Sterling (Carolina Reapers 6)

He nodded, sipping his drink. “Lusso Men’s Wear.” He motioned to the tux.

“No shit?” I loved Lusso. It was a little higher priced than what I usually went for, but everything high end was.

“Shocked the hell out of me, but I snapped it up.”

“Hi.” A blonde in a strapless dress came over and leaned on the table next to Briggs, adjusting her arms so her breasts swelled above her neckline.

“Uh. Hey.” Briggs gave her a once-over and smiled.

“You’re Cormac Briggs, right?” she asked, looking at him like he was on the damned menu.

“That’s me.”

I sipped my drink and turned my attention back to the dance floor. This was London’s event, so she had to be here somewhere. But instead of London, I saw Brogan Grant making his way toward us.

If I thought I felt uncomfortable in a tux, that guy had to be downright tortured by the way he was tugging at his sleeves.

“I don’t want to be here,” he said as he took the spot next to me.

“Better than face painting with kids?” I asked.

He grunted.

The girl worked her hand up Briggs’s chest, and he moved back suddenly, putting his drink on the table.

“Yeah, I’m going to have to see some ID before you put your hands anywhere near me.”

I nearly spit out my drink.

Even Brogan looked over with his brows raised.

“You’re fucking kidding me, right?” The girl glared at Briggs.

“Nope. I’m the adult version of Disneyland, and only eighteen and up get to ride.” He folded his arms across his chest.

Wow.

“Okay, now I’m glad I came,” Brogan muttered.

The girl started to curse Briggs out for assuming she was anything younger than twenty-one as the band finished their song, then played a short-blasted two-tone harmony like an announcement was about to be made.

We all turned to face the stage, and my breath caught.

There she was.

London stood in the center of the stage with Silas, and damn did she look good. Her dress flowed along her curves way that made my mouth water, and her hair was in some twisted updo, leaving her neck bare. My heart launched into a straight gallop.

“Thank you so much for being here tonight,” Silas said, pausing while the crowd gave him a round of applause. “Giving back to the community is something that every Reaper takes pride in. We aren’t just happy to help out the Ronald McDonald house tonight, we’re honored. And for tonight’s biggest announcement, let me turn over the mic to the woman who put this all together, London Foster.” He handed the microphone to London.

My chest swelled with pride.

“Thank you. I’m so very happy that you guys all showed up!” She laughed, and the crowd did, too. “Together we’ve raised a half-million dollars for the Ronald McDonald House. And that’s just the beginning.” She smiled and held out her hand, beckoning to someone off stage. “I’m so proud to announce that with the help of Lusso Design, we’ve been able to write a one million dollar check to the Ronald McDonald House!”

The crowd exploded in applause, and I was right there with them. Fuck, she was amazing.

A young woman with glossy, black curls in a long black dress walked out onto the stage, wearing a million-watt smile. The woman was gorgeous—though she wasn’t close to holding a candle to London—and easily a good five inches taller than my girl.

“You have to be fucking kidding me.” Briggs tensed beside me.

“Who is that?” I asked Briggs quietly.

“And we’re so lucky to have the brand-new CEO and lead designer, Bristol McClaren, with us here tonight!” London announced, handing the microphone over.

“Thank you so much for having me,” Bristol said from the stage.

“That is who got me fucking traded.” Briggs looked like he’d seen a ghost. “In all fairness, her brother did the trading. She was just the catalyst.”

“Good looking catalyst,” Brogan muttered next to me.

“Wait…” The gears in my brain turned. “Didn’t you say Lusso…”

“Fuck me,” Briggs pushed away from the table and walked straight to the bar.

London made her way off stage. This was my chance. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Brogan, then hauled ass around the dance floor to intercept her.

Shit, this crowd was massive, and London wasn’t exactly tall. I raced for the entrance to the ballroom. At least I’d be able to catch her if she was leaving.

I wiped my sweaty palms on the fabric of my pants as the crowd parted and London appeared. Her gaze locked with mine and my heart fucking stopped.

Ten feet, that was all that separated us, and we were coming closer with every step she took in my direction. But hey, she wasn’t running the other direction, so that had to be a good sign.

Within seconds she was right in front of me, a determined glint in her eyes that could go either way for me.