by Layne, Ivy
“You know, this is hard for your sons. They love Maxwell, despite everything. And he put all of you at risk. He put the business at risk. They’re doing everything they can to keep you safe and save what they’ve built. They need you to back them up. Them, not Maxwell.”
“You’re so fucking high and mighty, aren't you?” Lacey sneered. “Since the day you showed up all you wanted is to get your claws in a Sinclair. I know your game. I know why he hired you, you little slut. You bided your time when he was done with you. Now you think you have Cooper, but you’ll never keep him. He knows what you are. Just another whore.”
I was used to bitchiness from Lacey, even some light name-calling, but this was over the top. Was it stress? Too many gin and tonics?
I won't deny I've had a crush on Cooper since the first day I saw him, but I never, ever did anything about it. Not until that day two weeks ago when he’d kissed me. I'd never been interested in any other Sinclair, and I'd never laid a finger on one, much less indicated I wanted to.
Let it go, I told myself. She's drunk and she's freaking out. Just lock her in and get back to the desk.
I took my own advice, turning my back on Lacey and bolting for the door before she could beat me to it. She didn't bother, leaning against the counter and staring at me with hate.
She's a lonely, bitter, unhappy woman, I reminded myself. Feel pity, but don't let her hurt your feelings.
I pulled the door shut and typed the code into the keypad that would lock the door from the outside. We rarely had to use that code, but all of us knew it. Our job is to keep our clients safe, even if that meant keeping them safe from themselves. This definitely qualified as one of those times.
Whatever trouble Lacey could get into in that apartment, it couldn’t be as bad as what she’d get up to if I let her out.
It wouldn’t be long before I learned how very wrong I was about that.
Chapter Eleven
Alice
I pulled on my dress, pleased at the reflection in the mirror. The fabric shimmered in the light, shifting from emerald to a green so deep it was almost black.
I'd purchased the party dress on a whim over a year before with no idea where I would wear it. At the time, I hadn’t cared. It had been on sale and so perfect I couldn't resist.
The pleated wrap bodice dipped to a V between my modest breasts showing a lot more cleavage than I usually bared. Classy cleavage, but cleavage all the same. I’d pulled out my secret weapon for dresses like this, a black lace push-up bustier that turned my less-than-impressive breasts into a whole lot more.
I grinned at the thought of Cooper's eyes bugging out of his head when he caught sight of me. With a tight waist, a matching V at my back, and a full skirt held out by two black crinolines, the dress made the most of my assets.
Smoothing on lipstick, I gave my reflection one last look. Sky-high heels, sheer black stockings, knockout dress, and red lipstick. I’m no supermodel, but my best is pretty damn good.
I was lucky I had the dress in my closet since I hadn’t planned for the party tonight. None of us had. Earlier that afternoon, just as we were all packing up, Lacey had swanned into the office handing out invitations.
Squares of cream linen bearing our names in calligraphy on the front. Confused, I’d opened mine and pulled out a card. I was cordially invited to an engagement party for Evers Sinclair and Summer Winters.
What was this? My eyes had popped up to see disbelief on Cooper's face, anger on Evers’. Evers held the card out to his mother.
“What the fuck, Mom?”
“Language, Evers,” she chided. Evers had set his jaw and glared.
Lacey shrugged a shoulder and tossed her hair, somewhere between dismissive and defiant. “You boys locked me in that apartment with nothing to do. Wouldn’t let me see my friends, wouldn’t let me go out to lunch, and we have an engagement to celebrate. So, I took it upon myself to throw a party.”
The Sinclair brothers stared at each other, dumbfounded. How the hell had she planned a party? When he got over his shock, Cooper protested, “Mom, Jacob Winters' wedding is next weekend. We can't throw an engagement party the weekend before. It's rude.”
Lacey waved a hand in the air, shooing away Cooper's concerns. “Jacob won't mind. I've known that boy since he was born. He'll be happy to celebrate. In fact, he's already RSVP’d.”
