6
“How come I don’t get to go to the party?” Danny asked from his vantage point at the end of Amy’s bed.
“Because it’s for adults,” she reminded him as she carefully applied a sheer pink gloss over her lipstick. “Besides, Jade and I are going to drop you off at the O’Briens on our way and a little bird told me that they’re planning to treat you to a movie tonight.”
Danny’s eyes lit up. “The new Avengers movie?”
“I think that’s the one.”
“Yes!” He jumped off the bed. “I gotta get my Captain America shield,” he said, then tore out of her room like his feet were on fire.
“I don’t think you can take it into the theater with you,” she called after him as she tucked her lip gloss into her purse. Taking a step back, she checked her reflection in the mirror above the weathered dresser she’d found at a garage sale the first week she returned to San Francisco. The floral-lace sleeveless sheath dress she borrowed from Jade was the most beautiful dress she’d ever worn. The royal blue fabric was exquisite; the second she’d put it on she’d felt like a princess.
That princess feeling lasted about two minutes. Then she began worrying about the evening ahead. Was getting one of the other servers to cover her shift at Stylus a good idea? The holiday party, which was being held at Adam Logan’s home in Pacific Heights, was primarily for the staff. However, several clients who lived in the Bay Area had been invited as well. The logical conclusion was that Rick Taylor had received an invitation and since she doubted he was still in Texas he might very well attend.
What would she do if they came face to face? Tonight she was the woman who’d crashed into him at Logan-Johnson, not the cocktail server he’d asked out for coffee two weeks ago. Even though she’d added the number he’d given her into her phone, she hadn’t called him. Jade thought she was insane, but she had her reasons for not contacting Rick. She had more baggage than a fully loaded 747 cargo hold and she was planning on leaving the state as soon as she saved enough money. Why bother starting something she couldn’t finish? Or risk Rick discovering her not so pristine past? She had too much to lose if the truth about Barstow came out. As long as she was the only person in San Francisco that knew what happened there, no one could use it against her.
She opened her small jewelry box, put on her favorite earrings and then spritzed some perfume on her wrists and neck. Perhaps she was worrying for nothing. According to Jade, Adam’s house was huge. Even if she saw Rick it might be easy to avoid him, and if they did happen to cross paths there was no way he’d recognize her from Stylus.
No way at all.
Once she and Jade dropped Danny off at the O’Briens, Amy sat in the passenger seat of Jade’s car staring unseeingly out the window. Jade had tuned her radio to a station that played Christmas songs twenty-four hours a day from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Eve and her singing along to “Last Christmas” by Wham! gave new meaning to the phrase off-key.
At the intersection of Franklin and Golden Gate, Jade stopped for the red light and lowered the volume on the radio. “Relax. It’s a party, not a trip to the dentist’s office.”
Amy sighed and looked at Jade. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yes. You’re as stiff as a board. I’m surprised you could get into the car without breaking in two.”
Despite her tightly wound nerves, Amy laughed. “Okay. I’ll try to relax.” She smoothed her palms over the fabric of her wool coat. “Is Trey going to be there?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
“That’s pretty blasé for someone who can’t stand to be in the same room with the guy.” She studied Jade’s profile. “What’s going on with that sous chef you’ve been dating? What was his name? Colton?”
“Carter.” Jade tapped her fingernails against the steering wheel. “Things were going well. We had two great dates and then he sent me a dick pic.”
Amy gasped. “No way! Are you kidding?”
“Oh, how I wish I were,” Jade said with a dramatic flourish of her hand. “It was the most embarrassing experience of my life.”
“You have seen a penis before, right?”
Jade shot her an exasperated look. “Yes, I’ve seen a penis. I just wasn’t expecting to see an erect one on my phone in the middle of a meeting, along with a caption that read ‘see the effect your hot bod has on me?’ I was so shocked I dropped my phone on the floor, and Trey, who was sitting next to me, picked it up and saw the damn thing. I wanted to die right then and there.”
