The Secret (Single in Seattle 1)

Maybe six inches of skin show from the boots to the dress.

It’s the most alluring damn getup I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Did you make this?”

“Of course.” She checks herself one more time in the mirror. “You said this was a club party, so I wanted something flirty.”

“You achieved it,” I reply and walk up behind her, brushing her hair aside so I can kiss her neck. “Just don’t bend over.”

“I have no plans to. If I drop something, you can fetch it for me.”

“Gladly.”

I’m just in slacks and a button-down, but with Liv on my arm, I look damn good.

The drive into downtown is slow, thanks to a wreck on the freeway, but we finally arrive at the popular club in the heart of Seattle. The team rented it out for the night for a private party, and from the look of things from the outside, it’s well-attended.

The bouncer checks my name on the list, and then we’re inside. The band plays a cover of an old Maroon 5 song, and tables are full of drinks and food.

Kelly waves us over to theirs. When we arrive, she immediately pulls Liv in for a hug.

“Holy shit, girl, you are hot. Where did you get that dress? I need one.”

“I made it,” Liv says with a smile. “But I could make you one and tailor it to you, make some adjustments to show off all your assets, that sort of thing.”

“Take her up on it,” I advise Kelly. “One day, her dresses are going to be worth a lot of money.”

“He’s biased,” Liv says.

“I think he’s right,” Kelly replies. “I’ll take you up on it for sure. Oh, and, Vaughn, don’t forget that I need you in LA on Friday by noon for meetings with all your people.”

“Meetings?” Liv asks.

“I have quarterly meetings with the financial people, my agent, things like that. Just business stuff. You should come with me.”

“To talk to your agent?”

I lean in and kiss her cheek and then speak directly into her ear. “No, just to be with me. We can go shopping or take in a show. Whatever you want.”

She smiles. “Okay.”

“Okay.” I turn to Jamal as Kelly and Liv start talking about designers and shoes and all the places to shop in LA. “How’s the vision?”

“Still blurry,” he softly says so Kelly can’t hear. “Head’s not killing me anymore, though, so that’s good.”

“Are you gonna play this weekend?”

“Nah, the docs are making me take one more week off to see if the vision clears. It’s not career-ending, and I may just end up needing glasses, but damn, it’s frustrating.”

“Give yourself some time,” I say and clap him on the shoulder. “Rest and let your head heal. You took a hell of a hit. It might have taken ten years off my life.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll be okay.”

“Oh, my God. I hate that guy,” Liv says, pointing to the band’s lead singer.

“Do you know him?” I ask her.

“Yeah. That’s Brax Adler, aka the big jerk who broke Josie’s heart.”

I raise my eyebrows and watch the frontman on stage. “Josie used to date him?”

“A few years ago. They were pretty serious, and then he was so mean to her, and she is the nicest person in the world. I guess that’s what happens when you fall for a rock star, although my uncle Leo is awesome and would never be an ass to my aunt Samantha.”

“I don’t think Brax is a star,” Kelly chimes in. “He’s just a local musician, although I do hear that he’s gaining popularity. One of their songs just went out on national radio.”

“Good things shouldn’t happen to bad people,” Liv says with her eyes narrowed as she sips the martini the waitress just brought her. “Although, this is one of my favorite songs, even if it’s being sung by a jerk. Let’s dance, Vaughn.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Liv laughs and takes my hand, leading me out onto the packed dance floor where the crowd swallows us as she presses her sweet little body to mine, moving against me as if she were made for me.

Because she was.

We dance through so many songs, I lose count. Kelly and Jamal join us, and we take breaks to grab something to drink, but my girl wants to dance.

And I’m happy to oblige her.

Finally, around one in the morning, Liv sighs and leans into me. “I should go home. I have to work tomorrow.”

“Okay, we can do that.”

I check in with Jamal and thank him for the invite. Kelly and Liv talk for another fifteen minutes, and then we’re headed out the door.

Lightbulbs flash in our faces, and people shout questions.

I didn’t realize the paps would be here tonight.

“Vaughn! Vaughn! Is it true you’re seeing Olivia exclusively?”

Liv presses her face to my shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her as we hurry down the sidewalk to my car.