“Essentially.”
“Why? That sounds like it’s no fun.”
“What’s not fun about it?” He rolled the crystal tumbler in his hands so the liquid swirled.
“There are no surprises.”
“Oh, I find enough surprises to last a lifetime in even the people I associate with.”
“Probably,” I grumbled and picked up my drink. “So, what’s the deal with Dante?”
Scanning the crowd, I set my sights on someone who looked likely to have less baggage. Bastian’s appearance far outranked anyone in the club, but Linny didn’t need to know that.
“The deal with him?” Bastian cocked his head.
“Yeah, like is he single?” No harm in cutting to the chase.
“You’re interested in him and not me?” He sounded completely shocked, and now his focus was directly on me, with no sign of that wandering eye.
“Bastian, I’m much too simple for your tastes.” And he was much too complicated for mine. “Dante seems nice.”
“Well, I’ll be damned that a girl looks at my security team instead of me tonight.” He rubbed the stubble across his chin. “What’s your story, Morina?”
“I don’t have one. We’re out in Miami for a night and then back to the grind. I work, I eat, I sleep. I’m sure it’s a much more boring life than you live. One your friend would probably be much more interested in.”
He sighed and brought his drink to his lips. I’d had too much to drink in the limo, that sloshy feeling coming over me. I knew right as he took a swig and my eyes trailed down his neck. The liquid flowed down over his full lips, sat on his tongue and then probably rolled down that thick neck of his. His mouth looked so pillowy, I wondered if he could possibly lead with such soft lips.
One side of them tipped up, and my gaze snapped to his. He murmured, “I lead in everything I do.”
“I…” I didn’t even know what to say as I slapped a hand over my mouth. “I’m really embarrassed that I said that out loud. I drank…”
“The liquor can catch up to you when you don’t drink a lot.” He nodded, not making fun of the fact that I had totally been considering him sexually.
“So, about Dante…” Back to the real matter—the safer matter.
“I don’t think it’d be a great idea to hook you up with one of my closest friends after you’ve hit on me, Morina.”
“I’m not hitting on you. I was admiring your face,” I threw out and then slammed my mouth shut with a wince.
He chuckled, and I shook my head to motion for him to stop.
“This is not normally how I am. I’m better at hiding my attraction to someone.”
“You’re attracted to me now?” He leaned on the table, a twinkle in his chocolate eyes, and I found myself wanting to lean in.
I turned to the crowd. “I’m attracted to your friend too. He seems like a safer bet. More realistic.”
“What makes me so unrealistic?” he asked in my ear and a shiver ran over me, making me aware of how close he’d come.
“For one, your suit probably costs more than my whole wardrobe.”
“I have no idea how much combat boots go for. You very well might be more expensively dressed.” He shrugged in his suit.
“Oh please.” I waved off his joke, both of us knowing my shoes were for comfort and not a fashion statement at all. “Second, no one’s bothered you since you’ve been up here, which means you probably are the one who commands the whole room, and you all probably do illegal things.”
“What if I told you only one of those things was true?”
“I’d ask which one.” I shrugged, but my mind had run away with another idea already. “What are you doing in Miami?”