He let out a bark of laughter. “Bullshit! You didn’t fall for it for a second. My fucking ego was bruised.”

  “I texted Eliza,” Saxon informed him. “She’s on the fifth floor. We’re stopping to get her.”

  Trev looked disappointed. “She’s getting the wrong idea.”

  Saxon cleared his throat. “Dude, you should have thought about that before buying her a thirty-five-hundred-dollar cup, groping her, taking her to the winner’s circle, and sticking your tongue down her throat in photos that will make it in the news.”

  Trev covered his face with his hand, groaning again. “Fuck, I did that, didn’t I?”

  I looked over at Saxon, and he just smiled, shaking his head at me. This must be common Trev behavior. That was a bit of a letdown, but then how long would I really be around Trev? This could be over with our parents by next week. Then again, it could last awhile. Mom seemed to light up under Garrett’s attention.

  “Just for the record, the mint julep without the gold cup was delicious,” I told him.

  He looked at me and frowned. “You didn’t get a Gold Cup?”

  I laughed. “Uh, no. That offends me that you’d ask. Drinks should not cost that much.”

  Trev banged the back of his head on the wall. “Fucking hell. I didn’t even get you a Gold Cup.”

  “And I assure you, I am happy about that.”

  “Now, I’m stuck with Eliza,” he groaned.

  “Look at it this way. Eliza doesn’t live in Ocala. After tonight, you won’t see her again until Belmont Stakes,” Saxon told him.

  Trev nodded. “That’s good. Yeah.” Then, he looked at me. “How’d you like the winner’s circle?”

  Even with his eyes glassy, he was still insanely handsome. It truly wasn’t fair. With his money and looks, what else had I expected? He could do whatever he wanted, act however he wanted, and it was overlooked.

  “I liked it. It was exciting,” I told him.

  He looked pained. Had he wanted me to hate it?

  The elevator doors opened.

  “Go get your date,” Saxon told him.

  “I don’t know what room,” he replied, not moving.

  Saxon sighed and walked out of the elevator to look down the hallway while texting, I assumed, Eliza. The elevator doors started to close, and I took a step to stop it, but Trev’s hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me back.

  “It’s closing.” I pointed out the obvious.

  Trev grinned. “Oops.”

  I realized that he’d done that on purpose. “Saxon is helping you.”

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  Frustrated with him even if he was drunk, I pulled my arm free of his hold. “I realize that most people just let you get drunk and act however you want, but I’m not cool with it. You need to be a better friend, even when you’re drunk.”

  His smile fell. Good. Someone needed to point out his behavior.

  “He deserves it,” he said to me.

  “No, he doesn’t.”

  Trev nodded, and then his gaze slowly drifted down my dress, legs, all the way to my shoes. “Yeah, he fucking does. You were gonna be my friend. He stole you.”

  He sounded like a little boy, upset because someone had taken his toy.

  “You got busy with Eliza. Remember? You left me with Saxon, and being the good friend he is, he stepped in and babysat me so you didn’t have to.”

  The scowl that touched his brow shouldn’t make me want to reach up and smooth it out. “I needed a minute. Eliza was there, and she distracted me. I wasn’t trying to get rid of you. We were supposed to watch the race together. You were supposed to go with me to the winner’s circle. But you liked Sax better.”

  The elevator doors opened again, and an elegant older couple stepped inside. I realized we hadn’t pressed the lobby button, and the elevator had gone back up.

  The man noticed Trev and nodded his head. “Congratulations, Mr. Hughes. Cohiba was a beauty to watch.”

  He smiled, straightening his stance. “Thank you,” he replied.

  The man stepped forward and pressed the lobby button, glancing back at us. “Are you two headed to the lobby?” he asked.

  “Yes, please,” I replied, assuming Saxon and Eliza were down there, looking for us now.

  Trev turned to look at me again. “Will you be my friend tonight?”

  “I told you last night that I was sure we’d be good friends.”

  He sighed. “Yeah.”

