Page 175 of Remy

I glance to my right, finding Dad and Lucy climbing from their seats.

I tense. “What are they doing?”

Dad reaches into his suit jacket, pulling out his wallet.

“It looks like Carlo is about to offend me.” Remy releases my hip. “Do you mind if we cut the dance short?”

“Not at all.”

He gives my hand one final squeeze then maneuvers around me, leaving me cold as I follow his long stride back to the table.

“What’s going on, Pelosi?” Remy glowers at the credit card my father places atop the tablecloth.

“Lucy and I are going to call it a night and let the two of you continue alone.”

“Dad, no.” I step forward. “If you’re leaving so am I.”

“Please don’t.” His eyes plead. “Today has been the best I’ve had since before your mother died. But I’m tired, fragolina. New meds are making me sleepy. I won’t leave if you plan on coming, too.”

I open my mouth to protest but pause at his beseeching expression.

He truly wants me to stay.

I think I might want it, too.

“All I’m doing is going back to the house to sleep.” He shuffles closer to wrap an arm around my shoulders. “Please stay and have fun for me.”

“What do you say, little Pelosi?” Remy grabs the credit card and slips it into my father’s chest pocket before looking at me. “Do you think you can handle one more drink?”

31

REMY

I help Carlo into the waiting Uber. Then it’s just me and Ollie in the empty parking lot, the streetlight gleaming down on her dark hair.

“Where do you want to go from here?” I ask, pretending I’ll be satisfied with a response that doesn’t involve my hands all over her body.

“I’m not sure.” She shrugs one perfectly bare shoulder. “I haven’t been to Berkeley Springs in years.”

“We drove past a bar on the way in. It’s only around the block.”

“That sounds nice.”

I make my way toward the Escalade.

“Wait,” she blurts. “We’re not walking? I’ve got ten courses I need to help metabolize.”

I pause, the hair on the back of my neck rising. We may be in the middle of nowhere, but it doesn’t mean I’m any less inclined to minimize our exposure to the world. “Are you sure your feet are up for it in those heels?”

“I can handle the shoes you bought me, Remy.” She shoots me a shy grin. “Along with anything else you have to offer.”

My cock stirs. I force myself to ignore it. “It’s safer in the car.”

“Safer from who?” She twists her hips playfully, making the skirt of her dress swish. “Name one person who would target a woman dressed like a fairy tale princess?”

“When that woman is you, my answer is—literally any red-blooded male in a twenty-mile radius.” I jerk my head back toward the car. “Come on. I’ll drive us there. If you’re still eager for exercise after our drink I’ll make you walk home.”

She chuckles, her eyes gleaming with a reserved smile.

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