Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“The doctor said you can have a small glass of white wine,” Dash said, in a don’t push your luck, tone of voice.
Aurora was about to pull her gaze away from the huddle of handsome men when the one whose face she hadn’t been able to see turned her way. Familiarity hit her in the gut.
But there was no possible way it was him. She’d been thinking about Leah’s father earlier and he’d been on her mind. That was the only reason she thought Nick was standing across the room from her now.
Of course, the rationale didn’t stop her stomach from spasming or her palms from sweating. Then he looked at her head on, those eyes she’d been musing on earlier, meeting hers.
“Oh, my God.” Her voice shook and dizziness assaulted her.
Cassidy glanced over.
“What’s wrong?” Dash immediately clasped Aurora’s elbow and pulled her toward him, protective as usual.
She shook her head. “Nothing… I… There’s someone who looks familiar but…” It couldn’t be him. What were the odds?
But he’d already left the other men and had started towards her. Aurora panicked. She needed…time to think, to breathe, to accept who he was and what finding him here meant.
“I…I need the ladies’ room!” Aurora jerked her arm out of Dash’s grip and bolted for the double doors that led to a hallway where the bathrooms were located.
“Aurora?” Chloe called out her name as Aurora passed her sister by, not stopping to talk. But she felt her sister’s presence as Chloe followed her to the ladies’ room.
Aurora didn’t care as long as she had a few minutes to process one very important fact. Nick, her daughter’s father, was here. And her entire life was about to change. Again.
* * *
Nick Dare stood with his brothers, killing time until they were let into the theater to see Harrison’s latest movie. He did his best to keep his attention on the conversation around him but it was hard. Yesterday he’d been in L.A., overseeing an issue in one of their California Meridian hotels. Tonight, he was in Manhattan, trying to keep his eyes open.
He and his siblings wore tuxedos, all except Zach, who insisted on marching to his own beat, which, in this case, meant he was dressed in dark jeans, a hooded leather jacket, and scuffed, black motorcycle boots. Ever the rebel. The only person missing was his twin sister, Jade, for reasons everyone understood. She suffered from migraines and wasn’t feeling well, though Nick sensed the reason she’d skipped tonight went deeper than that. He’d have to talk to her about it tomorrow.
“I thought you were bringing a date?” Asher, his oldest sibling, said, interrupting Nick’s thoughts. “One of the women you know in the city.” He took a sip of his vodka as he waited for an answer.
At the question, Nick rethought his decision not to drink tonight, but he’d figured the alcohol wouldn’t help his jet lag.
“Umm, no. Last woman I was with used up her three dates,” Nick said.
Harrison groaned. “You really are an asshole.”
Nick shook his head, disagreeing. “If I let a relationship go on, knowing it doesn’t have a chance, then I’d be the asshole who led the woman on.” He shrugged. “In three dates, I pretty well know if something’s going to work out or not. Seems fair to me.”
Zach burst out laughing. “Are you still using that rule?”
“It’s a solid one.” As far as Nick was concerned, a woman’s true personality wasn’t difficult to discern. Especially when money was involved. Women who were after him for the Dare name or fortune usually showed their true colors quickly.
He ignored his brothers’ comments and turned to look around. Thanks to Harrison’s talent and fame, Nick was used to premieres, after parties and mixing with celebrities around the room.
His gaze landed on Dash Kingston, lead singer of The Original Kings, and one of Nick’s favorite rock bands. They’d met earlier when Harrison had introduced Dash’s very pregnant wife as the producer of tonight’s film. Beside him stood a blonde woman with a knockout body in a gorgeous fitted gown.
A surge of awareness rippled through him. But it wasn’t one of simple attraction, though he was definitely drawn to her. It was something more. He continued to stare until, as if sensing the weight of his gaze, she turned her head.
Her eyes widened and he realized he’d been right. What he’d felt was a renewed connection with the only woman with whom he’d experienced something real. He might have been young then but he’d known.
He was halfway across the room before he registered that he’d moved. Though people blocked his way, he managed to catch sight of her rushing out the double doors. So, he followed.
He reached the hallway just as she disappeared into the Ladies’ Room. He had no doubt she’d recognized him but he didn’t understand why she’d run. They’d had one amazing night together. Why would that freak her out now?