CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Nadine
Nico was hosting Reynolds’ election results party at Salazar Nights.
I was so excited walking into the luxurious nightclub with Madeline and Carmen.
The last time I’d been here I’d been working.
In fact, unless you counted my outings to Cinnamon House, I hadn’t been out at night at all since that ill-fated trip to Bahia Del Sol with Reynolds in the summer.
It was November now. I shook my head. I’d started feeling like a caged bird.
But not tonight. I’d gone all out. My hair was straightened perfectly and flowed almost to my waist. I wore a tasteful burgundy cocktail dress.
It was strapless, with a tight bodice and a skirt that flared out a bit and hit just above my knees.
There was a hint of cleavage, but nothing over the top.
My makeup wasn’t thick, but it was heavy enough to be evening appropriate.
Lonnie Maitland would be proud.
It felt great to be out on the town, and I planned to cut loose. I knew I couldn’t appear to be friends with Reynolds, but that was fine. He’d be busy, anyway. He would have crowds of people around him all night, plus I knew Whitney would be glued to his side.
But I would not let that bother me. Not tonight.
“I’m so surprised that Reynolds didn’t mind me being here. Thanks for asking for me,” I whispered to Carmen as I saw the man of the hour standing on the stage. He was getting ready to address the crowd after there’d been time for everyone to arrive after the polls closed.
I saw Byron beside the stage, looking very handsome in his suit.
He also looked a bit intimidating. He wasn’t as tall as Nico or Reynolds, but he was close.
And he was more muscular. He looked as if he could protect Reynolds with one arm tied behind his back.
He was scanning the crowd, looking for any signs of trouble.
His eyes scanned over me, then moved right back. He grinned.
I gave him a little wave, and he gave me a head nod. I knew he was working, so I didn’t want to distract him.
“I didn’t ask permission,” Carmen said, glancing at Byron and popping a shrimp into her mouth from a tray the catering staff was carrying around. They’d decided not to have women in revealing uniforms work the party since Reynolds was trying to shed his playboy image.
“What?” My heart dropped. “Are you serious?” I hissed. I glanced at the stage. “He doesn’t know I’m here?”
“Nope. Come sit.” She patted the seat next to her as she slid into a big circular booth.
I gave Madeline a wide-eyed look, but she just smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Nadine. He’s gotten away with a ton during this contract. Live it up tonight and don’t even think about him.”
The two of us slid into the booth beside Carmen. It was full of Salazars.
“Ladies,” Nico said, looking pleased to see us, “always a pleasure to see y’all.”
I smiled. “Hey, Nico. Hey, everyone.” I gave a little wave even though I’d already said hello, and Madeline snorted.
“You’re so weird,” she said under her breath. Then she bumped my hip with hers. “In a good way,” she added, winking at me.
I grinned at her.
“So, you do exist after dark,” Leo said, giving me a flirty look across the table.
“I’m not a vampire,” I agreed.
Joaquin corrected me. “Vampires only come out after dark.”
“Oh, right. Duh,” I said, laughing at myself.
“Actually, little brother,” Enzo said drily, “vampires don’t come out at all since they aren’t real.”
“Well, I mean, no shit, I just meant that…”
“This is a strange conversation,” Carmen cut him off. “When does the party start? I’m ready to dance.”
“We have to wait for Reynolds to give a quick speech, then the proper music will start.” Low key jazz was playing in the background. Nico looked around the room. “It’s filling up nicely. I wouldn’t think it’ll be more than a few minutes before he gives his opening remarks.”
I looked around, too. There was a gigantic screen on the wall.
It was showing the local news station. It would be a pretty boring night news wise.
It had been too late for Jasper Hill’s name to be struck from the ballot even though he’d officially dropped out of the race.
Any votes cast for him wouldn’t count. And no one thought the lady who sold crystals or Old Man Dinardo would get more than a handful of votes each. Reynolds had basically run unopposed.
People were milling about, everyone dressed to impress and looking excited.
I glanced at the stage. Reynolds was laughing and talking to Carlos Salazar and some other important-looking people.
He looked perfect in his bespoke suit and tie.
Whitney stood near his side. She looked impeccable in a blue evening suit that somehow didn’t look matronly. She was talking to Gloria Salazar.
Gloria looked bored. I’d learned over the past few weeks that she wasn’t good at hiding how she felt. Carmen said she used to be but had lost the ability as she’d aged. Plus, she was the matriarch of the most powerful family in town. Everyone did whatever they could to please her.
