I looked at the stars. The sky was the same one from above Liana, Becca, and MaryAnn’s heads. Maybe if I closed my eyes, I could pretend to be there with them.

Mason

I buttoned up my black shirt and shoved on my shoes with determination. I was going out and I was going to get Charlotte out of my mind.

Since seeing her at that damned ball five days ago, I had been thinking about her nonstop. I even thought about going to the Executive Mansion, hiding on the other side of the street, waiting for her to come out, and begging her to talk to me.

But why? I had promised myself I wouldn’t have another serious relationship. At least, not so soon. Besides, she was out of my league. I didn’t need to waste my time thinking about her. It would never work.

A knock rattled through my bedroom door.

“Come in,” I said.

David stuck his head inside. “Ready? We should be going if we don’t want to be late.”

I glanced at the mirror. My hair was a mess. But who cared? Girls liked it like that, and oh, I intended to get Charlotte out of my mind the same way I forgot Tamara—finding some other girl. Although, this time, I would make sure it was a one-night stand. I didn’t have the heart to suffer another betrayal or separation.

I grabbed my wallet from my nightstand and spied into it to make sure there was a condom. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

David’s colleague was having a birthday party at a club, and he assured me it was okay to come with. The place should be huge and would have lots of people anyway. Besides, I needed the distraction. Working at clubs and bars wasn’t the same as being at them as a customer. It would be a nice change.

We arrived at the club a little after ten, and it was crowded. The place was huge, all right, with several thematic rooms, long bars, a gallery upstairs, and large glass doors that led to an open balcony.

David introduced me to his friends, and soon we were immersed in the group, talking, laughing, and drinking.

The birthday girl, Allie, was pretty and laughed easily. Given an opportunity, I started a conversation with her.

“David is a good friend,” she said, batting her lashes at me. She was totally flirting. “I’ve known him for over four years.”

She flipped her blond hair and told me about the research she worked on with David. Not interested in this type of engineering, I slapped a smile on my face and nodded accordingly, encouraging the woman to keep talking. Although, I hoped she would give me an opening soon, or I wouldn’t be kissing anyone tonight.

Maybe if I got her drunk, she would be quieter and more sensual.

I pointed to her empty glass. “Want a refill?”

“Yes, please.”

I took the glass from her and weaved my way to the bar. She was having some cheap red drink with almost no alcohol. I asked the bartender to put more vodka in it this time.

With the drink in hand, I turned my back to the bar, but didn’t move. Why was I doing this again? Allie was pretty, but not my type. She was also talkative and too excited about her work. Maybe the alcohol would make her talk even more. I was sure I could get her into bed one way or another, but did I want to? Sure, sex was always great, but after Charlotte, it would be hard to top.

With a sigh, I tipped the bartender to send the drink to Allie, and then leaned against the bar. Without a care in the world, I scanned the crowd. It was easy being as tall as I was. Most people here seemed to be college students, or a little older, but there were a few people who appeared to be in their forties or fifties.

I shuddered, hoping I wasn’t this desperate to be laid at that age. Well, I hadn’t actually thought about it. I was so convinced staying alone was the best solution for heartbreak, but I didn’t consider I would really be alone. I had never imagined growing old alone, and right now, I still couldn’t.

However, I didn’t need to solve that tonight. Tonight, I just wanted to relax and enjoy my night out.

My gaze shifted to the VIP area on the second floor. Red velvet couches and champagnes on the tables. The women wore elegant dresses and too much jewelry. The men wore fancy shirts and probably designer jeans or slacks. Even from here, they emanated power and affluence. Ugh, rich people.

A redhead entered one of the reserved areas, raising her arms and cheering with the friends already there. She looked right at home. Then she stepped to the side and another girl appeared from behind her.

Charlotte.

My heartbeat went up a few notches.

How incredible she was in a tight, dark red dress. Her hair was pulled to the side and, when she whirled to greet a guy, I gasped, realizing why: the dress was backless. My fingers itched to touch her skin again. Christ. I glared at no one. If I was drooling over her from here, the men around her would be eating her alive.

I wanted to charge there and prevent her from seducing one of them as she had me.

But she was quiet, almost too quiet. She seemed shy. With a flute in her hand, she retreated to the back of the closed area, avoiding everyone, even the redhead she came with. Then it clicked. The redhead was the girl from the picture. Tracy something. She was supposed to be Charlotte’s best friend, according to Wikipedia. Then why was she so aloof? Hiding wasn’t like Charlotte. At least, not the Charlotte I met. No, that Charlotte was determined, decided, seductive, and demanding. She had won me over with her contagious smile, her free spirit, her hungry gazes, and made me crazy in bed. She was loud, happy, and carefree. The girl I was watching most definitely wasn’t Charlotte.

I shouldn’t, but I wanted to go up to her, whisk her away, take her to my apartment, and beg her to be the same girl I met during spring break. I really shouldn’t but I wanted to.

I shut down the reasonable part of my brain and headed to the stairs. I stepped into the wide corridor leading to the VIP area, and saw Charlotte walking away from her friends. She was in a hurry and I dashed after her.

Charlotte took a right at the end of the hallway. I reached the corner and found another hallway, but this one was smaller and darker, with two doors—the ladies’ and the gentlemen’s restrooms.

I leaned against the wall directly before the ladies’ room and waited.

Ten minutes passed and she hadn’t come out yet. I had seen a few girls coming in and out, and I was starting to worry about her.

Fifteen minutes and I thought I had paid enough attention to comers and goers to know she should be alone in there.

Holding my breath, I pushed the door opened and stuck my head in. “Charlotte?”

She stood in front of the mirror, her head down. “Mason!” She whirled toward me. “What are you doing here?”

Christ, she really was beautiful. She didn’t have too much makeup on and she looked perfect. Although, I did like her natural do too.

I stepped inside and let the door close behind me. “I should ask you that. You’ve been in here for over fifteen minutes.”

“What … you’ve been following me?”

“What? I came with my roommate. I saw you entering the restroom and waited outside, but you were taking too long.”

“Sorry. I was just …” She pressed her lips in a thin line.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She beckoned to the door. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I was worried.”

She crossed her arms and stared into my eyes. She looked mad, but damn that didn’t stop me from wanting to back her up to the wall and attack her right here.

“Why?”

I didn’t know the answer to that, but I knew I wanted some answers myself. “Where’s your boyfriend. I didn’t see him out there.”

“Boyfriend? I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Then who was that guy—?”

Two giggling girls entered the restroom and they stopped dead when they saw me.