Meg did not know what Emily was saying. Once she spotted the blue eyes, she couldn't look away. Fate or coincidence she didn't care. She viewed him as a birthday present. Unwrapping him would be fun. It had been too long since she enjoyed a male present. If he was staying at the hotel, then he would go back home. That was even better because he would never know about her connections.

Meg wasn't exactly a celebrity, but as the daughter of the state attorney general, a lot popped up by googling her name. Walking away to the dance floor was code for if you're interested, come find me. Not long after, he and his friends appeared. Was one his date or even worse his wife?

When he walked to her, she thought, the frosting on the birthday cake. It was too soon to tell if his living in Boston was the cherry on top or not. Just mentioning graphic design would give her mother hives, but he was staying at The Copley. There were plenty of decent, less expensive hotels around the city.

As they danced with their bodies close enough to feel his arousal, she hummed 'happy birthday to me' in her head. The music slowed and couples pressed even closer.

When he whispered in her ear, her pelvic muscles tightened and pulsed. "I want to kiss you." He didn't wait for her to sigh a response. His lips were soft and gentle as they caressed hers. She wanted more.

After the kiss ended, he said, "Happy Birthday."

Meg's felt like butter. His smile melted her. She looked around expecting to see the crowd slipping in her grease, but she only saw Tyler looking at her slightly surprised and unamused. In her friend group, Lucy was the one who kissed strangers on the dance floor. Lucy was hanging on Ty's arm and both were looking at her.

She and Tyler had been fake dating for so long, it often felt real. Her parents wanted Tyler as their son-in-law. She felt odd at the thought of Ty and Lucy. Seeing Tyler turn to Lucy hurt, because he was Meg's best friend. It wasn't fair to want to hold him back. Meg wanted to find true love, but kissing Cade was a fun detour.

"Do you want to get another drink?"

She nodded, because the music had turned fast again. Cade took her hand and gently pulled her toward the VIP area. The volume dropped when they stepped into the lounge.

After Cade pulled out a gold card to pay for the drinks, she wondered how much graphic designers made. The designers at the magazine didn't flash gold cards or stay at luxury hotels.

They settled on a vinyl couch with their drinks. Cade took her hand again. "It's so soft."

She chuckled. "Yours is too."

"I have a callus from my pen."

As Meg rubbed the rough spot on his index finger, it felt strangely erotic. "I type all day."

He smiled. "You work with words, but I create pictures."

"What kind of pictures do you create?"

"I've done it all. Products, packaging, logos."

"I'm jealous, I wish I had a talent like you."

He chuckled. "I can't survive without spell check." She threw her head back as she laughed. He shook his head amusingly. "You are amazing. I ran into a good girl, but suspect there might be a little bad in you when you wear this dress."

Meg giggled. Had he read her mind? She stared at his lips as he sipped his beer. They were a perfect thickness and tint. His eyes danced with amusement, and she searched for a response. "It's my birthday and I'm out with my best friends."

"Tell me about them. Which of the two wants to go home with you tonight."

She laughed. "Neither, but we're best friends. Plus, I live with my parents." She hid her face in her hands.

"You couldn't pay me to live with my parents. My dad's okay, but he lives in California. My mother married a man I will never like or respect."

She frowned. "It's respect for my parents that keeps me at home. Plus, it's easy. I don't have to worry about picking up the dry cleaning."

He laughed. "Artist. Machine wash only."

She frowned. "No suit."

He laughed. "I go to weddings and funerals and occasional business meetings."

"Meg, hun, how's it going?"

Meg turned to see Tyler approach the quiet corner. "I'm great. Ty, this is Cade."

As the two men shook hands, Ty said, "You look familiar."

Cade shrugged. "What do you do?"

"Investment strategist."

Cade laughed. "I don't know what that is."

Meg squeezed his hand. "It's okay. I don't either."

Tyler rolled his eyes, because she had a basic understanding, but finances bored her. She liked letters not numbers, and stories not word problems. "She pretends she doesn't understand the stock market."

Cade chuckled. "I know enough to be dangerous."

Meg said, "You don't look dangerous."

