Yours, For Good (Cozy Latine Billionaires #4)

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Nora

I regretted whatever had possessed me to be excited about Julia and Sally's Halloween party. Judging by the packed rooftop patio and the throngs of people making it hard to breathe, their definition of a small get-together was radically different from mine.

Sally had been too busy being an amazing hostess to entertain my social awkwardness, but she encouraged me to hang out and have fun. Back when I was a college student, meeting people seemed a breeze. It was the one spot where I felt free. It was easy to share a drink or two, and have a nice conversation that sometimes led to more. My body had needs that I refused to deny; just because I was not willing to let my heart get involved, it didn't mean other organs couldn't enjoy the company. One fun release later, and it was thank you, sir/ma'am/captain, may you have a good life . I went back to my routines, no stress whatsoever.

Ever since accessing this exclusive program, my social ease had disappeared. Everything I did around these people left me feeling like a grocery store cart with squeaky wheels that insisted on going in opposite directions. I hated the feeling.

But I didn't want to be in Sally's way, so I chatted with some of the other people in the program. After an hour, I made up an excuse and took a break; I sneaked into Sally and Julia's incredible condo— large enough to host the party inside and with more rooms than the John Grier Home— and hid in the bathroom.

Using my hand under the faucet stream, I drank several gulps of cold water. I pressed my damp hands behind my neck and sighed, my reflection weary in the mirror. I had curled my hair and it framed my face, though most of it was covered by a red bandana. Fake lashes from the dollar store— some habits died hard— made my eyes pop. The make up I had bought was better quality, and the red with which I had painted my lips had not faded at all. I smiled. People had recognized my costume no problem, and I was pretty proud of myself for it.

My phone dinged with a text. I received so few messages and calls that it took me a second to grab it; chances were it was spam. But if I checked it I had an excuse to be away from the party for an extra second or two…

Javier : did you come to Julia's party? I'm here but she and Sally are busy. I don't recognize a single face so I'm thinking of leaving, but it would be fun to see you again.

Sweet, sweet relief moved inside me like the tides. It lifted my mood, enough that I smiled on the way back to the party.

I found him leaning on the railing overlooking the city, and giving his back to the festivities.

"Nora to the rescue," I said.

He turned to me with a smirk. "And I appreciate it… Rosie?"

I smiled and curled my arm like the famous riveter poster. "That's right, but you can call me by my name. What's your costume?"

He straightened and put on a classic, old school hat I hadn't seen. The three piece suit looked suitably vintage with the hat back on his head. With that plus the cane and pocket watch chain dangling from his waistcoat, it made him look the part.

"Uhm… 'Great Gatsby' man?" I asked. "It's my best guess."

All I could say was that it looked great on him, even if I wished I didn't notice.

"Close enough," he said. "1920s fashion. It's when my family's fortune went from sizable to obscene."

"Oh, a multilayered costume. Nice."

"It was my friend Max's idea. He thought it would be ironic— me disguised as my ancestors."

I gazed down at his body. The suit highlighted the long lines of him; the hat drew my eyes up to his face and showed off all the angles, lights, and shadows in a delicious way.

Right, right. Not noticing that of a Pendleton.

I smirked. "Great idea, Max."

"Yours is good, too." His eyes roamed down my cushy frame. No muscle moved, and no line changed. I couldn't read his thoughts as he studied me.

"Wait," I said. "We dressed as characters that could have been alive at the same time!"

The corner of his lip curled up, and he offered me a fist bump. I opened my mouth to add a comment that I caught right before I messed up; we had also dressed according to our respective class. Good thing I stopped myself. I didn't want to highlight the fact I didn't naturally belong at that party.

I popped a hip against the short wall and the railing containing us on the roof patio. I needed to center myself, stat.

He gazed around at the large group of people around us. "I expected this to be a much smaller affair."

"Right? Julia and Sally said it'd be a small party." I pressed my lips together. "If this is small, I'm afraid what a big party would look like. I don't even know how they know so many people— neither Julia nor Sally are from here."

And, to be honest, I still questioned why they shared a penthouse, too.

He sighed. His eyes found mine again. "Let's stick together. Keep each other safe while we get a drink. What do you say?"

I nodded and we left the railings in search of the drinks table.

