said, hearing bitterness in her voice. She needed to jump to what she really cared about before Teddy made her way back over. “So are you here just for the night, or do you plan on coming to the event tomorrow?”
“Oh, we’ll be here tomorrow,” he beamed. “Teddy is looking forward to all of the press that will be here.”
No class. Absolutely none. What had her mom seen in this guy all those years ago?
“I see.”
“But it’s a really great exhibit, Aurora. Really sexy. I like it.”
She flashed another plastic smile. “I figured you might.”
“And that heart sculpture—”
“—is not for sale,” Rori said before he could ask the question.
“Ah, c’mon,” he pouted. “Even to your dad?”
“Especially to my dad,” she said, trying to sound playful as she spoke even though she felt more than a little ill. Why had he come? He was so much easier to deal with when she didn’t have to factor in what a selfish ass he was, even after all these years.
“Ah, well Teddy will be disappointed, but—” Rori’s dad jerked to attention, his eyes fixed in the direction Mike and Teddy had gone. “What the hell is going on over there?”
Confused, Rori looked over her shoulder to see Mike gripping Teddy’s wrist with both hands while she reached out to cup what she could find between his legs. Well, damn if that boy hadn’t proven her wrong again. Apparently he could charm a gold digger.
And damn if Rori didn’t just hate him a little bit for never seeing fit to use whatever charm he had on her. Ignoring that for the moment, however, Rori turned back to her father.
“Well, Dad, it looks like your current trophy is going a little rogue on my videographer over there. I guess you’ve found yourself another winner.”
“Truly, Richard,” her mom added, coming up behind Rori. “You really should domesticate them before you bring them into public.”
Rori couldn’t help but smirk even as she watched Mike say something to Teddy while pushing her hands away—something Rori suddenly wanted to hear very much.
“Excuse me, but I need to go extricate my friend,” Rori said, starting their direction.
Her dad was right on her heels. “And I need to speak with my girlfriend.”
“’Girl’ being the operative term,” her mom added before following them both over to where the action was.
Chapter 53
Rori still wasn’t sure how Mike had done it, but Teddy and her father were on a jet back to Los Angeles. With everything going on at the opening, Rori now had two less things to worry about. That left her with her mom, Jean, and Anton to juggle the next night, which was completely manageable. But it also meant that her plans for some intense alone time with Mike were pretty much no longer an option. She had an hour now before her dinner with her mother and Jean, and after that her schedule was booked until the show.
And she still hadn’t gotten so much as a hug.
Rori stared at the dresses in her closet, knowing which one she should wear for the dinner that night, but not putting it on for some reason. Every time she reached for it she heard Mike make a noise in the living room and her eyes would move to the short cocktail dress just a few hangars over.
An hour. There was a lot that could be done in an hour. After one last moment of debate, Rori took the cocktail dress from the hangar and slid into it, leaving the back undone. Then she walked out into the living room to find Mike.
“Wow,” he said the moment she stepped into view. “Nice dress.”
She smiled. “Thank you. And nice moves. You’re going to have to tell me how you Teddy to listen to you like that.”
He shrugged. “Just told the truth, and she knew it when she heard it.”
“Uh-huh,” Rori said, stepping forward. “You must have said it rather convincingly.”
“I, uh, guess.” He cleared his throat.
“Well, thank you. It would have been a headache to have them there tomorrow.”
“Any time. Crisis management is part of the job. You’ve got to remember that I’m used to weddings. The dynamics at those things are insane.”
He was nervous, trying not to look at the dress, which meant he liked it. “I have no doubt.” She turned so he could see her unzipped back. “Could I ask one more favor? Zip me up?”
To his credit, Mike’s hesitation was barely perceptible. She watched as he grew still, his eyes moving