Page 35 of Fever

“I took a screenshot, here.” She handed me the device.

Josiah and I were walking away from the table where his father sat. We were arm in arm. A subtle smile sat on my face, and a handsome grin lay across his. Looking at the picture stirred me. The feeling was uncharted, and I didn’t know what to make of it. At the same time, my face warmed before I finally pulled my eyes away from the image. I handed the phone back to Carla.

“Let us see,” Selena and Octavia said in unison.

I gave the phone to Selena and took another sip of my cocktail just as a waitress passed.

“Excuse me,” I said. She turned back to me. “Can I get another gin and tonic, please?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I turned back to the girls, and they were all staring at me. “What?”

“What are we to think of this picture?” Selena asked, handing the phone back to Carla.

“Think whatever you want to think.”

A different waitress trucked up to our table with a round of drinks. One by one, she sat them in front of us.

“Um, we didn’t order these,” Octavia said.

“These drinks are courtesy of Mr. Valentine.” The waitress pointed across the room, and we all turned.

“As in Boss Man Valentine?” Selena asked.

The waitress laughed. “That’s the one.”

Mr. Hunter Valentine, CEO of VFC Energy, a fortune 500 company. VFC had been named alongside Rose Bank and Trust Credit Union as one of the most respected companies.

“What is he doing in here?” Selena whispered sharply.

“I don’t know, baby, but I’m willing to find out,” Carla practically moaned out.

Watching him from afar, I took in his strong features, chocolate brown skin, and could tell by the length of his legs even in a sitting position that he was rather tall. I took another sip of my empty cocktail, sucking in a lungful of air. Mr. Valentine held up a glass of dark liquid in a silent cheer.

Collectively, we held up ours in return, and a slow smile brushed across his face. Commotion at the nightclub entrance pulled our attention to the door. Two men traipsed through while the owner held the door open for another. When Josiah entered, my belly flopped, and a smile instantly spread across my lips. I couldn’t help but take my eyes from the top of him to the bottom.

He was just as charming now as he was the last time I’d seen him. He wore a clean-cut Brook Brother’s polo that complemented his muscled physique. The shirt sat comfortably against the belt of a pair of dark navy-blue shorts. The belt on his waist blinged from across the room, and the loafers on his feet gave him a prep boy look. From the distance, I could see his freshly oiled skin, and suddenly his male scent tickled my nose. The guy in front of him spoke, and Josiah smiled that sexy grin that always made my throat dry. A group of women sashayed through the door, wasting no time approaching him. The two guys he was with seemed more like groupies as they hung by his side with admiration of being part of his entourage.

The DJ interrupted the music and said through the mic, “It looks like we’re in good company tonight. Josiah Alexander Rose and Hunter Valentine are in the building!”

A waitress sauntered up to Josiah, handing him a short glass of dark liquor, which he accepted with a terse nod. The woman who lingered in front of him leaned closer to whisper in his ear, and a knot of jealousy knocked through me. I bit down on my teeth softly and tried to maintain my composure. He doesn’t really belong to you, Santana. I knew this, but I wasn’t in the position to explain why I felt territorial. The woman continued to whisper in his ear, and his smooth pair of lips eased back into a smile. The knot in my stomach got tighter with each moment that I watched. At the same time, the music faded and John Legend’s “Tonight” cruised through the speakers.

I silently ordered myself to turn away and then it happened. As if my stare had burned a hole into him, his eyes lifted and met mine. His content smile widened, and a hot tingle crawled down my spine.

“Excuse me.”

I turned around to the deep voice that had beckoned me. Hunter Valentine stood by my side. Up close, his handsome features were sharp and a toothpick sat in the corner of his lips. He held his hand out.

“I’m Hunter,” he said. “I felt it was important for me to come over and introduce myself.” Hunter glanced to Carla, Octavia, and Selena. “Ladies,” he greeted.

“Hello,” they all cooed as I shook his hand.

“I hope the drinks are up to your standards,” Hunter’s smooth voice crooned.

“Delicious,” Carla stated.

“I’ve never received a drink so well put together. What’s your secret, Mr. Valentine?” Selena asked, batting her eyes.

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