Page 27 of Escape You

“Thanks. I’ll be downstairs in a few minutes.” I waited until she was out the door to drop my towel on the bed. I donned the tuxedo suit and headed downstairs to play Jac’s puppy for the evening.

Try not to get killed tonight.

Downstairs, the penthouse had turned into a chaotic mess with everyone rushing back and forth setting up a bar in the far corner of the living area, near the floor-to-ceiling windows. White floral arrangements had been set throughout the penthouse. Out on the terrace, a jazz band played a few practice tunes before they kicked off a melody with a Latin rhythm. Jac’s people had pulled this together with only a few hours’ notice. I’d just gotten back from Derek’s engagement party to the love of his life. Not in a million years, would I have guessed that I would leave Atlanta to attend my own engagement party with no clue what Mia was to me.

One of Jac’s guys ushered me into the library, and my heart picked up the pace. Without Mavell in my ear, I was flying blind. If Jac discovered a security breach in his laptop, I wouldn’t find out about it until he came to me. Would I make his list of suspects or would he blame it on Mia right off the bat? Shit, I hadn’t considered that. My half-ass hack attempt could create a lot of problems for her.

“Chase.” Jac stood when I entered the room, beaming at me. “I have something for your bride-to-be. She’s going to beg you to marry her tonight when she sees this.” He carefully set a velvet black box on his desk and opened it.

Leave it to Jac to think this would be something Mia would want. Not even close. I ran a finger over the three-carat pedant. She was going to hate me for making her wear this. “She’ll love it.”

“Of course, she will. Go on.” He gestured for me to take the diamond necklace. “Guests will be arriving soon. Make sure she’s wearing it.”

Alex opened the door with a pleasant nod. I strode through the threshold and darted up the grand staircase to Mia’s room. The door swung open before I rapped on it. The young woman who’d dropped off my tux stared at me with the same wide eyes.

“It’s okay, Jules. Let him in.”

Jules nodded several times before she moved out of the way to show me in. When I walked in, she left the room, closing the door behind her. I froze when Mia ambled out of her bathroom in a floor-length, strapless dress.

Kill me now.

The dark velvet accentuated her green eyes and rosy lips. She had her hair up in a twist with only a few strands of hair brushing the side of her face. What was she to me?

“You made an impression on Jules. She has a bit of a crush on you.” She rolled her eyes.

“What did she say?” I was sure I hadn’t done anything to make her think I might want something with her. The mission came first.

“Something about a towel incident?” She raised an eyebrow at me. “She liked what she saw.”

“I’m not interested if that’s what you’re asking.” I closed the space between us. Was she jealous? “And you? What do you see?”

“You clean up nicely. That’s all.” Her gaze dropped to my chest and then my crotch.

I sucked in air. “You look stunning. I’m going to be the envy of everyone tonight.”

She glanced down at her dress, smoothing out the fabric cinching her waist. “I’m sure that was the intent.”

For a beat, I’d forgotten all this was pretend, a charade to impress Jac’sbigwig friends. “Right. I’m sorry, but you’re supposed to wear this too.” I showed her the jewel case.

She puffed out a breath. “Don’t apologize. Just put it on.” She was nothing if not pragmatic. Her crew came first. Wearing a flashy necklace that said she belonged to Jac now was the least of her worries. She turned her back to me and squared her shoulders. The backless dress showed every plane on her back, shoulders, and the ink from the phoenix I knew extended down her hip. I picked up the diamond pendant, then tossed the box on the bed.

When I placed the string of brilliant stones on her chest, she dipped her head “Jesus. Only the best for Jac Rossi, right?”

“He seems to think so.” I fixed the clasp on the nape of her neck. My fingers brushed the skin there, and a line of goose bumps appeared down the dip of her spine.

Not too long ago, she’d let me kiss her there and leave a mark where Jac’s extravagant jewelry rested on her now. Did she remember anything from that night? “How did you do it?” I bent down, and the warmth of her skin brushed my lips.

“Do what?” She exhaled.

“Forget our night. Because I haven’t. Every night, I close my eyes and I can’t think of anything else but you and me on every goddamn surface of that bar.”

“Chase.” Her tone was laced with warning. That name on her lips was my undoing.

I gripped her waist, sliding my fingers up her ribcage. “Tell me you’ve thought about that night too. Don’t lie.”

“It doesn’t matter what I think.”

I pressed my lips to her neck, and her body shivered in response.

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