Travis merely inclined his head while Hope offered me a weak smile.
Jen lifted her chin and gave me a condescending head-to-toe look. “I don’t often have the chance to meet one of Dane’s women.”
Dane stilled, seeming a little surprised by her attitude. He shifted closer to me and away from her. She noticed his withdrawal and didn’t appear to like it. I had no idea what her deal was, but I suspected she’d voice it at some point. Snobs usually did.
Dane sank back into his chair and again hung his arm over the back of mine. The others took their own seats … which sadly placed Jen next to me. Ugh. A waiter quickly appeared and poured drinks before melting away.
Travis looked from me to Dane. “So, you two are an item now,” he said, his voice carefully even. But I detected the hint of skepticism there.
“We are,” confirmed Dane.
“How long has it been going on?” asked Kent, seeming rather pleased.
“A few months,” replied Dane.
Travis’s brows dipped. “Really? I wouldn’t have guessed. You did well to keep that under wraps.” His eyes slid to me. “No wonder you turned my friend down. You were secretly after my brother.”
I’d turned down his friend because, like Travis, he was a fucking tool. And I wasn’t “after” Dane at all.
Seeing that Dane had stiffened, Travis lifted a placatory hand. “I know, I know, I’m not supposed to let my friends hit on your employees. He and I were a little drunk at the bar that night.”
“Wait,” said Jen. “She works for you, Dane?”
“She’s his PA,” Hope told her.
Jen’s brow furrowed as she stared at him. “I thought you didn’t get involved with your employees.”
“Obviously I made an exception,” said Dane, picking up his champagne flute.
“Well,” began Hope, “you should consider yourself lucky that Vienna’s willing to overlook your many … exploits, Dane. I mean, she was the one who ordered the flowers for those women and booked your dinner reservations, so she knows you’ve been around the block quite a few times.”
I almost rolled my eyes at the non-too-subtle reminder of Dane’s past.
“Speaking of those exploits, some of them are here.” Travis turned to me. “If they do anything petty like shoot you little smirks or try to flirt with him, just ignore them.”
I hated that his comment twisted my gut, but I really did despise the idea of being around Dane’s exes. They were all grace and elegance and chic designer clothes. Still, I didn’t let Travis see that his verbal arrow had hit its mark. “Petty people are easy to ignore.” Him included.
He narrowed his eyes, clearly picking up on my insinuation.
“Enough, Travis,” said Dane, dancing his fingers over the side of my upper arm.
Travis lifted his shoulders, all innocence. “What?”
“You’re trying to make Vienna feel uncomfortable—I don’t fucking like it,” said Dane, his voice low and dripping with frost.
“How about a change of subject?” proposed Kent.
How about if Travis and Hope went the fuck home?
The conversation was a little awkward after that, so Dane and I mostly talked between ourselves. The waiter soon returned, poured more drinks, and took orders for the upcoming dinner.
“I hope they hurry with the food,” I told Dane. “I’m starving.”
“They’ll hold the auction first,” he said.
“You planning to bid on anything?”
“I’m planning to win.”
“And you’re so sure you’ll procure whatever you bid on?”
He gave me a pitying look, as if I was dumb as a rock for thinking differently. He also managed to later win the two pieces of art he bid on. Well, of course he did.
Once the auction was over, the meals arrived. Talk flowed easily around our table as people ate, although both Dane and Kent mostly ignored Travis, who became increasingly obnoxious the more he drank.
After the dinner was over and soft music began to play, Dane took my hand. “Dance with me.” It wasn’t a request.
On the dance floor, he drew me so close I was pressed up against him. Which basically sent my nerve-endings into a frenzy. Standing tall, he splayed one hand on my lower back as we swayed—slow, sensual, intimate.
Other couples danced around us, but I paid them no attention. I was far too caught up in the way Dane’s dark eyes stared into mine, as soft and warm as hot chocolate. God, he should have been an actor.
“You didn’t tell me Travis’s friend came onto you,” he said, his voice so low and smooth I almost missed the anger there. “When did that happen?”
“A month or so ago.”
“And I didn’t learn of this why?”
I shrugged. “It wasn’t worth reporting. He asked me out. I said no. Get rid of the frown. You’re supposed to look happy.”
His mouth twitched into a smile. “That’s right, I am.” He stroked the pads of his fingers along my back. “If someone puts any moves on you again, I want to hear about it.”