Page 44 of Broken Princess

“You were. I have two new leads thanks to you.”

He follows me up the stairs and into the front of the store. As I’m heading to the door, a display case on the right catches my eye.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?”

“Is this an unfinished collection?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes. My grandfather said a woman brought these and a few other pieces in, to exchange for a small loan, and promised to come back for them. She never did, but he couldn’t stand the thought of reselling them. I guess that passed down to each of us. We keep them on display, to honor the memory of my grandfather’s charitable nature. You know, I’ve often thought the reason he started keeping a list of the jewelers in the area was because of these.”

I can’t stop looking at the candle holder, because I feel like I’ve seen one just like it somewhere before. “Would you mind if I took a picture?” I ask, pulling out my phone. I snap a few photos and text the driver that I’m ready to go.

I thank him again as I reach the door, and he says, “Good luck, and if you find something, please come back and let me know. I’d love to talk about your findings and maybe, make a vintage collection inspired by your compact.”

When I get back to the hotel, I grab dinner in the restaurant, using the time to search the names Mr. Grenier mentioned. I get 1300 hits for one, 700 options for the other. When I add business owner to the search string, it gets me to the low hundreds. I specify jewelers, and I get five for Elcor and two for Cloutier. That should be easier to work with. I love research almost as much as I love painting and the progress I’ve made has me in a good mood as I finish dinner. I’ve seen the alerts in the designated group chat for our trip. A lot of students are going out tonight. The old me would hunker down in her hotel room. The me that’s looking for anything I can use against Logan and his friends will be at that club tonight.

I was fashionably late, as Marina would call it. But that’s only because even thought this is all a part of my plan to bring Logan down, I had to talk myself into showing up. I’ve had a few drinks, danced with Noel and Sterling, and chatted with Dixon. Now, I’m in the middle of the floor with Trace Montgomery, the small forward for the New York Blaze. He thought telling me he’s a professional ballplayer would be enough to impress me, but I think I’m the one who impressed him with my knowledge of basketball stats. I’m more than just Summers’ older sister. I’m an actual basketball fan.

Logan’s in VIP. If his friends at school are the starting line-up, the people he’s hanging with tonight would be the second string, just waiting for someone to get injured or traded, so they can show what they can do.

Trace is wearing jeans and a sweater, but I can tell he’s ripped. I can feel it in the way his chest presses against my back and the corded muscles in his arms band around my middle as he holds me against him. “You are so fucking hot.” He whispers against my ear, sucking the lobe into his mouth.

I know I’m being watched from two different directions. Noel and Sterling on one side, and Logan on the other. That’s the whole point. To get his attention, so he can see I’m embracing life outside of his betrayal. He says he wants me, let’s see how much.

“Where did you say you were staying?” Trace asks, tightening his hold on me.

I roll my hips, turning my head to look at him. “I didn’t.”

“But you will, right?” He turns me all the way around to face him, pressing our hips together. He’s fucking tall. Taller than Logan, and I can feel the indentation of his dick up by my chest. I can’t help but glance down and briefly imagine it squeezed between my breasts. My hands rest against the edge of his shoulders and I crane my head back to look at him, offering my smile as my answer. No way in hell I’m telling someone I just met where I’m staying or taking them back to my hotel room.

He lifts me so my face is level with his, and he’s staring at my mouth like he’s about to kiss me. I wrap my arms around his neck and estimate I have maybe five-seconds to decide if I’m going to let him.

“Jordanna.” A voice growls from off to the side.

Not the cock-blocking party I expected, but I’ll run with it, anyway. I keep my gaze on Trace’s face. “Mm?”

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Noel asks, staring at my new friend. Trace lowers me to my feet but keeps a hand on my hip.

“Dancing.”

“That’s not what it looked like from where I was standing.”

“Are you saying I’m a horrible dancer? Or are you trying to cut in?”

“He’s not cutting in,” Trace huffs.

“It’s okay.” I pat him affectionately on the chest. “I don’t mind if the two of you dance together, while I go to the bathroom.”

I wink at Noel on my way off the floor. His timing couldn’t have been any better. I’m hot and could use a break from all those pheromones Trace was pumping my way. If he would’ve kissed me, I’m not sure I wouldn’t have kissed him back.

Seventeen

Logan

After the museum, Jordanna took off with Dixon, Noel and Sterling. The three guys on campus who I know don’t give a shit about my word as king or that she’s my ex. She’s not answering my messages on Prospectus and I couldn’t ask Simon to track her phone, without having to answer questions about why.

I didn’t feel like clubbing tonight, but I’m here, and I let one of Bella’s robots talk me into using my connections to get us into the VIP area. I’m sitting in a booth, nursing my drink when Jordy walks in.

Even though she’s not big on parties, when she’s at them, she loves to dance, and I love watching her. Tonight, the teal streak in her hair, with those tight ass jeans, boots and leather jacket, she looks like a rock chick and my teenage band fantasies about banging a rocker backstage at a concert come back in full force.

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