by C. L. Stone
He shrugged. “You could stay with me until you figure it out.”
“You?” I glanced out over the grounds, looking at the people who wandered around. I wanted to say yes, but it felt...wrong. Like I’d be confirming to Loïc I was what he thought I was.
But did I feel that way?
“I...” I stammered for something to say to explain how I felt. “We can’t go on faking I’m your girlfriend. It wouldn’t be right.” After my ex, and just landing here, it was too soon, too much. I didn’t want that expectation. I didn’t want him to think I could commit right now.
Besides, maybe it just wasn’t in me.
He tilted his head. “I probably shouldn’t have suggested that...” He moved a palm over his own heart. “I’m impulsive. Soma would tell you never to listen to anything that comes out of my mouth right off the bat.”
“I also don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage,” I said.
“Never,” he said. “I’m offering. My home is yours, if you want. Want to work somewhere in the city? Let me know and I’ll put in a good word. Anywhere.”
His silver platter of offers was alluring. But it felt selfish of me. I still hadn’t done anything for him. “I don’t know...”
“Soma told me you were up to the game.”
“I think I scored a point,” I said. “Just out there.”
He rolled his eyes and gazed out at the people below. “We’ll see. Soma keeps the score. You have to get him to approve. But you could consider staying on the basis of an internship.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. If you want to join in on the game, we could work together.”
I smirked. “And it’s us scoring points as a team?”
He rolled his eyes. “You can score your own points. I wouldn’t even keep score except Loïc likes to rub it in my face.”
Why did he make it sound so simple? Still, I felt I owed him a lot. I wasn’t going to be able to pay him back financially, but I felt I could help him in some other way. “Ace,” I said softly, “it sounds like fun...”
He beamed and took up my hand again, covering it with the other and encasing it. “Absolutely.”
“But I want to help out.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to. Isn’t there something I can do? Maybe...maybe if I didn’t score a point here, I can work with you on something else. I can try to distract Loïc. Maybe I can offer house cleaning to you? Take some burden off Soma?” I didn’t want to replace Soma at his job. He did work for Ace, didn’t he? Although it felt like it was the other way around at times.
His smile softened and massaged my hand. “Can I ask you a favor now?”
I nodded.
“Will you...let me kiss you? Right here?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I just want to drive Loïc crazy a little.”
He’d said he was impulsive with decisions. “I haven’t seen him around. Can he see us?”
“I’m sure he’s watching.”
I wondered how he knew that. Still, he knew Loïc better than I did. And maybe that would kind of let Loïc know I wasn’t to be dismissed if Ace, his friend, appeared to like me.
And it was in me to jab a bit at Loïc for snubbing me.
He winked at me, then leaned in, puckering his lips, and he kissed me.
The kiss lingered, and I remained still, but a spark deep inside me, what I first thought was nervousness, ignited into desire and excitement.
He knew I wasn’t interested in a commitment, so this turned into something more fun.
I parted my lips, opening myself up. I placed a palm at his chest, fingers tracing his tie a little.
He sucked in a short breath, but responded, turning his head, lowering his hands to my waist and pulling me closer.
The edge of sensual longing threatened to take over.
And why shouldn’t I, if he was interested? Maybe it was the way Loïc dismissed me so easily, but I wanted to be wanted.
I stepped closer to him, enough that my chest pressed gently into him.
He pulled his head away, breaking the kiss, but he stayed close. Ace gazed at me with half-opened eyes, his hands still clinging to my waist. “Eva,” he breathed.
A blush radiated through me. I don’t know if he meant to go that far, but I didn’t want to appear too eager. I still barely knew him.
How was I feeling so attracted to him? His charm? The fine suit that felt so smooth under my hands? Because he saved me from having to face Atlanta police alone? I didn’t want to believe my feelings were that shallow. There was more to him and I liked how honest and forthcoming he was. How he picked me up without knowing me and insisted on helping when he could have dismissed me as easily as Loïc. “Yes, Ace?” I said softly.
“I just wanted to ask you...did you have anyone you were really close to in Atlanta? Your blog seemed to suggest you were usually alone.”
I hoped my makeup masked any redness from the heated blush at my skin. “I didn’t have a lot of time...”
“And I met your boyfriend. Your ex, I mean. It didn’t seem like you were close. I know we’re doing this to mess with Loïc, but...is this completely off the table for you, or do we just need space?”
I shrugged, and then turned my face, gazing down at the people walking around on the grounds with their champagne, gazing at art or turned to each other in conversation.
“I was never really comfortable with anyone,” I said. “People in my own tax bracket often misunderstood me. Thought I assumed myself better than them. The few who I dated who could afford it...maybe it was just me, but most men assumed I could be bought like a prize. Caught between worlds, in a way.”
“Are you happy doing things alone?”
I lifted my gaze back to him. My fingers toyed with his tie. “I’ve gotten shy. I can small-talk anyone, but I get a bit unsure of myself when people get to know me.”
Ace snorted shortly. He gripped my waist a little tighter. “You could charm the pants off of anyone down there at the party. Literally. Any man here... or lady if you prefer.”