Amy wanted to laugh but the mortified expression on Jade’s face told her it probably wasn’t a good idea right now. “What did he say?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I keep waiting for him to bring it up but he hasn’t. I know he’s waiting for the right time to use it against me. Like he hasn’t sent a few dick pics in his day,” Jade said with a derisive snort as the light turned green and they crossed the intersection and headed up Franklin.
“Forget Trey. Did you respond to Carter?”
“Oh, yeah. You bet I did.” Jade smirked. “I told him I’d seen cocktail wieners that were bigger. I haven’t heard from him since.”
“Of course you haven’t. You insulted his manhood.”
“That’s the chance you take when you send out unsolicited dick pics.”
Amy grinned. “So true.”
Finding a parking spot anywhere in San Francisco was always a challenge, but Jade lucked out about three blocks from Adam’s house on Vallejo Street. Pacific Heights was one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city, and the stately homes that graced the tree-lined streets were breathtaking. At this time of year the classic Victorians, European revivals, and the more contemporary exteriors were adorned with festive holiday lights and imaginative decorations. One house, a Victorian, was covered with gold lights from the eaves down to the garage, which was covered in green foil and wrapped with a large red bow making it look like a Christmas gift.
The lights on Adam’s Edwardian red brick home on a large corner lot weren’t extravagant, but he’d made up for it inside the house. A large fir tree, trimmed with more ornaments than Amy had ever seen, graced the grand foyer, and there was a second smaller tree in the large living room. Despite its size, the room was cozy, and with its French doors and transoms, she imagined that in the daytime the room was filled with an abundance of natural light.
A half-hour after she and Jade arrived, Rick made his entrance and Amy had spent the next forty minutes avoiding him. When he was in the living room, she slipped into the formal dining room where a bartender was serving drinks. When Rick appeared in the dining room, she made her way around the perimeter of the room and headed for the kitchen
After a lengthy chat with a few of her co-workers, Amy peeked into the dining room to ensure the coast was clear before she returned to the bar for a second glass of wine. Taking her drink with her, she found herself admiring the view from the large picture window. In the distance, the lights on the Golden Gate Bridge cast a fuzzy orange glow over the span and cantilevers. Headlights twinkled like stars as cars traversed the bridge to and from San Francisco and Marin County. It was a gorgeous sight. One of many she’d missed while living in the desert.
Turning from the lovely view, she stifled a gasp at the sight of Rick standing in the far corner. Unexpected longing, followed by a jolt of jealousy, shot through her. Next to Rick stood Leah Porter, another L-J client. During the season, Leah worked for the Blaze. She produced and hosted video content for the team’s website, interviewed players and coaches and emceed the team’s many charitable events. The water-cooler gossip at Logan-Johnson was that Leah was going places. Not only was she attractive, she was also smart, personable, and when it came to sports, she knew her stuff.
Watching Rick and Leah, who looked more than comfortable together, Amy’s heart constricted with envy. An absurd emotion since she’d chosen to not take Rick up on his offer to meet for coffee. Still, her rationale for keeping her di
stance from him didn’t stop her from wishing things could be different. That she could be different. She sipped her wine and grimaced at its suddenly flat taste.
Feeling like a third-rate voyeur, she wound her way through the guests congregating in the room and returned to the living room where Jade was involved in an animated conversation with one of the agents who worked in Logan-Johnson’s newly formed football division. Not far from the duo, Trey Gentry was standing by the French doors with two men she didn’t recognize. From her position in front of the marble fireplace, she sipped her wine and observed Trey’s inability to keep his eyes off of Jade. Tonight Jade’s waist-length hair was loose and fell like a shimmering, dark waterfall down her back. Cursed with hair that looked like straw if it grew past her shoulders, Amy had long envied the fact that Jade and her hair could star in a shampoo commercial.
