Page 122 of Ruthless Heir

It’s Saturday night. Time for Beth’s birthday party.

She and I just walked into the Blue Ridge, an underground techno club in Lower Manhattan that seems to have attracted the most eccentric of partygoers.

The club itself is eccentric with its grungy décor, crazy strobe lights and the punk rocker bouncers and staff at the door and bar.

I love dancing the night away but this isn’t the sort of club I’d go to on my own.

It seems like the kind of place where anything goes andanythingcan happen. Perfect for Beth.

Joining us tonight are Mara and Denise, our friends from high school who are just as zany as Beth. There’s also Jason, Beth’s current boyfriend, a few of his friends, and Jack and his friends. There are twelve of us.

It’s been a while since I hung out with a group this large or since I saw my friends from high school—who I only vaguely remember.

I feel terrible about that because we’ve been friends since junior high. All I remember about them is the last few months of high school after the accident when I was able to return to classes.

As luck would have it Mara and Denise both go to NYU so I’m hoping to reconnect with them there.

As for tonight, I’m struggling to not think about Asher. The last few days have ended with either phone sex or us sending each other naked pictures.

I can’t believe it’s us. I have four more days until he’s back and I’m dying to see him.

Beth leads us to the VIP area and we start the night with a few rounds of drinks while we get to know the new guys and catch up on old times.

When we’re done drinking we head to the dance floor where Jack tries to dance with me. Thankfully I’m saved when Mara slips between us and starts dancing with him. The moment she hooks her arms around his neck and whispers something in his ear all thoughts of trying to hook up with me are forgotten.

Thank God.

Beth and I dance like we used to when we were kids. Like we don’t have a care in the world and like no one is watching. We have a lot of fun until Jason whisks her away.

I finish dancing to the song because it’s a 90’s mix I like, then suddenly I find myself dancing among strangers. Everyone has left me.

I know the drill. When Beth disappears like that it means I won’t see her again for the night. The same for our other friends.

I’ve been here a little over two hours anyway, like I promised, so it’s time to go home.

When I turn to head toward the exit I feel eyes on me. There must be hundreds of people here but these eyes feel different from the crowd.

I look over my shoulder, following the pull of the stare, and find myself gazing straight at the man of my dreams.

Asher Le Blanche is leaning on the balcony of the second floor watching me.

Our eyes lock and I’m instantly trapped within his bright blue gaze.

Oh. My. God. He’s back.

He came back early. And he’shere.

I told him I was going to be here for Beth’s party. Knowing that he flew back and came to find me is the best surprise ever.

I turn around fully to face him and the brightest smile spreads across my face.

His eyes roam down my body, taking in the black bodycon dress molded to me and my red heels. I study him, too.

He’s dressed in a black button-down shirt and black slacks. His hair is ruffled in that just-got-out-of-bed way and the sexy smirk on his face sets me on fire.

Asher straightens, raises a finger and twirls it around slowly, emulating the way I was dancing previously. He wants me to dance.

Dance forhim.

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