She bit her lip a second to stop herself from laughing. “I wouldn’t know.” She grabbed her small black clutch, slipped her feet into her heels, then turned to see he was staring at her.
“You look stunning.”
She stepped as close to him as she could without touching his body. Heat emanated between them as she took her time, making sure his gaze locked on her own so he could feel her words. Understand them to their full extent. When he breathed in, slow and deep, she spoke. “Thank you.”
Wes’s smile told her he understood the depth of her words. He nodded, held out his arm for her to take.
“I don’t even know any moon phases,” he said as she locked up.
“We could look them up.”
“I’ll pass, thanks.”
Laughing as they took the elevator down, she patted his arm. “You can borrow the magazine when you drop me off if you want.”
Wes looked down at her in the dim lighting. The musty smell of old elevator broke through the scent of his cologne and there was a smudge on the mirror she didn’t want to get near. Despite all of that, with him looking at her, wearing this dress, she felt like Cinderella on her way to the ball.
Dangerous territory. Life didn’t end like the fairy tales. But maybe for tonight, just one night, she could pretend it did.
27
Something shifted inside of Wes as he walked through the doors with Hailey. It felt like his insides were virtual Tetris pieces, falling slowly, giving him enough time to put them in the right place. Hailey in that dress. He couldn’t breathe. He tried. He really did. He pulled in a half breath, it got lodged in his rib cage.
“Are you okay?” Hailey turned to him. In the soft glow of twinkle lights and large paper lanterns that decorated the room, he could see concern etched into her features.
“Fine. My breath caught. That’s all.” He couldn’t look at her while he was feeling this much. “I’ll get us a drink.” He pulled his arm from her hand and walked toward the bar.
Chris had rented a loft that people used for a variety of events from weddings to parties like this one. He’d hired a bartender, a couple of waitstaff, a caterer, and a DJ. There’d been serious arguments over the DJ among his staff.
“You okay, man?” Chris asked, coming to meet him at the bar.
“Yeah.” He couldn’t get more words out than just the one.
Chris clapped him on the back. “Hailey looks gorgeous.”
Wes grunted, asked the woman tending bar for a shot of whiskey.
“Whiskey? What’s wrong with you? Make it two, please, Stella,” Chris said.
“Nothing. Just need a drink. Let it go.” If he couldn’t sort it out in his head, he couldn’t talk about it with one of his brothers.
“Okay,” Chris said, drawing the word out like he used to do when they were younger.
The shot burned, making his eyes water. It was a moment. That’s all. He got caught up in … what? Hailey? He’d been caught up in Hailey for months now, but tonight felt different. If he was being honest with himself, which he usually was, things had been feeling different for a while now.
“Anything else?” the bartender asked, watching him carefully.
“Red wine and a beer, please.”
“I’m glad you guys came even if you’re being weird. The girls really like Hailey.”
Wes’s head whipped toward his brother. “Of course I like Hailey.”
Chris just stared, his jaw working but no sound coming out.
“That’s not what you said, is it?”
Chris shook his head slowly, his eyes wide.
The bartender put up his drinks. Wes set some money down, gave Chris a warning look, and walked away. All he had to do was get through tonight by reminding himself what they were building as friends was a hell of a lot sturdier than any romantic relationship could ever be. But her body in that dress, her gaze locked on his, her smile. He should have ordered two shots.
Stacey and Everly were asking about her dress when he brought her wine.
“There was no card?” Everly asked, smiling at Wes.
Hailey held his gaze even after he passed her the wine. “Nope. No card.”
Stacey looked at him, whistled through her teeth. “You Jansen boys clean up good. How’s it going, cutie?”
Wes was glad to be in a room that was mostly lit by strands of white lights. Warmth swamped his skin, particularly his face. “I’m good. You ladies look beautiful.”
Everly wore a pale pink dress that was pretty yet understated. The real statement came from the pink Converse she wore on her feet. Stacey’s dress also reflected her personality. It was vibrant and bold.