"I gather you don't like big parties, either?" I asked. "I would have thought you were used to them."

"What makes you think that?"

"I don't know. I guess I imagine everyone at this party have calendars full of big events."

"Sometimes, yes."

"Or they live the life of a trust fund baby."

"That happens, too. My personal experience is different— I do attend some functions and events, but I don't always."

We reached the table. I got rum with cola and he copied me.

"Why's that?" I sipped from my drink.

"I get bored. Uncomfortable. Annoyed."

We moved as a team among the groups of people, until we took refuge by the railings overlooking the city again. San Francisco looked beautiful at night, like most places did with a thousand twinkling lights. Hints of hills and clouds shadowed the distance, fading into the darkening evening.

"You're not that social, then?" I asked again. "Or is it the forced socialite lifestyle that you dislike?"

"Both. I can loosen up with the right people, but in my thirty-one years of life, I've never been known to be gregarious."

There it was. His age. Right about what I would have guessed. But something didn't add up.

I raised an eyebrow. "Yet you attended this party willingly? Am I missing something?"

He cast his eyes away and took a long sip of his drink. "Would you believe me if I said that coming here was an easy detour on the way back to New York? A detour met a few of my goals, including making it up to Julia. I felt bad because I said I wanted to see her last time I was around, but I got distracted chatting with you and left before saying more than a simple hello to her."

I grinned. "Yes, I would believe you."

"Uncle Javier!" Julia appeared behind us.

I schooled my face and turned to her. "Hi, Julia."

I expected Javier and Julia to hug, but all he did was give her a single nod hello.

He shuffled on his feet. "I've told you to just call me Javier. No need to add uncle ."

She smiled. "I know, but what would my father think if he heard me?"

"He's not around, Julia. We can relax," Javier insisted.

"We're in costumes." A smirk curled my lips. "I know he looks like an old time stuck-up guy, but you can't really take him that seriously? He's family, isn't he?"

Julia gave me a veiled dismissive look, while Javier chuckled.

He shook his head. "The Pendletons are not your standard sitcom family, I'm afraid."

"The family would hate being portrayed in something as unclassy as a television show for the masses." Julia's expression was so haughty I had to blink extra long, so they wouldn't see my eyes roll.

"Hello there!" Sally appeared by our side and waved at Javier. "So glad you could make it! We didn't get to say much last time you visited."

"Don't let Eleanora monopolize you too much, this time." Julia didn't look in my direction; her eyes were locked on Javier.

"Oh, I searched for her ," he corrected. "I'm going to monopolize her , if she lets me."

His assertive tone harpooned into my lower belly. A shiver climbed up my spine. I hid it, when Sally and Julia's eyes shifted to me. Not. Julia's. Uncle.

I gulped and made myself shrug. "We were both hiding from the crowd before but, now that we're hanging out, we don't have to hide."

Julia's squint was so subtle she could have denied it.

She turned back to her young uncle who was definitely a normal person that had no immediate effect on my flesh. "I mentioned to some of my guests that you would attend and they're dying to meet you, Uncle Javier. Be a darling and socialize, yes? You're awfully introverted, I know this, but you did choose to accept my invitation, didn't you?"

"Yes. I dug my own hole, I know."

This time, she didn't hide the squint.

"It's a lovely party. We'll participate!" I said.

Sally clapped her hands together once in excitement. "Make sure you dance, too! We'll get that started soon."

"Dancing?" Javier asked.

"It's when people move their bodies to the beat of the music—" I started, but stopped myself when Sally laughed and Javier snorted.

Julia ignored me. "Well, I'll go take a turn and make sure everyone is having a good time. I'll catch up with you later, Uncle Javier. Should we go, Sally?"

"For sure, I'll catch up with you." Sally stayed behind for a second after Julia left. She put a hand on my arm. "Have fun, okay? And if I catch you two hiding, I won't say a peep."

I laughed and Javier tipped his hat in her direction. Sally winked and trailed behind Julia.

"Do you know how the two of them know each other?" I followed my friend with my eyes.

Javier guided me back to the railing, where he leaned with his back to the party again. I mirrored him. I took a deep breath and let my eyes wander over the city at night. All feelings were under control, thankfully.

