Page 79 of His Secret Gift

Mehdi grins devilishly, undeterred by my hesitation. “I get off in a little under an hour. Maybe you could save me a dance?”

I bite my bottom lip, torn between my doubts and the desire to let loose. But I’m here to have fun, right? To forget about Jack and the risks that come with wanting him. Sure, I know Amine will be here any minute, but we don’t have to stay tethered to each other all night.

“Alright,” I finally agree, nodding. “I’d like that.”

“Great,” Mehdi replies, his smile widening. “Looking forward to it.” With that, he turns away, leaving me to sip my drink and contemplate what lies ahead.

“Fancy seeing you here, Miss Allen,” a deep voice murmurs beside me, making me jump in surprise. I turn to find Jack perched on the stool next to mine. He looks so handsome, his uncharacteristically tousled hair and smoldering gaze making my skin prickle with desire.

By his joking nature, I guess he doesn’t know I saw him with Harper out on the patio this morning—laughing and having a ball together.

Just like old times,I guessed by the way they seemed to effortlessly co-exist next to one another. It was like their bodies were matching puzzle pieces.

“Where’s Harper?” I ask while raising an eyebrow when I look around and fail to see her.

“Harper? I don’t—I don’t know. Kayla, there’s nothing going on between us.”

I turn my back to him and down my drink. “Whatever. I don’t care.”

At the perfect time, Amine and some friends appear. Once again, he’s wearing a lose button up shirt, and I imagine what it would be like to unhook the last few he has fastened.

I now know why they call it liquid courage, as I feel bold enough to walk right up to him, swirl around his body with my fingers lingering on his chest and back.

“Well, hello.”

“Hey.” I bite my lower lip.

“Shall we?”

I nod and allow him to lead me to the dance floor.

The thumping from the speakers is felt deeply in my chest.

“You look lovely tonight,” he says.

“Thank you.”

Then, he dips me, and I make the bold move to kiss him.

When we part, I’m happy to see that he’s smiling. Then, I glance over at Jack and see him slowly blink, clench his jaw, and look away.

Later that evening,I’m back by the bar—this time, for some water.

“I saw you dancing with that guy,” Mehdi says before handing the bottle over to me, which I place against my forehead and under my chin before drinking from it.

“Yeah?”

He grunts, crosses his arms, and widens his stance. “There’s still a dance with my name on it, right?”

I grin. “Of course.”

When he walks away to help some other customers, that low voice booms from behind me again. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Kayla.”

I don’t have to turn around this time to know who it is.

“That’s funny, I don’t remember asking for your input, Jack.” He’s wrong, I’m playing two dangerous games—one for agreeing to dance with different men, and the other for talking to my boss like that. But I don’t care, both risks seem like fun to me right now.

What’s he going to do? Fire me?

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