cross. Austin shifts uncomfortably, disgust etched on his face and something like worry.
I could start doing cartwheels if it wouldn’t totally ruin the trillionaire vibe here.
“No worries. I’ll catch up to you guys later. Good to see you again, Sketch Paige,” Austin says.
I try like hell not to wince.
That stupid, stupid nickname. He just had to get a parting shot in.
“I seriously forgot he was here,” I mutter.
Oops. I said it out loud again. That kiss really popped a few screws loose in my head.
But Ward’s deep, delicious belly laugh puts me back together in all the best ways.
“Nice to meet you, Ward. Congratulations on the nuptials,” Austin says through pinched teeth, staring at us both like we’re crazy people.
“Thanks,” I clip, giving him a look that could murder.
“Pleasure to meet you as well, Anders,” Ward says.
It’s so hard not to snicker when I know he’s deliberately butchering his name.
Austin nods with disgust and disappears into the crowd.
“Sketch Paige?” Ward asks, once he’s out of earshot.
“Don’t ask,” I hiss, fighting to hold in my bitterness.
“All I know is I’d pay more than we’ve bid on today to see the look on that clown’s face again,” Ward says with a chuckle.
Oh, so would I.
We share a triumphant smile as he notices the brandy on the bar beside my arm.
“Is this mine?”
“Yep! I thought you could use a pick-me-up after all the gabbing, and it smells a lot better than that jet fuel you keep in your office drawer,” I whisper.
He picks it up with a smirk and downs it without a second thought.
“Thanks, lady. A couple of fluff speeches and we’ll be out of here,” he says with a wink.
“It’s not so bad.” I sip my champagne and smile. “I made some bids like you asked—nothing that’d drain you dry, of course. I want to circle around one more time and see if I need to up my offers.”
“Feisty and competitive. I love it.” He drapes an arm around my waist. “Need an escort?”
I grin at him so intently my face hurts.
The pain might be worth it.
If this were a real date, it would be a fairy tale come true.
“I was hoping you’d ask,” I say shyly, flicking at a loose lock of hair.
I’m enjoying this too much. I also don’t want to run into Austin alone again either.
“That speech went on forever,” I whisper to Ward later, after the second keynote address.
“Are you ready to escape?” he asks, lifting his brows.
I didn’t know eyebrows could be sexy before his.
“No, they’re announcing the auction winners in ten minutes. I want to check my bids!”
“Let’s do it, Sketch Paige.”
I freeze, then lean over to him so closely my lip brushes his ear. “If you ever call me that again, I’ll kick you square in the balls.”
“You’re dangerous.”
“Yep. Mag warned you.”
Half an hour later, Ward carries the painting and bust I won to the car with an attendant. Once they’re secure in the trunk with Reese’s help, he slides into the back seat with me.
“Did you guys get your party on?” Reese asks.
“No time when you’re bidding exorbitant sums on the beauties we picked up. Plus, I found some douchebag flirting with my fiancée and had to end that shit,” Ward says.
Not funny. I can’t blame him since I haven’t breathed a word of explanation, though.
“He wasn’t flirting, Ward.” I shake my head.
“No? His eyes never left your chest until you turned to kiss me,” he says, this jealous sharpness in his tone that sends a flare up my spine.
“He may find me attractive, but he wouldn’t flirt. I’m not his type.”
“So, not just a random dog without a bone, then? You two know each other?”
A tense silence fills the car.
I’ve said too much. I should’ve just let Ward think he was another thirsty stranger.
“If he was gawking at Paige like she’s at a meat market, I hope you showed him how the rats chew the cheddar!” Reese calls back to us.
We stare at her eyes in the mirror blankly.
“Um, how the sausages get made?” she tries to correct. “Crap, guys, help a girl out. I’ve been reading my niece too many bedtime stories.”
“He was ready to eat her up, that’s for sure. If Winthrope hadn’t been there, I might have broken his nose,” Ward says so seriously I’m not sure he’s joking.
And yes, I kinda like it.
“So, you didn’t come to blows?” Reese shakes her head. “Bossman, I’m disappointed.”