I walk into the ballroom with Alexander. It’s Saturday night, and we’re at a charity auction. I would rather be out with Beth, but I did promise Alexander I would come. Besides, it will keep my father and Edward appeased.
Alexander stops to talk to someone, and I look around, freezing on the spot.
Oh no.
Spencer is by the bar.
What the hell is he doing here?
His wavy hair is messed-up to perfection, and his square jaw and piercing blue eyes meet mine. Wearing a black dinner suit, he looks so handsome, and I feel myself melt a little.
He raises an eyebrow at me, and then just as suddenly as we connect, he snaps his eyes away from mine.
Spencer
“You never know what the future will bring.” Leoni smiles.
“I guess.” I sigh as I look around.
Charlotte-My Charlotte has just walked into the ballroom on someone else’s arm.
What?
Alexander York?
My skin prickles. You have got to be kidding me.
Him-my archnemesis. We’ve known each other for years and hated each other for just as long. We met at a party years ago. Alex did some trading for me on the stock market and they turned bad. Then I dated someone he wanted, and it’s gone downhill ever since. We’ve had harsh words on more occasions than I care to remember, and right now, I want to kill him with my bare hands.
“Yes, the universities are wonderful over there,” Leoni says.
I inhale sharply as I try to focus on what she is saying, although I’m quite sure she can see steam shooting out of my ears.
Was it him?
Did she sleep with Alexander fucking York?
My nostrils flare in fury and I tip my head back to skull from my beer. This woman will be the death of me. The two of them walk through the crowd, and Charlotte finds my gaze and falters, as if shocked.
She’s wearing a gold crystal-beaded dress, and her thick honey hair is set into large curls. She looks curvy, glamorous, and beautiful.
Perfect.
My cock instantly hardens with appreciation…and she’s fucking here with someone else.
I put my hand into the pocket of my black dinner suit and stare at her, my eyebrow rising involuntarily.
I’m livid and force myself to look away.
Leonie keeps banging on about the most boring thing I’ve ever heard and Charlotte stands still, her hands both clutching her gold purse nervously as Alexander stops to talk to someone. She can’t even look at me, while I can’t look away.
I’ve caught her out. This is why she won’t see me. She’s fucking him.
Agreeing to the date on Sunday night was probably just to shut me up.
I want to storm over there and drag her out of here.
I inhale deeply, trying to get a hold of myself. It’s been a long time since a woman has gotten to me like Charlotte Prescott has. If ever.
I don’t like it, I don’t trust it, and I don’t fucking want it… much to Masters’ and Seb’s amusement. They’ve told me that I am, without a doubt, the stupidest man on Earth to say that to a woman. I agree with them.
Lesson learned.
I tip my head back and drain my beer.
Alexander keeps talking then Charlotte says something to him and walks over to a table. When she gets there, she turns and walks back to the bar where I am standing, approaching me slowly.
“Excuse me.” I smile at Leonie as she talks.
“Oh, sure.” She frowns.
“Hello, Spence.” Charlotte smiles up at me.
“Hi,” I push out.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” she says nervously.
I stare at her, physically biting my tongue from, once again, losing control and showing my feelings.
“You’re here on a date?” I ask flatly.
Charlottes eyes widen. “No. God, no. Alexander is a family friend, that’s all.”
I stare at her as she dusts my arm with her hand. “Honestly, I swear.”
Relief fills me, and I smirk, feeling stupid.
“Were you jealous?” she asks.
“Green-eyed monster jealous.” I sip my beer.
She’s all big lips and dimples, and I feel my lust for her all the way to my balls.
“I wish I was alone with you,” I say. Damn it, why does this woman make me blurt shit out?
Her eyes hold mine. I feel like she wants to say something, but she remains silent.
“How was your day?” I ask to make conversation.
“Good.” She smiles. “I was waiting for a phone call. Weren’t you calling me today?”
I smile, my anger dissipating. “I was waiting until I got home tonight and was naked in my bed.”
Her breath catches.
“I wanted to touch myself to the sound of your voice,” I confess.
