As I looked between the two of them, I smirked. “Lemme guess. You’re leaving.”
“Aww, whoever said you’re just a pretty face?” Viper said.
I brought the cigarette to my lips for another drag and then blew the smoke over my shoulder. “If I’m honest, I’m surprised you both lasted this long. I figured you would’ve split hours ago.”
Viper wrapped an arm around Halo’s shoulders and said, “If it’d been up to me—”
Halo whacked a palm on his chest. “I was being sociable.”
“I was being frustrated,” he said.
I laughed, but my eyes caught on Levi for the umpteenth time tonight. He’d moved to the opposite side of the party, chatting it up with a crowd surrounding him and hanging on his every word. I didn’t like the way one guy in particular was eyeing Levi like he had plans for them later, but I couldn’t think on that for long, because Viper looked in Levi’s direction and said, “Something you seem to be familiar with these days.”
“Huh?” I reluctantly tore my eyes away from Levi back to where Viper gave me one hell of a smug look.
“Being frustrated. You seem…preoccupied,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not preoccupied.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” he said. He seemed to be enjoying himself a little too much at my expense. “You can’t keep your eyes off our new manager. Not to mention, you didn’t invite anyone here tonight. That’s very unlike you. Thinking about starting some intra-band relations yourself, huh?”
Figured Viper would be the one to pick up on that. I stubbed out my cigarette and tossed it in one of the ashtrays. “The thought might’ve crossed my mind.”
“Uh huh. I fucking knew it.”
I shrugged, not bothering to disagree as I looked back in Levi’s direction, and this time, I saw Halo and Viper follow my gaze.
As if he could feel my eyes on him—hell, all our eyes on him—Levi slowly turned in our direction, and when he saw us staring, he narrowed his eyes, as if wondering what mischief we were up to now.
“Act fucking normal,” I said under my breath. “I don’t want you two to scare him off before I go over there.”
Halo, obviously feeling the alcohol tonight, started to laugh, and then he said, “Oh my God. You and Levi?”
Not that I wanted anyone to know my business, but if the alcohol had gotten to Halo, it’d gotten to me as well, because I was feeling pretty damn good right now—and more than a little ready for some action.
I shot Halo a wink. “If I’m lucky. Now you two get the hell out of here.”
Viper had an amused look on his face as he said, “Do I need to tell you not to fuck up a good thing here?”
“I mean, you can,” I said, shoving off the wall and looking between Viper and Halo, who had zero room to talk. “But you’ll get the same answer you gave me.” When Viper arched a brow, I shrugged. “It’s none of your damn business.”
Viper lifted his hands and backed away as Halo shot me a wide grin and said, “Good luck.” Then they were gone, and thank fuck for that. With those two around, I knew Levi would keep one eye on them for any trouble, but with them out of the picture, maybe he’d finally make a move. Or be receptive to mine.
I made my way through the crowd, my eyes zeroing in on Levi. He didn’t see me coming; his back was to me, and he was leaning in to the guy who looked too interested, laughing at something he was saying.
An irrational flare of jealousy went through me at the move, and as I approached, I stepped between them, cutting off their connection. The smile I gave Levi then was full of a confidence I didn’t normally feel to quite this extent—thank you, tequila—and the puzzled look he gave me indicated as much.
“Mind if I steal you away?” I said, and then over my shoulder to what’s-his-name, I added, “Band business.”
When Levi quickly excused himself, I practically patted myself on the back. Step one, complete.
“Is something wrong?” Levi asked, keeping pace with me as I walked to the far end of the party, where a cluster of private cabanas lined the pool. The area was off-limits to guests at this late hour, but when we approached, one of the security guys lowered the rope without a word. “I saw Viper and Halo talking to you. Did something happen?”
I didn’t respond as I chose one of the cabanas facing away from the party for ultimate privacy and made myself comfortable on the large, round sunbed.
“Killian? What’s going on?” Levi’s forehead creased as he stared down at me, the moonlight lighting him up from behind as if he were standing in a spotlight. I may have been drunk, but I wasn’t blind—he was sexy as hell.