Taylor took a gulp of her wine, though fortifying herself with the drink meant sticking around longer than she intended. “Before I tell you, you have to promise not to be mad.”
“Oh shit. You slept with Brannon?”
“No. I slept with Royce.”
Gia’s dark eyes rounded. She hadn’t been expecting that. “Royce as in my oldest, glorified accountant brother?”
“That’s the one. I showed up at his house last night wearing that La Perla slip I’ve had for way too long.”
Gia gaped at her. “Why?”
Valid question.
“My dad.”
Her friend’s eyebrows rose.
“He cautioned me against dating Royce over the years. Said he was too old for me. I guess after the kiss at the gala, and the way Royce has been looking at me...”
“He’s been looking at you? Why didn’t you tell me any of this!” Gia’s tone was accusatory, and deservedly so. Taylor normally told her friend everything.
“I wasn’t sure. He’s run a little hot and cold. Until last night. Then it was full-blast hot.”
“Man.” Gia shook her head. “How did I miss that tonight?”
“We’re good actors.”
“Well, how was it?”
“How was what?” Taylor spun her glass on the bar top and feigned ignorance.
“The sex,” Gia said. Loudly. The bartender blinked from his computer screen over to them until Gia addressed him with a stern, “Do you mind?”
“Let’s say it was a hell of a way to end the drought,” Taylor said meaningfully.
“Wow. I have been in the dark.”
“It only happened last night.”
“Did you know about CEO, too?” Gia had easily fit those two puzzle pieces together.
“I did. But in Royce’s defense, your dad asked him not to say anything to you or Bran. Jack was supposed to tell you and then announce it in a meeting.”
“Leave it to Dad to make a scene.” Gia chewed on her lip. “I couldn’t tell if Bran was okay or not.”
When they left, Bran was talking with Addison, and the conversation appeared intense. Taylor wondered if Bran had been using Addi as a distraction to avoid talking to his father.
“Well. Brannon is a grown man,” Gia said in conclusion. “And you two are okay, right?”
“Yes, completely. I think you were close when you guessed he was proposing to win CEO. He’d die before he’d admit that was true.”
“I’ll strangle him after I strangle Royce for not telling me about CEO.” Gia sighed. “Did you eat enough at the party?”
“Not even close.”
“No one can survive on canapés alone.” Gia waved over the bartender. “What’s your best appetizer?”
“I’m trained to say they’re all good, but for my money you can’t beat the spinach dip or the fried pepper jack cheese bites.”
“Both?” Gia asked Taylor.
“Both,” she confirmed.