My eyes burned into hers. The fucker knew already. He was expecting us.

I pulled her closer to me, my arm snaking around her waist. I spoke into her ear. “It's going to be fine. Let’s show the senator what he’s missing, yeah? You can do this, Eva.”

Her back straightened. “Okay. But please let’s not stay long—”

“Baby, I have every intention of getting you out of here as soon as possible. Trust me, okay?”

She stared into my eyes for a long moment before nodding. “Okay,” she said in a shaky voice. I knew she meant more than just here and now. My chest swelled with pride. My woman trusted me, and I was damn well going to be worthy of that honor.

Chapter 15 — Eva

Smiling weakly at Harrison, I nodded politely at the people already seated at the new table we’d been directed to before sitting down. From what I could tell, Nolan hadn’t shown up yet, and maybe he’d be too busy with speeches and kissing ass to bother me.

Harrison pushed my chair in and rested a hand on my shoulder. It was warm and reassuring, yet I couldn’t prevent the icy shiver that ran up my spine. Once I said goodbye to someone, I hated coming into contact with them again. I wasn’t one of those women who never let go of an ex. I didn’t hoard baggage or ponder the reasons why things turned out the way they did. Once it ended, I moved on. Nolan was no different. I simply had nothing left to say to the asshole who thought he could cheat on me and get away with it.

“Is Savage going to be here?” At least I’d have one friendly and familiar face around besides Harrison’s. I was going to need it.

Harrison pushed his chest out and mustered a smile. “Yeah, of course. He’s part of the Dream Team. I wouldn’t be up for this award if it weren’t for my partner.”

Running a quick scan over the room, I brought my gaze back to my date. “I haven’t seen him yet and he’s as hard to miss as the Hulk with that tall muscular body of his. Do you think he’s picking up his date and running late?”

Harrison shook his head. “Nope, Savage doesn’t date. A girl broke his heart in college and he’s sworn off women forever.”

“That’s such a waste,” I said, genuinely sorry for the loss to the female population. Lucas Savage would be a great catch. If I’d met him first instead of Harrison, I could seriously have been interested.

“That’s exactly why we’re the Dream Team—we’re two of a kind.” Harrison wasn’t boasting, and I could tell that he thought the world of his partner.

“Handsome. Charming. Sex on legs.” I said in a flirty voice. “Is that what you mean?”

Harrison laughed. “You better be referring to me and not Savage.” The glint in his eyes disappeared after a few seconds. “No. More like fucked up crazy. Disconnected. Not really giving a fuck about anything that isn’t work related. That kind of thing.”

“You or Savage?” I said on a quivering breath. Talk about being direct.

“Me before I met you. Somehow you’ve weaved a spell on me my beautiful Eva, and lately I don’t want anything other than being with you.”

A warm glow spread through my body. “Yeah?”

He leaned over and whispered in my ear. “I’ve been hard for you since I saw you in that fucking dress. I’d rather be anywhere than here—with you, of course. Removing the dress with my fucking teeth—”

Savage spoke behind us. “Hey, there you are. Why have you moved tables?” He’d managed to sneak up on us which I had to give him props for. He leaned over to kiss my cheek under the watchful eye of my date. I couldn’t help the small smile that twitched my lips at how possessive Harrison had become.

“Hey, glad you made it,” Harrison said in a growly voice, his eyebrow still slightly raised as he shook Savage’s hand. They made some small talk and I allowed myself a few moments to take it all in.

My gaze wandered around the ornate room with its crystal chandeliers and heavy oak-paneled walls. The tables were laid with the finest bone-china plates and polished silver flat-wear.

But it was the guests who really added to the opulence of the event in their finery, with men and women dressed to impress. Admiring the gorgeous evening gowns the women wore, and thankful I’d scrubbed up okay, I kept looking around at the sea of beautiful people.

“Oh shit,” I murmured under my breath. The arrogant asshole is here.

Nolan stood a few feet away with his back to me, chatting to a group of people. From the way they were hanging on his every word, he’d clearly turned his superpower up a few notches. Senator Parker was busy charming the pants off his audience, especially the women.

My gaze skimmed his body. His broad shoulders fit into his dark precision-cut suit exactly the way I remembered, except this time it didn’t make my heart go all pitter-patter like it used to.

As if he sensed my presence, he turned and stared straight at me, a lopsided grin on his handsome face. A few months ago, it would have melted my heart. I would have felt special and privileged to be the one he chose to spend the rest of his life with. That was before I knew what a cheating, lying bastard he was.

Isn’t it funny how it’s always the most charming guys who have skeletons in their closets? The men who worm their way into your heart with sweet whispers, avalanches of flowers and romantic moonlight serenades who then morph into an asshole before your eyes.

I found out the hard way that fairytale romances didn’t exist.

I’d worshipped my fiancé, given him everything I could, only to discover it wasn’t enough. He needed the adoration and pussies of other women to feel validated. It was a pattern I’d recognized in so many powerful men who had the world at their feet, yet couldn’t overcome their insecurities. They always needed more. More than any one person could ever give.

I counted myself as one of the lucky ones. It could have been a lot worse. I could have been married to the man. Our wedding date had come and gone months ago.

“Are you okay?” My date leaned over, his warm breath skimming over my chilled skin.

Harrison was everything Nolan wasn’t. Direct. Private. With nothing to hide. He didn’t pretend or feign emotions, and he never said words because he thought they were what I wanted to hear. Behind his gruff and impenetrable exterior was a damaged man who made no excuses for who he was. I could live with that, because in a way it was more honest than all the false masks worn by someone like Senator Nolan Parker.

I hate fake.

My back stiffened and I looked away toward the young waiter who offered me a refill of champagne, ignoring Nolan.

“Eva?” Harrison’s voice snapped me back to the moment.

I nodded. “Yeah, I guess I’m okay.” I placed my hand on Harrison’s thigh. I couldn’t hide the disgust and contempt from my voice. “Please don’t leave me alone with Nolan tonight.”

The soft chuckle that rose from his chest was reassuring. “I’m not letting that asshole anywhere near you. So relax and enjoy the evening. Pretend he isn’t here.”

It’s going to be a long fucking night.

If only I could pretend. Nolan had other plans. Bearing down on us, he made a beeline for our table. He wasn’t going to let anyone ignore him, least of all his ex-fiancé.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips. Here it comes. The sappy sweet shit that’s supposed to make me forgive him.

“Ah, you’re late, my darling.” Hungry eyes undressed me, and his salacious grin made my stomach churn.

I’m not your fucking darling.

Harrison’s chair scraped back as he rose to face Nolan, eye to eye. His hand was back on my shoulder as he stood between my ex and me. I reached up and laced my fingers through Harrison’s, needing the reassurance that he’d ward off unwelcome advances and send a clear message to Nolan.