Tiffany cast him a nervous glance.
Evie wondered if the guy had ever gotten violent with her.
If so, well, she might just kick him while he was down. And he was going down, somehow. Like Blue, she’d brought a pharmacy in her rings. One held the truth serum, one a sedative, one an aphrodisiac, and one a big dose of mental-patient cray-cray. She’d use them all if necessary.
“Please. Just Blue.” He took Tiffany’s hand. “I’ve thought about you a lot since that day at the coffee shop, wondered if you were doing okay, and if I’d get to see you again.”
The girl blushed, and honestly, it was kind of . . . sweet.
Almost feel sorry for her. Almost.
“A thousand times I’ve asked my father to meet you,” Tiffany said. “I’m not allowed to date anyone that hasn’t met him. But he’s refused. I’m sorry.”
“We’ll find a way. No probs.”
The phrase was a caress to Evie’s ears.
Tyson ran his tongue over his teeth, reminding her of her job.
“I know this comes a little late, but welcome,” she said to him. “I’m Evangeline Black, tonight’s hostess.”
The Star heir stepped forward and nodded in greeting. “Tyson Star.”
“Ah. The illustrious owner of this amazing paradise.” She swept her hand out to indicate the pool. “I was hoping I’d get a chance to speak with you.”
“And I you.” He hooked her fingers over his and placed a kiss on her knuckles.
She pretended to be charmed. He was a handsome man. Tall, like his sister, and leanly built. He was not in casual wear. Like Dallas, he wore a suit. He wasn’t the type to relax, she would bet.
I can help him with that.
“Your staff has done a wonderful job,” she said.
“We only hire the best.”
How special for you. “Well, it certainly shows.”
Blue and Tiffany wandered past the mirrored wall, whispering to each other, obviously flirting and, to any outside observer, seemingly lost in each other. Tyson watched, his shoulders squaring more with every step the pair took. A warrior preparing for battle.
Evie smiled at him, hoping to distract him. “It seems you’re in need of a companion, Mr. Star. Come, and I’ll introduce you to the rest of the team.”
* * *
Blue was having trouble concentrating. Chatter and laughter rang through the night. Every so often someone would jump in the pool and warm water would splash everyone nearby, eliciting startled cries.
One of those cries came from Evie. She used the water as an excuse to escort Tyson to the edge of the roof, a secluded spot overlooking the lights of the city. The two stayed there for half an hour, talking. Tyson’s gaze continually strayed to Tiffany. At one point he even tried to walk away from Evie, but she somehow convinced him to remain at her side.
Blue had never before watched the woman he was sleeping with flirt with another man. But then, Evie might be done with him. She suspected he’d injected her with the tracker.
Too bad, princess. We’re together, and that’s final.
How many women had watched him over the years, wondering about his affections? How many women had he left twisted up, angry, and frustrated?
Too many. He was done living that way.
Hello. My name is Blue and I’m a reformed bad boy.
He couldn’t blame his current mood on jealousy. He knew what tonight’s flirtation games were about. He knew Evie felt nothing but contempt for Tyson Star, and that she wouldn’t do anything sexual. He knew she was doing this for John. For Blue. And he knew she could protect herself.
He blamed yearning. He and Evie couldn’t be open about their relationship. They had to hide their affection for one another. Blue couldn’t stand beside her and look at lights. Blue couldn’t put his arm around her or kiss her in the moonlight.
He also couldn’t leave the party with Tiffany until Evie convinced Tyson to take her somewhere else. Anywhere else. Otherwise, Big Brother would definitely try to stop Blue from leaving with Little Sister, and that would put unnecessary kinks in the plan.
At least Blue didn’t have to entertain Tiffany while he waited. A few of her friends were guests, and they had swept her away to gossip about him—if he had to take a guess. He’d claimed a seat at an empty table to watch her . . . and all right, yes, to watch Evie. He was dividing his attention between the two.
Tyson ran his knuckles down the length of Evie’s arm.
Blue stiffened. When John is safe, I’ll be removing those knuckles with a butter knife.
“All alone?” a female said. “What a shame.”
He recognized the voice and closed his eyes to pray for patience.
Noelle Tremain slid into the chair next to him. Light from the tiki torches bathed her, illuminating a pretty face he’d once wanted so badly to love.
In greeting, he nodded at her. “You’re looking well.”
“Don’t be modest. I’m looking magnificent.” She smiled coldly and waved at someone across the room. “Are you going to congratulate me on my nuptials and pregnancy or continue to glower at the owner of your team?”
She’d noticed. Damn. Others might have noticed, too. “Congrats,” he said, facing her fully. “I’m happy for you.”
“Are you? Really?”
This was long overdue, wasn’t it? “Yes, I really am. I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Noelle. I never wanted to hurt you.”
The coldness remained. “Well, you did. You were a crappy boyfriend. Like, I could have shoved a dagger in your gut and no woman in the world would have convicted me of a crime. You were always trying to change me, and there at the end you even tried to forbid me from seeing Ava.”
Ava. Her best friend. The two were practically joined at the hip. “Where is she tonight?”
“Out hunting with her vampire husband.”
“That’s right. I heard she tamed a feral vamp capable of stopping time.”
Evie laughed, the sound dazzling, drawing Blue’s notice. She was talking to Tyson, motioning to the elevators, but he was shaking his head no.
Only an idiot would refuse the raven-haired beauty.
There was a slight hardening of her shoulders, but she recovered quickly and reached up to toy with the ends of the man’s hair. Any resentment Blue might have felt about the action evaporated as her emerald ring glinted in the moonlight.
That’s my girl.
Wouldn’t be too much longer now.
“Blue,” Noelle snapped.