Page 75 of Tops
“He was a diversion?” I asked when we were safely away from any lenses or microphones.
“We do try to make you happy,” Colten said, turning me so he could hold both of my hands in his own.
“I’d say you all do a pretty good job. Considering the circumstances.” I left the end somewhat unfinished. There were a lot of circumstances surrounding the complexity of our relationship.
Tanner and Nik breezed in a minute later, bringing light into the sudden darkness surrounding the conversation’s turn.
“No one cares about the lawyer’s plus one,” Tanner said confidently as he strode up. “I told you, you have nothing to worry about.”
“You know, you keep saying that like it’s not incredibly offensive,” I said, but a smile cracked through my lips.
“Mr. Ryland, Mr. Black, I am so glad you made it!” said an enthusiastic woman wearing a sensible blazer and skirt. She walked up to them confidently, stretching her hand out for firm handshakes as a greeting.
“Thank you, Mayor Conway,” Tanner said, armed with his charming smile, firmly shaking her hand.
“Mayor Conway, I would like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Nessa Harlow,” Colten said. Slipping his hand behind my back to pull me to his side rather than offering his hand to shake.
“Nessa. It’s a pleasure. I’m Michele Conway, Mayor,” she said, extending her palm for me to grasp while Colten seemed to have gotten away without having to shake.
I exchanged pleasantries, and thankfully, the mayor moved on quickly to greet the other guests coming in through the tunnel of flashes. Tanner signaled that it was time to move, and it shouldn’t have been a surprise that we found our way to the bar. Nik took position near the wall, blending in with the other security guards with trained eyes.
Colten ordered a dirty martini for me. After my night at the mansion, I did come away with a taste for the briny cocktail, and sometimes Colten would make them for me in his apartment instead of a bottle of wine. Colten and Tanner ordered nearly identical drinks, preferring to stick with their cups of what looked like thin maple syrup. Tanner liked ice in his; Colten did not.
We took our drinks with us as we headed to find an empty table. I was excited about a proper party with dinner and dancing and no naked people. Tanner found a table near the back of the room. Nik came to stand like a statue just behind the seat Tanner placed me in. Colten sat to one side of me, and Tanner sat on the other. Both of their hands slid under the thick tablecloth to grip my thighs.
Their fingertips must have brushed against each other because they both recoiled quickly before glaring at each other. I hid my laughter the best I could before grabbing a sip of the ice water pre-provided for my seat.
Colten put his hand back on my thigh as Tanner seemed to back down for the moment. I was here as Colten’s date, so it was fair that he got first rights on touching me while we were here, at least. Other than Nik’s promise to shove me into a broom closet.
No one else joined us at the table, despite most of the other tables being full by the time the salad was delivered. This server not only placed the salad in front of me but also asked what kind of dressing I would like. It was much better than the silent robotic woman at the mansion.
The room progressed through the meal with little more than casual conversation floating above our heads. I started to feel bad for Nik, just standing behind us watching while we were eating some of the best prime rib of my life. He politely declined when I tried to sneak him a piece of my food.
When dinner was finished, light music started, and several couples got right to their feet and headed for the open space in front of the small, raised area.
“Did you want to dance?” Colten asked, finishing the second glass of his drink. We had danced alone in front of the windows of his apartment a few times. He seemed to enjoy teaching me how to do more than just wiggle my ass like I had with Hannah.
We left Tanner all alone while we headed together onto the dance floor. Colten moved his body with grace and elegance. Leading our steps while I clumsily followed. Usually, I had a bit more wine in me by the time we reached the dancing portion of our evening. Plus, I really wasn’t good at dancing, to begin with, and now I had a gun strapped to my thigh. If you wanted someone that could dance, you went with Hannah.
Colten was such a good dancer that he held me to him while he moved across the floor, letting my insecurities melt. I cursed the creamy and smudgeable lipstick that painted my lips, making them untouchable. Part of me wanted to lean and press my lips to his as a public claim.
We only stayed on the dance floor for one whole song before making the trek back to our seats. Tanner’s eyes fixed on me as we headed his way. His posture suggested that he was calm and relaxed, but his hair was starting to look messy. I had a feeling it wasn’t from some random woman.
I took a seat and another large gulp of water, thankful for my exposed shoulders for the evening. The warm front was coming in, and everyone could feel it as the air turned thick and humid before the impending storm.
“Nessa, dear,” Colten said, and I turned his way. “I don’t believe you have written a Christmas list for Santa yet.” He gestured with his eyes to a table along the wall with a large mailbox on top. It read “Letters for Santa” on the side.
Nik moved quickly, abandoning his post against the wall, and headed for the mailbox. He grabbed one of the sheets of paper and a pen, bringing them back to the table to sit in front of me. I could feel the eyes of all three of them on me and the paper.
“How about you all write something you want, and then I can add mine at the bottom? Like a group wish list,” I suggested, pushing the paper toward Colten.
He shook his head and slid the page back to me, and I knew there wasn’t any sense in trying Tanner. Instead, I grabbed the pen and scribbled the first thing that came to my mind onto the middle of the page before quickly folding it over several times.
I held the note tightly in my hand as I moved to stand. “Don’t worry, boys, I’m just going to mail my list and then visit the bathroom.”
I wasn’t about to allow any of them to take my list, knowing they would just open it and read it, anyway. They wanted to get me something for Christmas, and I knew that wasn’t a good idea. I also knew I could do nothing to stop it other than handle it like all the other items I planned on leaving behind. If they got me something I wanted because they knew I liked it, it would be the kind of gift I couldn’t let go. At least, that was my rationalization as I slipped the note through the tiny slot on top and headed straight for the bathrooms.
They were just outside the room, situated in a small hallway. However, the music floated freely from the ballroom into the hallway, still making you feel part of the party. I opened the door to the ladies’ room; there were three stalls inside and a long mirror and countertop running opposite. It smelled nice, and it appeared as though I was the only one inside.
