Read Online Aced by Ella Frank, Brooke Blaine - Free Book Online Page B

lost, for that matter.”
    “Right.” I gave him a small smile, and as I headed back into the crowd, I let it drop.  
    I hated that this was turning out to be one of those dates where ten minutes in you just knew it wasn’t going to work. And it wasn’t like Russ had done anything wrong. It was just more a feeling, and the fact that I got such a hard-on for Ace even just looking at the guy probably didn’t help any romantic feelings toward Russ. Maybe I’d take him up on the tequila when I got back, just to let loose and have a good time with no strings attached.  
    Now where the hell is the damn bathroom?
    A line wrapped around one side of the room, and I had zero doubt that me and about twenty others were thinking the same thing. As I turned to find another one, a tall redhead stumbled into me.  
    “I’m so sorry,” she said, as she righted herself. “I swear that happens all the time.”
    “What, running into people?”
    “Yes, actually,” she said, tucking a strand of her curly hair back into her updo. “Two left feet and all.”
    “Is your name Grace, by chance?”  
    Her face brightened. “My mum calls me that. How’d you guess?”
    “Something my mom always say too.”
    “Huh. Well, you can call me Shayne,” she said, holding out her hand, and I went to shake it but then pulled my hand back.  
    “Dylan. Sorry, I’d shake your hand, but things got a little sticky at the bar.”
    “No worries. So, Dylan…” she said, and looked past my shoulder at the line behind me. Then she leaned in and whispered, “You know, there’s a bathroom upstairs and to the left that you could use. Just let the security guy know Shayne Callahan sent you and you can go right up.”
    I glanced over to the main staircase, roped off and guarded by a big guy in a suit. The upstairs was empty, and since the line I was in hadn’t moved since I’d started standing there, I had a feeling it might be a while. Yeah, okay. Two minutes versus a half an hour. It wasn’t like I was going up there to do a Peeping Tom routine.
    “Thanks, Shayne, I appreciate it. Maybe I’ll see you around after.”
    Her lips tipped up on one side as she nodded. “Oh, you can count on it.”

6
                                            

    THANK YOU FOR COMING

    SHIT. I’VE LOST him , I thought, as my manager Roger Herschman kept on about how excited he was about my upcoming project and the fact it was being filmed here at home so I was available for any kind of press he may wish to organize…blah blah blah.  
    Honestly, I wasn’t really paying attention to anything coming out of his mouth, because I’d been busy watching Dylan and Russ out of the corner of my eye ever since I’d left them over at the bar. I’d been doing a pretty good job at it too, until Roger snagged my elbow to introduce me to some up-and-coming producer and turned me so my back was to them for all of a few minutes, and when I’d turned back— poof —Dylan was gone.
    As I scanned the surrounding area, I narrowed my eyes to see better through the low lights, but when my eyes landed on the back of Russ’s blond head, where he was standing alone, I knew I was right. Dylan was definitely missing.
    Huh, I wonder where he’s run off to? Was he chatting with someone else? Wouldn’t surprise me if someone had wanted his attention. The guy was stunning. Anyone who was single and possessed half a brain would be trying to get closer to him. And the fact that Russ had let him out of his sight made me wonder how smart that guy was.  
    A man like Dylan Prescott left alone walking through one of my parties, a party full of men from all facets of the entertainment industry, was like offering up a fresh piece of meat to a pack of ravenous animals.  
    Not only was Dylan striking to look at, he was charming, and once he flashed that dimpled grin at the right director, photographer, or, hell, a guy on the prowl, Russ would be shit out of