Her expression blanks into one I find familiar. It’s the same face she gave me and Taylor when we snuck out to meet boys when I was fourteen. It’s the look that says, Finley’s not here, so I’m in charge, and you’re in trouble.
“This isn’t how this works. You need to leave,” she says.
“How does it work, then?” His hands spread in an gesture of innocence. “I would love for you to enlighten me.”
“Mindy.” A masculine hand comes to rest on Mindy’s shoulder, right where it meets her neck. “Excuse me for interrupting.” The interloper flashes a blindingly white smile in my direction before his head dips toward her ear. “Can I talk to you in private?”
Over the man’s shoulder, I catch Luke’s open-mouthed shock. I don’t blame him. It’s Blake Bonham, lead singer of Vacation Mustache, one of Mindy’s most high-profile clients. His features aren’t conventionally attractive—his nose is slightly too large for his narrow face, his dark hair flirts with his chin, his eyes are a touch too small, his mouth is a little too wide. None of it should fit together, yet he commands attention. He’s over six feet tall and as broad as a tank. The whole bar area has fallen silent, staring at him.
“Fine,” Mindy says.
His hand dips to her elbow as they make their way through the crowd, moving away from the bar. He’s bending down, speaking in her ear.
Hm. “I’m surprised she—”
“That was Blake Bonham.” Luke’s eyes meet mine, and then his mouth snaps shut.
“Yeah, I know.” I frown. Blake seemed awfully familiar with his hands. Possessive. Not to mention the way he looked at her, his gaze intense. And then when he leaned into her, speaking in her ear…
Is she…? No way.
Luke groans. “I acted like a total fanboy. I couldn’t even speak.”
I pat his arm. “You were fine.” I wrinkle my nose in thought. “Isn’t he married?”
“Yeah, to Jeanette Adams, the actress.” His brow lifts. “Why? You interested?”
“Me? No. Just curious. He was sort of…” I take a sip of my drink, not wanting to say something personal about my sister to this stranger.
He picks up the crumbs of my thoughts anyway, his eyes turning thoughtful. “He’s into her.”
“Maybe.” I shrug. “Is his wife here?”
“Who knows? I’ll tell you one thing, though.” He glances around then motions for me to come closer.
I tilt my head toward Luke, pointing my ear in his direction while my gaze moves out to the crowd of people. A familiar figure catches my eye. My heart stops, panic wrapping its hands around me in an ice-cold embrace. I catch the angle of his jaw and the sharpness of his cheekbone as the figure is spinning around to move in the opposite direction.
Maybe it’s not him. It was only a glimpse. But I would recognize that profile anywhere.
Ben.