“Summer wanted to plan the party,” Evers said, his voice flat. “This fall, after Jacob’s wedding, when things with Dad were resolved. She told you that. You know she’s been looking forward to it.”
Lacey rolled her eyes, unconcerned. “I’m her mother-in-law. It’s not up to her.”
Knox asked the only relevant question. “How many of these invitations did you send out?”
Lacey beamed. “Only a hundred. And most of them said yes.”
Cooper, staring at the invitation in his hand, said only, “Fuck me.”
Every available and qualified employee had been roped into handling security. Lacey didn't seem to mind forcing so many people to cancel their Friday night plans with no notice.
Cooper minded. A lot. He promised them all a bonus for putting up with his mother's thoughtless planning. Jacob and Abigail had, of course, assured him that they weren’t the least bit offended Lacey had decided to throw Evers and Summer an engagement party the weekend before their wedding. Not only were the Winters and Sinclairs practically family, Jacob knew Lacey. He knew this party hadn't been anyone's idea but hers.
The boys were dreading it. I understood that. I kind of was, too. Still, I had this gorgeous dress and hadn't had an excuse to wear it. Even if Cooper and I weren’t official, even if I didn't have any idea what we were really doing, and no one would know, I loved the idea of dressing up for him. This dress would drive him crazy. Especially when he found out what I was wearing beneath it.
As I left my apartment and locked the door behind me, I was struck by the fleeting wish that this thing with Cooper was real. That he’d pick me up at my door and escort me to the party on his arm instead of picking me up with his mother and giving me a ride because he was my boss and we lived in the same building.
I hoped for a moment alone with him, but Lacey's door opened as mine closed. She met me in the hall, her cold eyes scanning my dress. I silently dared her to say something about it.
Technically, it fit with the rest of my clothes, but the wrap bodice and full skirt were classic. In fact, I’d found it on the rack at a department store at the mall. It was absolutely appropriate for the party, and, as I'd suspected, Lacey couldn't find anything to insult.
Instead, she turned her face away from mine, chin in the air, and tapped her foot with impatience. Scanning her from the corner of my eye, I realized that while she looked as she normally did, her hair and makeup perfect, she was steady, not wobbling the slightest bit. Was it possible Lacey was actually sober? Or maybe just not drunk. She didn't even seem tipsy.
Maybe tonight wouldn't be a total disaster. It was possible.
The hum of the elevator drew my eyes. Cooper stepped out, his eyes skimming past his mother to land on me. They traced the neckline of my dress, dipping between my breasts. Knowing his mother was watching, his only response was a quick flare of his eyes before his jaw went hard. He tapped the button for the elevator. “Let's get this over with, shall we?”
Lacey strode past me, looping her arm through her son’s and beaming up at him. “Don't be such a party pooper. This is going to be fun. I have a surprise waiting for you at the club.”
Cooper let out a huff of exasperation. “Is it a surprise that means we’ll get through the evening without any incidents and go home early?”
Lacey's laugh was a crystalline tinkle of sound, each giggle splintering to deadly shards as it landed. Cooper's jaw flexed as he clenched his teeth. I moved to his other side and set a hand on his arm.
“Don’t worry, it'll be fun,” I tried to reassure.
Lacey leaned across Cooper, the venomous glee in her smile driving me back. “Oh, yes,” she agreed, “it will be fun.”
I followed them into the elevator, suddenly uneasy.
There was a line of cars at the valet stand when we pulled up, despite being early. Not surprising.
All of Atlanta—the part that mattered to Lacey Sinclair—was eager to turn out for her last-minute engagement party. The drama of the rush was part of the draw. Everyone would be examining Summer for a baby bump, studying the family for signs of discord, gossip moving like wildfire as the guests tried to figure out why a Sinclair would throw such an important event with only a few days’ notice.
Lacey didn't care. If she had, she would have left well enough alone. I followed Cooper and his mother into the country club, ignoring the curious stares of guests who hadn't entered yet. Cooper did the same, fending off several approaches with an abrupt wave of his hand.
