Page 66 of Make Me Yours
Reporters shout my name, tossing out questions, trying to pull my attention to them, but I don’t give a damn about the press. My focus is entirely centered on Lilah. It’s on the way her fingers tighten around my arm and the way she stays close as the crowd surges forward.
Even though she’s been to a few events with me when she’sin between boyfriends, she’s not used to this kind of rabid attention.
I lean down, my lips brushing against her ear. “You okay?”
She nods, but I feel the tension in her body, in the way she grips my sleeve just a little too tightly. I do the only thing I can and make sure she knows she’s not alone. My hand slides from her waist to the small of her back, pulling her in closer.
The cameras eat it up as reporters ask if we’re together.
It’s tempting to tell them we are, but I keep my mouth closed. The last thing I want to do is scare Lilah away.
Let them talk and speculate.
I don’t give a shit.
Just as we’re finishing up, Zane and his reality star girlfriend arrive in a sleek black limo. The press surges toward them, screaming both of their names, hurtling too many questions for them to possibly answer.
Zane struts in wearing a fur coat and oversized, blinged-out sunglasses. Thick gold chains glint around his neck under the burst of camera flashes. Beside him, his girlfriend wears a sheer dress that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination.
If their intention was to make a spectacle of themselves, they’ve succeeded. With a shake of my head, I steer Lilah inside the building.
The venue is all crystal chandeliers and flickering candlelight, a live band playing something slow and smooth in the background.
I scan the room, and spot Rina at the far end talking with Oliver. Although, it looks more like she’s reading him the riot act. No surprise there. I’m pretty sure my teammate exists solely to drive our PR manager insane. You’d think by now Oliver would’ve figured out that life would be a hell of a lot easier if he just did what she wanted.
“I don’t think we’ll have to worry about Rina tonight.” Ipoint to where they’re standing. “Looks like she already has her hands full.”
“Actually, she looks ready to strangle him.”
“What else is new?”
A smile quirks Lilah’s lips as her blue eyes settle on me. “It’s okay if you need to circulate. There are a lot of important people here.”
“Nah.”
Maybe.
All right, fine. I should probably say hello to Hugh, and network with a few of the high-profile sponsors. Otherwise, I’ll be the one who gets an earful from Rina in the morning.
And that’s never a fun experience.
Been there.
Done that.
I’m about to suggest Lilah come with me, when I catch sight of the dance floor and a different idea takes form.
I lean down, my voice low against her ear. “Come dance with me.”
She pulls back in surprise. “I’m sorry, since when do you do that?”
“Since I have a beautiful woman on my arm.” Already, I’m leading her toward the space set aside for music and movement.
Lilah’s hand fits perfectly in mine as I guide her toward the edge of the floor. The low thrum of music pulses through the ballroom, softened by the ambient lighting and the warm glow from the crystal chandeliers overhead. The hum of laughter and conversation surrounds us.
Once I carve out a space, I pull her into my arms until her body fits perfectly against mine. One hand finds her waist while the other threads through her fingers.
A faint exhale escapes her as she rests her cheek against my chest.