I smirked. “Not my style to charm anyone’s pants off. And here, I mean, I wouldn’t want anyone to assume I was gold digging.”
“I love your style, Eva,” he said. “It’s not gold digging if you’re happy where you were and the money didn’t matter. Would you stay with me if I lived in a tiny apartment?”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t complain if all I had was a couch.”
“You can sleep on my couch if you want.”
I broke a smile and giggled.
He beamed. “I want to kiss you again, but I don’t care about Loïc this time.”
I met his gaze, the seriousness behind the amusement.
Ace drew me away from the balcony and waited until we were standing together out of sight of the garden before he pulled me to him.
He kissed me roughly this time, his stylishly unshaven face pushing against my mouth as he dove in.
I gripped at his suit coat. It had been a lot time since I kissed anyone new, and the thrill spurred a new excitement in me. I went light on my toes again, pushing my mouth against his, welcoming the kiss.
He held on to my waist again, and one hand slid to the small of my back.
I dropped the purse and shawl I’d carried, and heard them fall to the floor.
Ace was incredible. And a great kisser. I breathed in the cologne he wore, which had been subtle, but was rich, earthy. My hands felt his chest and shoulders underneath the smooth Vanquish material.
I never felt this for my ex. This was different. He seemed to understand I was hesitant at commitment, yet could handle this sort of affection.
He came up for air and gazed at me again. “Eva,” he said, his voice a little gruff. He swallowed thickly and then pressed his lips together shortly. “Let me take you on a date. A real one.”
“I...”
“To Greece.”
My
eyebrow lifted. “What?”
“Or Paris.”
My mouth formed an O shape.
He laughed and shook his head. “I’m starting to really adore that look. Be careful, Eva.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Deadly,” he said. “I don’t care where we go. Let’s get away from here, away from Loïc. Away from everything until talk dies down. I’ll make sure a PR team goes behind everything after it dies down and deletes or removes everything it can quietly. People will forget. You know they will. We’ll stay away long enough for them to not remember your face.”
“I appreciate the thought.” I smiled though a bit confused. “Isn’t it a bit soon? I mean, going to Europe...”
“Maybe the Caribbean. Something closer?”
“I don’t have my passport here.”
“I’ll go get your passport.”
I pressed my palms to his chest, just relaxing next to him. “Why do you want to take off? Isn’t Charleston far enough?”
“Because maybe I want to for fun, and I’d rather you go with me.” He paused and then he sighed. “Look, maybe it’s because of Loïc. He’s a little crazy.” He took up my hand again, holding it in his. “And I don’t want his antics getting in the way of me getting to know you.”
He wanted to separate us? “Are you that worried?”
He nodded, and then smoothed his hands up and down my back. “More that he’ll find it hilarious to himself to throw more people like Zoey at us to frustrate us. Going away gives us a chance to get to know each other. Start over. Let me know the real Eva, not from her blog or whatever. And you can ask me anything. I’m an open book.”
“I don’t know yet about taking off on a cruise.” I paused, not wanting to deter him, but I wanted to think about this. My gaze settled on Loïc’s bed in the middle of the room. “We could really get under Loïc’s skin before we leave,” I said. I tugged him toward the bed.
Ace’s eyes widened. “Who’s the one moving a little fast now?”
I rolled my eyes and urged him to get on the bed. “We don’t have to do anything. Just make it look like we did.”
He sat on the bed, and I went back for the shawl.
I nudged him until he was laying in the middle, and I was next to him. I pressed my head to the pillow, rumpling the bed and making impressions.
Ace burst out laughing and then rolled onto his side, watching what I was doing. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Think he’ll notice?” I asked, rolling around a little.
“Oh yeah,” he said.
I took the shawl and stuffed it under the pillow.
He took it and then put it between the sheets. “Shove it down there,” he said. “Don’t let a maid find it first when they turn down the bed.”
After we rumpled things up, he stood and took my hand.
“Now let’s get out of here before someone else comes by and sees us,” I said, rising.
“Like I’d care,” Ace said.
I followed him down the hallway, holding his hand and feeling a little lighter about the situation, exchanging conspiratorial smiles. I knew we probably had to linger a little at the party, but I was eager to leave.
I didn’t want to be so bitter, but I hoped Loïc found the shawl and recognized it as mine. I wanted him to know I’d been in his room, with Ace, with the suggestion we had fooled around in there.
Although, the question of why lingered with me. Maybe I didn’t want to go out of town with Ace, because I was still determined to get Loïc to even look at me.
And with the way Ace was trying to bribe me away, I was more curious than ever to figure out Loïc for myself.
Temper
It was getting later in the evening when we returned to the party below, with the sun starting to descend. There was an announcement that bidding would end in an hour. We were to join everyone in a tent to hear about the charity and to confirm who won each auctioned item.
Tables were being set up in the lawn under an open tent. I hadn’t realized dinner was part of this, but it made sense if people were putting money into art that they be fed well before they went home. There had been appetizers floating around, but I’d missed all of them from roaming around the grounds.
Ace wanted to see the collection for sale, and we took our time going to different parts of the grounds. Now that I was off duty, so to speak, I was finally able to really take in how beautiful Belle Cielo really was.
