocal with your brother.”

“I didn’t want to make a scene,” she says evenly, keeping her eyes focused on some of the couples in the room.

I nod and search the crowd, finding the man I’m mostly here for tonight. “There’s Jeff Granger. The woman next to him is his wife, Sandy. She hates these things almost as much as I do, so she likely won’t leave his side. Want to come over with me?”

She swallows but nods once, as if I’m sending her into battle.

Bringing Nicole tonight is part of a bigger plan I have for her to come out of hiding. To stop feeling like the whole town still thinks of her as the outcast, the unfortunate Kane twin, the one who belongs downtown with the drug addicts rather than in the suburbs.

Hundreds of people are here tonight. Important people. People who could easily spread the word.

I want tonight to be her golden hour. “Nicole, look at me.”

Her eyes linger on my chest before lifting to mine.

“You belong here with me. Maybe even more than most people here tonight. Just…be yourself. Don’t worry about what anyone thinks.”

She blinks up. “Easy for you to say.”

“Honey, relax. Just breathe. And be yourself.”

She nods, but I know my words fall on deaf ears.

It pains me to tear my eyes off her when I still have so much to reassure her, but I’m forced to when my name is called from a few feet away.

“Grove,” I acknowledge, curtly. A part of me still ticked off that Nicky wouldn't let me confront him. Saying something about how it would discredit her threats if he knew she told on him.

Clapping my shoulder, he says, “Let’s chat privately when you have a moment.”

Before I have a chance to tell him we can speak in my office later, he turns to Nicole. His eyes scanning her in a way that makes me want to tear his eyeballs out of their sockets.

“You look absolutely lovely. Nicole, is it?”

She grins wickedly. “You know it is.”

I cover my mouth and clear my throat to hide my smile because this is what I admire most about my girl. The way she calls people out when they’re practically asking for it.

But the moment I do, Nicole’s eyes flash and she backtracks. “I mean, thank you, it’s…nice to see you again,” she says softly.

“My wife is around here somewhere. Let me go grab her.”

I touch her elbow. “I’m sorry about that, I meant—”

“No,” she hisses at me. Her eyes glistening. “You don’t have to apologize. I do. I’m here for you. I need to keep myself in check.”

I tug her arm gently and growl into her ear. “Enough of that.”

Gove and his wife, Jessica, a middle-aged woman with short dark hair, high cheekbones and too much makeup, approach us, and the little chat I was about to have with Nicole is cut short.

“Oh goodness, you finally brought a date that isn’t a tall blonde. They always intimidated me.” Jessica scans Nicole like she’s someone she can handle, and it makes my chest simmer. She extends her hand. “Jessica Randall.”

My date returns the pleasantry. “Nicole Kane. And you’re beautiful. You should never feel intimidated by anyone.”

My jaw tics and I swallow hard. Nicole shouldn’t have to suck up to anyone—especially not for my benefit.

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