Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
“What did we decide I was telling my father if he tried setting me up with anyone tonight?” Tenley whispers in my ear.
We make our way through the ballroom full of people dressed in gowns and suits.
Silks hang from the ceiling, woven with lights, and tall vases of orchids sit in the centre of every table.
A band is set up on the stage, playing easy-listening music while people mingle and chat before the dinner starts.
I chuckle. “That you just met someone last week who you think might have potential.”
“Right. It’s very new.” Tenley nods to herself, bolstering her confidence. “What job did we give him, again?”
“Surgeon. No one expects you to know details in the medical field.”
“Right,” she says, snatching a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and chugging half in one go.
Beth and Lex already made their way inside after Caleb blew up Beth’s phone, but Tenley and I got stuck talking to James Huxley and Jackson King.
There’s a Callahan Hotel attached to the Heart City casino, but the men want to expand it to the other High Rollers locations.
Tenley dove right into business mode, and with the two of us working more closely lately, she roped me right into the conversation with her.
I see a flash of red through a part in the crowd, followed by the biggest smile on Caleb’s face as he holds Lex in his arms.
“There they are.” I point my chin, then hook an arm through Tenley’s, leading us to our friends. A cool sweat briefly washes over me at the thought of seeing Gage tonight without the barrier of his bar or masks.
“Iz. Tenley. You ladies both look lovely,” Caleb says, once he sees us.
“Thank you, OG. You look very dapper. Love the red.” He looks so proud of himself as he runs a hand down his red vest.
“Gage? Don’t you have anything nice to say, too?” asks Beth.
I try to act cool as I look over at him, just as eager to see him dressed up as I am to see the way I affect him.
Gage’s eyes start at my toes and savour their way up the emerald sequin gown that shadows my figure. I see him swallow when he reaches higher, taking in the neckline that dips low on my chest.
“You’re breathtaking,” he says, transfixed and unwavering.
I don’t know how long we’re locked in each other’s gaze, but the spell is broken when Hazel and Matilda come rushing over, impatient to see Lex and Caleb together.
“Shit. My father’s waving me over.” Tenley groans, then points two fingers at her eyes, then at Beth. “You watch for my signal.”
Beth raises her glass. “I got you, girl.”
Tenley blows out a breath as if she’s preparing for a run at the Olympics, then charges into the crowd, leaving Beth and me chuckling.
“I’m so glad our parents aren’t that bad with our dating life,” Beth says to Gage.
The three of us move to a high-top table near the bar, and the second I’m in his orbit, Gage’s cologne envelops me. Just like the first time I sensed it, it makes me dizzy—hypnotised and seduced.
“Don’t you agree, brother?” I look at Beth, trying to act as if I don’t care for his answer, but she just stares at him while he stays silent. Unable to control myself, I follow her gaze, finding Gage already staring down at me. Jesus, is it hot in here?
“Gage?” Beth calls.
He finally looks her way. “Yeah?”
I look down at my hands, where they rest on the table, feeling Beth’s attention on me.
“Nevermind,” she says. “Looks like Tenley needs me already. I’ll be back, but don’t wait for me to start having fun. It’s a party after all.”
I look up in time to see Beth bob her eyebrows, then disappear into the crowd.
“Have you told anyone about—” I stop, not knowing what to call exactly what it is we’re doing. Dating? Do weekly meetings at a sex club equate to that? Sleeping together? Technically, we haven’t done that either.
“No,” Gage says, and I want to ask why. But more importantly, I want to know where he stands. Where this is going. Does he want more? Because I do. “You really do look beautiful. I swear, you take my breath away every time I see you.”
My face must give away my confusion. It’s so different when we’re alone—he’s so different. It’s getting harder not to want this version all the time. Gage’s finger brushes against mine, where it sits on the table, hooking around the pinky.
He clears his throat, almost nervously. Unexpected for a guy as big and imposing as he comes across from the outside. But I know more of what’s underneath. “Maybe we should have brought this up sooner.”
Oh god. He’s gonna say this is nothing. I’ve gotten carried away. I should have listened to Beth from the start. “What’s up?”
“Are you okay with just keeping things between us, at least for now? It’s just that…
I don’t date. I wouldn’t be surprised if my family assumes I’m celibate.
With the excitement of Caleb and Lex, I don’t think I can handle that kind of attention on my personal life.
Even from my family.” He sighs. “It’s not that I don’t want that.
But putting myself in a vulnerable position is scary.
I haven’t had much practice with opening myself up to that in a long time.
If ever. But lately, the alternative feels much scarier. ”
“Which is?”
“Missing these moments with you.”
I turn my hand over in his, letting our palms touch, and my thumb runs over the rose tattoo on top. “You miss me… sometimes?”
“I miss you most of the time.”
I look at the drink in his other hand. “How many of those have you had tonight?”
He huffs in amusement. “Why?”
“I’m not used to this sweet and flirty side of you.” I smile.
His fingers move between mine, a teasing whisper of touch making my stomach flip. “I don’t have a sweet and flirty side.”
“Hate to break it to ya, Grim. But yes, you do.”
“No.” He closes his hand fully around mine now. “This is just an Isabelle side.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
I bring my other hand to his, tracing the lines of his tattoos so I don’t have to look him in the eye when I ask my question.
“Why haven’t you tried to sleep with me?” We’ve done things at the club, and I’m not complaining, not at all, but I am curious.
“I don’t want the first time we sleep together to be at the club.”
“So why haven’t you asked me to come to your house?”
“Cos I know it’ll change everything.”
“And you don’t want things to change?” I ask, chancing a glance up at him. His eyes are intense, full of intent.
“I want everything to change.”
“So what’s holding you back still?”
“I know once I have you, I can’t lose you.”
I don’t think this man realises he’s my kryptonite. The way he’s brave, gentle, and kind. If there was any hope of me staying upright, we needed to stop the second we met at the airport. Since that moment, all I’ve done is fall.
“But don’t you know?” I whisper. “You already have me.”
Gage’s eyes flutter closed. “Isabelle.”
“Come to my house tonight. When we leave here, don’t go home. Please.”
Someone speaks into the microphone, asking everyone to take their seats, but I don’t leave until I get an answer.
“Izzy!” Beth calls my name from behind, and I reluctantly pull my hands from Gage’s. “You’re sitting next to me, babe.”
I smile at Beth and let her lead me away from the table, but when I look over my shoulder, it’s to see Gage nodding. Declaring. Tonight… everything’s about to change.