Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
I give our names to the young woman at the rooftop entrance checking the guest list on her iPad.
We make our way over to one of the bistro tables loaded with an array of heavy hors d’oeuvres. My attention is split between our table and the rest of the rooftop while I surreptitiously scan the crowd for a woman wearing glittery gold.
Jill tips her head toward the pool, which is lined with tables, lounge chairs, and cabanas. “I see Verity’s here tonight.”
My head swings around and I search the pool area before I can catch myself. I spot her immediately. She’s talking with a guy I don’t know. Some light-skinned dude with green eyes. We aren’t close enough for me to discern the exact eye color, but I just know they’re green. He gestures toward an empty table and she sits down, still laughing at whatever goofy shit he said.
I just know it’s goofy.
I turn back to the table and draw in a deep breath. A long night indeed.
“Which one is Verity?” Seth asks, glancing toward the pool.
“The one in the gold dress, with the curly hair,” Jill says. “Sitting with the model-looking guy.”
“That guy? A model?” I scoff. “Catalog at best.”
“Okayyyyy.” Seth flicks a glance toward the pool. “You have a thing for her?”
“No,” I say firmly. “But your wife thinks I do, and she won’t let it go.”
“So you don’t mind that he just asked Verity to dance?” Jill widens her eyes guilelessly. “Or that his hand is on her—”
My head whips back around to the pool, where Verity and JCPenney are still seated at the table. Not dancing with inappropriate hand placement.
“Got ya!” Jill laughs. “Are you ever gonna tell me the deal with her? I know you two dated in college.”
“It was a long time ago.” I stand, feeling exposed. “I’m headed to the bar. You guys want anything?”
I order Old-Fashioneds for Seth and me, and something frothy and New Year’s–themed for Jill. By the time I return to the table, Verity has joined them, and I smell Jill’s involvement getting her here.
I pause, taking a beat to gather my wits so Jill doesn’t trip me up. She’s a wily thing, and has a way of ferreting out information that is none of her damn business. Verity and I were definitely right to keep our arrangement on the low.
“Sorry it took a while.” I set the drinks down. “Bar was a zoo.”
“Thank you,” Jill says, accepting her pastel cocktail. “Look who joined us. Verity.”
“I see,” I reply in a neutral tone, barely sparing Verity a glance when I sit across from her. “Hey, Vee.”
“Hey.” She offers a stiff smile, and you’d never know those pretty lips were wrapped around my dick a few hours ago. “Happy New Year.”
I glance at my watch. “I think we have about an hour before we can say that officially.”
“Right.” Verity toys with one of the noisemakers on our table.
“I was just saying I can’t wait to get back on set.” Jill bounces her gaze between the two of us. “Verity, you were telling Seth about Dessi and Cal’s time in Europe.”
“Oh yeah!” Verity glances up, her eyes lit with sudden interest and her shoulders visibly relaxing. “The next part we’re shooting is when they leave the States to perform with Cal’s band all over Europe. They go before the war breaks out, but they stay for years. Even performing for the troops many times once the war starts. Especially in London.”
Seth is just as much a history buff as Verity, and they geek out for the next few minutes. For every fact Verity drops, Seth has three to five follow-up questions. My eyes would typically be glazing over by now, but I love watching Verity in her element. Her face lights up when she discusses things she’s passionate about. And her natural reserve evaporates.
She and I have barely exchanged a word since she sat down, but there is an awareness, ever present and electric, that thrums in the space between us. I’m attuned to her husky laughter and the citrus scent of her perfume.
“Okay,” Jill says, slamming her glass on the table and standing. “Enough nerd people talk. It’s a party, bitches!”
“I knew it.” Seth picks up Jill’s empty glass and sniffs. “Vodka. Sets her off every time.”
“Dance with me.” Jill grabs Seth’s arm and drags him to his feet. “They’re playing our song.”
“‘Vision of Love’ is not our song,” Seth says wryly, but doesn’t resist Jill’s coaxing.
“We’ll be back,” Jill says over her shoulder, widening her eyes and looking meaningfully at Verity.
Wow. Subtle.
Verity and I have never danced with each other. Not for real.
“I loved this album,” Verity says, offering me a shy smile, which pushes me over the edge because I know what’s beneath that shyness, and most never will.