Page 34 of Worth Every Penny
She stands tall and marches out of the room, and all I can do is watch her perfect arse saunter away.
Well, shit.
She might as well have my dick in her pocket, because there is no woman in the world right now that gets me hard like Kate Lansen.
I’m completely hers, whether she wants me or not.
12
KATE
As I descend into the belly of the club, I am determined to put Nico out of mind. I’m here to have fun with my friends, not fret about whatever that strange interaction back in the office was, or what it meant. Or that the gentlest of his touches had me almost—
Stop it.
I bring my focus back to the present. Martini Gems is elaborately decorated like an ice cave, with glittering walls and ceilings, ice sculptures on podiums and crystal light fittings overhead. It’s like Disneyland—with alcohol—for wealthy adults.
Lights flicker and bodies heave in every inch of space; the music is pounding so loud that I can feel it in my kneecaps. I’m eager for a drink. I need to shed the stress of the last few weeks, not to mention the last hour.
I search for Elly and Marie, finally spying them huddled at a table in the corner. They’re dressed identically to me, except Marie’s top is red and Elly’s is gold. I want to laugh that Elly has dressed us up like a girl band.
“Kate!” she yells, waving me over when she sees me. She grabs me and kisses the side of my face, engulfing me in her huge mop of blonde hair. It smells clean, like strawberry soap, but her breath is boozy. I suspect she’s already had one too many cocktails. She points a wavering finger at me. “I knew you’d look smoking in this.”
I smile at the compliment and join them at the table, which is littered with empty glasses, as well as a huge ice bucket with two champagne bottles inside.
Marie, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail so tight it tugs at her temples, looks to be enjoying herself, but I note the dark circles beneath her eyes; she’s a junior doctor and works even harder than I do. It’s rare we manage a night out together.
She slides a champagne cocktail in my direction. “You’ve got some catching up to do.” Her expression contains a dare, and, not wanting to disappoint, I take the glass and down the whole thing in one go. Marie chuckles and Elly whoops. It’s been far too long since I let loose, and their reactions let me know they agree. Elly wastes no time in passing me a second glass, which I gulp down just as quickly as the first.
We spend a few minutes catching up, shouting over the music, and Elly and Marie both share news of their week. But when it’s my turn, I can think of nothing to say that isn’tNico, Nico, Nico. His face, his eyes, his voice… his hand on my hip, tenderly stroking the skin, looking at me as though he wanted me as much as I want him…
Could he want me that way?
I shake my head as if I can drop all thoughts of him out of my mind. But they’re lodged deep in the crevices of my brain and all the attempt does is knock his words from earlier loose.
Should’ve left you locked in there all night. At least then I wouldn’t have to deal with your bullshit.
No. Nico doesn’t like me.
“What the hell are you thinking about? Is it that arsehole of a boss?” Marie queries as she tops up all our drinks.
“No,” I lie.
“Arsehole?” Elly says. “Do you mean that hottie she works for?”
“Yeah, exactly. Nico fucking Hawkston,” Marie says, employing my usual name for him. I’ve told them both about how he booked out the entire spa for me on my first day and demanded I have lunch with him. Elly swooned, but Marie shared my opinion that he ought to have asked me first. Not asking, she said, was a power play.
Elly directs a pointed look my way, and I let out a hopeless sigh, dropping back into my seat. “Maybe.”
Marie shakes her head at me as though I’ve failed a test I didn’t know I was taking.
“I know you hate him,” Elly begins, with a brow raise that indicates she doesn’t believe it. “But heisinsanely good-looking. I’m not remotely surprised you tried to take your clothes off for him.”
My body tenses. I know what Elly’s referencing, but Marie has no idea.
Marie focuses on me. “You got your kit off for him?”
“Oh, shit.” Elly’s fingers flutter to her lips, her eyes apologetic. “Was it supposed to be a secret?”