Trent’s bar had always been the place to be, but the private parties were something else entirely.

Not even the virgin auctions compared, now that they were on again after the drawn-out negative publicity they caused a couple years ago. They were great, but drew a different clientele, created a different atmosphere.

I followed Trent in and was overwhelmed by the crush of bodies. But they weren’t dancing like normal, they were cheering for and trying to get to me. I was tonight’s star—along with Kim and Elyse. Tonight would have been a success without them, but as the trio, we’d been unstoppable.

They met me at the door and we hugged, squealing with delight. Even Elyse had left her normal reserve at home, giddy and exuberant at how well tonight had blasted her into her new career.

“You were amazing!” Kim hugged me and kissed my cheek. “Oh my god, Vi, that was unbelievable. And look who’s here!” She turned me toward the crowd and my gaze swept the proud faces eager to congratulate me.

I blinked, awe-struck at who’d come. I thought maybe one or two of CopperStone’s top buyers would pop in, but they were all here, from Geo to Leonard.

Oh my god.

My fingers tightened on Kim’s arm. “Is that really?”

“Yes!” She shout-whispered against my ear. “For you. They’ve all come to congratulate you. I’ve been working my way through the crowd and some of them were sorry that they couldn’t make the show, but they’ve already contacted Madrid about buying pieces. You’re the reason most of them have the collections they do and the artists who are here know that you put them on the map. Showing up in support for you was the least they could do. Revel in it, girl.”

The girls gave me one last hug and sent me toward the mass of people, all of whom echoed Kim’s sentiments. I was overwhelmed at the response and gave thanks back in return.

It took over an hour to chat with everyone at the bar, and by then I was half a dozen drinks in. But no matter who appeared as the crowd morphed and changed around me, I was still on the lookout for Gavin.

Where was he?

The bastard had better show up and finish what he’d started. I was still wet and in sore need of a fucking. Tonight was going to be the celebration of all my hard work and I wanted him to help me do it right.

I made my way through the bar, smiling and touching the arms of so many huge art world celebrities who’d come out on my behalf tonight. Madrid hadn’t made it to the party. She was probably back at the gallery already putting together the orders that Kim had mentioned. I didn’t even want to think about what kind of numbers we’d pulled in tonight, not wanting to get ahead of myself. I’d have to be sure to give Elyse a much bigger cut.

Trent had offered to cover all of her expenses, but if Kim and I had really sold that many pieces, we needed to do right by Elyse—and I sure as hell wanted that girl at every showing from now on.

I took an ice water from Trent who was working the bar and drank half of it. I was working on a sweet buzz, but the day was taking a bit of a toll on me. Not that I was ready to quit, just pacing myself for the rest of the night.

I turned to face the crowd, back to the bar, and watched the bodies move and dance and make deals. Tonight was my night and I was beyond pleased with how it had gone.

Now, where the fuck was Gavin?

I couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said about my painting. Why hadn’t I collided with him before now? Maybe he’d been out of the country? San Francisco was a huge art hub. Everyone passed through here at least once a year for one showing or another. We were the must-have stop on every tour and CopperStone was well-known in the industry. He’d have sought us out before now if he’d been around.

There was something magnetic about the two of us that couldn’t keep us apart.

I wanted to hear more about his insights. Wanted to talk about the latest Gi painting and the Mosman sculptures and Virat’s retirement.

After he rocked my world, of course.

I glanced at my phone, checking the time. It had been almost two hours since we’d parted. I’d plugged the directions into his phone, along with my number.

He hadn’t texted or arrived, so what the hell?

He better not have turned me on and stood me up, though with every minute that passed, it was starting to look like maybe he was all talk and no action.

The best ones always were.

It wasn’t like I hadn’t had that happen a million times, but before tonight, I'd never cared. Men were fish in a vast, vast sea, and even a few gay ones had been tempted by my seduction tactics. I knew how to work a man and I'd thought that Gavin had been in complete agreement about what was next. If he didn’t show, I was going to be pissed, because out of the crowd here, there were only a few men that I'd bother taking home and none of them promised to be as much of an orgasm as Gavin had.

“Hey pretty girl.”

I swiveled to my right and tried to rein in my disappointment, clinking glasses with Kim. “Hey, yourself.”

“Little surprised to see you standing over here by your lonesome. Where’s tonight’s conquest, or haven’t you decided yet?”

I drained the water and waved at Trent for a drink. He nodded and finished helping the customers at the other end of the bar as I turned to Kim. “I decided, but I think he’s chickened out on me.”

“What? Who wouldn’t die for a chance to spend a night in your bed?”

“Right? I’m about to get a little pissed about it.”

“As you should.”

Trent leaned over, martini in his hand. I took it from him, blew him a kiss and turned back to Kim.

She clinked her glass against mine. She’d known since the moment we’d met that I wasn’t about long relationships, and after the disaster of my last attempt at happily ever after had ended in a broken engagement and my broken heart, I wasn’t about to slide down that road again. I’d headed firmly back to one night stands and had slept with a record number of men that week to wash the taste of my failure from my mouth.

I’d been a fool to believe that he’d been any different than all the others. Trent—and Kim’s husband Jackson—were the exceptions as far as men were concerned, and I hadn’t planned on Jackson being anything more than a payday for Kim. Their marriage and happiness had worked out better than I’d ever imagined. And Trent more than deserved what he had.

I didn’t need any of that.

I needed more nights like tonight and an available dick. Relationships had never been a milestone for me, and other than my one mistake, they never would be again.

But I was still pissed that Gavin—

“Oh my.” Kim straightened and watched wide-eyed as the subject of my musings headed straight for me. “Please tell me that’s the one you’re waiting on because oh, my sweet wet panties.”

“That’s the one.” My heart thumped in my chest and sent a surge of desire through my limbs.

Gavin’s long legs ate up the distance between us as he moved from the tiles of the dance floor, not moving an inch for the dancers as they parted for him, recognizing a man who would not be swayed.

Kim was right about the panties, because mine were soaked. My heated gaze roamed his body. He’d shed the jacket, and the white button down accentuated his broad shoulders and trim waist. The jeans clung to his hard cock, already outlined against the front of the dark fabric.

“Don’t wait up.”

“Holy fuck you’d better be dishing in the morning.”

“Count on it.” I set my drink on the bar behind me and took a step forward out of the bodies pressing in on all sides.

Gavin didn’t bother to ask if I was busy, or to say hello to Kim. He grabbed my hand, spun us toward the back hallway and strode off, fully expecting my complete participation and willingness.

My breath caught in my throat. I loved a man who took charge, and the ones who didn’t barely got a second look from me.

I wanted men who could hold their own against me and didn’t cower when I told them what I wanted and how things were going to go down.

Gavin seemed like the kind of guy I’d been waiting on for a while.

He’d better not let me down.