Colibrì

20.

The place was full of rich people, one could smell their money.

The food was expensive, the furniture was expensive, the air was expensive. Addie wasn't yet used to all this wealth. Sometimes she forgot she was now as rich as — or richer than — the people attending.

And since pretty much everyone there was either too famous or too rich to give a crap about the celebrities around, there was little to no asking for pictures and autographs.

"Do you want something to drink?" Hawk distracted Addie from her thoughts, standing beside her.

"Yeah, sure. Thanks."

He left to get some champagne and came back with two flutes, handing her one. Arden and Robin were respectively speaking with Bianca and another celebrity, a guy probably around their age with platinum hair, though she couldn't see his face as he was giving her his back.

"They're hitting it off," Addie commented, watching as Robin and the guy shared a laugh.

"They are," Hawk agreed. "I'm not sure about Arden and Bianca, though."

Addie looked at him with a frown. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you know. It's a big age gap."

"Six years?"

"Yes."

"Eh. I've done worse," she admitted.

Hawk glared at her. "You have?"

"Yeah. Fourteen years."

"Shit," he cursed. "How long did you date?"

"A month, I think? Then I found out he was getting married and had twins on the way, so..." She sipped from the flute and smirked. "He was amazing in bed, so I can't blame his fiancée for forgiving him when she found us in their bed."

Hawk turned around and gawked. "No shit? What did she do?"

"Joined us." Addie drained the champagne and shrugged a shoulder, walking away to get more.

Damn, Hawk thought. He had some high expectations to live up to, then. He never would have guessed she was the type of girl to go crazy in bed, but then again, she'd always been full of surprises.

Soon, Addie joined him again, and they talked a little about everything and nothing. Then, she froze. "Oh, my God," she muttered.

"What? What did you see?" he asked, looking around a bit worried.

"Is that... Is that Felice Montefusco?" she asked.

"Who?"

"The Italian opera singer. That man over there. Staring at us. Oh, shit, he's walking towards us. Quick! How do I look?" she asked, subtly fixing her hair and her dress.

Hawk frowned and saw a young man approaching them. He was probably in his early thirties, undoubtedly attractive with his tan skin, dark curly hair combed away from his rich brown eyes. Even Hawk had to check him out a couple of times.

Felice approached them with a sexy smile, sauntering like he was leaving blossoming flowers behind him, standing tall and proud. Jeez. He was hotter than Addie remembered seeing on billboards displaying his shows.

"Evening," he greeted, his voice deep and rich and warm. Both Hawk and Addie stared at him, nearly drooling. "You're Aderyn Faulkner, yes?" he asked her, his Italian accent less thick than expected.

Speechless, she nodded. "Uh-huh."

"I'm Felice Montefusco." He stretched out a hand, and she quickly shook it.