Page 27 of Soul Food

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The Black Hearts charity event wasn’t public. It was for celebrities and other prominent types to mingle and attract the right kind of attention. As long as the proceeds went toward a good cause, I was all for it. Nothing like putting my money where it was needed after I was gone.

And that was my thought process as my makeup artist lavished me with her expertise. I picked out a gold gown with a thigh-high slit revealing my toned legs. The dress had a train that flowed behind me as I walked. The artist matched my makeup with the tight-fitted beauty I wore. Once she was finished, I slipped my feet into a pair of black heels and checked out my reflection in the full-length mirror. The gold specks of glitter on the gown caught the light as I rotated my hips and the slit revealed dark, smooth skin every tiny fraction I moved. The low-cut dress revealed an indecent amount of cleavage. My wavy hair was in a high ponytail with the ends flowing freely down my back.

Jayne sat beside me in the vehicle, dressed to perfection in a royal blue dress that complimented her pale skin. On the drive to the event, she was the excited chatterbox as she asked me which celebrities I thought would be there, saying names of those she hoped would be. Rupert and Max would be at the event with me, but once we inside, they’d be able to keep a safe distance. We rode in a black van and when we arrived at the building, Rupert sighed. “Got a big crowd outside.”

I expected no less. Black Hearts wanted this kind of attention, and every celebrity or competitor they brought here in the process was a bonus for them and the charities. Once John stopped the van in front of the art gallery, Rupert and Max exited first and opened the door. Cameras and reporters were abuzz as I flipped an internal switch turning into this well-known celebrity. I flashed my signature smile for them and waved before stepping into the building. Jayne entered a minute later already in work mode. Gone was the constant chatter as her gaze darted around the room. This place was huge. The bottom floor of the two-story building was one giant oval shape. Soft music played, but no one danced. Instead, everyone stood around engrossed in private conversations.

“I hope Liz doesn’t come,” Jayne whispered in my ear. “With her trying to make a comeback and all.”

Facing her, I said affectionately. “You worry too much. Liz and I are in the past. I don’t care what she does, and neither should you.”

“I’m your PA. It’s my job to worry.” She slanted her head to the side and frowned at me. “Let’s not forget the stunts she pulls every time she sees you. What is it with her and always trying to make a…” Jayne’s words faded away as she offered her hand to someone beside me. My gaze shifted as she said, “Mr. Quinn, how are you?”

And this was where everyone and every word started blurring together. These things were always a bore, and as much as I tried not to admit it, I knew why I came here, but I wouldn’t look for him or seek him out. Although I wouldn’t let myself, it didn’t change the fact that I wondered if he’d even show since I turned down his invitation. Amit never bothered with these things before, yet he had invited me to this event with him.

This strange fixation on him was driving me batty. I was one part intrigued, one part curious, and two parts afraid of him. That was the problem. That bizarre discomfort around Amit only fueled my obsession of him.

“Ruth.” Pete, The Oppressors’s guitarist, found me admiring one of the paintings. Even these were being auctioned off for charity. I caught his gaze as he fussed with the loose tie he wore.

“They already have you guys attending these?” I asked good-naturedly.

He shrugged, dropping his head to look at the floor, but not before I saw his lips curl up. “I don’t mind.”

“Ruth,” said Liam, the lead vocalist. He hummed as he came up behind Pete with Steve at his side. “You left yesterday without saying goodbye.”

They wore button-down shirts and dress slacks instead of full suits. Not a single one seemed to care how untidy they looked with crooked ties and even more crooked smiles. Even though they looked out of place, they moved with a finesse that took me years to master. They had something about them that was unique.

Amit took me by surprise yesterday. I forgot to tell them goodbye and instead left with Jayne right after Amit did. “I’ll make sure to remember the goodbye from now on,” I told him.

“Want to invite us over for lunch sometime?” Liam asked completely carefree—just his personality.

“Well…” I cupped my mouth slightly like I was about to tell some giant secret. “Don’t count on me cooking, but Jayne can have any takeout at your door in a second.”

That made them chuckle, and Pete’s gaze darted across the room to where Jayne was chatting with someone. “Very put together, she is.” I watched him study her.

Liam’s eyes were on my PA too before they returned to me. “Should we dance, Ruth?” he asked, draping an arm over my shoulders. Up close, these boys were even more attractive. They weren’t guys with giant muscles, imposing like Amit, but they were captivating. Slick, maybe? Cool? There was some sort of appeal there, and I knew the world would gobble up these boys with their tall, heavily tattooed frames.

“No one’s dancing,” I told him. “Kind of a drag—but for a good cause.”

“Let’s change that.” He twisted me around without my agreement and pulled us into the middle of the room where everyone watched us with interest.

I snickered, letting my head fall back as I did. “You’re doing this to cause a scene, aren’t you? Using me to stir up some news before your first release?”

He smirked, leaning in. “As good an idea as that is, I’m afraid I’ll stir up trouble wherever I go. Call it my nature. I just want to live, and right now, I just want you to dance.” The heat of his voice brushed my ear. I shivered. It felt good to be close to a man, but it was also dangerous.

I tilted my head as he grabbed my waist and pulled me in. That was all it took for me to lose the fun I was having. He wastooclose. Smilingtoocasually at me. Something bad could happen to him if the demon sensed there was something between us.

He saw my frown and paused. “What’s wrong?”

I glanced up in time to see Amit staring down at us from the top floor, and my stomach dropped to the floor. His dark eyebrows were harsh, but not as angry as his eyes were as he watched us. Why was his gaze so menacing? I tried to pull away, but Liam tugged me closer. His gaze turned and followed to where mine had been on Amit. His scowl hardened as he looked back at me. “You close with Black Hearts president?” he asked in a tone I’d never heard from the carefree vocalist.

I shook my head. “No. I met him the same day I met you guys.”

He relaxed, but only slightly. “Good. You should stay away from him.”

I blinked and stopped moving altogether on the dance floor as I gawked at him. “Why would you say that?”

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