The dark-haired woman nods. “I’m pretty sure everyone saw them.”
Monroe keeps pushing. “And Legend doesn’t usually come out on the floor, we hear.”
“That’s right.” Zoe shifts her gaze to me. “But he’s ... he’s taken a personal interest in Ms. Priest.”
The wordspersonal interesthave never filled me with this much hope before.
“Well, I’ve also taken a personal interest in him,” I say, and it comes out sounding demurer than my bold declaration from before.
Zoe looks around to ensure none of the other employees are within earshot, and then surveys me. “Do you have any idea what type of man you’re dealing with? Because Legend is one of a kind.”
“Tell us everything, Zoe. My girl needs your help.” This comes from Harlow, and I could hug her right now.
Zoe glances up toward the ceiling, and my gaze follows her. Is it a camera? It has to be. Is he watching us? Watching me?
“I can’t say much. Truly, I can’t. But I will tell you that he’s acting differently about you than he has any other woman in a very long time. Actually, for as long as I’ve known him. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, though, because I don’t know what’s going on. But he’s breaking some of his rules when it comes to you.”
“We’ll take that.” Monroe answers for me, slipping one of her business cards from her wallet. “Thank you, Zoe. If you ever want to chat or have lunch, here’s my number. And if you like baseball, I can hook you up with the most badass seats imaginable. My husband never uses all the tickets we get.”
Zoe stares down at the card, hesitation clear from her slow movements, but she accepts it from Monroe anyway. “Thank you, Mrs. Grafton. I’ve seen your husband play before. He’s impressive.”
“As long as he stays in New York and doesn’t get traded, he’s definitely impressive.”
“Monroe.” Harlow barks our friend’s name to get her off theif he gets traded, I’m getting divorcedsubject.
“Okay, okay. Back to partying,” Monroe says as Astra approaches with her tray of drinks, then points at Zoe. “And if you see your boss watching our girl, give him a nudge. She’d love to dance with him again.”
My face burns with embarrassment, but I accept another shot and hope this one contains the liquid courage I need for the rest of the night.
* * *
I nearly lose hope that I’ll see Gabriel again before we leave the club. It’s almost two, and the DJ is still going strong, although Kelsey is starting to droop. Other than me, she’s the only one who has been up since the crack of dawn, busting ass. Harlow and Monroe are still shaking their shit on the dance floor, but I grab Kelsey’s hand.
“Kels, we can go,” I say with a yawn. “I’m tired too.”
Harlow sees me cover my mouth with my hand and snags Monroe by the wrist. “I think we’re good. You good?”
She’s asking if I’m ready to give up on seeing Legend again, but part of me hopes he won’t let me walk out of this building without approaching me one last time. Or maybe that’s the countless shots I’ve had talking. Either way, I’m ready to crash.
We form a chain of linked arms and make our way out of the crush on the dance floor. When we reach the lobby, Q is there.
“Ladies, can we get our car service for you?”
“I don’t want to go home yet,” Monroe says with a whine. “Nate’s out of town and the penthouse will be so empty.”
“You can come home with me, babe. Jimmy won’t care,” Harlow offers, covering her own yawn.
That’s when I feel him behind me. I’ve never been so hyperaware of another person in my life. As soon as he’s in my proximity, my body buzzes from head to toe.
If this is what living feels like, what have I been doing every day before this?
As if guided by invisible hands, I turn around to face him.
His black shirt hugs his broad shoulders and muscular arms before ending with a glint of silver at the cuffs. I drag my gaze back up to his face and find his blue eyes fixed on me.
“You should get a hotel. Q can get you a suite down the street. Safer. Easier. Quicker.”
“Why?” I ask, taking another step toward him. It’s as if I’m sucked into his magnetic pull, and I couldn’t stay away from him if I tried.