9. Brielle

Iscan the crowd, searching for Callie's signature brown hair and red nails, surprised by how loud it is. I thought it would be mostly older women who wanted a break from bingo, but it's actually a pretty healthy mix of people.

"Wow, look at you!" Callie's voice cuts through the noise as she emerges from the sea of people. Her eyes widen as they take in my clothes, an eyebrow arching playfully. "I mean, damn, Brielle. Going for the gold tonight, aren't we?"

Her compliment washes over me, and I can't help the smirk tugging at my lips. "Just felt like dressing up a bit." I shrug, though the truth is I had three different outfits laid out on my bed before deciding on this one. The dress, a deep plum that offsets the green in my eyes, was the boldest choice.

I don't get the chance to dress up often, so I really do relish when I get the chance.

"Bit of an understatement, don't you think?" She circles around me.

Heat blooms in my cheeks at her words. The silky material of my dress whispers against my skin. "It's just a dress, really."

"Girl, it is so not just a dress," Callie counters with a playful scoff, wrapping her arm in mine while guiding me to a table. "You look smoking, Brie. That color on you? Deadly."

I can't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction knowing that the dress does exactly what I intended. "Did everyone in the city decide trivia night was the hottest ticket in town?"

"Seems like it," Callie responds. With a slight raise of her brow, she leans closer, her voice dropping. "Did you know there's a thousand-dollar prize up for grabs tonight?"

I shoot her a look of disbelief. "A thousand dollars?" My voice comes out sharp, edged with shock. "No, I had no idea."

"Yep," she says, popping the p with a smirk. "Things just got serious." Her eyes twinkle with a hint of mischief, and I can tell she's already planning what she's going to spend the money on, as if she's already won.

"You do know your choices of winning aren't very high, right? You don't even know who the first man to walk on the moon was," I point out.

"That's not true…it's Armstrong something…oh, that doesn't matter! Have a bit of confidence in me." She rolls her eyes, looking at the drink menu. "Now, what are you having to drink? We have to go big. The Midas Touch has this gold leaf thing floating in it."

"Sounds perfect." The words roll off my tongue as smooth as the liquor I'm about to order. "Two of those, please."

Callie flags down a waiter, young and fairly attractive, his smile a weapon he's all too aware of. He saunters over, confidence in each step, his gaze lingering a touch too long on Callie's plunging neckline.

"What can I get for you two ladies?" he asks, leaning in, a lock of brown hair falling across his forehead in a calculated move of boyish charm.

"Two of the house specials," Callie responds, but her voice doesn't mirror his flirtatious lilt. She's as poised as a queen on her throne, uninterested in the court jester before her.

"Coming right up. And if you need any…extra assistance, don't hesitate to ask. For anything," he adds.

He walks away with one more wink at her. Callie catches my eye, an eyebrow raised in silent amusement, and I huff out a laugh despite myself.

"Could he be more obvious?" I mutter, rolling my eyes.

"Like a dog with two tails," she agrees, her lips quirking in a smirk.

"Isn't this the whole point, though? Attending trivia night so your mom can lay off about you snagging a good guy and popping out a few kids?"

"Please," she scoffs. "As if I'm going to answer ‘at trivia' when people ask how I met my soulmate. But what about you, Brielle? What's your game plan with everything?"

Her question lingers between us. I hesitate, my pulse quickening. My plans are a tangle of desire and confusion, every man who's touched me woven into the fabric of my intentions. But admitting that to Callie feels like revealing too much.

"Well," I start. "We had a deal. One last ride, then I'm going cold turkey." The words sound hollow even to my own ears. "I'll flush them from my system, even if they do make me feel…" My voice trails off, the truth too potent to voice aloud.

"Good?" Callie finishes for me, her eyebrow arching in silent challenge.

"Too good," I admit. "Where's that waiter with our drinks?"

Before she can reply, someone clears their throat behind us. "Hey there, how are we doing tonight?" His voice is smooth.

I turn, and there he is—Conrad York. His presence is like a bolt of electricity, shooting straight through the room and leaving the air charged.

My pulse quickens, and I feel my cheeks warm under his gaze. "Conrad," I breathe out, the name a ghost on my lips. The tightness in my chest has nothing to do with the corseted dress I'm wearing.

Conrad's surprise flickers to delight, a sly grin spreading across his face. "This is a pleasant surprise. I knew you wouldn't be able to stay away too long," he says, his voice a low drawl that vibrates through me. "But I didn't think I'd find you at trivia night." He leans closer, the heat from his body mingling with mine. "How about we sneak away? There's a closet in the back."

My heart thuds against my ribs, loud and insistent. I open my mouth, but before words can spill out, Callie intervenes.

"Hi! I'm Callie." She thrusts her hand toward Conrad.

"Conrad York." He takes her hand in his, his grip firm but fleeting. "I'm sure Brielle has filled you in on who I am."

I laugh, a short, nervous sound that betrays my inner turmoil. "He's one of them," I tell Callie, my voice barely above a whisper. Conrad's eyes don't leave mine.

"Ah, one of the infamous trio?" Callie's tone is light, teasing.

"Trivia's not really my scene," Conrad admits, a playful edge to his voice. "But seeing you here"—his gaze sweeps over me, leaving a trail of fire in its wake—"is a welcome surprise."

"Then, what are you doing here?"

"I'm running this event. Anything for charity, right?" He leans an elbow on our table, his auburn hair catching the dim light and casting a halo around his devilish grin. "And believe me, Brielle, you don't need to be here for the money." He pauses, letting the words hang between us like a challenge. "I can give you whatever you want. All you have to do is make a deal with me."

I've already made one deal with the devil. How many does he want?

It's dizzying, the way he speaks of charity and carnal bargains in the same breath. My cheeks flush a hot shade of pink, and I'm suddenly aware of how close he is—close enough for me to see the flecks of gold in his oceanic eyes, close enough for me to feel his heat. I open my mouth to speak, but no sound comes out. I'm caught in the web of his gaze, ensnared by the promise of something more than just words.

Before I can gather my scattered thoughts, Conrad's voice drops to a husky whisper. "I hope you enjoy your evening," he says loud enough for Callie to hear, but then he dips down, his lips barely grazing the shell of my ear. "But I'd like to see you before you leave."

He pulls back, and there's a smugness in his smile that tells me he knows exactly the effect he's having on me, knows that I'll stay behind to hear what he has to say.

He straightens, giving us a nod before turning away. His movements are all casual elegance as he mingles with the crowd, seemingly at ease.

Callie laughs, drawing my attention. "Oh, honey, I don't think you're going to be able to go cold turkey."