She smirks and the air between us crackles, our eyes locked.
“You are a scoundrel, Mr Spencer,” she whispers.
I dip my head, pick up her hand, and I kiss the back of it. “At your service, my lady.”
Her hand stays in mine for an extended time and eventually good manners prevail. “Would you like a glass of champagne?”
She smiles. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”
“Back in a moment.” I walk to the bar and wait in line to order our drinks.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” someone growls from behind me.
I turn to see Alexander York. “I’m getting a drink, you idiot, what does it look like?”
“I mean what the hell do you think you’re doing talking to Charlotte Prescott?”
I turn to him as my anger begins to pump. “Charlotte is none of your concern.”
“The hell she isn’t. We’ve been family friends all of our lives, and she’s way out of your fucking league.”
Unable to help myself, I smile smugly. “What’s the matter, York? You jealous?”
“Fuck you.”
I really want to say, that’s what she’s going to do later, but I hold my tongue.
“I saw you kiss her hand. What do you think you’re doing with her?”
I turn to him, raise our two champagne glasses, and throw him a wink. “Whatever the fuck I want to.”
Charlotte
Spencer appears through the crowd and comes to stand beside me. He passes me my drink and we clink glasses. “Thank you.” I smile.
His glowing eyes linger on my face.
“You’re staring, Mr Spencer.” I get butterflies in my stomach when he looks at me like that.
“I know,” he whispers. “I can’t help it.”
“Hello, sorry we’re late,” a girl’s voice interrupts us from behind. I turn to see a pretty woman and a man standing beside us. She’s heavily pregnant. Actually, I think she is the one from the wedding the first time I met Spencer.
Spencer turns immediately. “Charlotte, this is Julian Masters and his wife Brielle-Bree for short.”
“Hello.” I smile nervously and shake both of their hands.
They both smile back at me, and the woman hunches her shoulders in excitement before she rubs Spencer’s.
I can tell they are very fond of each other.
“Where’s Sebastian?” Spencer asks. “Typical. He signs us up for this shit and then turns up late.”
Julian smiles. “What would you expect?” He turns to Bree. “Would you like a drink, sweetheart?”
“Uh-huh.” She exhales heavily. “I would like ten glasses of champagne, actually.”
Julian raises his brow. “Lemonade then?”
“Ugh, fine.” She sighs and moves closer to me.
Julian falls into natural conversation with Spencer. I look around at all the people dressed in their black-tie outfits, and I notice that there really are some beautiful gowns here.
“When are you due?” I ask Bree, simply to make conversation.
“Seven weeks.”
“Exciting.” I smile. “Is that an accent I detect?”
“Yes.” She laughs. “I’m Australian.” She takes my hand in hers. “I’m so glad to finally meet you.” Her eyes drop down my dress. “You are absolutely gorgeous, just as Spence said you were.”
I frown. “You’ve heard of me?”
She glances at Spencer to check he can’t hear us. “Of course I’ve heard of you. Spencer has been going on and on about you since the two of you first met,” she whispers.
I try to hide my smile but fail miserably. “So, you know him well?” I ask. I don’t know why but I already feel at ease with this woman. I’m guessing she’s around my age, too.
“He’s Julian’s best friend, along with Seb, of course.” She looks over at a man with dark hair who is approaching us through the crowd. “Speak of the devil.”
“Hello, troublemaker,” Seb teases Bree as he bends to kiss her cheek.
“Sebastian, this is Charlotte,” she introduces with a broad smile.
Sebastian is tall, dark, and handsome, and he has a natural wave to his hair. Good grief, these men are seriously good looking.
Seb’s eyes light up, and he picks up my hand to kiss the back of it. “Lovely to meet you, Charlotte, but you really should run away with me instead of Spencer.” He winks mischievously.
“Hey, cut that out,” Spencer cries from behind us. “Lips off her immediately.”
Julian and Sebastian chuckle.
“Hello, Sebastian.” I smile.
“Where is your date?” Bree asks Sebastian.