Page 29 of Hot Blooded
I don’t know her very well, but I already really like Lena. She’s bold and confident, and says whatever she wants.
“What?” she chuckles, giving me a wicked grin.
“Sorry.” I shake my head. I realize I’d just been staring at her in my admiration.
Ronnie comes back with puppy-dog eyes for Lena. I think he has a crush on her. I imagine that happens to her a lot. Guys probably fall hard and fast for her charm.
Lena orders a sour apple martini and I ask for a glass of prosecco. After placing the flute of bubbly before me, Ronnie shakes Lena’s martini in a sleek silver bottle and garnishes it with an orange slice.
“Anything else?” he asks, still grinning at Lena.
She dismisses him with a wave of her hand, and I sip my bubbly.
We talk for a little while—which basically means Lena peppers me with questions and I bore her with my answers, talking mainly about my work. She tells me about her art—which she creates out of recycled materials that she finds on the side of the highway. Definitely not what I expected, but cool nonetheless.
“Have you heard about the charity gala next weekend?”
“Yeah.” I nod, even though I know next to nothing about it. I’d seen the embossed invitation for the gala on the marble island in Reign’s kitchen. I wanted to ask him, or maybe Mrs. Potts about it, but I had quite frankly forgotten about it until just now.
“Are you going?” Lena asks, giving me a wistful look.
I shake my head.
She pouts. “Too bad. I’ll be there as a hired server. Probably carrying around glasses of champagne. But I would give anything to attend as a guest.”
I tip my chin. “Why?”
Her eyes widen. “Are you kidding? A fancy ballgown…tiny hors d'oeuvres. Free champagne. Dancing.It’s the hottest thing happening in this sleepy little town by a mile.”
I don’t know… those kisses I shared with Reign earlier in his bedroom were pretty freaking hot. “Well, I wouldn’t know.”
She shrugs. “I just wondered if your hot boss had invited you.”
“Reign?” I sound breathless.
She nods with a devilish grin.
“No, he hasn’t.”
“Well, never mind then.” Lena polishes off her drink in a single long gulp, then she wiggles her fingers at Ronnie who comes bounding over in a flash.
***
That night when I get home, I head up the stairs and can hear Reign’s voice. He’s speaking to someone. That’s strange. I wonder who’s here. Maybe he’s entertaining in his bedroom… maybe my being there earlier wasn’t special at all. My stomach is a ball of knots.
As I get closer, I realize there are two male voices. It’s only once when I reach the top that everything clicks into place. He’stalking on the phone. I can’t make out everything, but I hear bits and pieces.
“Stay out of trouble, Alastair,” Reign’s smooth voice glides over the words.
“Where's the fun in that?” Alastair replies with a hint of mischief.
My stomach flutters.
Reign turns the corner at the precise moment I reach the landing. I stand there, trapped like a deer caught in a hunter’s scope.
“Tressa.” He stops short.
“Your brother?” I ask, tipping my chin at the cell phone still in his hand.
