have to be so formal.”
He smiles at me then looks at her. “Sorry, Samantha.”
“It’s okay.” She laughs then looks between the two of us. “If you two want to take off you guys don’t have to stick around for me. I can catch a cab home.”
“Sounds good,” Braxton murmurs.
“I’m not ditching you.” I glare at the man behind me and she laughs.
“Really, it’s okay. I think I’ve had enough fun for one night, probably more fun than I’ve had in forever.”
“It was fun. We will have to do it again.”
“Yes we will,” she agrees and then looks down the hall, as there is a commotion. I look that way and see my brother and the guys coming our way. Nervousness settles in my stomach, and I hold my breath as they approach.
“Let me guess—you’re Braxton,” Jamie says, looking at the man who has moved to my side, and then the two of them shake hands and do that guy pat on the back thing. “Did you catch any of the show?”
“A few songs,” Braxton replies, taking my hand and I know then he heard me sing with Jamie.
“Cool.” Jamie looks at me and his face softens. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I respond, and Braxton squeezes my fingers in silent support.
“Are you heading out? Or are you going to stick around for a drink?”
I really don’t think I need to have another drink. Honestly, everything is a bit hazy right now, but something is telling me that Jamie needs to see me with Braxton.
“Want to stay for a little longer?” I ask, taking Samantha’s attention away from Lozz.
“Sure.” She shrugs.
“We can stay for a few,” I agree, looking at my brother.
“Come on then.” He motions for us to follow, and I look up at Braxton as everyone heads down the hall.
“Are you okay with this?”
“You spending time with your brother and friends?” he prompts, and I nod. “Yeah, I’m okay with that.” I lean up on my tiptoes and touch my mouth to his. When I start to pull back, he stops me. “But tonight, we’re going to have a long talk about us, Dakota.”
I lick my lips, not sure if I’m excited about having another talk with him, because part of me is scared everything between us will change, that we will never be able to agree on how things should be.
“I’m really looking forward to that,” I say sarcastically, and he smiles then lets me go and smacks my ass. “Hey, that stung!”
“Oh, beautiful girl, you have no idea the things I’m going to do to you when I get you alone.” He shakes his head and my body pulses. “Let’s go spend time with your brother so I can reassure him that you’re safe with me.”
“I knew that’s why he wanted us to stay,” I grumble, and he laughs then takes my hand. We head into the room that we were in earlier, and within thirty minutes, my nervousness about Jamie and Braxton getting along is gone. The two of them talk and joke like they’re old friends, and Braxton wins over his bandmates like he’s one of them, all but Freddie who is sitting alone drinking. Normally I would go out of my way to talk to him but tonight his mood seems dark so instead I sit with Samantha sipping a fresh drink. I smile when I hear my brother laugh at something Braxton said and turn to look at him.
“I shouldn’t be surprised that a man who wears a suit like a second skin can win over a bunch of rowdy rockers, but then again, it just goes to show how down to earth and laid back he is,” Samantha says, and I look at her. “It’s also probably why he’s as successful as he is. He can blend in in any environment and make people feel he’s just like them.”
“He is just like them,” I tell her quietly. “He’s just a guy.”
“And that right there is why he’s falling in love with you,” she whispers, and my heart seems to double-beat. “You don’t see him as a billionaire. To you, he’s just a guy you like.”
“He’s not falling in love with me,” I deny, and she smiles.
“Yeah, and I bet you’d tell me you’re not falling in love with him either.”
I don’t answer her. I look across the room, and when I do, his eyes come to me and his expression softens into a look I know I wouldn’t mind seeing from him every day