It felt so good to be against him again.
His chest swelled and his arm grew strong. She gripped onto him, steadying her body in his grasp. Her head tilted up to look at him and she got lost in his hazel eyes. In the strobe lights that reflected in his stormy, sea-filled gaze. She could see him. Clear as day. The man she had enjoyed on the island. The surfer boy with a head full of salted hair and lean legs that carried her around the dance floor. She could see his playful grin dancing along his cheeks. Crinkling his eyes.
Making his freckles jump.
Song after song filtered through the club and Kallie moved with his every step. Ash spun, and she spun with him. Ash dipped her and she relaxed against his arms. Ash’s leg ground between hers and she swirled her hips to the base of the music. Her grip was tight on him and his eyes were locked onto her. He grew closer and closer, like he had on the island. Until his nose was nuzzled against her ear. She smiled into his shoulder. Wrapped her arms around his neck. Pressed all of herself into him as his hands dropped to the small of her back.
“Are you stalking me?” Kallie asked playfully.
Ash chuckled in her ear and it sent shivers down her spine.
“I apparently know one of the club owners,” Ash said.
“You apparently know them?” she asked.
“He asked me multiple times to come out and make an appearance for his opening night. I saw you from the VIP area.”
Kallie rolled her eyes as reality came crashing back.
“I should’ve guessed you’d be a VIP,” she said.
She felt Ash’s arms tighten around her, but she didn’t think anything of it. The crowd was growing and things were getting tight. He was probably just steering her out of the way. She swirled her hips against his leg but couldn’t bring her eyes back to him. The club was so reminiscent of their time on the island that she’d already been swept back into that dream. Into that fantasy he painted so perfectly before destroying it with his money. With his words.
With his lies.
The song came to an end and Kallie tried to catch her breath. Sweat was dripping down her neck and her mind came reeling back into the present.
Where was Eris?
“If you want,” Ash said, “you can come up to the VIP area. Grab a drink. Catch your breath away from the crowd.”
“I’m not alone tonight, Ash.”
Kallie watched Ash’s face fall, and she furrowed her brow. What the hell was he so worried about? Kallie looked back at Eris and beckoned her forward, then she grabbed her friend’s hand. How in the world was she going to explain this? She saw the confusion on Eris’s face. How was she going to tell her friend that this was the guy from the island and still keep Eris from running her mouth off at him?
“I’m with my friend, Eris,” Kallie said.
“Then bring her along,” Ash said with a shrug.
“Who’s the guy?” Eris said into her ear.
Kallie leaned over and pressed her lips to her friend’s ear.
“Remember island guy?” Kallie asked. “He’s inviting us to the VIP section for a drink and a rest.”
She watched her friend’s eyes widen before Eris tugged her hand.
“Come on. Let’s go,” Eris said.
“Lead the way,” Kallie said as she stumbled behind her friend.
Even over the crowd, she could hear Ash’s chuckle. He stepped out in front of them and led the way, walking up a thin spiral staircase. They were soon dumped into a glass encasement that was significantly quieter, cooler, and filled with fresher air. Kallie looked out along the crowd and tried to tell herself it was only temporary. That being in a VIP section didn’t make Ash like James. But she’d been stowed away in so many of them that it didn’t hold the kind of grandeur it did for Eris.
Who was gawking while looking around the glass encasement.
Kallie felt a tug on her waist and dropped to a soft couch underneath her. Ash wasted no time in threading his arm around her waist, but Kallie promptly scooted away. Closer to Eris, who was clearly giving Ash the stink eye. She had no issues taking him up on the offer of VIP treatment, but Kallie knew Eris wouldn't let Ash off the hook that easily.
“Would the three of you like anything to drink?” a man in a suit asked.