Page 31 of Wild About You
Even if I weren’t, it’d be hard to turn back now. Jade leads me through the entryway where someone takes our coats and purses, and another hands us a glass of champagne.
I sip the chilled drink as we move closer to the music. A large kitchen opens up to a dining area and beyond that is a living area that is bigger than the entirety of Heather and Steve’s apartment. The whole thing is open-concept and people fill the space. Lights outside are on and I can see that more people have braved the cold to stand out there.
I’m searching for Tyler. Not because I want to see him, but because I want to see him first so I can avoid making direct eye contact.
“There’s Scarlett.” Jade pulls me with her before I can spot him in the crowd.
Scarlett looks every bit the blushing bride-to-be in a sexy, white dress standing next to Leo. He’s got one arm around her waist as he talks to a guy nearby.
When Scarlett sees us, her lips curve up and she launches herself at us, squeezing us each around the neck in a big, group hug. “You guys finally made it.”
“I had to pry this one out of her car, but here we are. Congratulations, babe.” Jade gives her long-time friend a bittersweet smile. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Me too,” I say.
Scarlett’s eyes widen. “Oooh. Let me introduce you to Leo finally.”
Breaking free, she turns to her fiancé and laces her fingers through his. “Leo, this is Piper.”
He and the guy he was talking to both smile at me, and I get the awkward feeling they’re looking at me that way because of Tyler and whatever things they’ve heard about the two of us.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Leo says, pulling Scarlett tighter against his side.
The other guy continues to give me this friendly, almost shy smile. He’s the broadest of the group, tallest too. “For once the rookie didn’t exaggerate about something.”
“Right?” Another guy steps up and shakes his head. The movement makes the long strands of his dark blond hair fall into his face and he brushes it back with a flip of his head that somehow comes off not at all rehearsed or vain. He taps the other guy on the chest. “This is Declan, and I’m Ash.”
“The roommate,” I say quietly. I could ignore his remark about “the rookie” but if I’m going to survive tonight, I need to squash the idea that I’m in any way uncomfortable or tense about being in the same room with Tyler. Even if it’s a total lie. “Nice to meet both of you. I assume by rookie you mean Tyler?”
Their matching grins are my answer.
“And what did he not exaggerate about?”
“Answer that and I might have to kill you in your sleep.” Tyler places a hand on Ash’s shoulder and cuts in.
I suck in a breath at being caught off guard. I was so busy trying to appear like I didn’t care that I forgot to keep an eye out for him. Now here he is, and ugh, why does he have to be so hot?
“Hey, Piper,” he says. “See you met some of the guys.”
“Hey.” I give him the same greeting as I did his teammates. Only he doesn’t let me off so easily.
He takes a step closer and I pull in another breath, this time inhaling the scent of him. He smells like leather and cologne and hot guy. (Yeah, it has a smell. Or maybe I’ve just associated it with Tyler.)
“You look beautiful.”
The compliment skirts over my skin, caressing it as lovingly as the dress I’m wearing. He didn’t saygreatwhere I could play it off as a friendly compliment people toss out like mints or evengorgeouswhere it could be construed as flirty and a little over the top, butbeautiful.
“Thank you.” I sip my champagne and look at Jade for help. I can feel everyone staring at us.
She must have already met Ash because she waves at him and then introduces herself to Tyler. He moves closer to me as he talks to her. Heat pours off of him and I find myself wanting to lean in.
“Bathroom?” I mouth to Scarlett.
“Down the hall, first door on the left.” She tips her head in that direction.
“Excuse me,” I mutter quietly. I no longer care if everyone here knows that I’m affected by him. Seems like a stupid thing to try to hide anyway. The man has been inside of me; of course, running into him at a mutual friend’s party would be tense.
After a few minutes alone, I exit the bathroom to find Tyler waiting for me.
