Stir (The Sizzle TV Series Book 5)

Chapter 25 – Natalie

“We’ve been over this, Nic.”

“It’s not safe.”

“Isn’t that the whole point of having Finn here?” I wave a hand and Finn raises his eyebrows at me. “Oh, hush. You know what I mean. It’s why Nic hired you in the first place.”

He grins. I’m pretty sure it means he’s on my side on this, but he hasn’t actually said so yet.

“Finn is one man,” says Captain Obvious. “One man is adequate security for one small office containing only two people. He is not adequate security for a major event featuring the press and dozens of celebrities.”

“You’re going to give me a complex,” says Finn, his eyebrows going even higher.

“Sizzle provides plenty of security for the event,” I point out. “You remember how it was last year.”

Considering how much effort it took to show my face at the Sizzle HQ Ball last year, I’m not about to miss it this time. Not now, not after all this.

“In addition to the security provided by the company, we’ll have our very own personal bodyguard,” I point out. “I have it on good authority that he’s very good at his job.”

“He is sitting right here,” gripes Finn.

“One bodyguard for two people in a crowd like that?” Nic runs his hands through his hair, a sign of stress I’ve only rarely seen him use.

I close the door to his office, come around to his side of the desk, and sit in his lap. He starts to object, but I cover his mouth with the palm of my hand.

“You are wonderfully considerate,” I say. “I appreciate how well you think these things through. And I love that you are so concerned for our safety.” Nic stills under my hand, and it occurs to me that maybe I shouldn’t be using the L-word in conversation right now.

Tough. He’ll have to deal with it.

“But unless you tell me you really think your brother is a threat to my physical safety and unless you can give me a compelling reason why you think any one of us in this room is in actual physical danger, we are going to that ball. All of us.”

His thighs flex under me. He’s getting hard. Even though that wasn’t my intention when I came over here, my body can’t help but respond.

But we’re working. And arguing. So I pull my hand away from his mouth.

“We’re going to have to continue this conversation later,” he says, his voice rough. His hips shift up ever so slightly.

“If I might interject,” says Finn, approaching the chair. He braces one arm along the back of the chair, the other on the desk behind me, leaning down close to whisper in Nic’s ear. “Natalie’s right.”

Nic’s glare is half-hearted at best, his erection thicker now underneath me. Finn nips lightly at his neck.

“I’ll see what I can find out from their security director.”

“You think they just give that information away?” asks Nic, making an effort to stay stern, unable to hide his arousal. We are absolutely going to have to try this at home later.

Home.Don’t ask me when Nic’s apartment became home.

“I know a guy,” says Finn obliquely. He lays tiny bites up the side of Nic’s neck, then kisses his cheek loudly one time before holding out a hand to me. With his help, I stand, right my skirt, and go back to my desk, Nic glaring daggers at us both all the while.

I would never in my life have considered myself a tease, but God, they make playing so much fun. Finn grins at me, adjusting the bulge behind his zipper, and I find myself checking the clock every five minutes the rest of that afternoon, wishing we could close up for the day and spend the rest of the time in bed.

Nic told us about his brother as soon as he found out. I find it hard to believe, but then again, I never met the man. And I know better than anybody than to doubt Nic.

For all my anticipation of getting home and getting my men naked, tonight is the Sizzle HQ Ball. Moira and I found a killer dress, and hokey as it sounds, I keep picturing tonight as my Cinderella moment—the big reveal, weeks and months and even years in the making, all my hard work on display. And beyond the stares and whispers of my former colleagues and so-called friends, more than anything else in the world, I want to see the looks on Nic’s and Finn’s faces when they see me.

Never in my life have I been so excited to be seen.

The music is throbbing,like it does at those clubs Moira tried to drag me to a couple times. Nic gives our name to the attendant at the door. There are more than a few familiar faces, but we don’t stop to do any more than wave as discreetly dressed ushers urge us through into a reception area. Nic, Finn, and I take our places at the coat check.

“Maybe I should hang on to it,” I say, hands gripping the belt at my waist.

Nic turns around to face me head-on.

“Finn?” he says. Finn takes my hands in both of his, kissing them one at a time.

“The world does not deserve to see you in this dress,” he says. “But we do.”

Nic laughs, elbowing him in the gut.