  The doors opened again, and Trev waved his hand for the other couple to exit. Then, he placed his hand on my bare back before leading me to follow behind them. His thumb began to make small circles against my skin, and the goose bumps on my arms gave away the fact that it affected me.

  “There you are,” Eliza’s voice called out.

  I waited for Trev to drop his hand from my back, but he didn’t. His thumb didn’t stop its circular caress either.

  “What happened to you?” Saxon asked, looking at me with concern.

  I cut my eyes back up at Trev, then back at him. He gave me a nod of understanding, then noticed Trev’s hand on me, but he didn’t mention it.

  Eliza’s emerald-green dress looked phenomenal with her red hair. It made her green eyes pop. I started to tell her that, but her eyes dropped to Trev’s arm behind me, then moved up to glare at me. Why did girls do that? I wasn’t touching him. I hadn’t asked him to touch me. Why glare at me?

  I started to take a step forward to break the contact, but Trev’s hand dropped to my hip, and his fingers dug into my skin, holding me still.

  “Don’t.” His tone sounded like a warning.

  I lifted my eyes to look at him, and my breath caught when his locked on mine. There was a commanding gleam in his gray depths. I wanted to point out that he had a date. I also didn’t want him looking at me like that.

  “Trev?” Eliza’s tone was clearly annoyed.

  He didn’t acknowledge her, and it got awkward.

  “Trev!” she repeated, louder this time.

  There was a darkness that shaded his expression as he turned his head to look at her. “What?”

  Uncomfortable was not a strong enough word. It felt as if everyone were watching us, although I knew they weren’t. The place was crawling with people, and this small interaction wasn’t as big of a deal as it seemed.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, shooting a hateful scowl at me before swinging her eyes back to him.

  “Touching Gypsi. She feels good and smells like vanilla and lavender,” he replied casually.

  My face felt warm. I looked to Saxon for help, and he gave me a tight smile, but said nothing. I was alone in this situation.

  “Are you serious? Or just drunk?” she snapped.

  He smirked. “I’m drunk, but I thought she smelled incredible when I was sober. As for touching her, I assure you, she feels good with or without intoxication. Now, can we go to the fucking party, or are you going to keep asking questions?”

  Her flushed face wasn’t from embarrassment. She was furious. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she turned to look at Saxon. “Fine. Saxon?” She stepped over to him. “You can escort me to the party.”

  “Thank fuck,” Trev replied and slid his hand back to my bare skin.

  This time, it was lower, and his fingers brushed underneath the fabric that gathered at my waist. Thankfully, I had forgone panties, for fear they’d be seen through the dress, or he’d be touching the edge of them by now.

  I stiffened as he began the circling caress with his ring finger, this time entirely too low.

  He leaned down. “Relax. It’s a friendly touch,” he whispered.

  My eyes flew up to meet his. “That doesn’t feel friendly.”

  And my thighs were going to get damp if he didn’t stop.

  He winked and continued following behind Saxon and Eliza. When we walked outside, a chauffeur standing beside a black limo stepped forward and opened the door. Saxon walked up, then stepped back, allowing Eliza to climb inside. Then, he looked back at us, and I started to step forward, but Trev’s hand was gripping my hip again.

  He lifted his chin at Saxon, saying nothing, and Saxon climbed inside. I started to follow him and then realized that bending over to climb in could possibly flash my naked butt. I hadn’t realized we would be taking a limo. I’d arrived at the track today in a limo with Garrett and my mom, but Saxon and I had left in a regular Escalade that he had driven.

  “Do you need help, Lollipop?” Trev asked me when I didn’t move to get inside.

  I bit my bottom lip nervously, then looked up at him in hopes that I could trust him. I could trust Saxon with this. It was Trev I was worried about.

  I leaned into him and whispered, “I’m worried if I bend over too much, I’ll flash everyone. Could you stand behind me and block the view?”

  I wasn’t going to tell him that I didn’t have on panties. That was information he didn’t need.

  He didn’t even try to hide the flare of lust in his eyes. “You can’t look either,” I told him.

