Occasionally, Ronan glanced up from his phone and checked us out.
He seemed particularly interested in Jewel, the only guy in the room and a former lover of mine. We’d slept together a handful of times over about a week of semi-dating, and we’d been good friends ever since. He was happily hooked up with Wendy now, but Ronan was definitely staring him down, and I wondered if there was any way he could know that we’d been together.
Or was he just planning to stare down all my male friends that way?
When we actually got to the planning part, like talking about who I should invite tonight and what antics we should get up to, Ronan started vetoing our ideas, according to his security protocols. Apparently the fog machine and the guest DJ were out, and he wanted my guest list ahead of time. Like preferably now.
And apparently, all my friends’ “weird aliases” wouldn’t do. He informed me of this with his eyes locked firmly on Jewel. He wanted “real” names, first and last.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?” I grabbed his rock hard bicep and tugged him off his stool. He followed me into the hallway, where I planted my hands on my hips and informed him, “You’re being a buzzkill.”
“That’s not my intention.”
“A giant buzzkill. Are you planning on controlling the guest list? Like, do you want to just invite your friends instead of mine? Would that make you feel better?”
“I wasn’t planning on that. But I’m capping the list at twenty people, and I’m bringing in a few guys to keep an eye on things.”
“What kind of party is that?”
“The only kind you’re getting right now.”
My mouth fell open. “Excuse me? You work for me. This is my house.”
“And right now, we need to send a message that you have security. You and your house are secure. Your home isn’t public property, and anyone who wants to come over treats you and your property with respect. I’m sure anyone who’s truly your friend will not only respect that but appreciate it and be happy to play along for now, in an effort to keep you safe.”
Well, damn. How could I argue with that?
The man had an incredibly solid point.
“Fine. Fuck, you’re good at this.”
I could’ve sworn the slightest smirk hit his eyes.
“Do not get cocky about it. I hate losing arguments to men.” I did. It was also kind of a turn-on. “And by the way, if you’re at the party, you’d better be part of the party.”
“I’m not here to party. I’m here to work.”
“We’ll see.”
With that, I turned on my heel and went back to dancing with my friends. “Licky (Vandalism Remix)” was playing, and I couldn’t let a song like that go to waste. I turned it up, Carissa handed me a martini, and I danced on one of my giant ottomans, which I’d always thought of as more of a stage than a seat, with Wendy. Jewel and Elle were tinkering with my party light system, and it might’ve only been four p.m. and daylight outside, but it already felt like a party.
Fuck it. I could make a party out of twenty-thousand people, or twenty. Or five. None of this security shit was gonna kill my buzz.
A few songs later, Ronan left his station at the bar and headed for the front door. I caught his eye and he lifted his phone as if to say Taking a call, before heading outside.
Shortly after that, Elle poked me, wearing that apologetic look of hers. I’d become incredibly accustomed to this look ever since she’d become a mom.
“I know, I know.” I hugged her tight. “Time for you to go tend to the wee sweet child. Give her many, many kisses for me.”
“Dozens,” she promised.
I walked her outside, where Flynn was waiting next to her car, smoking. Ronan was down at the bottom of the driveway, on his phone.
“They let you smoke in military school?” I teased Flynn as I approached. I knew he’d once been in the military, but that was literally the only thing I knew about his background.
“Nope,” he said. “I used to smoke as a kid, before I went into Basic training.” He put his cigarette out. “Mostly because my dad would’ve murdered me if he knew.”
Hmm. Interesting. That was more words about himself than he’d ever squeezed out, voluntarily, in my direction.
Maybe now that he knew I wasn’t trying to fuck him, he’d loosen up a bit.
“And this was desirable?” I asked.
“I kinda hated him.”
“Ah. So it was silent subterfuge. And what are you rebelling against these days? Your health?”
“It started out as a rebellion. Now it’s a bad habit.”
“You mean an addiction?”
“That, too.”
“I have a feeling you could give it up,” I told him.
“Are you finished flirting with my driver?” Elle teased from the other side of the car.
I rolled my eyes and went over to open her door for her. “I’m sorry, gorgeous. Let me help you with that.”
She grinned. “Thank you.”
She got in and I told her, “He’ll be right with you.” I smiled and shut her door as she shook her head at me. Then I turned back to Flynn. “Phew,” I said exaggeratedly, and lit the joint I’d brought with me. “Now that we got her out of the way, you can tell me. Who is it?”
“Who is what?”
“Oh, Flynn. Darling.” I took a drag of sativa. “The lady fair who has your heart. I need to know.”
He cleared his throat. “How’re you doing here, with everything?”
“Oh, don’t fake concern about me to change the subject. I’m just fine and dandy. I’ve got muscle now.” I gestured at Ronan; he was still down at the end of the driveway, on his phone. He looked over at us, and I turned
