“That’s interesting, Grace,” he muttered, taking hold of her elbow as he leaned closer to talk. “Australia is in deep economic engagement with China. Now is the time to strengthen—”
“Dad,” Travis interrupted.
“—relations with our allies, and the key to hedging—”
“Dad! Jesus.”
Steve paused, looking at his son. “What?”
“Let the hostages go,” he ordered, jerking his chin our way. Grace sagged with obvious relief as I led her away from the conversation.
I laughed. “Congratulations, Slim. Keeping up with Steve and his world news obsession makes me sweat.”
“Same,” she muttered as she finished off the last of her champagne. “That’s why I googled.”
My lips twitched. “You googled?”
“Mmm hmm. In the car on the way here. Current world news headlines.”
“I’m impressed,” I told her, taking the empty glass from her hand and placing it on the nearby table.
“Stick around, fledging grasshopper…” she winked “…and I’ll show you the rest of my moves.”
An hour later I was ready to leave. We’d made a decent appearance. It had been a hell of a day, starting off with the physiotherapist for Grace, and ending with the showdown at Morgan’s house. I needed Grace. I needed a bed. I needed Grace in a bed. Knowing exactly where she stood in the crowd, talking with Cooper, Frog, and Henry, I met her eyes and indicated one last drink before we left.
She nodded and I headed towards the bar.
“Hang on,” Vince told me. “The whiskey’s run dry. I just need to run to the back room.”
“Don’t go to any trouble, mate,” I told him, knowing he was busy. “I’ll just head to the main bar.”
I left via an exit I knew led inside the main section of the venue. Opening the door, I stepped into bone-thumping music and a crush of bodies. Winding my way through the writhing masses by the dance floor, I made it past the line of booths along the wall and put in a drink order at the bar.
“Are you following me now?” came a voice from beside me.
My body tensed and I glanced sideways. “What the fuck are you doing here, Morgan?”
She leaned casually against the bar, as though enjoying herself. A beer sat in her right hand and a smirk lined her lips. There were not enough mistakes in the world that could match up to the one I made by fucking her. Now the memory of her sucking my cock made me want a shower.
She arched a brow. “It’s a public bar.”
And it conveniently happened to be here? “Go drink somewhere else.” My eyes narrowed on her face. “Unless you’re ready to talk?”
Her attention shifted to the exit door of the function room. I turned around, following her gaze. “So that’s Chief Inspector Valentine,” she murmured, watching Steve walk through the door and head our way.
He slapped me on the back when he reached my side. “Order me a whiskey, son. We’ve already drunk the bar dry back in there.” I signalled for another whiskey as Steve’s eyes fell on Morgan beside me. “And who’s this young lady?”
Morgan held out her hand and I gritted my teeth. “Steve this is Morgan.” Steve shook it. “Morgan, this is Chief Inspector Valentine.”
“Retired,” Steve added. “Well, supposedly.”
“Supposedly?” she questioned as another whiskey joined mine on the bar. I handed it to Steve, eager to usher him away from Morgan.
“They won’t leave a man alone to enjoy his retirement in peace,” he explained after taking a quick sip of his drink.
“We better get back to the party,” I interrupted.
Steve gave her a nod. “Nice to meet you, Morgan.”
We both turned to leave and she called out, “Wait!”
We paused and Morgan handed me the whiskey I left on the bar in my haste to leave. Looking at Steve, she said, “I hear it’s your thirtieth wedding anniversary.”
“It is,” he confirmed.
“Congratulations on a such a wonderful milestone.” She raised her drink. Then she looked at me over the rim of her glass with a glint in her eye. “Cheers.”
My eyes narrowed and she shrugged.
“Thanks, Morgan,” Steve replied, holding up his glass in response. I tipped back my head and tossed the entire contents down my throat and left my glass on the bar. I felt her eyes follow me as we left, but I refused to acknowledge it.
Back inside, Steve peeled away to join Jenna while I headed towards our table, intent on collecting Grace’s bag so we could leave.
Her phone sat by her little evening bag. Four missed calls showed on the screen from her best friend, John, and as I picked it up, he rang again. My eyes searched out Grace. She hadn’t moved from where she stood talking with Cooper, Frog, and Henry. The four of them were caught in a huddle, laughing. Thinking John’s call might be an emergency, I picked up the phone, hit answer, and put it to my ear.