“Ladies? What would y’all like to drink?” Leo asked. He winked at a waitress who set lowball glasses of whiskey in front of all the men at the table. And Carmen.
“I’d like a glass of Chardonnay, please,” I said.
“Same,” said Madeline.
“I’ll be right back,” the waitress said and hurried off to fill our order. There was something to be said for sitting at the same table as the club owners. The service was excellent.
“Good evening.” Reynolds’ voice came over the loudspeakers and everyone quieted down. I tried not to focus on how good-looking he was, how smooth. God. It was hard not to. I looked away and caught Leo’s eye.
He gave me a bemused smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He could tell I had feelings for Reynolds. I hated that I was so see-through. I looked back at Reynolds to escape Leo’s penetrating gaze.
“I won’t speak long. I just wanted to thank everyone for coming out to support my re-election campaign tonight.
It’s been a long few months. Thank you all for being loyal through all the turmoil, the gossip, and the drama.
You’ll never know how much I appreciate it.
Now,” he said with a sexy smile, “eat, drink, and be merry! We have a lot to celebrate.”
There was an enormous round of applause.
“Oh, and, of course, thank you to Nico and Carmen Salazar for hosting this…” he stopped talking abruptly as his eyes moved to our table and fell on me.
The smile dropped off his face. “Ahem, um, excuse me,” he cleared his throat and dragged his eyes from mine.
He smiled again, but it was weak this time, and he wrapped his speech up abruptly.
“Thank you, Nico and Carmen, for hosting this wonderful party. Everyone have fun.”
Everyone clapped again, seeming to have missed his bobble. Whitney, though, narrowed her eyes at our table. She took in my presence with a cool look on her face. Then she stepped in and laced her fingers through Reynolds’ and glared at me. The message was obvious. She had him. I didn’t.
As if I didn’t already know that.
I looked down at the table as the band started playing upbeat, popular music.
“Do you want to dance?” Joaquin asked Madeline.
“Sure,” she smiled and slid out of the booth. He did the same and swept her out on the dance floor.
Leo grinned at me and said something but was interrupted.
A shadow fell over the table, and I looked up to see Nico there. “Dance with me?” he held out his hand.
I smiled, even though Nico made me nervous, and put my hand in his to let him help me up from the table.
“I call next,” Leo called after us.
I smiled at him as Nico whisked me to the middle of the floor. It felt like all eyes were on us. I looked around and realized they were.
“Wow. I didn’t know dancing with the club owner would get me so much attention,” I laughed, a little nervously.
He smiled. “They’re not looking at me, sweetheart. You look stunning tonight.”
“Thank you.” My face turned pink at the compliment. I looked up at him and reminded myself that Nico was the king of the players. I should take anything flirty or complimentary he said with a grain of salt.
“He really likes you, you know? Reynolds?”
I didn’t say anything because I could practically hear the ‘but’ that was coming.
I was right.
“But,” he continued, glancing over to the stage. “If he settles down with someone, it will more than likely be someone like her.”
I looked. Whitney was standing next to Reynolds, her hand on his shoulder. She was laughing at something his campaign manager, Melda, was saying.
Reynolds, as if feeling our eyes on him, looked right at me. His jaw was clenched. I could tell he was angry, but I couldn’t tell if it was because I was in attendance or because I was dancing with Nico.
Either way, I didn’t want to detract from his big night.
“I think maybe I should go,” I said to Nico.
“No. I don’t think you should,” he disagreed.
“I think you should stay and have a nice time. Dance, get a little drunk, eat some food. You deserve a night out. Plus,” he looked around then lowered his voice, “you’re under contract to him for less than a month.
You need to start thinking about life after Reynolds.
” He smiled, and his face softened. He normally looked tough and more than a little intimidating.
Right then? He was being kind, and I appreciated it.
“Thanks, Nico. I’ll do that.”
“Good, because you’ve got a great life ahead of you. It just won’t be with him. If he hasn’t made that clear, then he’s done you a disservice.”
His words hurt, but his tone was gentle. I knew he was right.
“He has. He’s told me. It’s just…”
“Actions speak louder than words?” he guessed. “He treats you like you’re his and he’s possessive, so it seems as if your relationship is more than it is?”
I nodded, a rueful smile on my face. “Yeah.”