Wilde at Heart (Wilde Security, #3)(66)

There was a distinct bounce in his step as he left the ballroom. He’d just committed social suicide, and he felt like dancing. Hell, maybe he would take Shelby dancing.

Except then he saw her standing on the front steps of the building, shivering, tears freezing on her cheeks, and his good mood died a slow, painful death. He took off his coat and wrapped it around her.

“Shelby, baby. What are you doing out here without your coat?”

“Y-you have the valet ticket. And the car keys. I couldn’t leave, but I couldn’t stay in there. The pictures are out. It was Lena. Your blackmailer.”

She was like an ice cube, and he pulled her into him, rubbed her back to generate some warmth. “It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“How can you say that?” Yanking free of his arms, she plopped down on the steps and hid her face behind her hands. “I’ve ruined everything for you. I always ruin everything.”

“You didn’t ruin anything. I promise you didn’t.” He wanted to tell her that he’d spent the entire day at DMW, discussing Cliff’s A.I. side project and that he saw so much potential there, he didn’t think they needed Irving James after all. They only had to shift DMW’s direction a bit—but it all hinged on selling the idea to Tucker Quentin, and he didn’t dare say anything out loud for fear of jinxing it.

So, instead, he pulled her hands away from her face and crouched to put himself in her line of sight. “What can I do to make tonight better?”

“Nothing.”

“Of course there’s something. What do you like to do to blow off steam?”

She hesitated.

“Shelby?”

She exhaled hard. “Usually I’d go to a club, lose myself in the music and the crowd, but—”

“All right. Where to?”

“You want to take me to a club? Dressed like this?”

“I want to do something that makes you happy for once. If that means going to a club in black-tie attire, let’s do it.”

She eyed him like he’d lost his mind. “Who are you? You’re not the Reece Wilde I know.”

He wasn’t entirely sure, but he liked this new version of himself. He felt lighter than he had in years. Chains he hadn’t even known he’d been wearing were breaking, falling off, and he suspected she played a major role in his newfound freedom.

“Well, someone once said I wouldn’t know spontaneity if it slapped me upside the head.” He grinned and stood. Held out a hand. “Help me prove that person wrong.”





Chapter Twenty-Four


There was a line around the block waiting to get into the club. Reece eyed the throng of people as he climbed out of the Escalade. “Why is everyone dressed in white?”

Shelby showed the first hint of a smile since leaving the gala. “You’ll see. C’mon.” She grasped his hand and pulled him to a side entrance. “We don’t have to wait in line. I know the bouncers.”

The big tattooed man guarding the side door grinned toothily when he saw her coming. “Hey, baby doll. Look at you, all dressed up. What you been up to?”

“Oh, you know, Eddy. Same old, same old. Getting in trouble. Getting married.” She held up their interlaced hands. “Think you can let a couple of newlyweds sneak in?”

Eddy’s wide face lit up. “You got yourself married, baby doll? Well, didn’t see that coming.” He stepped aside, waved them in, and handed Shelby a card. “Go on. And give Meg at the bar this, tell her I says your drinks are on the house tonight. Wedding present.”

“Thank you, Eddy. You’re the best.” She stood on her toes to kiss his cheek, then pulled Reece into the crush of light and sound and people. It was blinding, disorienting, but Shelby seemed to know how to navigate it, so he followed her lead to the bar. She had to lean over the polished metal surface and shout to be heard, but Meg the bartender seemed to understand what she was saying just fine. Meg took the card and disappeared, returning a moment later with two tall glasses of neon-blue liquid.

Reece choked out a laugh when Shelby handed it to him. “What the f*ck is this?”

“I don’t know. I told her to make us something yummy and strong. To spontaneity.” She clinked her glass to his. “Cheers.”

He had to admit, the concoction was “yummy,” as Shelby had called it. Fruity, but with a kick to it. Before he knew it, his glass was gone and there was a pleasant buzz inside his head. He was enjoying himself and liked watching Shelby relax into her own skin. She had a smile for everyone she ran in to, even if she didn’t know them.

A fast, infectious beat started and Shelby grabbed his hand, dragging him out onto the dance floor, which was packed with people. She melted into the beat, eyes closed, hips swinging, hands in the air, and the sight of her throwing herself so completely into the music reminded him of when he was young and his parents used to dance together across the kitchen. They’d been so in tune with the music, with each other, and even as a child, he’d known he was witnessing something beautiful.

He was witnessing something beautiful now, too.

Shelby laughed and grabbed hold of his shoulders, wiggling them. “Loosen up, Reece! Dance!”