Talking ceases as there’s a collective intake of breath around the table.

“Owens,” Jace growls.

Owens laughs. “Not interested, huh?” He scoots his chair back and stands. “Sure thing, Dawson.” He remains standing for a moment, but I don’t look up to see why. Eventually, I hear him walk away.

The chair next to me makes a scraping noise against the scarred hardwood floor as Jace pulls it out to accommodate his taller frame. As he settles into the seat, his bare arm brushes against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my system. The other guys are still revealing their hands, so I have nothing to do but fiddle with my own cards as I sit there and pretend I’m oblivious to Jace’s presence mere inches from me.

“What are you doing here?” he asks me in a low voice.

“Playing poker.”

Jace sighs. “Why are you at this party?” I’m startled and hurt by the frank question, but I fight to keep it off my face.

“I heard it was the place to be tonight.” I keep my eyes straight ahead, still refusing to let myself look over at him.

“Who let you in?”

“Way to make me feel welcome, Dawson.” I emphasize his last name. “I’m surprised anyone bothers showing up to these parties at all, if this is the way they’re greeted.”

“Vivienne, how did you get in here?” Jace persists with his interrogation, and my temper flares in response.

“I knocked on the front door, and the person who opened it has much better manners than you do. Is there any particular reason why I’m the only person here you’re cross-examining? Next time, I’ll climb in through a window to make for a more interesting story and give you an actual reason to throw me out.”

“No one else here hates football the way you do. It’s a little ironic that you, of all people, are at a team party.”

“Are you seriously telling me I have to be a football expert to attend your stupid party?”

Jace opens his mouth to reply, but I don’t give him a chance to.

“And didn’t we already cover this? I thought I made it clear it’s your condescending attitude I have a problem with, not the sport you play.”

Anderson chuckles from my other side, and Jace leans forward to glare at him. I look up from my cards to see that several of the other guys are grinning, evidently listening to our tense conversation.

“Did you do this, Anderson?” Jace asks, nodding to me.

“Dawson, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Anderson lies. “But I would suggest you shut up about her not being welcome here, or Vivienne’s not going to want to come to any of our other parties. We’ll all be richer but much less entertained.”

I smile at that, and then stand to refill my empty cup again. Jace tracks my movements closely as I walk back and sit down next to him.