A Reckless Note (Brilliance Trilogy #1) - Lisa Renee Jones Page 0,85
I count ten people. Everyone is singing “Happy Birthday” as they exit the building, but I don’t miss the moment when Kiki looks me up and down.
Kace’s arm is, as always it seems lately, protectively wrapped around me as we follow the crowd out the doors to find Savage and Dan waiting right beside the Escalade. “My instrument?” Kace asks.
“Under guard and fucking key,” Savage assures him.
Dan translates. “On its way to the hotel vault by way of our team. We’ll text you when it’s locked down.”
“Exactly what I said,” Savage snaps and opens the passenger door. Kace and I laugh and load up in our vehicle. Once we’re on the road, I have my first chance to talk about the show with Kace. “I love the entire horror show thing you and Chris did,” I say, once we’re on the road. “That was so unexpected and original.”
“Chris and Sara were close to a young cancer patient who loved horror movies, which apparently, Chris does as well. He really bonded with the kid. A deep bond and the boy didn’t make it. It affects Chris and Sara. I can tell. We’re going to do the same format for the Christmas show in the young man’s honor, and for the benefit of the children’s hospital.”
“Horror at Christmas?” I laugh.
“That will shock the crowd.” He squeezes my leg and lowers his voice, changing the subject. “This party will be nuts. It’s not my thing. You need to know that. Walker is controlling the doors. We’re only attending because it’s Marvin’s birthday and I’m not going to travel with him anymore.”
His concern touches me and I cover his hand with mine. “I know. You told me. It’s all good.”
“We don’t have to stay long and—”
I kiss him, which I intend to make a quick peck, but he cups my head and deepens the kiss, drugging me, owning me oh so easily. “We are definitely not staying long,” he says, stroking my cheek. “I want you all to myself.”
I’m melting in the back of an Escalade that has now halted at our destination. Kace scans the window and I do the same, only to discover that we are now in front of a giant warehouse and already music vibrates through the walls, and people are lined up to enter.
At Savage’s urging, Dan pulls to a side entrance and halts again. This time we exit and enter the building next to a set of stairs. We walk up the wooden steps into a vaulted area where Kace’s entire team is hanging out, along with a ton of new faces. From there, we’re swept into the party atmosphere, sitting at a long wooden table.
His entire crew is funny and wonderful, and soon we are all drinking margaritas, singing along to a wild mix of country, rock, pop, and alternative music. There are women, lots of scantily clad women, but Kace is always right here with me. He makes sure I know, and everyone else knows, we’re together. There is cake for Marvin, and more scantily clad women dancing for him. Kace leans in and whispers, “Not my thing, baby. You are. Remember that.”
I’m feeling the buzz of tequila and my hand goes to his jaw, my mouth to his mouth. He kisses the hell out of me and strokes my hair. “Fifteen more minutes,” he says. “Then we leave.”
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I say, “or I might not make the ride home.”
“I’ll go with you.” He wiggles an eyebrow to let me know he has naughty intentions.
About that time, the girls hired to entertain Marvin hop on top of our table, dancing to the song “Bitter” by Fletcher. Kiki is with them and she stops in front of us, squatting down eye level to Kace, as she sings:
I know you think about me when you kiss her
I left a taste in your mouth
Can she taste me now
The very words imply that they’ve slept together and adrenaline surges through me. I’m on my feet in an instant, feeling sick, embarrassed, angry, hurt. Kace tries to stand but the chair hitches. It tumbles over and two half naked girls step between me and him. How appropriate. I’m gone before he can catch me and I don’t go to the bathroom upstairs. I head down the wooden steps to the main dance floor and a mass of hundreds dancing and partying. I weave through the crowd, music pumping through me, trying to find the bathroom and when