Cruel Fortune (Cruel #2)(38)

“Hey, baby,” Court said. He wrapped an arm around Jane’s waist and pressed a firm, lasting kiss to her lips.

Jane looked lovesick when he pulled back. “Hey, you.”

“Come to the back with me. We’re just getting started.”

She nodded, captivated by that gaze. “Court, you remember Natalie.”

His eyes swept to me when he realized they had an audience. “Natalie…Natalie,” he mused. “You dated my brother.”

“Uh, yeah. Like a year ago.”

He shrugged as if the timeline meant nothing to him.

“She’s a successful author now,” Jane said. “You’ll love her.”

“I bet I will,” Court said with a languid smile.

Jane grabbed my hand and pulled me to the back room with her. It was an office space, but it was clear that Harmony didn’t use the space for anything more than display or her parties. A dozen people crowded into the space over a table with lines of cocaine.

My heart stopped. No, I stopped. Physically.

I’d been around drugs before. I’d seen athletes use them to get ahead. And loser artists use them to try to find inspiration. And frat boys use them to feel anything at all. But I’d never used them, and the scene was not something I wanted to see play out.

Just as I was about to make an excuse, an arm fell around my shoulders. “Hey, sexy.”

I glanced over with wide eyes to find none other than Camden Percy. One of the last times I’d seen him, he’d been a raging asshole at a charity function. I didn’t know if he was still with Katherine, but it hadn’t stopped him from hitting on me before.

Jane giggled and casually flicked Camden’s arm off of mine. “She’s taken, Cam.”

“So? Don’t see her boy with her,” he said, eye-fucking the shit out of me. He had to be fucked out of his mind.

“That boy is Lewis Warren,” I told him, taking a quick step back.

“Warren, huh?” He shrugged. “Well, you know how to pick ’em. You friends with my dear fiancée, too?”

“No,” I said boldly.

He laughed. “Look at that bitter frown.” He nudged my lips with the back of his hand. “What did Katherine Van Pelt do this time?”

“Is she about to show up?” I asked.

He laughed again, louder. “I fucking hope not. No one here gives a fuck about Katherine Van Pelt. The frigid bitch burns bridges faster than her daddy ate her trust fund.”

I shuddered at the way he talked about Katherine. I hated her. But still…she was marrying this asshole.

“Now, come do a line with me, love,” Camden said with a wink. His hands went to my waist. “After you’ve had one, maybe you’ll loosen up.”

Court stepped in between us with a low laugh. “Dude, did you see that Tracey was here? Isn’t that why you came out anyway?”

Camden snorted. His dilated pupils going even wider as if he noticed Court’s interference but didn’t remark on it. But he went to a busty redhead in the corner who was already using a credit card to make a straight line of white powder.

“Thanks,” I murmured. I was surprised that it was Court who had stepped in. Everything I’d heard about him made him out to be horrible. Then again…I’d gotten it all from Penn.

“No problem. Camden can sometimes be a handful,” Court said.

“That’s an understatement.”

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want,” Jane said. “I didn’t realize Camden would be so handsy.”

“Yeah, I think…I’m just going to get a bit of air.”

“I’ll find you after,” Jane insisted.

I waved my hand in what was half-acceptance, half-dismissal and then hustled the hell out of that room. My heart was racing, and adrenaline propelled me further down the hallway.

Before I even saw where I was going, I ran smack dab into a large male figure in a crisp black suit.

“Oof,” I groaned.

My eyes lifted as I prepared to apologize. But the words were stuck on my tongue.

“Penn?”





Natalie





16





“Hello, Natalie,” Penn said. My name on his tongue like a caress.

My brain went completely blank at the sight of him. He didn’t utter another word. Just pressed open the door to the room we were standing in front of and maneuvered me inside.

The door clicked behind him, leaving us alone. All alone.

“What…what are you doing here?” I gasped out.

“Me? I live in New York,” he purred. “Did you forget?”

“No,” I whispered.

But he wasn’t supposed to be here. This couldn’t be happening.

He stood near enough to be disarming but far enough for him to devour me with his eyes. And for me to get my first good look at him in a year.

My memory hadn’t done him justice.

Little details had disappeared from my mind. His strong jawline, the curve of his lips, the sheer blue of his eyes. That look that said he would own my body in more ways than I could ever imagine. The ease of his body, how comfortable he was in his skin, the seduction laced in every inch of him. He was so much larger than life, all charm and radiating energy that only I seemed to notice.