I eased Melody from my lap to my shoulder as I watched Abby dance. Although I didn’t want to, I couldn’t help the jealousy pricking over my body at the sight of Abby getting so into the motions with AJ. I blew out of a frustrated breath, which Melody mimicked. When I laughed, she grinned. “See that girl,” I pointed to Abby. “I think I love her, and it’s making me act like a total idiot.”

Melody waved her tiny hand at Abby. “Yeah, even you are already in love with her, and you’ve known her like what, five seconds. She does that to people.”

After inhaling a sharp breath of frustration, a nasty smell assaulted my senses. Leaning forward in my seat, I tapped Brayden’s arm. “I believe your daughter has a surprise for you.”

As I passed Melody to him, he laughed. “Thanks. We’ll take care of it.”

“Trust me dude, friendship only goes so far, and it doesn’t involve shitty diapers.”

“Wow, I’m so touched,” Brayden replied before rising out of his seat. I snickered at the sight of him with the pale pink diaper bag draped on his shoulder. He bent down and kissed Lily’s cheek before heading to the bathroom with Melody “Now that’s love,” I murmured under my breath.

My gaze once again went to the dance floor to Abby and AJ. “I need some air,” I muttered to Rhys. He gave me a knowing smile before bobbing his head. Grabbing two champagne flutes from a passing waiter, I made my way out the side door of the ballroom.

***

After AJ and I finished our dance, beads of sweat were dripping down my face and back. I was so thirsty that I gulped down a flute of champagne the moment we got back to the table and had started on another. “Ugh, I need water.”

Easing down in a chair beside me, AJ asked, “So I assume the way you’re throwing it back you’ve acquired a taste for champagne?”

I wrinkled my nose. “Actually, it just kinda makes me wanna burp. Now these,” I picked up a chocolate strawberry off the dessert platter on the table and waved it at him, “These I enjoy a lot.”

“Yeah, well, just go easy on getting tipsy. You’ve got to be at the studio really early in the morning, right?”

“Eight.” Then I squealed and dropped the strawberry.

AJ’s dark eyes widened at me. “What the hell is wrong?”

“I’m singing in the morning.”

“Yes and…” he prompted.

I rolled my eyes. “I’ve been eating my weight in chocolate tonight, which has dairy in it.

You’re never supposed to do that.”

At what must’ve been the absolute horror on my face, AJ patted my leg. “You’ll be fine. Flush it out with some water.”

“Shit,” I muttered as I flagged down a waiter. Once he brought me a glass, I downed it in three long gulps. I then eyed the room for my noticeably absent date. Lily and Brayden were dancing while Rhys sat beside with a sleeping Melody in his arms. I craned my neck around the room. “Where’s Jake?”

Rhys motioned to the courtyard outside. “He said he needed some air.”

AJ nodded as he eyed Jake’s dad, Mark, dancing with Jake’s stepmom, Paula. “Even though it’s been fifteen years, sometimes Jake still can’t take the two of them together.”

Rhys snorted. “Yeah, I don’t think them dancing together was the issue.”

When I got his meaning, my heart did a funny little shuddering before I rose out of my chair. “I better go check on him.” I hurried out the side door and onto the tiled pavement. In the middle of the courtyard was a huge, circular fountain. It had a giant swan in the middle of it that was illuminated by light.

Jake sat on the edge of the fountain with his elbows braced on his knees. “Hey.”

“Hey,” he replied.

I eased down beside him. We sat in silence for a few seconds before I nudged him

playfully. “I was kinda thinking for a minute there that I’d been jilted.”

He glanced up at me. “Sorry. I just needed some air.”

Tilting my head, I gazed up at the stars. “It’s nice out here.”

“Without your dance partner?” he spat.

I couldn’t help the smile that curved on my lips. He was jealous of me dancing with AJ. “The only dance partner I want is out here.”

“Hmm,” he muttered.

Tension hung heavy around us. Trying to ease the mood, I slid out of my killer heels. I groaned in agony. “Remind me to hunt down the person who invented heels.”

“Yeah, well, it’s your fault for going out there with AJ and acting like you two were on Dancing with the Stars or some shit.”

“Jake Slater, I do believe you’re jealous.”

He jerked his gaze to meet mine. “I am not!”

I grinned. “Pity. I kinda like the idea of you being all caveman possessive sometimes.”

“Sure you do.”

I scooted closer to him. “There will never, ever be anything between me and AJ. You know that, right?”

“I guess.”

“He and I just wanted to dance and have fun.”

“And sadly for us, your partner has no rhythm, huh?”

“No, you did just fine before.”

He smirked at me. “Just fine?”

“Fabulous? Incredibly sexy moves?”

“Much better.”

Taking his chin in my hands, I turned his head to where he had to look at me. “For me, it’s always you, and it’s only going to be you, Jake.”

The corners of his lips twitched before they curved up in a cocky grin. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“I want you think about this for a minute though. That little bit of jealousy you felt over me and AJ. Magnify it by like a million for what it feels like when I think of all the other women you’ve been with or all the women who want you.”

He glowered at me. “That’s bullshit.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, well, since we’re being honest, that’s how I feel.”

“You’re the only one for me, Angel. Hell, you’re the only one I’m even bothering to try a relationship with. That should tell you something.”

I smiled. “It does, and it means a lot.” I cocked my brows at him. “So are we good?”

“We’re good.”

I winced as I crossed my legs so I could massage one of my aching feet. “Ugh.”

“Here let me,” Jake offered.

“Seriously?”

A sexy gleam burned in his blue eyes. “You know I would never pass up the opportunity to touch you—even if it is your nasty, sweaty feet.”

“Hey now,” I replied as I scooted back on the cement foundation. I swung both my legs up to rest my feet in Jake’s lap.

“Feel good?” he asked as his hands began kneading my foot.

My eyelids fluttered before I closed my eyes. “Mmm, you have magic fingers.”

Jake chuckled. “You have no idea, babe.”

I squinted one eye at him. “Watch it.”

When he dug his hands into the arch of my foot while working the sole as well, I forgot all about his comment. “Oh God,” I moaned, throwing my head back.

Scooting over, Jake’s body pressed closer against mine. His breath came scorching against my cheek. “Damn, Angel, if I get that kinda response from just massaging your feet, I can’t wait to see what happens when I—”

“Don’t even go there, naughty boy!” I cried, shoving him away.

Not realizing my own strength, Jake wobbled before crashing backwards. I held on to the sides of the fountain for dear life so I wouldn’t go in with him. At the huge splash, I covered my mouth in horror. His legs, that still hung over the concrete side, were the only things dry. He spewed water out of his mouth from where his head had momentarily gone beneath the water. “Oh my God!” I murmured behind my hand.

Propped on his submerged elbows, a stunned Jake stared up at me for a few seconds. Then a smirk stretched across his drenched face. “Besides nailing me in the balls, I think that is the second most epic cockblock you’ve ever given me, Angel!”

I held up my hands. “I’m sorry. I so didn’t mean to do it!”