They both watched as Scott slid his arm around her waist and dipped down to give her a small kiss on the lips as they carried the kids toward the hotel.

“Hmmm,” Tyler groaned. “It doesn’t look temporary.”

Christian turned and headed into the hotel with only one thing on his mind. Open bar.

The music was nice, he thought. The food was okay. The corner of the banquet hall he’d holed up in was dark enough to get lost in. He didn’t know how many Jack and Cokes he had, but he knew he wasn’t done.

He sipped his drink and watched as Scott held Tori tight on the dance floor as they looked down lovingly at the kids who danced beside them.

Tyler walked toward him and handed him a glass of water. “Maybe you’d better try one of these.”

“I did that you know. I pushed her to him.”

“Can I tell you from the perspective of someone who has taken a two year sabbatical from all of this to have a pity party—it’s not worth what you’re doing right now.”

Christian looked up at him, taking a moment to focus through the haze. “I think I deserve a pity party. My leg hurts. My shoulder aches. This freaking scar on my head burns.” He sipped the water. “And I gave that man a family.”

“He looks happy.”

That’s what had been pissing him off the most. They did look happy.

He watched as Clara ran out onto the dance floor with Tori’s cell phone and she put it to her ear. There was nodding and then she’d asked the kids something, to which they nodded and clapped. A moment later the four of them left the dance floor.

Clara, with her innate sense of his misery, found her way to the corner.

“Did you get him some water?” she asked Tyler.

“I did.”

“Good.” She turned and looked at the guests then pointed. “See that woman over there. The red head?”

“Who hasn’t seen her?” Tyler asked.

Christian strained to see. He hadn’t seen her, but by his cousin’s dripping voice he must have been missing something good.

“She wants to meet Chris.”

“Me?” He refocused on his sister.

“Yeah. But you’re over here swaying to your own music.”

He chuckled. He was swaying.

“Where did Tori go?”

Clara dropped her shoulders and gave him a grunt. “Sonia offered to take the kids so she and Scott could have a nice night together.”

He grit his teeth and finished off the Jack and Coke in his other hand.

“So where is this red head?”

Victoria kissed Sonia on the cheek as Scott shut the door to the minivan.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Sonia smiled. “You think I’m doing you a favor. But your two keep my three occupied so I can get some housework done.” She opened the door and slid into the van. “Listen, they are staying the night. I don’t want to see your face on my step before ten in the morning. Understand me? This is some adult time.” She gave her eyebrows a rise. “If you know what I mean.”

Victoria already felt her hands begin to shake. “I’m not sure about that.”

“You’re too straight laced. Have some fun.” Sonia looked toward Scott who waited patiently on the other side of the van. “He’s easy on the eyes and very sweet on you.”

Victoria hugged her dearest friend again. “I love you.”

“I know. If Craig and I ever get a night alone you can take my kids.” She winked at her and closed the door.

Scott waved as the minivan drove away. Victoria clasped her hands behind her back to keep them from visibly shaking in front of him.

“I have you all to myself, huh?” Scott wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I guess you do,” her voice was much too airy.

“I won’t make you uncomfortable. I promise.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “All at your speed, okay?”

She nodded.

“C’mon,” he said offering her his arm. “Let’s go back inside and dance.”

When they got to the base of the staircase Scott’s cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and grimaced when he saw the ID screen.

“I have to take this,” he said apologetically.

“Go ahead. I’ll wait for you on the veranda.”

Victoria climbed the stairs alone, ducked into the reception and retrieved two glasses of champagne. She then went back out on the veranda which overlooked the atrium and waited for Scott.

It was nearly ten minutes before he joined her and she’d drank down half her flute of champagne.

As he walked toward her she noted the perplexed look on his face.

“Is everything okay?” she asked handing him the other flute.

“Josh Mason.”

“The country singer?”

“Yeah, him.”

“What about him?”

“He’s my client. He’s also a womanizing, party boy. Seems as though after a concert in South Carolina, he got a little drunk, took a drive, hit a car, and might have made a few moves on the wrong police woman.”

“Oh.” She tucked in her lips and studied him a moment longer. “What does this mean for you?”

“It means I have a flight in three hours.”

Her eyes shot open. That wasn’t what she was expecting. “You have to leave?”

He nodded and handed back the flute of champagne. “I have to go. I can take you home or…”

She looked into the room where music played. She didn’t want to go home yet. “I’ll ask Avery or Clara to drop me off. I’d like to stay if that’s okay.”

“It’s more than okay.” He pulled her to him and she splayed out her arms to avoid spilling the champagne. “I really had a nice time and I hope when I get back we can pick up where we left off.”

“I’d like that.”

Scott tilted his head and kissed her. It wasn’t the calm and soft kisses he’d been giving her all day, this one had meaning and it said he wanted more. His tongue slipped between her lips and she inhaled through her nose sharply, and then relaxed against him, her arms still held out to the side.

When he pulled away his eyes were darker. “This sucks,” he said with a grin before the chime on his phone directed his attention to a text message. “And here we go.” He looked at his phone quickly. “I’ll call you.”