Free Love in London (Restless Hearts) by Hunter J. Keane Page A

point. “You are pathetic.”
    “I know!” I threw myself down on the couch with a dramatic flair. “But I can’t help it. I was such an idiot and now Dexter won’t even answer my calls. How am I supposed to grovel if he won’t even talk to me?”
    “James ladies do not grovel.” Cessy thumped my forehead painfully with her finger. “Get dressed. We are going out.”
    When Cessy was ready to party, there was no talking her out of it. One of her coworkers had invited her to fancy fundraiser and it was all she had talked about for the last week. Apparently celebrities and royalty would be in attendance. Somehow, she’d managed to score me an invite as well.
    When we got to the gallery where the event was being held, I was glad that I had allowed Cessy to choose my wardrobe. I would’ve settled for a boring black dress, but my cousin had dug a sapphire ball gown from the back of her closet. It was form-fitting, with a low neckline and a thigh-high slit. I was a little uncomfortable showing that much skin, but Cessy insisted I looked amazing.
    A few heads swiveled when we entered the gallery, but that was probably because Cessy looked like a movie star in her red gown.
    “Let me know if you see a prince. Preferably the wild one.” She winked and pointed across the room. “I need to use the loo.”
    I was dumbfounded to find myself alone in a crowd just five minutes after arriving at the party. The first thing I did was snag a glass of wine. I then spent the next hour forcing polite small talk with strangers and dodging handsy old men looking for a trophy wife.
    A winding staircase led to the second floor and from there, I was able to step outside onto a balcony. It was a chilly night and the balcony was mostly empty. Two couples lingered near the door and I excused myself as I stepped around them and headed to the far corner.
    I thought that I would be alone, but when I got closer I noticed that a man was partially hidden in the shadows. He turned when he heard my heels on the concrete, but I didn’t have to see his face to know that the man was Dexter.
    “Taylor.” His eyes lit up and the smile came before he could remember that he wasn’t happy with me.
    “Hi, Dex.” I eyed him wearily, waiting for his eyes to turn cold. “Surprise.”
    “Indeed.” His smile grew bigger. “A pleasant one.”
    I ducked my head shyly. “That isn’t the reaction I expected.”
    “Well, I would’ve gone for something more scandalous, but we’re in polite company.” He nodded toward the couples behind me. “One quick snog with you and our picture ends up on the page of a gossip mag tomorrow.”
    “I’m surprised you would want to snog me at all since you won’t even return my calls.” Even if he had been justified, I was still hurt. “Did you at least listen to the messages I left?”
    “Every one of them.” He laughed. “I didn’t know my phone could hold that many messages.”
    “It wasn’t that many,” I protested, silently trying to count them. “Four? Five?”
    “Eight.”
    I winced. “I may have a problem.”
    A breeze rustled the air and I hugged my arms around my body to keep warm. The balcony door opened and a wave of laughter filled the air.
    “I spoke with Laurel,” Dexter said.
    “Which means you know I’m an idiot.”
    “Don’t worry. I already had my suspicions.” He quickly unbuttoned his suit jacket and slipped it off. “Put this on. I’m getting cold just looking at you.”
    “Not exactly the effect I was going for.” I turned and stepped into the jacket’s warmth as he settled it onto my shoulders. “Thanks though.”
    His hands rested on my shoulders for just a second and then he shoved them into his pockets. “I’m sorry I wasn’t clear about the pregnancy. Laurel really wanted to keep things quiet about Bill and it’s almost just easier to let people think I’m the father.”
    “I’m not people, Dex.” I was having a hard time concentrating with the smell of his