Casanova(85)

“Of course.” I followed him just outside the doors, clutching my half-full wine glass still. I’d been so lost in thought I pretty much forgot I was holding it.

The noise quieted significantly when we stopped a few feet away from the giant room.

“What’s up?” I asked him, holding my glass to my chest.

“I overheard Bel Walker earlier this evening. She referenced the Walker secret.”

“I don’t know it,” I said straight away. “I asked him but he wouldn’t tell me.”

All right, so I was a dirty liar.

Mr. Reeves studied me for a moment. “Really?”

“He wouldn’t tell me a thing.” At least that was kind of honest.

I wanted to say more, but something told me it would be overkill.

I didn’t want him to know that I was going to find out soon.

“Do you think he’ll tell you?”

I opened my mouth, but the words I planned to say didn’t come out.

What came out surprised even me.

“Mr. Reeves, I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.”

He tilted his head to the side. “This?”

“All of it.” I took two steps back. “I don’t think this is working. Please consider this a termination of the trial period. I’ll have a formal resignation to you tomorrow.”

I didn’t wait for him to answer. I walked past him back into the room and lost myself in the busyness of it all.

My heart pounded, but not in a good way.

I wanted to stay in Whiskey Key—a decision I’d made no more than three hours ago on that balcony with Brett—but I now had no job.

Clearly, it was off to a fabulous start.

I sighed and sat at my table. Aunt Bel was sitting in her chair, asleep. Her arms were folded across her chest which rose and fell gently. How could she sleep in this noise?

It must be a trick only for babies and the elderly.

Shame I couldn’t be taught it. I could have done with a nap, if only for five minutes to shut out the world.

“He really loves you, you know,” Aunt Bel said, her eyes still closed.

I hid my mouth behind my wine glass. “I thought you were sleeping.”

“Nope. Just listening.”

“To what?”

“Everything.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me.” Aunt Bel snapped her eyes open.

“How the hell did you know that?”

She grinned. “Lucky guess. You just confirmed it.”

I rolled my eyes for a second time. Just to make a point. “Whatever. Do you know where Brett is?”

“He’s right behind you.”

I turned around and looked right into his smiling face. “Oh, hi.”

His eyes twinkled. “Dance with me?”

“Um, I don’t dance.”

“Neither do I.” He held one hand out anyway. “So, we’ll both look like complete idiots.”

I looked at him for a moment before I said, “Fine.”

His long fingers curved around mine as I put my hand in his. He pulled me up slowly, then with a nod to Aunt Bel, pulled me over to where a band was playing. Other people were dancing too, and Brett winked at me before he pulled me close and circled my arms with his waist.

“I thought your mom said there was some kind of auction,” I said into his ear as I looped my arms around his neck.

“In around half an hour,” he replied, his lips right by my ear. “We’ll be gone before then.”

I was about to ask what for, but of course I knew that.

I didn’t want to think about it though. I was comfortable where were, pressed against each other and swaying in time to the music. Thank god neither of us could dance, because we weren’t dancing.

Not the kind of dancing you think of normally at least. We were one-year-old-in-front-of-the-TV dancing. It worked for us.

Mostly I just liked the way he held me. It wasn’t too tight, but it was just tight enough that I couldn’t move away even if I wanted to. He tickled his thumb across my back just above my dress which sent shivers up my spine, and his warm, gentle breaths danced across my ear as he pressed his cheek against the side of my head.

It felt an awful lot like the moment you stopped falling love and hit the ground hard.

No matter what he said to me tonight, I would tell him. I would tell him I felt the same way he did.

For some reason. Despite it all.

I didn’t want revenge anymore.

I didn’t want to break his heart.

I wanted to own it.

“Everybody is staring at you,” he murmured just loud enough for me to hear.

“Is that why you sound smug?”

He pressed his lips against the side of my head and laughed into my hair.

I took that as a yes.

“Little bit,” he answered when he managed to get his laughter under control. I didn’t think it was that funny, but whatever.

“Such a male.”

“That’s a good thing.”

“It’s funny.”

“Xavier is staring at your ass.”

Ah. “That explains why your hand is slowly slipping down to my ass.”

“Oh, you noticed. Good.” He quit the crap and cupped my ass cheek firmly. Then, right as the song came to an end, he pulled me right into him and pressed his lips against mine.