Cooper kept his cool, but he was perilously close to losing it. Lacey didn't care about that either.
I'd gotten dressed thinking I'd make the most of this, try to find the fun in a potential disaster. As I entered the ballroom and laid eyes on Evers and Summer, all thoughts of a silver lining evaporated.
Summer’s usually bright smile was dim as she shook hands and hugged people she barely knew. We'd only met a few times, weren’t close enough for me to offer any real comfort, but when I greeted her, I gave her a tight hug. “You okay?” I murmured.
She hitched her shoulder and gave me a brave smile.
“Trying not to kill my future mother-in-law,” she murmured through gritted teeth.
“If you want, I'll do it for you,” I offered, only half-kidding.
Summer’s blue eyes went dark. Ominously, she said, “Oh, you're not going to do it for me.”
She passed me to Evers, who was so pissed he practically vibrated with rage, though the only outward sign was the tick in his jaw. Giving me a hug, he said in a low voice, “Don't be mad at him, he didn't know.”
Who didn't know what? I wanted to ask, but the line of partygoers waiting to see Evers and Summer had piled up behind me.
I was strolling in the direction of the bar, a glass of champagne in my future, when I spotted Cooper standing beside his mother, his arms around a tall blonde in a strapless pink gown.
Placing an enthusiastic kiss on his cheek, she practically bubbled as she slipped her arm through his and smiled up at him.
Chapter Twelve
Alice
Lacey radiated smug happiness cut only by the triumphant glance she sent in my direction.
I stumbled, catching myself before I could do a header into the polished hardwood floor. It didn't take me long to put the pieces together. Lacey had ordered Cooper a date.
Seriously?
Cooper was thirty-eight years old. He didn't need his mother to set him up.
The woman on his arm was tall and gorgeous and blonde. Taking in the sparkle of diamonds at her ears, neck, and wrists, I could guess she was a member of the club like the Sinclairs. Exactly the kind of woman his mother would choose for him.
Catching the faint apology in Cooper's eyes as they met mine, the sight of the blonde princess holding onto his arm cut a hole in my heart.
This was who he’d leave me for. Maybe not her exactly, but someone like her. Glamorous and wealthy, with the right pedigree.
Someone who was someone.
Not a divorced office manager from a normal middle-class family. I sipped at my champagne and tried to disappear into a potted palm on the side of the room, wondering if I’d need an excuse to leave early.
There would be no sneaking away for stolen kisses tonight. Not when Cooper already had a date. The dress and the black lace underwear felt stupid.
I wasn’t Cooper's girlfriend.
He was my boss.
My boss and my temporary hookup. That was it.
The blonde glued to Cooper’s side offered him an hors d'oeuvre from a plate, her fingertips brushing his lips as she fed it to him.
I felt his eyes on me and studiously avoided them, examining the guests of honor across the room, hoping for their sake the receiving line would end soon. Evers looked like he was about to snap. Summer was miserable beneath her polite smile.
Lacey Sinclair was a fucking bitch.
An arm slid around my shoulders, a familiar voice in my ear. “Smile at me like I'm Cooper and kiss me on the cheek. It'll drive Lacey bat-shit crazy.”
I glanced up to see Griffen looking down at me with a spark of mischief in his eye. Like me, he wasn’t a fan of Lacey Sinclair. He’d spent too many years watching her make his best friends miserable.
Feeling Lacey's eyes on us, I gave Griffen my most radiant smile and kissed him on the cheek. He turned his face, bringing us so close our lips almost touched.
Devastating in a dark suit, his sandy blond hair cut short to reveal perfect bone structure, Griffen’s sea-green eyes were filled with mischief.
“Nice job. Try not to look so miserable, and we might pull this off.”
“What are you doing? I thought you were coordinating security.”
Griffen led me away from the bar, taking a position by the French doors to the gardens, still on the side of the room but far more visible than I would have liked. Lacey's triumph had melted into confused anger.
