Page 125 of Heartbreak & Cupcakes
One that I hoped included hot sex. We might not have a love story, but we definitely had chemistry in that department.
And I was okay with that. I wasn’t going to create a fantasy in my head that it was anything more than that. He’d been very clear that he wasn’t available. Until he told me, and showed me otherwise, that was the information I was working with.
Taking a deep breath, I reached out and took his hand. Tonight I just wanted to enjoy myself and not worry about what anything meant.
As my head cleared the car and I stood, I noticed that a few yards away, on the pier that led to what looked to be at least a hundred-foot yacht, there was a line of people and a red carpet where photographers were snapping pics.
His arm snaked around my waist, and he leaned down and whispered into my ear, “You ready?”
A shiver ran through me and it had nothing to do with the cool night temperature or bay breeze. I nodded, and he guided me down toward the crowd.
Unlike the last event when we’d gone to City Hall and his hand had rested on my lower back, this time, his arm was wrapped around me and his palm was firmly grasping my hip. It felt possessive. It felt safe. It felt like a statement.
Instead of overthinking it, I decided to just go with it. The entire red carpet was somewhat of a blur. There were flashes and photographers asking Alex questions. He responded to a few, the few that weren’t personal in nature, and ignored the rest.
Some questions were aimed my way. At first, it took me off guard that they knew my name. But thankfully, I’d been Charli’s plus one at more than one media event and watched her navigate the onslaught of paparazzi with grace and ease.
She’d perfected smizing, which was a term I’d never heard before but it was smiling with her eyes. One night when we were in our early twenties she’d given me a quick tutorial on it. Never in my life had I thought I’d be using it, but now I pulled it out of my bag of tricks.
I mentally ran through a refresher course.
Face relaxed.
Eyes wide.
Think of something happy.
Smile with the corners of your mouth but keep my lips closed.
I wasn’t sure how long we were on the red carpet, but I was relieved when we made it up the steps and onto the boat.
As soon as we stepped aboard a server appeared and offered, “Champagne?”
“Okay.” I nodded as he handed me a glass.
I sipped it as several dozen people made their way over to speak to Alex. Most of them were congratulating him on a big deal that he closed today. He introduced me to each and every one of them and always included me in the conversation, even if I had no clue what was being discussed.
I watched him interact and realized that I’d never seen him in his element before. I’d seen him in the bakery, at his home, and also at the event where he was being honored as the Most Eligible Bachelor, but I’d been such a basket case that evening I hadn’t really paid attention to anything other than trying not to embarrass myself, or him.
But tonight I felt much more at ease. I knew Alex now, and not just biblically. There was a different dynamic between us, and I was able to admire how incredible he must be in business. When he spoke to people, even men who were obviously successful in their own right, you could see that they lit up. He made everyone feel valued and important. He was charismatic without even knowing he was.
Seeing him in this environment only made me more attracted to him. Not that I needed any help in that department. I still wasn’t sure what had made him ask me to come tonight, but I was happy he had. Being at his side felt like exactly where I was meant to be.
This night held a magical quality and I wanted to enjoy every second of it.
As Alex spoke to people, I scanned the room. I spotted Nick by the bar holding court in the center of a dozen people. Maddox was at a table with his daughter’s mom Lizzy and Lizzy’s husband Ryan. The trio were laughing, drinking and you could see that they were enjoying themselves.
I admired them for so clearly being friends and putting Hannah first. I wondered what the story was there. And also, where Bella’s mom was.
When my gaze continued, I noticed Mia was by the DJ booth and I was just about to excuse myself to go say hi when Alex put his arm around me.
“Do you want to dance?”
His question took me by surprise. We hadn’t danced at all at the City Hall event. I’d wanted so badly for him to ask, but we’d stayed seated at our table the entire night.
It took me a second to process what he’d said before I nodded enthusiastically. “Yes.”
Alex led me to the dance floor, and it felt like every eye in the place was on us. I was sure that was an exaggeration. As he pulled me into his arms, I glanced around and noted that it was not at all an exaggeration. Everyone was looking at us.
