outside observer, seemingly lost in each other. Tyson watched, his shoulders squaring more with every step the pair took. A warrior preparing for battle.
Evie smiled at him, hoping to distract him. “It seems you’re in need of a companion, Mr. Star. Come, and I’ll introduce you to the rest of the team.”
Blue was having trouble concentrating. Chatter and laughter rang through the night. Every so often someone would jump in the pool and warm water would splash everyone nearby, eliciting startled cries.
One of those cries came from Evie. She used the water as an excuse to escort Tyson to the edge of the roof, a secluded spot overlooking the lights of the city. The two stayed there for half an hour, talking. Tyson’s gaze continually strayed to Tiffany. At one point he even tried to walk away from Evie, but she somehow convinced him to remain at her side.
Blue had never before watched the woman he was sleeping with flirt with another man. But then, Evie might be done with him. She suspected he’d injected her with the tracker.
How many women had watched him over the years, wondering about his affections? How many women had he left twisted up, angry, and frustrated?
Too many. He was done living that way.
He couldn’t blame his current mood on jealousy. He knew what tonight’s flirtation games were about. He knew Evie felt nothing but contempt for Tyson Star, and that she wouldn’t do anything sexual. He knew she was doing this for John. For Blue. And he knew she could protect herself.
He blamed yearning. He and Evie couldn’t be open about their relationship. They had to hide their affection for one another. Blue couldn’t stand beside her and look at lights. Blue couldn’t put his arm around her or kiss her in the moonlight.
He also couldn’t leave the party with Tiffany until Evie convinced Tyson to take her somewhere else. Anywhere else. Otherwise, Big Brother would definitely try to stop Blue from leaving with Little Sister, and that would put unnecessary kinks in the plan.
At least Blue didn’t have to entertain Tiffany while he waited. A few of her friends were guests, and they had swept her away to gossip about him—if he had to take a guess. He’d claimed a seat at an empty table to watch her . . . and all right, yes, to watch Evie. He was dividing his attention between the two.
Tyson ran his knuckles down the length of Evie’s arm.
Blue stiffened.
“All alone?” a female said. “What a shame.”
He recognized the voice and closed his eyes to pray for patience.
Noelle Tremain slid into the chair next to him. Light from the tiki torches bathed her, illuminating a pretty face he’d once wanted so badly to love.
In greeting, he nodded at her. “You’re looking well.”
“Don’t be modest. I’m looking magnificent.” She smiled coldly and waved at someone across the room. “Are you going to congratulate me on my nuptials and pregnancy or continue to glower at the owner of your team?”
She’d noticed. Damn. Others might have noticed, too. “Congrats,” he said, facing her fully. “I’m happy for you.”
“Are you? Really?”
This was long overdue, wasn’t it? “Yes, I really am. I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Noelle. I never wanted to hurt you.”
The coldness remained. “Well, you did. You were a crappy boyfriend. Like, I could have shoved a dagger in your gut and no woman in the world would have convicted me of a crime. You were always trying to change me, and there at the end you even tried to forbid me from seeing Ava.”
Ava. Her best friend. The two were practically joined at the hip. “Where is she tonight?”
“Out hunting with her vampire husband.”
“That’s right. I heard she tamed a feral vamp capable of stopping time.”
Evie laughed, the sound dazzling, drawing Blue’s notice. She was talking to Tyson, motioning to the elevators, but he was shaking his head no.
Only an idiot would refuse the raven-haired beauty.
There was a slight hardening of her shoulders, but she recovered quickly and reached up to toy with the ends of the man’s hair. Any resentment Blue might have felt about the action evaporated as her emerald ring glinted in the moonlight.
Wouldn’t be too much longer now.
“Blue,” Noelle snapped.
Noelle. Right. He forced his gaze on her. “Look, you were a job, meant to introduce me to the right people. I enjoyed your antics, I really did, but you were getting me in trouble. I’m sorry I tried to change you, I really am. You’re wonderful just the way you are. You always deserved better, and I knew it, and that’s why I incited you into breaking things off with me by telling you not to see Ava. My boss couldn’t force me to date a woman who wanted nothing to do with me.”
She surprised him with a smile. Small, short-lived, but undeniable. “I know I was a job, Blue. Now. Dallas told me what he learned about you, and everything fell into place. You’re lucky I didn’t find you that night, or you would have woken up with your balls stuffed in your mouth. You’re also lucky I know how to extract promises from my darling husband. He would have done much, much worse to you. He’s quite savage, you know.”
“If he wants a go at me, he’ll just have to get in line.”
Rubbing her hands over her swollen stomach, she said, “When it comes to the women in your life, have you learned your lesson?”
“I like to think so, yes.” He watched as Evie linked her fingers with Tyson’s and pulled him toward the elevators. This time he offered no resistance.
When they disappeared around the mirrored wall, Blue pushed to his feet. “It’s been nice chatting with you, Noelle, and if there’s ever anything I can help you with, please let me know. But right now I have to go.” He didn’t wait for her reply but zeroed in on Tiffany.
Twenty-one
BLUE COMPELLED TIFFANY TO go to his car, then to sit quietly during the fifteen-minute drive to her house. She didn’t even protest when he jabbed a needle in her thigh and injected her with the isotope, even though he might have used more force than necessary.
One task checked off his to-do list.
He parked at the curb, studying the row of town-homes. They were tall, well-manicured, and semi-attached brownstones. Tiffany’s was easy to spot, because there were two armed guards at the door.
“You will tell them you want me inside, that I will be spending the night, and they aren’t to disturb us.”
“Yes,” she said, eyes glassy and voice monotone.
Couldn’t be helped. He stepped outside, walked around, and opened her door. From this angle the moon wasn’t as bright and the stars weren’t as sparkly. Even better, the sidewalks were abandoned.
He threw an arm around her shoulders and walked her to her door. The guards watched him warily.
“I want him inside,” Tiffany said. “He will be spending the night, and you aren’t to disturb us.”
If they noticed the lack of inflection in her voice, they made no comment.
She swept inside and Blue moved in behind her, closing and locking the door.
He tugged her into the living room, just in case the guards were listening through the metal. “Do you have