“Not the kind of assist I was looking for,” says Nic. He turns his full attention to me. “You are the most beautiful woman in this place. You ought to know by now that covering up doesn’t change the facts.” He looks at me intently to make sure I know he’s not talking about the coat.

Every time we’ve been together, every step along this road we’re on, he and Finn have been right there with me. With every piece of clothing that came off. And they want me anyway. And, beyond all I thought possible, Nic wanted me when I was… He wanted me before.

He’s never lied to me. If I can trust he’s telling the truth about that, then maybe I can stretch just a little bit further and believe him—both of them—now.

Without another word, I nod, unbuckling the belt of my coat, letting Finn lift it from my shoulders to hand it over to the attendant.

Hard to tell over the buzzing in my ears, but I think the room got quieter.

The dress is a classic black floor-length sheath, one-shouldered, the skirt slit almost to my hip. The material clings to my waist tight enough that I’m hiding nothing, every curve of my body on display—for better or worse.

It’s the most revealing thing I’ve worn in public since the last time I wore a swimsuit to the pool for high school gym class.

“You’re incredible.” Finn murmurs the words as he kisses my knuckles again. Nic offers his arm, and the three of us proceed into the ballroom.

“Finnegan!” says a man almost as soon as we walk in the door. He’s got an arm around a familiar-looking woman, towing her along to greet us.

“Nice to see you again, Elliot,” says Finn, shaking his hand. He kisses the blonde on the cheek before turning to introduce us.

“Elliot, Joelle, I’d like you to meet Natalie Casteel and Nic Pendergrass.”

Hands shaken, pleasantries exchanged, Finn turns back to Elliot. “Where’s Alex?”

“On duty, as always,” says a tall, handsome man coming up behind them. He passes off the drinks in his hand to Elliot and Joelle and grabs Finn in a big hug.

“I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

“Last-minute decision,” says Finn smoothly.

“How’s it going, Nic?” Alex and Nic shake hands.

Alex is smiling politely when he looks my way. His eyes widen. “Hello, I don’t believe we’ve met.”

I laugh. I have to laugh or I’m going to possibly explode with nerves. “We’ve met, Alex. I’m Natalie, Nic’s PA.”

He blinks like he’s kind of stuck. Joelle knocks his elbow. “You’re staring, my love.”

“Natalie,” says Alex. “Nice to see you again. I mean… You look lovely this evening.” Elliot stares at Alex as though he’s growing thumbs out of his forehead.

Before I can thank him, Nic wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close. And if I’m not completely mistaken, Finn is growling.

I look between them.

“Maybe we should go back and get your coat after all,” whispers Finn.

“Natalie.”

My spine stiffens. Standing as tall as I can, determined to get through these next few minutes, holding my chin high, I turn to see my ex-boyfriend.

“Hello, Jeff.” Even in a tuxedo, he’s no better than vaguely attractive. Not as handsome as I thought he was a year ago, somehow. He’s not as tall as I remember, either, but that might be the Tawdra effect. Standing next to Jeff in her heels, she’s taller than he is.

“You remember Tawdra, of course,” he says.

“Of course. Hello.”

“I told Jeff we ran into each other just the other day,” titters Tawdra. “I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight. We could have shared a limo.”

I let that one pass.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” I say to him. He doesn’t respond, staring instead at Nic’s arm around my waist.

“Who are you?”

“Nic Pendergrass.” Nic doesn’t offer to shake his hand.

“The lawyer. Right,” says Jeff, looking between us, trying to work it out. He barely glances at Finn when he asks, “And you are?”

“Finn Hale.” Finn takes his cue from Nic, not saying another word. Let him wonder.

God, I want to kiss them both. Why did we even come to this party again? We could be home and naked right now.

The thought makes my face warm. Jeff stares at me some more, like he’s never seen me before.

“Jeff, honey, I think Busy Miller is waving us over,” says Tawdra, bending forward just enough that I’m convinced she’s about to fall out of the top of her dress. It’s a calculated move, but it works.

“Yeah.” They wander off without saying goodbye.

Finn takes my hand, squeezing hard. “You okay, babe?”

I turn to smile at him, then at Nic. “I’m good. Better than good.”

The heat in their eyes tells me they’re thinking of going home, too. A polite cough is enough to remind me that our little melodrama has an audience.

Joelle is smiling widely. Elliot is checking Finn’s hand, Nic’s hand, and my hands. I can practically see him doing the mental math.

