The Do-Over (The Miles High Club #4)(125)

I feel my face blush. “Hello.”

“This is”—he gestures around the table—“Margaret and Conrad, Eva and Mario.”

I give a wave. Oh hell . . . this is so awkward.

“This is Edward Prescott and Julian Masters.”

My eyes land on the last man . . . I’ve seen him before.

Where?

He gives me a sexy wink and raises his glass. “I told you we’d meet again, Hayden.”

My eyes widen. No way.

He’s the man who owned the yacht in Greece . . . what the hell?

They’re friends?

My mouth falls open in shock.

He and Christopher laugh out loud, and Christopher squeezes my shoulder blade. “You look like you saw a ghost, babe.”

I laugh, half-embarrassed and not sure what to say.

“And this”—he smiles proudly—“is Elliot, my brother. Elliot, this is my Hayden.”

Familiar warm eyes smile up at me.

Oh . . . he’s like Christopher.

Elliot stands and kisses my cheek. “Hello, it’s so lovely to finally meet you.” His eyes linger on my face as he studies me, and I feel myself flush under his gaze.

He pulls out the chair beside him. “Sit next to me, Hayden.”

Oh crap . . . do I really have to?

I fall into the chair beside him, and Christopher sits on the other side of me.

Christopher puts his hand protectively on my lap as the waiter fills our glasses with champagne.

“It’s good to see you,” Mr. Masters says from across the table. “How was the vacation?”

“Great.” Christopher’s eyes meet mine. “Brought home an amazing souvenir.” He squeezes my leg.

“I see that.” Julian smiles as he looks between the two of us. “How are you liking London, Hayden?”

“It’s beautiful.”

I glance up to see Elliot’s eyes fixed firmly on me. He has his finger up along his temple and is studying me in great detail. I glance over to Christopher, who is now happily chatting away with the rest of the table.

Help.

I sip my drink. Eish . . . I feel like this is a test. Actually, that’s not true. I don’t feel it; I know it for certain.

“Are you here alone?” I ask Elliot.

“Yes, my wife is in Hawaii. She left last week with her brother, and I’m catching the first flight out in the morning.”

“Hawaii. So beautiful.” I smile.

“Have you ever been?” he asks.

“No. On my bucket list, though.”

“We have a house there. Lucky enough to go every year for a couple of months.”

“Oh, wow.” I frown. “What made you choose Hawaii for your regular holiday vacation?”

“My wife lived there for a while and fell madly in love with the place.”

I smile as I listen.

“It’s a shame she’s not here to meet you tonight. You’ll love her. She’s a lot like you.”

Oh . . . how I wish she was here.

The table all falls into chatter while I look around the room in awe. I’ve never been somewhere so glamorous.

Beautiful women in beautiful dresses . . . and can we talk about the caliber of men here? If handsome was a place, this would be it.

What the actual hell?

Black tie sure does bring out the best in everyone.

“You coming to the bar?” Elliot asks Christopher.

“No, I’ll stay here with Hayden.” He picks up my hand and kisses my fingertips as he smiles over at me.

A trace of a smile crosses Elliot’s face. “Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?”

Christopher laughs, and I do too. Does it make me a bad person if I’m glad he’s changed?



The night is a soiree of glamour.

People stop and talk to Christopher, commenting how relaxed and happy he looks.

And he . . . he plays the room like a pro.

All eyes are watching him. Everyone wants to talk to him. He laughs and jokes. The room is in the palm of his hand. Funny, charming, and sexy as all hell, Christopher Miles is London’s darling it boy.

The longer I’m here, with the beauty and glamour, the more an underlying question in the back of my mind steps forward to the front.

What does he see in me?

I’m just a normal country girl.

I’m not gorgeous or glamorous with a high-flying job, and I certainly don’t look like the beautiful model-like women who keep trying to make eye contact with him.

I’m like a fish out of water.

For the first time in my life, I feel something foreign crawl up and sit like a lead ball in my stomach.

Insecurity.

I know that there are others in the room who are wondering the same thing I am.

Why her?

Why has he chosen to settle down with someone so normal? Now that I know the life and people he’s used to, I see why the sight of me causes such a stir. Why photographers are scrambling to get a shot and follow me everywhere. They’re trying to work out what he sees in me. They’re waiting to get the scoop for when we fall.

Stop it.

I sip my wine, disgusted by my thoughts. It’s not healthy to think like this.

Christopher holds his hand out. “Do you want to dance, sweetheart?”