With Javier's presence at the party, I could focus on simply having a good time. Enjoy, maybe make friends with him. Dance the discomfort and worries away.

"Not sure," he said. "It's probably that the world gets smaller in these circles. It's easy to feel like we all know each other in one way or another. Six degrees of separation type of thing."

I nodded. "I can see that. I can see how you're an introvert, too."

"I'm sure that if I weren't here, you'd find someone to chat with, and you'd find something fun to talk about."

"My plan was to follow Sally everywhere, but she's taking her hosting role seriously. I tried offering to be her assistant and focus on menial hosting errands, but she pushed me away and told me to go have fun."

"How long ago was that?"

"An hour ago."

"Did you have any fun like she told you to?"

"Yeah. I tried for about half an hour, but then I hid in their apartment in one of the bathrooms."

He cackled in delight. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I told you I'm bad at this."

"Did you know I planned to come?"

"Julia mentioned it, yes, but didn't say when you might arrive. So I made a deal with myself. I'd hide for an hour, then I'd go and try again. You arrived before I had to challenge myself, so thank you."

"Then I suppose we rescued each other." He offered his glass for a toast.

I humored him. "Don't feel like you need to stay with me, though. You can go talk to other people. I can manage, really— I just have to be mindful of the things I say to people. I've done it before, I'll do it again."

"Didn't you hear? I plan to monopolize you."

This time, I blamed the shiver on a cold breeze that played with my hair.

I left my drink on the ledge and crossed my arms. "Even when I go out and dance? I love dancing."

He cringed. "Dancing? Really?"

"Why not? I love dancing and I rarely get to do it."

He faced me, his hand on the railing and an ankle over the other. One hand fanned down his body, inviting me to gaze at him. "The suit… it'll be stiff…"

His casual confidence didn't suggest he would be stiff.

"So you dance poorly." I sighed. "Goes to show that no one can have it all."

He took a sip of his drink with his eyes on me, before leaving his glass next to mine. For an introvert, he sure looked comfortable in his skin. I supposed those weren't mutually exclusive. It just added to that mismatch in the layers that made him who he was. That mystery I found so alluring.

He arched an eyebrow. "I didn't say I can't dance, for the record."

I let out an incredulous laugh. "Oh, now you have to show me."

"I don't like to show off, is all. And this suit is stiff."

I laughed. "Wow, did I read that reaction wrong. You're saying you don't like to dance because you don't want to draw too much attention to yourself? Because you dance too well ?"

He shrugged.

I shook my head, a smile still on my face. "Dancing is too carefree for the existential angst you're filled with, I assume?"

"Exactly."

"Come on, loosen up. Say we'll dance. We don't have to network if we're dancing instead. You'll get to monopolize me!"

"I make no promises. Let's see what kind of music they put on first."

"Be warned… I plan to insist."

Javier

She did.

It took some time for people to start dancing once music played through the speakers. I pretended not to notice, and Nora and I kept chatting as the first few folk took over the center of the rooftop space.

Of the two of us, she was the first to glance their way; the music had a good beat and she wiggled her foot to its rhythm. I remained still, including my eyes— I kept them on Nora, and used the opportunity to study her.

There was something stunning about her. Attractive. That included her looks; she was beautiful. Still, my sense was that her magnetism went deeper than that. Her energy drew everyone closer.

Surely other people felt this way around her. She shined in a way that stole smiles out of you even when you didn't smile often. I had the privilege of getting to know the depths underneath the glow, thanks to her letters. It was perfectly rational that I felt as I did around her. There was no need to let it get to my head. Or rush south.

She gazed back at me, and whatever she saw tilted her lips up with humor. "Ready to hit the dance floor?"

"No. I never said I would."

The call to move with her, against her, pumped into my legs from the ground, but I pushed it away. Dancing was too sexy a thing and it could lead to confusing places.

She released an unbelieving gasp. "You can't be like that!"

"I'm pretty sure I can."

"You can not. You can't go around telling people you're a great dancer and then refuse to show them. It will make you look sooo fake."

I smirked. "I don't have to prove it."

I'd rather continue enjoying how easy it was to tease her.

"You have to. Come on." She danced in her place, not caring about who was around us. "Dancing is fun. I know you want to."

