Knowing that was as good as he was going to get from her for now and considering it was more than he’d expected, he leaned against the headboard, a grin on his face.
She slipped on a pair of shoes, grabbed a sweater, and headed for the door. She paused and glanced over her shoulder. “Bye, Knox.”
He raked his gaze over her, wishing they’d had more time.
“Goodbye, Jade.”
***
Jade slipped intothe elevator and leaned against the side, catching a glimpse of herself and the stupid grin on her face in the mirrored walls. She didn’t recognize the reflection staring back at her. When was the last time she’d been this happy? Really, truly smiling when she was alone, filled with joy? She shook her head, shocked by the realization that it had been Knox who’d caused this euphoric feeling.
But as the elevator moved down the floors, she remembered that she couldn’t be caught glowing by her family. They’d figure out the reason and start peppering her with questions. It took some work, but by the time the door opened, she thought she had her expression under control.
As she stepped out of the elevator, she ran into her twin. “Nick!”
“I was just coming up to get you.” He swung an arm around her shoulders and led her to the small dining room. “It’s not like you to be late. What kept you?” he asked.
She glanced at him in time to catch a smirk on his face, and she narrowed her gaze.
“More like who kept her.” Harrison rose as she walked in, his curious gaze on hers.
She froze. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Give your sister a break,” their father, Michael, said.
“You and Knox?” Asher raised his eyebrows. “Isn’t he a little old for you?”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s none of your business. But how would any of you know?” As far as she was aware, her family had already gone to their rooms when she and Knox left the party last night.
“Aurora left her sweater on her seat. I passed you in the hall but you only had eyes for each other,” Nick said, nudging her in the ribs like only a sibling would.
“And you told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on?” she asked, glancing around the table at her large family.
The triplets, Jade’s brothers from Serenity and her father, were nineteen years old and home from college for the summer. They sat at one end of the table. And Layla, Jade’s youngest sister, was texting on her phone, ignoring everything around her. But Jade’s older, overprotective siblings were looking at her, waiting for answers.
They knew she’d left with Knox last night. And they knew she was late because they’d been together. Heat rushed to her cheeks but she refused to play their game.
“Nobody needed to tell anyone. There was media coverage about the charity auction, and there was an Instagram photo of the owner of the New York Warriors dancing with his stepbrother’s former fiancée on Page Six online.” Asher’s eyes blazed with anger. “I don’t know why they have to add gossip to the photo.”
“Because that’s their job,” Jade muttered. As a Dare and the head of events at the hotel, she was often photographed and no longer let it bother her when she showed up in any form of media. “I’ve learned to ignore those kinds of things. You should, too.”
“Come on, Jade. Sit here and let’s talk about how great a job you did last night,” Aurora said. She was sweet, trying to take the spotlight off of Jade’s affair, or whatever it was.
Grateful, Jade walked over and sat down beside her sister-in-law.
“Why didn’t you bring your boyfriend to breakfast?” Nick asked as he sat on Aurora’s other side, leaving a chair between them. Their daughter, Leah, must be around here somewhere. At this point, Jade wasn’t sure who was missing.
Aurora reached over and shoved Nick in the shoulder. “Would you leave your sister alone?”
“I’m serious, Jade. I want to talk to you about Knox. As much as I like the guy, the social media site has a point. You were engaged to his stepbrother,” Asher said, as if she needed the reminder again.
She folded her arms across her chest. “And? Look, Knox and I have an agreement. We know what this thing between us is… and what it isn’t. You don’t get a vote.”
Serenity chuckled. “She’s got a point.”
“Quit ganging up on Jade. She’s an adult,” her father said. “Besides, I don’t want visuals of any of my kids that way.”
Now Jade’s cheeks were burning.