The guys around him were drunk, and though Knox had had his share of alcohol, he could barely feel it. In fact, he wanted nothing more than to go back to his room, even though the show hadn’t even started yet.
“How can a guy look so preoccupied when he’s surrounded by gorgeous women serving him drinks, with the option for a lap dance coming up any minute?” Derek Bettencourt, son of Senator and presidential candidate Corbin Bettencourt and Knox’s close friend, slid into the empty seat beside him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Knox raised his glass and took a sip before gesturing to the server for another.
“Make it two,” Derek said.
The gorgeous brunette leaned close to Knox, her breasts brushing his arm, and picked up his empty glass. “Sure thing,” she said in a husky voice, meeting his gaze.
“Thank you.”
She strode off in her ultra-high heels and with an added sway of her hips.
“She’s interested,” Derek said. “You should go for it.”
Knox had no doubt he could charm her up to his room if he wanted to. The problem was, he didn’t want to, so he ignored the suggestion.
“Is your father still trying to convince you to join him when he announces his intention to run?” he asked Derek.
“Of course he is. Presenting himself as a family man is very important to him. But I have no intention of indulging his fantasy. He’s done just fine without me by his side since I turned eighteen and could decide for myself what I would and wouldn’t do.”
Knox laughed. “It must drive him crazy not to be able to control you.”
Derek nodded. “Can’t say my sister’s being any more malleable lately.”
Derek’s younger sister was a model with a difficult reputation, but Knox knew she and Derek were close.
“Your parents ended up with headstrong children,” Knox agreed.
“Or our nannies did,” Derek muttered.
“Here you go, gentleman.” Their server leaned down, giving Knox a full view of her ample cleavage. She placed both drinks on the table and slipped a piece of paper into the breast pocket of Knox’s sport jacket, patting it with her hand.
Then she sashayed away, walking to the next table.
“See?” Derek raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to tap that?”
Smirking, Knox pulled out the paper and slid it into Derek’s breast pocket with a double pat.
“Okay, time’s up. Who’s got you tied up in knots?” Derek asked.
Knox lifted his fresh bourbon and took a long sip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You haven’t been yourself since you got here. You’re usually the outgoing, wild one, and you always pick up women when you’re here. And that one was hot.” He gestured to the woman carrying drinks to another table.
Knox blew out a deep breath. Derek was his closest friend and had been since business school. He knew Derek wouldn’t repeat anything Knox said to him, not even to Asher. Derek and Asher were friends, but they weren’t as tight as Knox and Derek were.
“There’s someone,” Knox admitted.
“Someone special.”
Knox ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah. But it’s complicated.”
Derek leaned forward, his head close. “Who?”
“Asher’s sister.” It felt good to get the truth off his chest.
“Aah, shit.” Derek shook his head. “When you do it up, you do it up right.” He lifted his bourbon in a toast.