Page 93 of Collision
Chapter twenty-two
Ben
I have to hand it to the bombshell brunette hanging on to every word Jamie says: she is one hell of a party planner.
When Jamie organised a meeting with her three days after he’d suggested this party of his I’d known it was more than just a celebration. She’d been so nervous, all stammers and clumsy hands, as she’d explained her ideas for tonight and I’d sat watching how Jamie soothed her with little nods, kind smiles and words of encouragement. The man is smitten.
The conference hall of the fanciest hotel in town seemed like a no brainer for a big bash and thisfriendof Jamie’s, Emma, managed to get it down to half price because the general manager owed her a favour. Now it looks nothing like a conference hall. The white walls have been covered with sheer billowing material, thin and shimmering with hundreds of lights hidden behind them, and servers walk around the room - moving around tables and crowds of employees, authors and agents - with silver trays of tiny tasters and champagne flutes. At the back of the room a DJ stands behind his set-up, mixing songs I recognise with music I haven’t heard before, and watching as people gather in small clusters around the space. To the left are wide French doors, closed for now but sure to be propped open as the space fills out and more air is needed.
Our small celebration turned into a guest list of over one hundred people thanks to plus ones and Jamie’s inability to say no to our two idiotic friends, who right at this moment are barrelling through the open doors and whistling as they spin to look around.
Even Xavier looks excited and it’s hard to get more than a grunt from him these days.
“Shit.” Asher grins as he jabs at Xavier’s side. “This is fancy.”
I watch as Jamie takes a deep breath and shakes his head at something Emma says. He glances around before pressing a quick kiss against her cheek and moving away from her, towards our two friends. Emma watches him intently and Ash gives her a once over. This is going to be a long night if he decides to be a prick with the party planner.
“Guys!” Jamie’s smile is award winning as he pushes between the two men and places a firm hand on each of their shoulders. “I’m glad you could make it. Bar is in the corner there, servers have champagne for now and there’s food circulating.”
I push away from the group of designers I’m currently surrounded by, excusing myself with a quick nod, and make my way over to the three of them.
“Boys.” My acknowledgement may have been a touch condescending and Xav grins. “Glad to see you could find a suit somewhere in that hovel you call an apartment, Ash.”
Asher snorts as he reaches for a tray of champagne and passes a glass to each of us.
“Glad you found enough time to pull your head out of your ass to come see us peasants,” he retorts and I grin. He’s an idiot but I have to admit, I like him. “Your lady coming tonight?”
My face must have flushed because Jamie is looking at me with that inquisitive look that he wears most days now and Asher smirks as he continues. “Or are you worried I’ll charm her out from under your nose?”
I snort. “I know you’d try, Ash, but my girl’s not easily swayed by one liners and very little follow through.”
Xavier grins as he glances around and then he whistles, low and long.
“Holy shit.” Xav’s voice has a growl to it that sits uncomfortably in my stomach, and I twist to the entry to see what, or who, he’s staring at like that.
Holy shitindeed.
I can hear Asher groaning as he grips my arm and I want to turn and push him away, but I can’t move.
Mikaela is arm in arm with Max and someone I don’t know and don’t care to. I can’t look away from her and I know I need to.
Her hair is smoothed into simple waves and pinned back on one side of her face, revealing a large amount of her skin down her neck and over her shoulders. Tonight her skin is flawless, other than a tiny silver mark I never noticed that sits just above her collar bone, and a slight gold shimmer is swept across her eyes. Her lips are blood red against the white of her and when she smiles, she is radiant. And then there’sthe dress. The straps are thin enough I could bite through them and,oh my God, I want to bite through them. I want to peel the jewel green from her skin with nothing but my teeth. Every inch of her is hugged perfectly by the silky material, and as she steps forwards my blood races. The dress, which skirts the floor, has a split all the way to the top of her thigh and I am very close to becoming a victim of spontaneous combustion right here, on this very spot.
She looks around the space with wide eyes and that beautiful smile, and when her eyes fall on me I want to step forwards. I want to hold her. A small blush spreads across her cheeks and I swallow the lump forming in my throat. She runs her eyes over me slowly. I can’t stop smiling.
This woman is mine.
When she comes to a stop in front of us, Xavier grunts and I shake my head. She looks up at Jamie with that smile that makes her crease her eyes and I am still grinning like an idiot.
“Evening boys.” Even her voice is seductive right now. Or is that just me? “Jamie, the place looks better than I imagined.”
He pulls her into a hug as he thanks her and I am still staring when her eyes meet mine for a moment too long. Neither of us seem inclined to look away.
“Ben.” Xavier elbows me and I glance to him. “If you two don’t stop looking at each other like that, Jamie’s gonna think his sister is your girl.”
I don’t speak.
Xavier’s eyes bug. “Well, shit.”