Page 133 of The Bitter Words

“Forget I said anything, Jaxon. I’ll keep my distance from Livianna.”

We inch forward and I change the subject. “Where did Mateo go?”

“To the restroom. He’ll be right back.” Just as he answers, a tall, beautiful blonde taps him on the shoulder.

He turns and his expression goes cold. “Ava. We were just talking about you. What are you doing here?”

“It’s a media circus. I thought the exposure would be optimal for me tonight and had your assistant add me to the VIP list.” She holds out her white-gloved hand as if telling him to kiss the top of it.

Given his icy reaction to her presence, I’m surprised when he does. “Of course this event is one you’d want to attend. Forgive me for not sending you an invitation myself.”

“It’s fine.” She lowers her arm. “Just get me a glass of white wine and take me to meet some of your press connections.”

She brings her attention to me. “Hi. I’m Ava Aldridge.”

“I figured.” I dip my chin in acknowledgment. “Hunter and I have been friends for a while.”

“Oh, that must mean you’ve seen me and Hunter on the cover of different magazines throughout the years.” She runs her palm down his bicep.

“No, I haven’t. Sorry, but other than business or investment magazines or publications, I don’t pay much attention to the media.”

“Ava, Jaxon isn’t in the entertainment industry.” Hunter rubs his neck. “He was invited tonight because he has an interest in one of the companies that sponsored the event.”

She flashes me an unimpressed smile. We make small talk and get to the bar where we order our refreshments.

Hunter and Ava excuse themselves and get lost in the crowd. I approach Livianna just as her friend gets swept away by a group of people.

“Would you like to find a place to sit?” I give her the double vodka soda.

“Thanks.” She takes it. “If we can find a table, that would be wonderful.”

I glance around the room. It’s bursting at the seams with people I don’t recognize. Mateo comes into view, sitting at a table with Gia.

I gesture to them. “They saved us a couple of spots.”

“Thank God. I thought we were going to have to stand for the next two hours.” She saunters toward them.

As she does, my gaze is drawn to her body. Her dress has long spaghetti straps holding it up and drapes low in the back.

She has two dimples above her hips right above her perfect round ass. She’s sinfully desirable and I couldn’t deny it if I tried.

With a need to feel her skin against mine, I place my palm on her lower back and guide her across the room. “I must say, Livianna. You designed this dress like a masterpiece.”

“Why do you say that?” She peeks over at me.

“It was clearly made for you.”

“Considering where we are, I had to create something that would stand out.”

“You succeeded beyond that.” My heart beats a little faster. “You’re absolutely beautiful. No one here can take their eyes off you.”

She blushes and tucks her long, thick, curled hair behind her ear. “Thank you, Jax.”

“For what? Telling you how it is?”

“No, for the compliment. I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear yousay something like that to me after what happened on the beach when we ran into each other.”

My breath catches in my throat, remembering how close I came to kissing her that day. I adjust my collar. The only reason I stopped myself was because I realized she was high on something.