Page 8 of Beauty and her Billionaire Beast
I stiffen up and feel the anger rise. Heat floods my cheeks and my fingers tighten around my wine glass. “That would be…strange… you know, considering that ten years went by without us so much as saying one word to eachother.”
“True. Pops and your parents were rooting for us to hit it off at one point.Remember?”
“I try notto.”
“Well, well.” A guy I’d recognize anywherebounds over to Knox’s side and throws and arm over his shoulder. He has a beautiful woman with gorgeous red hair on his other arm and a beaming grin on his face. “Isabelle! What a nice surprise. It’s been a while, hasn’tit?”
“Hi Foster. Yes, ithas.”
“We need to get the band back together,” he jokes, but I’m not laughing. Knox’s departure also took Foster from me. It’s like ourfriendship was just by extension, a coincidence because we were only connected because of Knox. He looks over at Knox then back at me. “Lilac and I are about to head out. You two want to comewith?”
“Uh, where to?” Iask.
“A club. Or a bar or restaurant somewhere. I’m close to overstaying my welcome in this joint. Join us. There’s lots of room in thelimo.”
I’m no party girl.I wouldn’t know what to do or how to act on a dance floor if my life depended onit.
Knox glances at me and instantly reads the hesitation on my face. “You go on ahead, buddy. Isabelle and I are sticking around for a drink. Or afew.”
Foster leans over Knox’s shoulder and flashes me a playful, knowing grin. “You two could never fool me backthen.”
I don’t have to ask whathe’s talking about. Foster championed the rumor that Knox and I were an item back in high school. He never got that a man and woman could be close without getting it on. Of course, I’m thoroughly aware that Knox’s decision to stay behind has nothing to do with hooking up. We’ve never crossed the line and that won’t change. But it’s a strange thrill to have someone assume we’re more than friends. Howcan I not feel a little giddy about that? Knox Steele is a man wanted by half the women in the room. I can see the looks coming his way since he approached me. They’re ready to line up for him, but right now, he’s with me. That familiar smugness rising up in my chest feels like old timesagain.
I throw Foster a naughty wink to give him the wrong idea, and take another drink of my wine.It’s nice to be thought of as the sexy temptress, the vixen. Being the good girl all my life didn’t get me very far, and it sure wasn’t nearly as much fun as I’d wanted. Maybe letting loose is exactly what my life is missing. Things have felt one dimensional and so predictable for so long. But now, Knox is back, and with him, a spark of desire ignites within me. Some fun might be just what Ineed.
Foster grins as he pats Knox on the arm. “You two lovebirds havefun.”
Knox shakes his head, lips pressed into a thin line as Foster walks away. I can’t help but wish there was some truth to the notion. After he disappeared from my life, I missed what we had so much that all that yearning led to more. Pretty soon after that, I wanted more than just friendship from him. Therehave been countless moments like this, where all I fantasized about was Knox. He would show up from out of nowhere and beg me to forgive him for leaving me behind. He’d lean in and claim my lips, then ravage my body. But that’s never going to happen. Not the apology, and not the torrid makeout session. As before, his presence is all I get, and it’ll have to be enough. Only now, it doesn’t quite satisfyme in the same way that it did backthen.
“Come with me.” Knox’s tone isfirm.
“What? Whereto?”
That sweet smile I remember crawls up his face. “Somewhere quiet. I want to hear what you’ve been upto.”
“Okay,” I answer, although my agreement is a moot point, given that he’s already taken my hand and is leading me further into theballroom.
One-on-one time withKnox sounds more risky and dangerous than fun. I just got him back and if I don’t control myself, I’ll lose him just as quickly. The wine has already relaxed my tongue, so I’m liable to say what I think about him abandoning me, and I’ll end up shutting him down. I just hope I can tamp down the butterflies in my stomach and the heat that’s begun to flood mycore.
