I completely accepted that.
To him, I probably didn’t meet some standard of the wealthy businessman who had a model on his arm at every event. Instead, I took on a guy here and there who stopped on his way through our town to talk business regarding the plant.
Chet turned and nodded to him and the other man I noticed stuck by his side. “Bastian, meet my girl, Linny.”
Bastian’s smile flew across his face, welcoming even, as he extended a hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Linny.”
She tilted her mohawk my way. “Also a pleasure. That’s Morina, my very best friend. Out to enjoy a night with us all.”
“I figured.” He whispered almost to himself before his hand slid out of hers to shake mine. This time, his smile dropped, and he glanced back at the man on his shoulder. Immediately, the guy ducked into his phone.
My eyes narrowed. Were they wary of me for some reason?
“I’m going to go get a drink,” I mumbled, but Chet waved a waitress over. She wore leather booty shorts and flirted shamelessly with all three men who stood near us. Bastian took a moment to talk with her, and I kept from rolling my eyes. She’d get a big tip and probably a date by the time the night was over.
Instead of idling, I stepped around them to talk to the man behind Bastian. His smile was gentle when he looked up from his phone, and his dark green eyes popped against his tanned skin in such a unique way. I might have stared a bit too much.
“Want a picture, Morina?” His deep voice rolled out, soft and comforting like a warm tide creeping in.
“Jeez. Sorry.” I shook my wavy hair from my face. “You have really pretty eyes.”
A glare came over his face. I almost took a step back from the way it plowed through me, so mean I wasn’t sure if I should cower away or try to ignore it, if only to save myself. Then, his face cracked into a smile so bright, I thought I had whiplash. Yet I found myself smiling back. “I’m Dante. And I get that a lot. I’m messing with you.”
I bit my lip and relaxed enough to tease him back. “Can’t you buy a girl a drink before you start with jokes?”
“I bought the drinks instead.” Bastian’s voice rushed through me, loud and lethal this time. It was nothing like a warm tide washing over me. Instead, a cold wave crashed onto me, taking my breath away, and he had all my attention immediately.
Bastian’s big hand held a small glass filled with clear liquid, lime, and ice. The gold ring on one of his fingers matched the very expensive watch that peeked out from under his cuff. I’d learned to judge an escapade by his attire and accessories, because that’s all he’d be to me for an evening or two.
“We good, Dante?” he asked his friend without looking at him. Instead, our gazes held over our drinks like he searched for something more from me, and I definitely tried to read way too much into our interaction.
And there was the stupid dare. Should I talk to him or Dante for the next thirty minutes? I broke our stare to look over at Linny. She was already on one of the chaise lounges with Chet.
“All good, Bast.” Dante nodded at me like I was the topic of conversation.
“Well, Morina. Seems you’re a legitimate friend of Linny’s.” Bastian announced and took a sip of the amber liquid in his tumbler.
“Um, what?” I sputtered, my eyes wide. “Are you researching me?”
Dante patted my shoulder but didn’t say anything before disappearing into the crowd like he wanted nothing more to do with my gaping mouth.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I murmured and glared up at Bastian. “I’ll have you know I’m a stand-up friend.”
“Seems that way.” Bastian’s finger tapped his glass a few times as he glanced around to find Linny and Chet. Then he sighed and motioned toward a table and chairs. “It also seems our friends are occupied for the time being.”
I could have told him off for doing whatever weird background check he’d decided to run on me. I could have left him in the dust too. Yet I had a very serious problem.
I was nosey.
I walked toward the barstools and sat down. “Why are you running a check on me? And how?”
“Unique name and face.”
“Face?” My voice squeaked.
“Technology is crazy these days. I don’t know how, but Dante does.” He was already bored with me as he looked around the club. “Anyway, I know Linny’s history. It was easy enough for Dante to work a little magic. It’s his job.”
“To vet all the people that hang out with you?” I set down my drink and crossed my arms.