He called the waiter over and asked him to bring over two of their best entertainers.


    They had both types-one with a bold, wolfish charm, and another with a softer, puppy-like sweetness.


    Noreen, for her part, couldn''t have been less interested. The puppyish guy sitting next to her kept trying to make conversation, but she only responded now and then, just to be polite.<fn92ca> Content originallyes from find(?)ovel</fn92ca>


    On the other hand, ire was in her element. She worked the room like a pro, her flirtation pitch-perfect at every turn.


    "Myst boyfriend broke my heart so badly, I''m honestly scared to date," she confided, her voice soft and vulnerable.


    "It''s been ages since I''ve had a crush-this is the first time I''ve felt butterflies in years."


    "I get so nervous talking to you. Wow, are these real muscles? Impressive!"


    "Your hands are so big, and your Adam''s apple moves when you talk... can I touch it?"


    "I have such a low tolerance for alcohol, I''m warning you."


    "Would you mind leaning down to talk? The music''s so loud, I can barely hear you."


    The guy beside her was absolutely hooked, his smile growing wider with every exchange.


    ire even nudged the puppyish guy next to Noreen, whispering, "What are you waiting for? Go ahead and charm her!"


    The puppy-dog type caught on quick. "Come on, have a drink with me," he said, raising his ss to Noreen.


    Figuring the guy was just trying to earn his living, Noreen yed along and clinked her ss with his.


    But the puppy-dog didn''t stop there-he


    on doing a traditional interlocked arm toast.


    his arm through hers, and insisted


    Upstairs, Henry was at the club to celebrate a friend''s birthday.


    The private lounge was packed, everyoneughing and chatting over drinks. At one point, a woman tried to hit on him, but Henry brushed her off without the slightest courtesy.


    "Don''t bother," one of his friends joked. "He''s got someone on his mind- practically takes a vow of chastity for her."


    The woman looked disappointed. With Henry''s credentials,nding him would mean financial security for life.


    Finding the noise overwhelming, Henry slipped out onto the balcony for some air. He leaned against the second-floor railing, swirling his drink as the amber liquid caught the light.


    Through the rim of his ss, he glimpsed a familiar figure downstairs.


    He lowered his ss and focused on one of the booths below. After a moment, a sneer curled his lips.


    Noreen. That woman was as shameless as ever.


    He turned away, disgusted. Even another nce felt like too much.


    ire, meanwhile, knew how to have her fun, but she always kept things within reason. Seeing that Noreen really wasn''t into the scene, ire shooed away both guys.


    "You know, I''ve realized something. It''s not just that you''ve lost your spark-you''re practically allergic to men now."


    "And that''s the real problem!"


    The more ire thought about it, the


    more annoyed she got. She


    regretted not throwing her drink in one time. No, she


    Seth''s face that one time No


    should have smashed the bottle


    over his head instead!


    But Noreen didn''t see anything wrong with her current attitude.


    How did that saying go again?


    Without love, you break free from the game.


    Without attachment, you master the whole board.


    Now, she only cared about three things: her money, her health, and her inner peace.


    She genuinely liked the person she''d be.


    When the night was finally over and they stepped outside, Noreen pulled out her phone to call a cab.


    Suddenly, Padgett Novak''s name shed on the screen.


    Their interactions had always been strictly professional, so Noreen assumed he was calling about work.


    She answered without hesitation.


    Padgett''s voice came through the line. "Are you at Northcrest?"


    "I am," she replied.


    "Where exactly?"


    From the sound of his voice, he was probably somewhere nearby. Noreen exined she''d just been out for drinks with a friend.


    "When are you heading out?"


    "It just ended, actually. I''m about to get a cab back to my hotel."


    She was about to ask if something was wrong-why else would he call her so


    "It''s not safe to get a cab thiste. I have my car here. If you don''t mind, send me your location and. I''lle pick you up."


    Noreen thought he was being a little too eager and was about to turn him down, but ire grabbed her hand and spoke into the phone, "We''re at 98 Lumen Street."  fo


    "Got it. Wait for me," Padgett said, then hung up.


    Noreen shot ire a look of exasperation.


    ire waggled her eyebrows and grinned. "He''s interested in you! Don''t shut him


    down every time-give the guy a chance."