How had I thought Bastian would want to kiss me back or sleep with me over this stupid amount of time we were supposed to spend together when he normally had women like that?
“Well, Elizabeth, you’ve seen the tabloids.” Ronald and this woman were obviously on a first name basis already. She belonged in this society. I didn’t. “You know these two, well, they have a history.”
Ronald chuckled a bit like he was trying to rile Elizabeth but the woman’s delicate hand was on Bastian’s chest as she looked up at him and murmured, “Oh, Ronald, none of us are worried about that. Right?”
Bastian smiled like a man in love and whispered something in her ear again, so close to her neck, I was sure they’d been intimate.
Suddenly, I needed air. Or a break. Or something. My hand went to my stomach as I breathed in deep. “I think I’ll just–”
“Babe!” Bradley’s voice boomed across the crowd. He was holding up champagne glasses and rushing my way. “Sorry. I had to talk to somebody real quick about our beach. They didn’t know you surfed and that you’re about to be part of Tropical Oil.”
Bradley winked at me like he knew I needed rescuing. When his arm went around my shoulders, I leaned in. Bradley was the crystal I didn’t have in my pocket tonight. He was my comfort in this foreign place where people had hidden agendas and masked themselves as good individuals when really they were trying to cut you down.
“I’m going to steal my date for a dance.” Bradley pulled me away before anyone could protest.
“Thank you.” I breathed out, following him as fast as my strappy heels would carry me.
Laughing, Bradley spun me in his arms as we arrived at the dance floor. “Did you see his face?”
“Who’s face?”
“The guy you’re trying to make jealous, Mo.” He pulled me close. “Bastian was furious. He looked about ready to kill me.”
“I don’t think so.” He’d looked just the same, no change in expression and no feeling at all toward me. “He was enamored by Elizabeth on his arm.”
“Well, most men would be. The woman is hot, Mo.”
I tried to step on his feet. We both moved well on the dance floor, having done our fair share of drunken tiki bar jukebox dancing. He sidestepped and I didn’t catch him. “Just shut up and dance.”
We did that for a whole song while the orchestra in the corner of the grand room played jazz. More people joined in. An MC encouraged more to do so before the silent auction closed. Bastian and Elizabeth made their way over. When he turned her in his arms, she curled into his chest, like she belonged there. His dark stare was on her before it snapped up to laser in on me.
I didn’t get any indication from him that this was a show. He must have known that woman, he must have slept with her. The way her hands went to his neck and then his hair as she whispered sweet nothings into his ear and burrowed into his neck.
My heart hardened toward him. This truly was an arrangement. We’d had fun but I wasn’t falling over a cliff of love or enjoying him more than I should ever again.
Bastian belonged with her. I belonged with a man like Bradley. Two worlds didn’t collide and mesh perfectly. I had the oceans, pure and cleansing, while he had his cities full of mob money and dirty luxury.
Bradley murmured in my ear and Bastian took that moment to lay a soft kiss on Elizabeth’s neck.
Gentle didn’t suit Bastian. A peck instead of a bite wasn’t his normal MO. My gut twisted as I realized I didn’t know him as intimately as I thought. I’d kissed him, I’d gotten myself off in front of him. I’d probably done all that when he’d had Elizabeth the whole time.
No wonder he’d hesitated.
Bile rose in my throat, and my whole body stiffened.
Bradley nestled into my neck. “Mo, that girl is pretty. I know I said that and I know you know that. You’re stunning though. She’s got nothing on you. Bastian knows that too. Don’t let them get to you.”
I stiffly nodded, trying to take his words to heart. Yet, I grumbled, “Says the man who knows his only chance of getting some tonight is with me.”
He laughed but when I didn’t join in, he tickled my hip as we slow danced. I jumped and broke eye contact with Bastian as I chuckled, then squealed for Bradley to stop his assault.
“Lighten up, Mo,” he murmured to me. “It’s just a night, okay? Remember, you can still go with the flow. You just have to decide to do that, right?”
His words struck something in me. They echoed my grandmother’s letter. I made quick decisions on the water all the time.
I rode the wave.
I took the risk.