Alex is staring at Finn like he’s never seen him before.

“Something you want to share with the class, Finn?” he asks.

Finn just smiles at him and shrugs, looking back at Nic and me, about as happy as I’ve seen him.

Alex pulls him in hard for a hug with lots of back slapping. I can’t hear what they’re saying to each other, but when the men step back, each wipes some moisture from his eyes.

Joelle moves over next to me, lays a hand on my arm. “Come find me again before you all leave tonight,” she says. “I need to get your number. I have a feeling we have a lot in common.”

I smile and nod. “Maybe we can have coffee sometime.”

“I’d like that.” She hugs me, then tugs her men back toward the bar.

“Picture time?” Nic asks, indicating the staging area they’ve set aside for people to take photos for themselves.

“Let’s do it,” says Finn, already heading that way. “I want evidence of this.”

“Of what?” I ask.

He levels me a look.

“Are you trying to give me a compliment, Finnegan?” I tease. Am I fishing? You better believe it. Screw it, I’ve earned it.

He walks slowly toward me, wrapping one big hand around the back of my neck and guiding his lips to my ear.

“Natalie, when we get out of here, I’m going to give you everything, more than you could ever ask for, more than you’ve ever imagined. A compliment is the only thing I can give you in front of all these cameras without getting us all arrested.”

I shiver. Nic is clearly enjoying this, and if the way he’s fiddling with the buttons on his jacket is any indication, he knows exactly what Finn’s getting at.

How is this real? How is this my life?

A flash goes off in the middle of the three of us, grinning at each other like idiots.

The restof the party is a blur of small talk, usually preceded by somebody saying, “Oh my God, Natalie, is that you? I didn’t recognize you.”

It’s gratifying, no doubt. But after the tenth time, I’m ready to skip that part of the conversation.

The dance floor gets more crowded as the night goes on, with more and more people joining in after enough trips to the bar. At least, that’s what it takes for me. After dinner and my second glass of champagne, I finally let Nic escort me out to the dance floor for a cheek-to-cheek slow dance that I’m positive leaves me with hearts in my eyes. Nic looks no less affected, and not for the first time, I wonder what’s in store for us when we get back home.

Home.That word again.

It’s dangerous to use words like that, even in the privacy of my own mind. We’ve been dancing around the edge of things like relationship and commitment. But home is awfully big for a four-letter word, and lately, it’s not the only one that comes to mind when I think of what’s in store for the three of us.

“Mind if I cut in?” Finn taps me on the shoulder. Nic steps back as though to let Finn take his place. Finn grabs his hand before he can walk away, indicating with his chin for Nic to turn and look.

More than one couple on the dance floor are men with their male partners.

“You sure you want to do this?” Nic pitches the question low. Finn takes my hand, kissing my knuckles again.

“Only if it’s okay with Natalie.”

Grinning so hard my face feels like it may split, I kiss his hand right back. We both ignore the tears in my eyes. “Go with my blessing.”

Finn pulls Nic close, laughing. Nic is smiling with his whole face lit from within. He looks like that when he looks at me, and how I’m supposed to bear so much joy when we have to live in the real world is beyond me.

It’s a big moment for both of them. Not coming out, exactly. Not an announcement. Not a declaration of anything other than dancing with another man. But we know.

I’m intercepted by Alex before I can even return to our table. I dance with him, then Elliot, then Joelle joins us, and before long, the floor is standing room only.

It’s too loud to talk anymore, so when Nic grabs us both and points to his watch, I nod.

I look around the room one last time, waving goodbye to a few friendly faces. Joelle and I exchange phone numbers, and she and her husbands hug each of us goodbye in turn. Strange to think we’re leaving this place with more friends than we started, but tonight is a small step outside of reality in more ways than one.

On our way out, we pass Tawdra and her friends, plus Jeff and a handful of other men I don’t know, standing in a group. It’s too loud to hear, even this far from the dance floor, but Tawdra doesn’t bother to hide that she’s talking about us. Jeff just stares, watching me as we make our way to the lobby.

Donning our coats, we step outside, waiting for our car. The silence is a shock to my ears and a relief.

We don’t talk on the way home. Nic and Finn take their seats on either side of me, each with a hand on my knee, and I know, without a doubt, that for us, the night has only just begun.