Page 13 of Take What You Want

“But I’d rather talk to my best friend,” he says, throwing an arm back around my shoulder and pulling me into his side. His body is warm, his heat radiating through the layers of clothes between us. In a room full of people, he makes me feel like I’m the only one that matters.

“I thought Reid is your best friend. Or Hayden or Walker.”

“Fine. My girl best friend.”

I roll my eyes but sink into his side, enjoying the comfort and security blanket his presence brings me at these things.

“And as your best friend,” he says, tilting his head to look at me. His eyes are soft, with a warm glow in them as he scans my face. “I could help you out with your problem.”

I choke on my drink, sputtering as he claps my back.

He—What? He’s not seriously offering what I think he’s offering. I have to be more drunk than I thought.

“Y-you w-what?”

4

JANE

It’s unfair how beautiful Nikolai Brooks is. Men shouldn’t be able to be pretty like that, but there’s no other way to describe him. His nose comes to a perfect point with a natural highlight across the bridge. The blue shade of his eyes sparkles lighter or darker depending on the lighting and his mood.

And his hair. Don’t get started on his fucking hair…so effortlessly and perfectly styled when I know he didn’t do a damn thing to it besides run his hands through the silky, blond strands.

Or let someone else run their hands through it.

It’s disgusting how handsome he is, and yet he’s only grown into himself over the years.

At eighteen, he was a heartthrob.

At twenty-seven, he’s heartbreakingly beautiful.

He hasn’t spotted me yet, so I allow myself a few stolen moments to check him out as I walk through the restaurant, toward the private table he reserved in the back. Likely so we could fly under the radar, even though the entire place is empty.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he rented the whole thing just for our dinner.

His posture is relaxed as he leans back in the semi-circle booth. The top three buttons on his shirt are undone, like usual, giving way to the golden skin of his chest. The material is a light blue and I know he picked it out because it matches his eyes. He knows what works for him.

Always has.

One arm is causally slung over the top of the booth, the sleeve rolled up to his elbow to showcase the veins in his forearm and the silver watch that sits on his wrist—a present from his maternal grandfather he was gifted it on his sixteenth birthday.

Nikolai was never going to live a normal life or have a normal job. He was born to have people notice him. To live in the limelight and garner the praise and attention his aura commands. If he hadn’t opened his mouth and realized his undeniable talent, he probably would’ve been a model. And a successful one.

But his voice. The voice that stole my heart and millions of others’ too. Although unlike the rest of them, he wasn’t careless with theirs like he was with mine.

But I’ve moved past that.We’vemoved past that. We’re both grownups now and here for a business meeting between two friends.

“Sir,” the hostess says, stirring Nikolai’s attention as we approach. She silently steps to the side as I approach him and it takes everything in me to keep my steps steady as he looks at me.

Those crystalline eyes of his scan me from head to toe, taking their time with their perusal and not hiding the heat at what they see. His lips tip up in a smile that sends my heart rate soaring and he unfolds himself easily from the booth, standing at his full 6’2”. I’m almost his height in my three-inch heels, but he doesn’t bat an eye at that.

He’s used to seeing me in heels.

Always has been, always will be.

Fuck whoever said tall girls can’t wear heels.

“It’s good to see you,” he greets, his voice that usual smooth, melodic tone. He opens his arms, and I hesitate a moment, causing that crease to come back between his brow, before I step into his embrace.

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