Boss Me (Private Listing #3)

Her eyes narrow on me. We’re both thinking it. It could have been her stalker or any number of creeps. I tug her into my arms and hug her, pressing a kiss to her hair.

She softens against me and my heart skips.

Drawing away from her warmth, I open the door and the sound of the benefit flows over us, full force. The lights are dimmed, and people are everywhere. On the dance floor. Clustered in groups talking. Sitting at tables.

I’m tempted to pull Madison back into the quiet hallways of the museum and say fuck it to socializing. But this serves a purpose. We need to be seen in public.

Wrapping her hand around my arm, I lead us back to our table. Seth, Blake, Noah, and Elizabeth sit there. No one speaks. I glance at the dance floor and see Sara and Kayla.

I pull out Madison’s chair and she lowers gracefully to sit. Leaning down, I say in her ear, “I’ll get us drinks. Don’t leave the table without someone.”

She touches my cheek and smiles softly. “Thank you.”

My heart thumps hard in my chest. Fuck.

When Noah’s gaze meets mine, he gives me a small nod to let me know he’ll watch out for her. I need some distance. A chance to shore up my walls again.

The bar is on the other side of the dance floor. As I move through the crowds, some people lift a hand to get my attention and call me over, but I just wave and continue on my mission. No one else is at the bar when I arrive.

“Scotch neat and a white wine, please.”

The bartender nods, and I turn to look over the room. What if someone saw me and Madison? What difference would it make?

“Cooper?” The familiar voice crawls up my spine as I turn.

“Leighton.” My tone is flat. I should have known she’d be here. We’ve run into each other throughout the years since our breakup because of our social circles.

She smiles as she approaches me. Her brown hair is cut in a chin-length bob. As she closes the distance, her blue eyes assess me. Her black gown clings to her curves. Once upon a time, I thought I’d marry this woman.

“Coop, it’s been too long.” Leighton comes in and kisses both my cheeks. Her thumb comes up to rub her lipstick away.

Not long enough. I step away from her and her hand drops. “How are you this evening?”

At the other end of the bar, a woman distracts the bartender from finishing my drinks.

“I’ve been well.” She’s perfectly poised and doesn’t fiddle with her necklace like Madison does. The table is far enough away that hopefully she can’t see me talking to Leighton. The women the others brought have already caused Madison enough pain for the evening.

Leighton steps closer than would normally be appropriate and reaches out to pluck some imaginary lint from my tux jacket. Her cloying perfume wafts over me. In college, I loved the smell. Now it’s a toxic scent I don’t want near me.

“Elizabeth Hartfield is here with Seth,” I break the news to her.

She flinches at the name.

“Would you like to come talk with her?” I smile like I think they’re best friends who need to catch up. “She’s apparently on an apology tour, so if you’d like to get yours?—‍”

“I wish I could, but my date is waiting for me.” She looks over her shoulder and a few feet away, a man stands next to the wall watching us. He doesn’t appear bothered by her closeness to me.

“That’s too bad.”

The bartender sets my drinks beside me. I give him a smile as I pick them up. “It was something bumping into you.”

Leighton steps closer and my patience runs thin.

“She’s not the only one who needs to apologize.” She looks up at me through her lashes as her fingers run over my lapel. “We could still be good together, Cooper. We make sense. Your family approves of me.”

I step back. “I’m seeing someone. And the only family that matters to me are Seth, Blake, and Noah. You know, the clingers, as you called them.”

Her cheeks flush pink, and she has the decency to look slightly chastised. She wanted to take me away from them. From the only people who cared more about me than what I could do for them. Fuck her.