A flick of my eyes to the man standing beside her and I saw that Cooper wasn't confused, he was furious. His eyes were arctic, the vein in his temple pulsing red.
Answering my question, Griffen said, “I delegated. There's not much to manage now that all the guests are here. And I'm not leaving you alone while Cooper has that harpy on his arm.”
Griffen wasn't talking about Lacey, he meant the woman feeding Cooper another hors d'oeuvre. What was her deal? He wasn’t a toddler. He could feed himself.
Don't be a bitch, I chided myself. “Just because Lacey set this up doesn't mean she's a harpy.”
“I know Heather Spencer, and she is a harpy. She's been engaged three times. She's holding out for the big score.”
Not knowing why I was defending the woman who was currently hanging all over my not-actually-a-boyfriend, I argued, “Charlie Winters was engaged three times.”
Griffen just laughed, snagging another glass of champagne off the tray of a passing waiter and shoving it in my hand, taking my empty one.
When did I finish my champagne?
“Charlie dumped three gold-digging assholes. Not the same thing. Heather traded up each time. Cooper is exactly what she’s looking for.”
“Why would Lacey do that to him? Doesn't she want him to be happy?” The moment the words left my mouth I heard my own foolishness. Lacey hadn't given Cooper’s happiness a single thought.
If she thought about her children’s happiness she never would have ruined Evers and Summer's engagement celebration this way.
If she thought about their happiness she wouldn't have done a lot of things.
The strains of music began, couples drifting to the dance floor. Cooper’s date tried to tug him in that direction, but he was unmovable.
Griffen smirked. “Want to dance?”
I sucked back a slug of champagne and tried not to sigh. “No. I want to go home,” I said, honestly. “I think I’ll just call for a ride and—”
“No fucking way,” Griffen said, his arm tightening around me. “You two are being dumbasses, you know that?”
“Can we not talk about this?”
“Nope. If you don’t want to talk, you can listen. This is stupid. You're both adults.”
“Exactly.” I emptied my champagne and shoved the glass in Griffen's hand, aggravated that he was butting into something that was none of his damn business. “We're adults, and what
we do outside work is nobody else's business.”
“You're outside of work right now. So why are you over here with me while he has Heather Spencer on his arm? It’s a fucking waste of that dress, for one thing.”
My righteous indignation deflated. It was a waste of this dress. I should have saved it for something else.
For what? It's not like Cooper was ever going to take me to a party. The champagne turned sour in my stomach. “I don't want work to get weird when this whole thing fizzles out.”
“What makes you think it's going to fizzle out?”
I leaned back and stared up at Griffen, uncomprehending. He had an equally disbelieving expression on his face.
“Griffen. Don't be an idiot. Look at her,” I tilted my chin in Cooper and Heather's direction, “and then look at me. There's a reason he's at the party with her and not me.”
“Yeah, because his mother is a raging bitch. And I'm not the one who's an idiot.”
“Are you calling me an idiot?” I demanded, champagne bubbling through my brain, muddling the emotions swirling through me until I couldn't tell if I was mad, or depressed, or indignant.
I was something, and it wasn’t happy. Griffen shoved a mushroom tart in my mouth to shut me up.
“I call it how I see it, kid. You two are dumbasses. Life is short. You're wasting it playing a stupid, fucking game.”
I chewed as fast as I could, swallowing so I could fire off the uninspired retort of, “It's not a game.”
“Exactly my point,” Griffen agreed. He slid another glass in my hand and tightened his arm around me. “Heads up. Incoming.”
I sipped to wash down the remains of the mushroom tart. I was drinking too much, and I didn’t really care. When I looked up, Cooper loomed over us, his mother and his date nowhere in sight.
“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” he growled at Griffen.
“I'm Alice’s date,” he said, easily. “I'm sure you don't mind, considering you have your own.”
The vein in Cooper's temple pulsed harder. I took another sip, murmuring, “Griffen—”, not sure what I was going to say but knowing I had to say something or Cooper was going to hit Griffen and this whole thing would go to hell.
