Page 47 of Highest Bid

When Aiden strode away to the sound of the band starting up again, his hands in his pockets to keep his money safe, Galan couldn’t help but laugh. Even the din from the Friday night band couldn’t penetrate the fog of happiness that’d surrounded him since he’d gotten with his little firecracker.

I’m one lucky man.

Then Colleen approached him, the accusation in her eyes a sharp contrast to the sexy lilac negligee that guaranteed exorbitant tips from guys and girls alike. Colleen’s lips pursed. “A blonde woman—a very upset, blonde woman—is waiting by the private elevator to see you.”

His stomach twisted. Shit. Sienna, it had to be. At this rate his secret would be out and everything would blow up in his face. He sighed heavily. Galan was all she had, and she wasn’t above taking advantage of it. “Did she say what she wanted?”

Colleen’s eyes narrowed. “No, but I think it’s pretty obvious.”

Galan glowered. “Then you’d be wrong.”

He stalked past her without looking back. He wasn’t up to the task of reassuring his whole bloody staff he wasn’t cheating on Layla. For fuck’s sake, he’d never been a cheater, had never promised a single girl more than one night of pleasure.

Until recently.

Galan passed by Aiden, whose suddenly brooding, dark stare followed him across the room. His brothers had no doubt noticed Sienna hanging out with him at the bar, and wondered why he’d never taken his friendship with her further.

Galan almost choked on the thought as he pushed fisted hands into his pockets. He was doing his utmost to protect the people he loved, and all he’d managed in return was their mistrust.

As for Sienna...like it or not, she was his problem to deal with.

*

Layla sagged against her closed office door, while in the function room cleaners tidied away all evidence of the magical night that had occurred.

She blew out a slow breath, taking a moment to bask in silent triumph. There was something satisfying about not only doing a job well, but seeing a married couple’s gratification for their night running smoothly and without a hitch.

She closed her eyes. It seemed so hard to believe that a little over six months ago she’d had nothing, besides dysfunctional, bickering parents. Now she had a man she loved and a career she enjoyed more than she’d imagined possible.

Galan reminded her often enough that she had nothing to prove, and she was even starting to believe it.

She glanced at the wall clock, her heart giving a silly little leap. The reception had finished earlier than anticipated, with the beaming bride and groom leaving the venue to handfuls of tossed confetti. A few of the guests finished their drinks before they straggled out half an hour later. Which meant Layla, too, was now free to go home.

Home. She’d spent as much time at Galan’s penthouse as she had her own apartment. Half her clothes had even found their way into his walk-in closet.

She exhaled sharply. She’d wanted Galan a whole six months before she’d finally slept with him. But it was scary to think how deeply she’d fallen for him since the auction fifteen days ago.

Yet she’d never been happier.

She scooped up her handbag and opened her office door, then walked through the function room, where a vacuum cleaner motor droned. Cutlery clinked and dishes clattered as they were put on a trolley to be transported to the Garden Café’s industrial dishwasher.

Soon enough the noises faded away behind her as she stepped out onto the balcony. She lifted her face into the cooling breeze, the fairy lights above her head twinkling in sync with the city lights further afield.

She grinned as she took off her glasses and tossed them into her handbag, before she unknotted her hair and allowed it to slither down her back.

She had no doubt Galan would still be floating around the nightclub, keeping an eye on things with his brothers, and ensuring everything ran smoothly. She’d meet him there and ask him for a dance.

Though she wasn’t exactly dressed for a night out on the town, she was certain Galan would adore her just the way she looked now.

Taking the elevator to the ground floor, it took a few more minutes to bypass the bouncers and enter the nightclub. Music blared from a live band, the crowd as thick and impressive as always, with many of the partygoers dancing frenetically to the band’s beat.

She walked around the dance floor, searching for the man who’d tower over most other men. But he wasn’t there, or sitting at the bar, or talking to any of the bouncers.

Damn it. She’d been so looking forward to getting all hot and sweaty on the dance floor with him, before getting even hotter and sweatier on top of him, in his bed. She smiled. It was probably where he waited for her even now.

She was heading toward the private elevator, and away from much of the noise, when Colleen hurried over and put a hand on her forearm to intercept her.

Layla blinked in shock at Colleen’s sudden need to seek her out, not to mention the blonde’s faintly sympathetic expression. “Colleen. Is something wrong?”

---