Sebastian talks the whole time, but I barely hear a thing he says; my focus is on Dex, who keeps glancing over at me, his eyes gravitating toward my bare legs and the thin line of black fabric where it hugs my upper thighs.
And I revel in it.
It’s not often I get to be an object of desire, especially in the eyes of a man like Dex Reid. I’m still surprised he’s even looking at me, let alone seeming drawn to gaze at me every time he can tear his eyes away from the road.
By the time we pull up at Luxe, Dex has a taut muscle in his jaw from clenching his teeth, and I’m riding a wave of joy.
Until I see all the other women lounging outside the upscale restaurant.
They’re gorgeous.
And now that little voice that tells me I’m nothing compared to them slips back in.
I reach for the door handle, but a valet pulls it open for me and offers his hand.
“Thank you,” I say, slipping from the Rover and giving him a surprised smile as he closes the door gently behind me.
Sebastian joins me on the sidewalk, and we wait while Dex tosses his fob to another valet. Jordan and the others pull up behind us in the Mercedes, and they’re laughing and talking animatedly as they get out of the car.
“Have you ever been here?” Jordan asks, slipping her tiny black clutch under her arm as her gaze shifts to the sign illuminated over our heads.
If she were someone else, I might think her question cruel—how could I ever afford to eat at a restaurant like this?—but having known her for even a short while, I know the question is genuine.
I shake my head. “Never.”
“Oh, you’ll love it. They’ve serve the best caramel apple martinis.”
“Caramel apple?” I scrunch my face up, and Jordan smiles.
“They’re good, I promise.”
Michael sweeps up behind her and presses a kiss to her cheek, and the others flock around us. We head toward the entrance, and two doormen hold the doors open.
Inside, warmth washes over us, chasing the cold from my bare legs. A pretty hostess greets us, and when she sees the guys, her eyes light up.
“We have a special dining room for you,” she says, a hint of red touching her high cheeks as she glances at Dex. “Please follow me.”
We trail after her, and heads turn in our direction. Whispers start going through the dining guests, but the others in the group either don’t notice or are so used to it that they ignore it altogether.
The hostess leads us up a flight of stairs and into a private dining area at the back at the restaurant, and I have to actively strive not to let my mouth fall open.
I’ve never seen such an exquisite restaurant. The lights are dim, and the evening sky outside the windows casts a calming blue shade over the dark tables and chairs. Twinkling lights hang overhead, lending a sexy feel to the space.
“Please take a seat. Your waiter will be with you shortly.” The hostess watches the guys as they take their seats, but her gaze lingers on Dex—as I’ve come to expect.
I drape my jacket over the back of my chair and take a seat between Jordan and Alisha. Lucas, Sebastian, and Michael sit across from us, with Dex at the head of the table, his back to the evening sky outside.
A waiter approaches within a minute, and he starts with our drink orders.
“Two caramel apple martinis,” Jordan says, ordering for both of us.
I still think it sounds gross, but I’m willing to give it a try. I told myself on the drive over that I was going to go with the flow tonight. When else in my life will I ever have the opportunity to party with LGC? This is my one and only chance, and I’m going to enjoy it.
Easy conversation flows around the table, with Sebastian leading most of it, unsurprisingly. Dex remains silent, though I do catch his eye at one point, and his stare is so intense that it flusters me and I quickly look away.
“Martinis for the ladies,” the waiter says when he returns, a tray of drinks balanced expertly upon his palm.
The alcohol looks like apple cider, though it smells like vodka and butterscotch schnapps. The glass is rimmed in caramel and topped with cinnamon sugar, and it’s so pretty I almost don’t want to take a drink.
The waiter passes out the rest of the drinks, and I note that Dex is having a whiskey neat. Even his drink order is sexy.
“Don’t drink yet!” Sebastian says. “We’re celebrating, so someone should make a toast.”
Lucas groans. “Dude, not again.”
“It’s a tradition.” Sebastian narrows his eyes, and I get the feeling he’s very serious about his traditions. Then his gaze locks on me, and I wish I could shrink out of sight. “Come on, Nora. Do the honors.”
Everyone looks at me, including Dex, and my first instinct is to insist that someone else do it. But I’m holding a martini, wearing a skimpy black dress, and am out at a fancy restaurant with Loaded God Complex, and I’m somehow able to scrounge up enough confidence to lift my glass.
At first, I don’t know what to say, but Sebastian and Michael both give me encouraging smiles, and I swallow down my nervousness, deciding to speak from the heart.
“It’s been terrifying and exciting getting to know you all. I would never have believed you if you told me I’d be sitting down to dinner with literal rock stars.”
A few laughs go around the table.
“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to collaborate with you, and . . . I hope the song shreds.”
Even Lucas smiles this time. I raise my glass higher, and everyone joins me. We clink them together, spilling a few drops of alcohol on the crisp white tablecloth, and then I take a sip of the caramel apple martini.