I begged him to check out the maze.
“I know it by heart,” he said and winked at me.
The maze was quite a distance from the main house. The hedges were over our heads, but Ace said as long as you kept going right, you’d eventually find the center, and if you kept going, you got back out.
He made a few lefts immediately going in. “I know the shortcuts,” he said.
He was right about knowing his way. We reached the midpoint garden quickly. The center of the maze was another marble floor with a large Asian tiger standing on a pedestal. The marble flooring was the exact same as the floor of his house in the entryway, with a map of the maze on it. I suspected it was there so people could learn a way out if they were lost in the middle.
The center had a few of pieces of art on pedestals, although two were missing, and attendants were covering the others in prep to move out of the maze.
I was inspecting the floor, the maze and trying to figure out Ace’s shortcuts.
Ace stood beside me. “Think you can beat me back out?”
I nodded. There were a couple of options to get out once you were paying attention. “I can’t run in the heels, but if you promise not to rush, I can meet you on the path.”
“I’ll be waiting,” he said and started off in one direction, and then when I started to go toward another opening, he jumped over and darted down that same path. “I want this one,” he said.
I smiled coyly, not wanting him to think he had any sort of advantage, checked the map once more and then hurried to another option.
Halfway though, I accidentally lost count if turns and ended up in a dead end.
I sighed. I wasn’t going to beat him. I started doing what he said, taking all right turns and just hoping to find my way out.
I was about to take another turn when I bumped into someone coming the other direction.
I looked up, finding a stern looking man with a snarl on his face that seemed to be permanent. He wore a dark suit and there was a fine line of sweat on his face.
“I’m sorry,” I said. I ducked my head, wanting to get away from him quickly. I wasn’t going to judge, as I knew some people just appeared mean without being so.
He took a long look at me. “You’re Ace’s girl, aren’t you?”
Had we been that noticeable? Charleston was more small town than I thought. “Yes,” I said. “My name is Emily.”
He turned fully to me, his broad shoulders drawing back. “You’re the one spreading lies about my wife.”
Before I could think of how to reply, Mrs. Harvey turned the same corner and stood beside her husband.
She spoke to her husband. “Who are you talking...” Her head turned my direction, and she whipped the sunglasses off of her face. “You?” Her lip curled, and she pointed the sunglasses toward me. “You’re the one...”
“I just said that,” her husband said, a heavy brow raising. “Don’t say anything to her.”
Mrs. Harvey’s words burst from her lips. “How dare you spread such ludicrous things about me.”
My lips parted, my cheeks on fire. There was no one here to enforce a shield of decorum. How did she know it was me?
I lifted my head, trying to not appear intimidated. I didn’t want to get dragged into an argument. This wasn’t the place, even if we were alone. “I’m not here to argue. I’ve never said anything except what I’ve heard.”
“What I do is none of your business, nor is it of any concern to anyone else,” she snapped.
Soma had mentioned bef
ore that she’d been more interested in saving herself than fixing the problem. I realized this was what he was talking about.
And that just made me more irritated. I placed my hands calmly behind my back while holding my purse. I reached for my phone, but I wasn’t sure what good that would do. If I had known this would happen, I would have recorded this somehow. “If it wasn’t of concern,” I said as calmly as I could, “and there wasn’t anything to hide, there wouldn’t be anything to be upset over. You can just tell me if it’s not true.”
“How am I supposed to know what goes on in a factory a half globe away?” she asked. “It’s the job of their police to correct any wrongdoing, not mine. I’m not doing anything illegal.”
What a repulsive...
A rustling nearby had us all jumping. A man appeared, mid-twenties maybe. Stylishly unshaven, blond hair and handsome like a model. He took a keen interest in the Harveys. “Oh it’s you two,” he said with a curious raise of the brow.
Mrs. Harvey seemed to snarl as she spoke. “God, Blake Coaltar. What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to bid on art for charity.” He tilted his head, a fox-like smile easing onto his face. He moved slow, but when he did it, he eased himself between me and them, like a barrier. “Hearing some interesting things about you.”
Her voice rose. “Rumors. All of it. You shouldn’t listen to anything.”
“Bless your heart,” I said without hiding the sarcasm. “You must be exhausted defending yourself.”
Her husband tugged at her elbow. “Don’t say anything else.” He pointed a finger in my direction. “You’ll get our lawsuit shortly. Prepare your lawyer.”
I held my breath until they walked away, and then released it, closing my eyes.
I hadn’t been prepared to face her. Somehow, people had let her know I was the one.
Blake turned to me. “You okay?”
I nodded slowly, breathless for the moment as my heart needed to slow down. “I think so.”
He smirked at me. “Crazy way to be introduced, but I’m guessing you’re the now infamous Emily.”
“It’s going around?”
“A little. I respect the cause, but...” He waggled a lean finger at me. “No one needs to be ugly. You’ve got all her feathers ruffled and she’s biting back.” He patted me gently on the arm. “You should be more careful next time. I’ll go create some distance, but you’ve made me an enemy now too.”
