Dax didn't even glance away from him. He set his wineglass down with deliberate care, fingers resting lightly on the stem. "Of course I knew," he said, his voice even, velvet-low. "We had already swept the hall twice. But you stepping in was… flattering. And interesting."
Mia blinked, glancing between them. "Wait. You're telling me you let him…"
"I didn't let him," Dax said, still calm. "He moved before my man could. And I saw something I wasn't expecting."
Chris stared at him. "You were testing me."
"I was watching you," Dax corrected, a faint curl at the edge of his mouth. "And you showed me who you are."
Mia's grin returned, slow and wicked. "You mean my brother stole your thunder and you liked it."
Dax's eyes glinted with amusement, but he didn't deny it. "Something like that."
Chris's fork hovered above his plate, pulse ticking at his throat. "How is that even possible?"