At that moment, Rick walked into the living room. Amy’s pulse accelerated and she quickly spun around and stared into the fireplace where the gas-fed flames danced and flickered around the faux logs. Instrumental holiday music filled the room but it couldn’t drown out the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her eardrums. She stood rooted to the spot for several minutes praying Rick wouldn’t recognize her.
“You’re very skilled.” Rick’s voice held a hint of amusement as he moved to stand next to her.
Damn it. Busted.
She turned and met his knowing gaze. “At what?” she asked in what she hoped was a nonchalant tone.
“Avoiding me.”
“Why would I avoid you?” She sipped her wine and tried not to be affected by the subtle woodsy scent of his cologne. Or by the way his broad shoulders filled out the smoke grey jacket he’d paired with a crisp white shirt and black dress slacks. She almost succeeded until his mouth tipped in a slow, sexy smile that sent a shiver of excitement up her spine.
“Well, I did knock you flat on your ass at Logan-Johnson. I don’t blame you for keeping your distance.”
Amy smiled, a bit of her tension ebbing. Maybe all of her worrying had been for nothing. “That was entirely my fault. And I’m not avoiding you.” It was amazing how the lie slipped so easily off of her tongue. She gestured toward the guests. “The house is huge and there are a lot of people here.”
“True.” The corner of his mouth kicked up. “When I saw you tonight I almost didn’t recognize you without your…” He paused and her cheeks grew warm under his deliberate inspection.
Please don’t say wig.
“Glasses.”
“Contacts,” she said with relief. “I’m wearing my contacts tonight.”
“That’s what’s different,” he said, and then his gaze shifted, narrowing slightly. “Nice earrings.”
Lifting her free hand, she touched one of the sapphire teardrops. “Thank you.”
“I know I’ve said this before, but I can’t get the feeling that we’ve met before out of my head.” He gave her a disarming grin. “Why do you think that is?”
“I couldn’t say,” Amy said, then downed the rest of her chardonnay in one long gulp. “I guess I just have one of those faces. I’ve had people tell me I look like Kate Hudson and Carrie Underwood. Honestly, I don’t see the resemblance to either of them. Yes, we all have blonde hair, but that’s as far as it goes.” She clamped her mouth shut to cut off her inane babbling and, looking around, her eyes locked on Jade. Salvation was just a few feet away. “Are you thirsty? I’m sure the bartender has club soda. And I could use a refill.” Oh boy, could she ever.
Rick cocked his head, one brow arching as his gaze turned oddly triumphant. “How do you know I drink club soda?”
Damn. Damn. Damn. “I don’t know.” She tossed off a dismissive shrug. “Lucky guess?”
He shook his head and sighed. “Give it up, Amy. I know it’s you.”
Her shoulders sagged. “How did you figure it out?”
“The earrings clinched it. You had them on at Logan-Johnson and the last time I saw you at the club.”
“I thought men didn’t notice stuff like that,” she grumbled.
“We notice more than you think. But I have to admit, your disguise at Stylus is very effective.”
“Are you going to tell Adam?” she asked, then noticed the man in question had entered the living room and was slowly working his way in their general direction. She grabbed Rick’s forearm and dug her nails into the fabric of his jacket. Panic tightened her stomach, turning it into a hard knot. She couldn’t lose her job. Not now. Not when she hadn’t saved enough money to put her plan into action. “For God’s sake, keep your mouth shut. I don’t want him to know I’m working at the club.”
“Why not?”
“I have my reasons,” she said sharply. “Look, you said you wanted to have coffee. If you promise not to mention it, I’ll…I’ll go out with you and explain everything.”
A dark scowl descended on Rick’s face. “I wasn’t going to tell him. And I don’t appreciate you assuming I would.” He jerked his arm from her grasp. “As for coffee, I invited you because I wanted to get to know you. But if the only reason you want to do it is because you’re afraid I’ll blow your cover, then forget it,” he said, then turned and left her staring at his retreating back.
Even though he was irritated as hell with Amy, Rick couldn’t help but be aware of her after he’d left the living room. After avoiding him most of the night, she’d been in his sight line for the last hour.
