Before Dameon could say something, Grace leaned in. “When you were a child, did your report card tell your parents that you didn’t get along well with others?”

Max lost his grin.

Omar laughed.

Dameon kept his voice low. “I’m not sure what your point is by being here, Max. It’s obviously not to bury any hard feelings. And it certainly isn’t for the entertainment or charity work. But I would appreciate it if you left my date out of whatever bone you’re trying to pick.”

The waiters swooped in and removed the untouched appetizer plates.

“Must be a serious relationship,” Max said.

“Why do you care?” Grace found herself asking.

“Dameon, Omar, and I go way back. We used to pass our dates around, didn’t we?”

“That’s enough,” Dameon warned him.

But Grace had heard enough to realize what Max was doing.

“Too close to the truth for you, old friend?”

It was Grace’s turn to laugh. “So this is a penis-measuring contest, right?”

All eyes turned her way.

“I have two older brothers who always had friends around when I was growing up. And whenever they had a falling-out with someone in their friend group, it always ended with some kind of chest-bumping I’m a bigger man thing.” Grace glanced at Chelsea. “Classic mine is bigger than yours.” Grace shifted her gaze to Max. “Only my brothers both grew out of that behavior in college.”

Dameon grasped her hand.

“Grace is right, Max. This is beneath you. If you came here to say something, do it. But leave Grace and everyone else out of it.”

Max pushed his chair back. “You’re right, Dameon. This is beneath me. I honestly thought half your employees would have realized they were on a sinking ship and not be here tonight. But you must be keeping up the facade since the gang is all here. I’ll be sure and check back in six months when you claim bankruptcy.” He stood to leave.

“Don’t hold your breath,” Omar said.

Max played with the cuff of his jacket, his eyes glued to Dameon’s, and then walked away.

There was a collective sigh at the table when he left.

“That was entertaining,” Grace joked.

“What an ass,” Chelsea said.

Dameon brought Grace’s hand off his lap and kissed her fingers.

Omar cleared his throat. “So, did anyone taste the appetizer?”

Grace ran her foot down Dameon’s leg as she stretched beside him on his bed. She played with the sapphire necklace he had put on her before they left the hotel.

“Jewelry is meant to be worn, not sit in a box waiting for a special occasion,” he’d told her.

And when the clock counted down, Dameon kissed her long and hard, and she vowed to wear his gift so the small fortune he’d spent wasn’t in vain.

The evening had been nearly perfect. They wished everyone a happy New Year and left after pouring Omar into a cab.

When Dameon walked her into his condo, she’d barely managed a glimpse before he whisked her off to his bedroom.

But now, in the afterglow of their lovemaking, Grace felt strangely awake as her fingers played with the stupidly expensive sapphire dangling from her neck.

Her thoughts shifted around to earlier in the evening when Max had flexed in front of Dameon’s staff and friends.

“You’re awfully quiet for not being asleep,” Dameon said.

“Don’t count on it lasting long. I’m exhausted.”

He sighed. “I’m happy Max didn’t ruin it for us.”

“You’re thinking about that, too?” She rested her head on the pillow so she could look at Dameon while they talked.

“I’m sorry you met him like that. There was a day I called him a close friend.”

“He’s obviously bitter. What do you think he was trying to gain by showing up tonight?”

“I’m not entirely sure. Undermine my team? Gloat?”

“Gloat about what?”

Dameon rolled on his side, took her hand in his. “He was a silent partner from the day I started Locke Enterprises. Last year we had a falling-out. He took his capital and walked away.”

“But you’re still in business.”

“I am. Without Max’s help, it is harder. He knows that. It’s why he cut his finances out of the business. He wants to see me fail.”

“Why?”

For a second, she wasn’t sure he was going to answer. “Remember the woman I told you about . . . Lena?”

“The Greek girlfriend?”

“Yeah, her. When I broke it off, Lena met up with Max.”

“Met up or hooked up?”

“Both. I honestly didn’t care, but I think she thought she was going to hurt me. When I found out, I gave Max my blessing. I thought they were a better fit. She didn’t work, liked the lifestyle Max could give her. A few months went by. Max didn’t come into the office very often. We’d meet casually and I’d let him know how his investments were going. He told me he was going to ask Lena to marry him.”

“I’m guessing that didn’t happen.”

Dameon shook his head. “He threw a party, asked me to come. Lena was there, wearing his ring . . .”

She had a feeling she knew where this story was going. “And then?”

“Lena drank too much and came on to me. I pushed her away. She kept trying. I told her she was acting like a child, and how could she tell Max yes when it was obvious she wasn’t ready to settle down.”

“Did Max walk in?”

“No. But the next day I told him what had happened.”

“Good for you.”

Dameon shook his head. “Max didn’t believe me. Or took her side. Either way, our friendship ended and so did our business relationship.”

“What happened to Lena?”

“Last I heard they were still engaged.”

“That explains his comments about sharing women.”

“Which was all crap. Even in college. He said that to get a rise out of you.”

Grace yawned. “It takes more than that. I know someone who’s grandstanding and know to ignore what they’re saying when they are.”

“I really hope he wakes up before he actually marries her. But I can’t say any more than I already have. Besides, he isn’t listening to me any longer.”

“It’s kind of sad.”

“I agree.”

Grace felt her eyelids getting heavy. “What about all the bankruptcy talk?”

“I’ll find another investor before I let that happen.”

“Then you are having trouble.”

“Nothing more than any other growing business out there.”

She wanted to ask him more questions, but she was having a hard time staying awake. “You don’t have to pretend with me.”

“Shhh. Go to sleep.”

She snuggled closer. “I mean it.”

“Good night, Grace.”

“Happy New Year.”

The last thing she heard before falling asleep was him whispering happy New Year in her ear.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

A new year and a new beginning.