“You didn’t ruin anything. I promise you didn’t.” He wanted to tell her that he’d spent the entire day at DMW, discussing Cliff’s A.I. side project and that he saw so much potential there, he didn’t think they needed Irving James after all. They only had to shift DMW’s direction a bit—but it all hinged on selling the idea to Tucker Quentin, and he didn’t dare say anything out loud for fear of jinxing it.
So, instead, he pulled her hands away from her face and crouched to put himself in her line of sight. “What can I do to make tonight better?”
“Nothing.”
“Of course there’s something. What do you like to do to blow off steam?”
She hesitated.
“Shelby?”
She exhaled hard. “Usually I’d go to a club, lose myself in the music and the crowd, but—”
“All right. Where to?”
“You want to take me to a club? Dressed like this?”
“I want to do something that makes you happy for once. If that means going to a club in black-tie attire, let’s do it.”
She eyed him like he’d lost his mind. “Who are you? You’re not the Reece Wilde I know.”
He wasn’t entirely sure, but he liked this new version of himself. He felt lighter than he had in years. Chains he hadn’t even known he’d been wearing were breaking, falling off, and he suspected she played a major role in his newfound freedom.
“Well, someone once said I wouldn’t know spontaneity if it slapped me upside the head.” He grinned and stood. Held out a hand. “Help me prove that person wrong.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
There was a line around the block waiting to get into the club. Reece eyed the throng of people as he climbed out of the Escalade. “Why is everyone dressed in white?”
Shelby showed the first hint of a smile since leaving the gala. “You’ll see. C’mon.” She grasped his hand and pulled him to a side entrance. “We don’t have to wait in line. I know the bouncers.”
The big tattooed man guarding the side door grinned toothily when he saw her coming. “Hey, baby doll. Look at you, all dressed up. What you been up to?”
“Oh, you know, Eddy. Same old, same old. Getting in trouble. Getting married.” She held up their interlaced hands. “Think you can let a couple of newlyweds sneak in?”
Eddy’s wide face lit up. “You got yourself married, baby doll? Well, didn’t see that coming.” He stepped aside, waved them in, and handed Shelby a card. “Go on. And give Meg at the bar this, tell her I says your drinks are on the house tonight. Wedding present.”
“Thank you, Eddy. You’re the best.” She stood on her toes to kiss his cheek, then pulled Reece into the crush of light and sound and people. It was blinding, disorienting, but Shelby seemed to know how to navigate it, so he followed her lead to the bar. She had to lean over the polished metal surface and shout to be heard, but Meg the bartender seemed to understand what she was saying just fine. Meg took the card and disappeared, returning a moment later with two tall glasses of neon-blue liquid.
Reece choked out a laugh when Shelby handed it to him. “What the fuck is this?”
“I don’t know. I told her to make us something yummy and strong. To spontaneity.” She clinked her glass to his. “Cheers.”
He had to admit, the concoction was “yummy,” as Shelby had called it. Fruity, but with a kick to it. Before he knew it, his glass was gone and there was a pleasant buzz inside his head. He was enjoying himself and liked watching Shelby relax into her own skin. She had a smile for everyone she ran in to, even if she didn’t know them.
A fast, infectious beat started and Shelby grabbed his hand, dragging him out onto the dance floor, which was packed with people. She melted into the beat, eyes closed, hips swinging, hands in the air, and the sight of her throwing herself so completely into the music reminded him of when he was young and his parents used to dance together across the kitchen. They’d been so in tune with the music, with each other, and even as a child, he’d known he was witnessing something beautiful.
He was witnessing something beautiful now, too.
Shelby laughed and grabbed hold of his shoulders, wiggling them. “Loosen up, Reece! Dance!”
He hadn’t danced since his parents died. And, dammit, they had both loved to dance. Together, apart. It hadn’t mattered. If there was music playing, David and Meredith Wilde had been dancing.
What a way to not honor their memory.
Reece swayed a bit on his feet, but he felt awkward and foolish. No way was he getting his hips or arms involved in this disaster. He’d end up looking like one of those inflatable arm-flailing tube men and scare Shelby right into an annulment.
She moved in close and tugged on his bowtie until it fell loose. Having her so close, moving like she was, sparked a blaze inside him. He needed to touch her, skin to skin, and circled his hands around her hips, found himself moving with her. His heart kept time with the beat and he lowered his head, intending to kiss her—
The music screeched to a halt, and the room plunged into darkness, only to be relit by the eerie purple glow of black lights.
Shelby smiled up at him. “Here it comes.”
“What?”