  An evil grin touched his lips. “Sure, Gypsi. I’ll be sure to block the view.”

  “And you won’t look?”

  He winked. “Of course not.”

  I tried to turn sideways, while keeping one hand on the back of my dress, trying to hold it down and over my bare bottom without falling into the limo. Once I managed to get in, I slid into the seat closest to me and across from Saxon and Eliza.

  Saxon was watching me with concern. My awkward entrance into the limo hadn’t gone unnoticed. I smiled to reassure him that all was well.

  Trev climbed in and sat so close to me that his thigh touched mine. He put his arm behind my back on the seat and leaned close to my ear. “Didn’t see a thing,” he whispered just as his hand hung over my shoulder, and he began caressing my upper arm with his thumb.

  What was with him and the touching? Drunk Trev was someone I needed to stay away from in the future. I wasn’t sure how much willpower I would have if he kept this up over time.

  “What time is it?” he asked Saxon.

  “Almost eight,” he replied.

  “Ah, perfect timing. We’ve missed an hour. One hour left before we move it to the better party.” Trev’s tone sounded pleased. He leaned back as if he owned the world. “Stop the angry scowling, Eliza. It’s ruining the mood.”

  My eyes swung to Saxon, who shook his head with a sigh and turned to look out the window. This night was going to be interesting.

  Six

  Gypsi

  Once we arrived, Trev nodded his head toward the door. “Let them go first, and then I’ll go out before you.” He was offering me a way to get out without worrying over my dress riding up.

  Trev waited for me to exit, holding his hand out for me to take. The moment I stepped out, I realized cameras were going off.

  Trev kept his hand locked tight on my hip as we walked toward the entrance. Several photographers called out his name, and he pulled me close to his side as he smiled. This could be trouble. I didn’t have time to escape him, and if I did, it could cause a scene I didn’t need. I managed to smile, but the entire situation felt as if I’d been tossed into an alternate universe. When we finally stepped inside, past the media craze, I took a deep breath. That was probably as safe as the pictures I’d had taken with Saxon today. I doubted it was something that would make national news. I hoped not. For both our sakes.

  Saxon was alone, waiting on us. I looked around, but didn’t see Eliza anywhere. His gaze met mine.

  “Lost your date?” Trev asked him.

  “No. I lost yours.”

  Trev laughed. “I owe you one.”

  Saxon shook his head, looking amused. Trev’s behavior didn’t surprise him or bother him, but then they’d been friends forever. He was used to it. I was the one struggling with the strange swing in his mood.

  “Let’s get a drink,” Trev suggested, keeping his hand on me as we walked into the crowd of people.

  “Are you going to keep your hand on me all night?” I asked him. “Eliza left. It worked.” And I was mentally exhausted, trying to fight off sexual thoughts about him.

  Trev frowned, looking down at me. “My touching you didn’t have shit to do with Eliza. I’m just making sure you don’t leave me to go make friends with another guy. You’re my friend tonight. Sax got you already. It’s my turn.”

  I laughed. “I can be both your friends.”

  Trev scowled. “I don’t like sharing.” He pointed across the room. “There’re our parents. Want to go say hello?”

  “Um, only if you want to,” I replied.

  I wasn’t sure how his father felt about him being intoxicated. He was twenty-one years old, but still, I didn’t know their dynamic.

  He chuckled. “Yeah, then no. I’d rather not.”

  “Trev!” a guy called out in greeting as he walked up to us. “I missed you at the track today. Spent a fucking lot of time in the winner’s circle, as usual.”

  “It’s the Hughes way,” Trev replied, clasping the guy’s outstretched hand with the one he didn’t have almost down the back of my dress.

  The guy laughed. “No shit,” he replied, and then his eyes shifted to me. “I thought I saw Eliza in the winner’s circle photos with you earlier. Looks like you traded up.”

  “Gypsi, this is Xavier. His family owns Lighthouse Stables in Knoxville, Tennessee. They’ve had a former derby winner. Xavier, this is Gypsi, my new friend.”

