Page 68 of The Charmer

He did finally let go of me as we both got some food. At least three people approached him in the meantime, and I realized we weren't going to spend a lot of time together. I pouted as I put some gumbo on my plate. What had I been expecting? He was hosting the party, after all.

I simply took my plate and champagne glass and wandered back to the window. The crowds were getting bigger by the minute. Excitement ran through my body. I wondered if they were going to play music, but it wasn’t really necessary; once you opened the window, it would filter in from the street. The atmosphere down there was infectious.

The music started about half an hour later. I could hear it even through the windows. I glanced around and asked loudly, "Anyone mind if I open a window?"

"Go ahead," Julian clearly said from across the room, then walked over to me.

I opened the windows, then stepped out onto the balcony. The floats were still pretty far away.

I knew Julian was behind me before he even spoke. "Want me to bring your coat?"

"I'll just be here for a bit."

"I know you. You'll stay here until the whole parade has passed."

I smiled sheepishly. "Guilty as charged.”

“I can keep you warm, but I think your coat is a good idea anyway."

"Finally, I found you two."

Oh man, this can’t be a real. I recognized the voice only because it was a bit too similar to Kyle's. Enough to give me the creeps.

I turned around to face Beau, his brother. Julian had turned around at the same time.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Julian said.

"Yeah, that's right. You forgot to uninvite me, unlike Kyle."

Huh? I wanted to ask Julian what was going on, but not in front of Beau.

He looked between the two of us. "I can't believe this. Julian, you're going to burn a lot of bridges in the Quarter if you keep uninviting people because of your girlfriend."

Julian laughed. "There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”

Yep, I was swooning again. He sounded like he meant every word.

“And don’t you dare lecture me on burning bridges,” he continued. “Half the business owners in the Quarter have a bone to pick with you and Kyle."

Beau rolled his eyes, then looked at me with disdain. "Those are just rumors. Unlike you and this—”

"Don't you dare," I said. "God, you're just as bad as your brother."

"I did warn him that you weren't a good fit for him. I can't see how anyone with a respectable family name would—”

"Get out," Julian said. His tone was surprisingly calm, which would explain why Beau didn't take him seriously.

"Yeah, right."

Julian gestured for someone at the other end of the room, and then a bouncer came up to us. An actual bouncer.

Holy shit! I hadn't even seen the guy—and he wasn’t hard to miss because he towered over absolutely everyone. Then it dawned on me that he was probably supposed to stay out of sight and only step in in case of trouble.

"Jay, please escort Mr. Beau Deveraux out of the suite."

"You've got to be shitting me—" Beau began, but Julian cut him off.

"For your own sake, don't make a scene. I will personally tell everyone to whom I know you and your brother owe money that I don't mind if they claim it right here."

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