Now that he’d confirmed she was the woman he’d met at Stylus, he had to admire how she’d been able to completely transform herself. He’d suspected her persona at the club was a façade and now he knew how much of a façade it was. Both versions of Amy were striking, just in different ways. And although it was Club Amy he was first drawn to, this more subdued but no less beautiful version of Amy appealed to him as well.
Turning away from the woman who’d recently been taking up a lot of space in his head, he sipped his club soda and stared out the windows of the French doors. Outside, in what appeared to be a large backyard, Adam had haphazardly covered several leafy shrubs with colorful lights that blinked off and on at regular intervals.
“I saw you talking to Leah Porter earlier.”
Rick turned around as Trey ambled up to him, beer in hand.
“She’s single. If you’re interested.”
“I’m not.” Rick cocked his head. “Are you?”
“She’s not my type.”
“And who is? Jade O’Brien?”
“No,” Trey replied a little too quickly.
“Could have fooled me.”
Trey scowled. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Nothing.” Rick’s gaze landed on Amy, who was standing across the room talking to Nick and Carrie Johnson. “What do you know about Amy?”
“Who?”
Rick motioned with his head. “The blonde over there talking to Nick and Carrie.”
Trey swung his gaze toward her. “I’ve seen her a few times at L-J but we’ve never been introduced. Have you met her?”
“We’ve talked.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“And what?” Trey echoed with exasperation. “This is the first woman you’ve shown any interest in since…” He trailed off, hiding his discomfort with another swig of beer.
“You can say it; since Jill died.”
Trey nodded, then after a slight pause, gave him knowing smirk. “So are you gonna ask her out?”
“I already did, but—”
“She shot you down?” Trey clapped him on the shoulder with his free hand. “Tough luck, man.”
“No. I changed my mind.”
Trey’s eyes widened. “More like lost your mind. She’s hot.”
“Which one of my employees are you objectifying?” Adam inserted himself into the conversation as he moved to stand next to Trey.
“I meant it only in the most respectful way. I swear.” Trey grinned, then took another pull of his beer. “Our friend here has
a crush on the cute blonde over there with Nick.”
“Drop it.” Rick gave Trey the evil eye, but the smug grin on Trey’s face only widened. The shithead was enjoying this.
“Crush?” Adam’s mouth quirked with amusement. “What is this, high school?”
“It’s nothing.” Rick gave Trey another warning glance. “Just like your feelings for Jade, right?” Two could play this game.
“What feelings?” Trey scoffed. “On her best day, Jade O’Brien couldn’t tempt me.”
A stifled gasp came from behind them. Rick, Trey, and Adam turned to find Jade standing directly behind them. In the space of only seconds, the tension in the air thickened as Jade’s cheeks turned a bright shade of red and her eyes flashed with a combination of hurt and anger. Her fingers tightened on the glass she held in her hand and Rick would bet everything he owned that if they weren’t in the middle of Adam’s living room Jade would have tossed the contents of her drink at Trey’s face. And he wouldn’t have blamed her one damn bit if she did. Instead, she lifted her chin and then turned and strode stiffly out of the living room.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Adam jabbed his finger in Trey’s direction. “Jade has done everything I’ve ever asked of her to help you, your reputation, and your career.” Adam shook his head in disgust, then turned and followed Jade.
Trey shifted uncomfortably as Rick fixed him with a hard stare. “Don’t say it,” he said in a low voice. “I shouldn’t have made that crack about Jade.”
“But you did. And I have to ask; why? What happened between you two?”
“When it comes to Jade…” Trey sighed and shook his head. “It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not. It’s not complicated at all.”
“What does that mean?”
“Denial. That’s what it means. You say Jade doesn’t tempt you? Bullshit. I’ve seen the way you look at her when you think no one is watching. She tempts you plenty.”
“You’re crazy.” Trey held up his empty bottle. “And I need another beer.”
Playing for Keeps (Feeling the Heat Book 6) Page 8
