196

We entered a service hallway of some sort, long and white and lit by fluorescent lights. Waiters and waitresses in black vests and crisp white shirts shuttled back and forth to the ballroom carrying silver platters of drinks and hors-d’oeuvres. They watched in shock as we walked by them, their heads turning as we passed.

Not every day you see a walking sex scandal, I guess.

There was a loud clack behind us and the tap tap of running shoes. We turned back to see Johnny entering the hallway through the same door we’d used. At first he looked panicked – until he spotted us thirty feet away. He gave Connor an admonishing schoolmarm look, then followed along discretely at a distance.

“I can’t ever get rid of that guy,” Connor joked.

“And you shouldn’t,” I scolded him.

“I was afraid he was going to pull me back to the party.”

My step faltered the tiniest bit. “Do you… want to go back?”

“Oh hell no,” he grinned, and let his hand trace down to the curve of my ass.

Then his expression froze a