  The guy laughed, then gave me a close inspection. “Since when did you start friend-zoning beautiful women?”

  Trev chuckled, but said nothing.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Xavier,” I replied, hoping to change the subject.

  Saxon appeared at my other side, holding a mint julep out for me. “Wasn’t sure what else you liked. If you’re tired of this already, I can go get something else. Just tell me what.”

  I took the drink. “Thank you, Saxon. This is perfect.”

  “Seriously, dude. She’s my friend tonight. Stop making me look bad.”

  Saxon rolled his eyes.

  “You sure you don’t want one of the Gold Cups? They’re not selling them but I know where I can get one.”

  I shook my head. “I would be furious.”

  “So, she is a friend?” Xavier asked, looking from Saxon to Trev, then locking in on me. “How exactly does one get in line for this friendship?”

  Trev’s hand moved to my waist, gripping me tightly. “You don’t.”

  I shifted some, trying to get him to ease up on his hold. It stung. His heated glare dropped to me.

  “You’re hurting me,” I said softly.

  His expression softened, as did his grip. “Sorry, Lollipop,” he replied, looking truly bothered by the fact that he’d caused me pain.

  “Excuse us, Xavier,” Trev said as he moved us toward the bar. “I’ve got to go get a drink since Sax didn’t bring me one.”

  Xavier laughed and began talking to Saxon as we walked away from them.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said, leaning closer to my ear so I could hear him.

  “It’s fine,” I assured him.

  “No, it’s not. I can kiss it and make it better,” he offered.

  A laugh bubbled out of me, and I shook my head. “That won’t be necessary.”

  “You sure? I don’t mind. That’s what friends are for.”

  I looked up at him. “No, Trev, it isn’t.”

  The disappointed look on his face bothered me. He was drunk and acting out of character. When he had been sober, he hadn’t wanted anything to do with me. As much as I liked him being close to me and I enjoyed his attention, it was a disaster waiting to happen.

  “Don’t be mean,” he replied.

  I reached up and placed a hand on his chest. “If you were sober, we wouldn’t be standing here together. Sober Trev understood how impossible this situation was. I’m not saying that our parents will end up married. Knowing my mom, we could be in Virginia next week. It’s how she is. But if by some miracle your dad manages to change her mind and she stays, they get married, what then?”

  He said nothing as he stared down at me. I continued when it was clear he wasn’t going to respond.

  “If we are friends, then it’ll be easy. If we are friends, no one gets hurt.”

  Trev’s hand fell away then, and he took a step back. It was as if my words had sobered him. The playful glint in his eyes was gone, and I missed it. That wasn’t a fair reaction, but I missed it just the same.

  “You’re right,” he finally said.

  Then, he glanced over my shoulder before turning to walk into the crowd. I didn’t watch where he was going. Girls would be throwing themselves at him any minute now, and I wasn’t in the frame of mind to watch it.

  “You okay?” Saxon asked from behind me.

  With a sigh, I turned around to look at him. Saxon would make a good friend. What I felt when I was with him was what I needed to feel when I was with Trev.

  “Not really,” I replied honestly.

  “It was the right thing to do. He needed that reminder. Most girls wouldn’t have done that.” Saxon’s approval was clear in his voice and his expression.

  “Yeah, well, part of it was self-preservation. I’m not ready for anything more than friendship, and neither is my trust. Even if it’s just sex he’s after.”

  Saxon held out his arm for me. “Want to leave and go talk about it? Or find a movie to watch? Or sit outside and watch the sunset over Churchill Downs?”

  He was giving me an escape. It was tempting.

  “What about the party after this one?”

  “We can go there later if you want to. Probably should show our faces, but I can be a rebel when needed. If you’d rather go see a movie, I’m in.”

  I glanced over to where Mom and Garrett were. People surrounded them. Mom looked like she had been born to do this. Garrett kept staring down at her with an expression that told me he was getting attached to her. The future was about to get complicated. If she married him, I’d be leaving. She’d be safe. It was what I hoped happened, if she wanted that.