Exposed by Fate (Serve #2)(4)



“Oliver, we were just—”

“Heading upstairs,” Porter interjected firmly, making Eliza’s neck heat.

“Yes.” Oliver laid a hand on his chest, looking confused. “But I’m here now.”

Eliza couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped. “If Oliver arrives unexpectedly, all plans are subject to change?”

He winked at her. “Quick as always, aren’t you?”

She shook her head, silently cursing the stupid flip-flop in her belly. How long would she need to know this man before her body stopped counteracting her brain around him? “Listen,” she leaned in and said for Oliver’s ears alone, “you’re cramping my style, playboy. Scram.”

“Sorry. Can’t do it.” He frowned. “And ouch.”

“What do you mean ‘can’t do it’?”

He avoided her gaze. “Is this the first time you’ve been out with this guy?”

“Yes and no. It’s the first time we….”

Blue eyes snapped to hers. “Have gone upstairs?”

Eliza said nothing.

Oliver cleared his throat. “Make an excuse and I’ll take you home. He’s not what you want. This isn’t what you want.”

She felt a punch of irritation. “I’d like to find that out for myself, thank you.”

Porter moved closer and slid an arm around her waist. “Is there a problem?”

“No.”

Oliver’s attention was focused on Porter’s arm, brow quirked. “Yes,” he said slowly, with just a hint of surprise. “It would seem so.”

“Care to share?” Porter asked, a hard edge to his tone.

For a moment, Oliver looked to be debating with himself. Finally, he smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes as usual. “I’d like a word alone with Eliza. Would you mind?”

Porter hesitated a moment before leaning down to whisper in her ear. “I’ll be at the bar. Come get me when you’re done.” His lips brushed her ear and although Eliza couldn’t see him, she got the feeling his gaze was on Oliver. “I hope you don’t keep me waiting too long. I’m eager to get you alone.”

Whoa. Were these two gorgeous men kind of, sort of, fighting over her? She wouldn’t lie. Something about that possibility turned her on in a big way. She’d wanted to be desired and in the blink of an eye, she felt like the only woman in the room.

Oliver’s jaw remained tight until Porter released her and stepped back. “Would you happen to have a business card handy?”

Porter inclined his head and withdrew one from inside the pocket of his button-down shirt. “Why? You in the market for mid-nineteenth century antiques?”

“God, no.” Oliver pocketed the card. “Just putting a name to a face.”

They eyed each other for a moment before Porter turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Eliza punched Oliver in the shoulder. “What the hell was that? I can’t believe you of all people, just cock-blocked me.”

His burst of laughter turned heads. “Easy, bunny. I’m doing you a favor.”

She blew a breath toward the ceiling. “Why do you insist on calling me bunny?”

He bent down and pressed their foreheads together. “Your nose twitches when you get angry.”

“It does not.”

“Don’t worry, it’s adorable just like the rest of you.”

Eliza grumbled in her throat. “Don’t be endearing right now.”

“I can’t find the off switch.” Dimples appeared on either cheek. “Care to perform a search?”

Oh boy. She’d never been required to withstand this much Oliver charm before. Come to think of it, they’d never actually been alone together. Caroline was always there, being the reason they were in the same place at the same time. His mouth had never been this close to hers, his voice rumbling for her ears alone, mere inches separating their bodies. She’d already been aroused from dancing with Porter, and now the heavy feeling below her waist only increased with Oliver’s proximity. She kept waiting for him to step back, put some platonic distance between them, but he didn’t. Just continued watching her in that babe-I’m-inside-you-already way that made the flesh between her thighs throb.

Looked like it would be up to her to put the brakes on. Eliza placed a hand on his chest and pushed him away. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

His smile faded in degrees. “What did you come here for tonight?”

“Same thing as you.”

“And that is?” When she didn’t immediately answer, he shook his head. “If you don’t know, you’re not ready.”

Anger built in Eliza’s chest when his words dismantled her pride. Against her will, a small part of her recognized he might even be right, but the concession did nothing to ease her annoyance. She didn’t like Oliver looking at her with sympathy, when a moment ago, she’d finally felt sexy. How dare he take that feeling away from her, along with her newfound courage? He could sleep his way through the female population of Manhattan, but she couldn’t have one single experience of her own?

That final thought gave her an idea. A terrible one. Even recognizing that only bad things could come from decisions made while pissed off and mildly intoxicated, she still let it percolate. Oliver knew this world. He was part of it. But none of his conquests ever amounted to anything. His resistance to commitment saw to that. She needed to know what she’d be getting into if she and Porter ever made it up the damn stairs again. She wanted to be prepared. What if…

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