I let myself take note of the way her hips moved to the beat. Her costume, consisting of tight jeans and a soft-looking denim shirt tied at her waist, hugged her in all the right places. Her tempting, soft stomach peeked through an uncovered triangle below her shirt. One could even imagine themselves licking the patch of skin—

I pulled my eyes back to her face, only to find that her bright red lips were just as alluring as the rest of her.

Thank the powers that be that I was a sensible man with no interest in romantic relationships. Hell, I didn't even do casual these days.

"I'm having fun." My lips tilted upwards. "Especially now that you're insisting and I'm resisting."

"Oh, is that how you like it?"

I licked my bottom lip but didn't respond.

Her smile stayed on her lips, unfettered. Her dancing became clearer, more defined and on purpose. A siren call. Enticing.

I held my ground.

"Fine." She shrugged and made it look like it was part of her rhythmic moves. "Have fun here at the railings. I'll go dance without you. I won't be checking my phone so if you text me asking for rescue again, this time you'll be on your own."

My eyes narrowed.

She recognized her opening and pushed. "Now that you're going to be alone, people are going to think you're available. Remember Julia's threat? I mean, her invitation to network. I hope you're looking forward to it!"

I snorted and shook my head.

Her hands fell to her hips, and her gesture remained open and inviting. My skin tingled from her touch, but I pushed it all down the stairs into the basement of my feelings, and locked the door closed behind it.

She took a step away. I rubbed my mouth.

She assessed me again, before rolling her eyes and lifting her hands in a resigned gesture. "Fine! Good luck, sir. I'll find a girl… or a guy… or an enby partner who wants to dance with me."

She walked away like she held no worries, in search of an available partner. She took a quick turn and waved at me, before directing her smile at a group of three people dancing together. One of the masc guys in the trio smiled right back.

The confused feelings in the basement thrashed and banged at the door I'd closed behind them, but they didn't need to work that hard. I moved before I knew what I was doing.

She had no idea she had pushed the right button; that walking away to find someone else would be a trigger. I hadn't known, either, but it had to be, if I responded by throwing my hat and jacket onto a nearby chair, and striding to her.

I took her hand and led her away from the group.

"You don't have to do this if you're going to be grumpy about it!" she exclaimed.

"I'm not going to be grumpy about it."

I stopped in the middle of the dancing crowd, and used the momentum to lead Nora into a twirl. She followed the subtle instructions of my hand with ease; by the time she faced me and let go of my hand, a glorious smile stretched across her face. Delight sparkled in her eyes.

She lifted her arms in a celebratory gesture. I smirked, and ran my fingers through my hair.

Her body moved to the rhythm of the song blasting our way. Her warm, bright brown eyes teased me and called me closer at the same time. "Ready?"

I sighed and pulled from my waistcoat. "Almost."

The song changed at the perfect time. A feminine voice sang in English over a latin-like rhythm. I didn't know the song, but I learned the pattern easily— it echoed in my chest.

I unlocked my knees and hitched my pants up an inch or two, so I would have room where it counted. The beat took on a deep, sexy pattern.

"Now," I said, and I moved my hips to the pulse of the song.

The music took over. My shoulders and arms joined the rest of me, eagerly adding to the flow state dancing could pull me into. I camouflaged the joy of it behind a defiant smile; now that I had decided to join Nora, my pride got the best of me and I showed her what I had.

Her mouth hung open for an instant, before her glorious laughter overpowered the music around us.

"You were not lying!" she exclaimed.

"I don't lie, Nora." I rotated in place, my hips leading the gesture.

She admired me shamelessly. I liked it way too much.

In a corner of my mind, I knew Julia could be watching me and wondering what had taken over her introverted, serious, distant uncle and had him dancing like this. Judging me for my too-free spirit. I didn't care. If she was shocked, fine by me. I was too busy moving to the beat of the music, and keeping my focus on the right slice of awareness.

Yes to dancing to the music and letting it distract me from the rest of the party. No to the way Nora came closer as we danced and her hips almost touched mine. Yes to the fact I had rules I couldn't break. No to how prettily Nora's eyes shone as she gazed at me.

Or how my body responded to her when her eyes dropped to my mouth for the first time.

Fuck.