Page 74 of Insatiable Park Avenue Prince

“I go to poetry slam once a week, Golden Boy. Trust me.” West leaned in and nuzzled under JT’s curls. “I’m serious about you.”

“You want me to come with you to a fashion show? Where you work?” Kelly asked, his expression somewhat incredulous.

When was he going to realize that the only person concerned about his job was him?

“Yeah. They’re putting us up for two nights on this beautiful property where the show will be held, and I thought it would be a nice getaway for us.” I squeezed his leg. “Romantic.”

Kelly reached under the table and took my hand, bringing it up to kiss my palm. “I’ll come with you if you eat something more than a salad for your next course.”

My mouth fell open as he nipped at my fingertips.

“You look perfect. Your hair. Your face. Your body. And a meal tonight will not affect any of that by the weekend.”

I chewed on my lower lip, scanning my group of friends who’d suddenly fallen silent. They stared at the man who was holding my weekend love escape ransom over a meal I did in fact, want to eat.

“Okay. I’ll have the scallops.”

A pleased grin crossed Kelly’s lips.

“Don’t think that charm of yours is going to win every time.”

“No? Well, the times it doesn’t, I’ll just have to pull out myotherweapon.” He winked at me, and the whole table let out a round of whoops and wolf whistles. Several other groups nearby looked our way.

“Unleash the python!”

“Set free the monster!”

My friends were insane, and as they started laughing their asses off, Kelly joined in. “Youare not helping,” I said.

“I am. Now they’re focused on something other than what you’re eating.”

I chuckled, lowering my eyes to his lap. “Your python?”

Kelly opened his mouth, but a voice interrupted him from behind.

“Did someone just say you own apython?”

My spine automatically stiffened at the judgmental tone. The laughing around the table died down and all eyes shifted to the intruder—my ex-boyfriend, Atticus, who had come to crash the party.

What the hell was he doing here? The last I’d heard was that he’d moved to London, and it had been good riddance, as far as I was concerned. But there was no mistaking the condescension dripping from his words or the way my hair stood on end knowing he was behind me.

Kelly glanced over his shoulder, unaware of the wet blanket that had just been thrown over the table, and smiled at the newcomer.

“Hi,” he said good-naturedly. “Not a real python, no.”

I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t seem to turn around, couldn’t seem to warn Kelly that the guy he was talking to was not worth his time. But luckily for me, I had a table full of guys who had no problem speaking their mind.

East slowly got to his feet, giving Atticus a once-over dripping with disdain. “Funny you showed up, though, just as we were discussing snakes.”

“Nice to see you again too, East.”

“I wish I could say the same. However…” East brushed at a nonexistent piece of lint. “If you could slither back from wherever you came, that would be most appreciated.”

I could feel Kelly’s eyes on me, the question in them one I hadn’t been ready to answer tonight.

“That’s rich,” Atticus scoffed. “You calling me a snake.”

East’s lip curled, and he looked like he wanted to toss his drink on the guy. “At least I don’t pretend to be anything else.”

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