He seemed to war with what to say before he shook his head and pasted on a thin grin. “Come on, let’s get up there before Brody thinks I bailed on him.”
I started up the steps. Rex placed his hand at the small of my back. I bit back a gasp. It was almost impossible. Not with the way electricity raced through me like a shot of adrenaline.
He groaned the smallest sound. But I felt it, the rumble he emitted. I wasn’t alone in this.
We managed to make the climb to the top, and I was sucking in another breath when we stepped out onto the second floor. It was magnificent.
Just . . . jaw-dropping beauty.
The interior matched downstairs, the walls red brick and warm with age. Rows of pool tables lined the far back of the massive room and another elegant bar ran the adjoining wall. Linens, floral arrangements, and formal place settings adorned the tables set up in the middle of the room, all of it obviously brought in exclusively for tonight’s party.
What really captured my attention was what faced out front. An accordion wall of glass and rustic wood had been completely opened to the balcony. Planters filled with trees were strategically placed around the area, and strands of Edison bulbs that matched downstairs were strung up between them, covering the outdoor space like a sparkly, glittering ceiling.
It was hard to tell where one space ended and the other began.
But it was the view of the river winding through the city I loved that sent a tumble of nostalgia battering my senses.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
I jerked with the rough voice beside me.
I shook myself out of the stupor and offered Rex a small smile. “I almost forgot how beautiful Gingham Lakes is.”
A frown pulled at his brows, and he searched my face. “Is that what you wanted? To forget?”
My laughter was tremulous. “It’s easier that way, isn’t it? Forgetting? Forgetting means things don’t hurt so bad.”
Pain gusted through his striking features. “And sometimes pain is better than forgetting.”
My stomach twisted, and I fumbled for something to say, wanting to reach in and discover exactly what it was he was clinging to. He stopped me by speaking first with an easy diversion. “I’m going to head to the bar. What can I get you to drink?”
“Chardonnay would be nice.”
He dipped his head before he headed that direction, winding through the small groups of people who were gathered around. Their conversations were quiet, and the band playing on a small elevated stage in the corner were hardly more than an accent to the vibe.
“Oh my God!”
I spun on my heel at the screech that came from behind me. Nikki was coming right for me, dressed in a flaming red dress, eyes wide with excitement. She hugged me as if she hadn’t seen me in years. “Oh my God,” she said again, holding me by the outside of my upper arms. “What are you doing here?” Her eyes looked me up and down. “And holy shit, you look fabulous. Are you trying to make us all look bad?”
I felt the heat rush to my face. “Thank you.”
Compliments from friends used to be difficult for me to take. Macy had thought it her God-given duty to wipe that idea from my existence, and she’d done a good job of it. She’d nearly scraped all the old insecurities away, and I refused to let them settle back into my skin.
I took her by both hands, squeezing as I smiled. “And are you serious right now? You look like a freaking goddess.”
She hiked a shoulder. “What can I say? If given the opportunity to dress up for my Ollie, I’d be a fool not to take it.”
I chuckled. God, I really loved her. “Well, he’d be a fool not to notice.”
It was almost hurt that flashed in her eyes, but she shook it off. “So, what are you doing here? Did Lillith invite you?”
Again, she was looking around. It was right when Rex broke the crowd, the man so ridiculously gorgeous my breaths turned shallow and my heart took off at a sprint as he strode our way. All lean strength and powerful presence.
“Oh wow.” Nikki whipped her attention back to me, mouth dropping open in disbelief.
“It’s nothing,” I whispered. “We’re just friends.”
“Really?” Her voice was a wry, scandalous accusation.
“Really,” I promised, even though it somehow felt like a lie.
“Nikki,” Rex said a little hard with a slight dip of his head.
“Rex,” she returned, laughter in her voice.
He handed me the glass of wine. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
I took a sip when I caught sight of Lillith moving our direction. Her hand was wrapped up in the man I knew to be her fiancé.
Broderick Wolfe.
He was tall and wide and impeccably dressed in a suit that had clearly been tailored to perfectly fit his muscular body.