"I hate killing bugs."

Tyler laughed. "That's a problem because she's afraid of them."

Meg snapped, "Am not!"

"Are too." Tyler laughed. "I'm going to the bar. You can deny it, but I know the truth."

"Where are the others?"

He looked around. "Mick is dancing with a girl who is barely legal. Lucy is grinding on some guy."

"Lucy? I thought she liked, um, someone." You.

He shrugged. "Oh, and Emily left. Something about it not being her scene."

"You can join us." Cade smiled. "My friends probably left too."

"Two's company, three's a crowd. You have your key if I take off?"

"I, um." She looked from Tyler to Cade. "I'll, um, be fine. Should you wait for Lucy?"

He shrugged. "Mick will look out for her. Happy Birthday, Meggy."

She gave a wimpy wave as he walked away. "Weird."

"If you're worried about your friends, we can go out there."

"No, they should be good. I'm not sure why we came. At thirty, shouldn't I be over this scene?"

He chuckled as his blue eyes sparkled. "I didn't want to come, but I'm glad I did. When I walked away earlier, I wondered if I would see you again."

She laughed and hit his arm. "You did not. I looked like my mother."

"Is your mother beautiful too?" Cheering and hooting distracted her from answering. "I think the bridesmaids are drunk."

Meg looked over. "Oh, boy! I hope that's the groom."

"I wouldn't bet on it."

"How can her friends encourage her? Is she cheating?"

"Yeah. Do you want to get outta here?"

Maybe she was crazy, but she did. "Where?"

"Drinks at the hotel?"

"Okay. Why not it's my birthday?"

Cade looked at his watch. "Not for much longer."

She groaned. "I'll be thirty and a day. Still trying to get ahead at the magazine, living with my parents, I'm depressing myself."

"I'll cheer you up." His mouth brushed against hers. She wanted to keep their lips connected, but he pulled back just enough to talk. "Let's go."

She let him pull her up, and she flung against his hard body. "Do you need to let your friends know?"

He looked at his phone. "They already left and wished me luck."

"Luck?" She bit her lip.

He blushed. "With you. Um, if you want to hang out."

Meg laughed. She definitely did, but her mother raised her to be a good girl. Occasionally, the good girl wanted to have fun. Being in a farce of a relationship created issues. It prevented her from dating a lot. "I think you're my birthday present."

"The car is here. You can go home anytime."

Meg had met many men, and it was easy to tell Cade was a gentleman. He was the type of guy who would fool around without actually having sex. "Who taught you to be so kind?"

He frowned before looking up with his crystal blue eyes. "My father. My sister. I wish I could say my mother, but she's a train wreck. Although growing up, before the divorce, um, she was nurturing."

"How old were you?"

"Thirteen, a long time ago."

Teen years were hard enough without going through family turmoil. Meg survived hers because she had trusted friends who never let her down. "Are you and your sister close?"

"Absolutely, but we have to make time for each other."

He ushered her out of the loud club. Once on the street, her ears adjusted to just the city sounds, although the building rumbled to the beat. Listening to Cade, she wished for a brother or sister, but her parents were lucky enough to have her. Her conception happened in a test tube. She remembered the day her mother explained it. Meg was more shocked that her parents had bothered to tell her the truth. Their parenting style was protective and sheltering. She grew up hearing the whir of the helicopter blades.

Once inside the car, Cade gave the address. Like any romance movie, their lips found each other, and the windows fogged. Meg found it harder to resist him and hoped he would skip the drink part.

"Copley. Have a good night." The guy laughed sarcastically.

Cade led her into the quiet bar. As they sat at a table, he set his jaw. "I'll be right back."

Meg admired his jeans when he walked away. She imagined grabbing onto his tight glutes and her belly tightened with excitement. She was gazing in the direction he disappeared, until he returned a moment later looking defeated.

"Is everything okay?"

"Typical. My stepfather tried to tell me that the twenty-something with, um, curves is a business associate."

Meg's eyes widened. "Does your mother know?"

Cade shrugged and frowned. "She should. Can we go upstairs?"

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