by C. L. Stone
“No, but if you could get Cole’s attention . . .”
“Not gonna happen.”
Maybe I should have warned the guys I was coming, after all. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and was unlocking the screen when the crowd shifted and I saw him. He was sitting on the same couch we occupied together mere weeks ago . . . with two girls in barely-there dresses. I stared, unblinking, and chided myself for feeling shocked. It wasn’t like I hadn’t understood who Cole was. He owned a club, for crying out loud. The perfect playground for a seasoned player. I had no one to blame but myself.
Minutes passed as I watched the threesome talking and laughing together. I didn’t understand why I continued standing there, but I couldn’t make myself walk away. Deep down, I suspected that I wanted to be wrong about Cole. Just like I wanted to be wrong about Nicholas.
Unexpectedly, Cole looked directly at me, and he stood, a grin stretching across his handsome face. Realizing I couldn’t deal with him right then, I spun on my heels and attempted to get lost in the crowd watching the dance floor beneath us.
I was halfway down the back stairs when I stopped abruptly. What am I doing? Running away was not in my nature. If I couldn’t face Cole, then I had no business being in any type of relationship with him. He would never be a wallflower, so if I wanted to know what he was doing with other girls, I needed to suck it up and ask him.
Before I could turn around, Cole’s heat enveloped me as he slipped an arm around my waist, and I was instantly back in my apartment with him three days ago. Thank god his alarm sounded when it did. I still wasn’t convinced that I would have found the strength to stop things from going too far.
“You okay?”
“Can we go someplace and talk?”
“Of course.” He twined our fingers and guided me down the stairs and toward the room I’d seen Nicholas disappear into with Alyssa.
Instead of the dinky office I was expecting, the door opened into a spacious waiting area with a kitchen and a hall leading to three closed doors. I collapsed into a comfy-looking chair and tried to pull my thoughts together. Why did everything suddenly feel like it was spinning out of control?
“Do you want something to drink? Only bottled water or Snapple in here, unless we raid Nic’s office for his Scotch.”
“Water, please.”
Cole handed me the bottle and sat in the chair next to me. “What’s going on?”
“Who were the girls hanging all over you?” Sometimes the blunt approach was best, right?
His lips quirked. “You jealous?”
“Should I be? Is that what you do every night while you’re ‘at work’?”
“Hey! I resent the air quotes. I work.”
“Oh yeah? So both times I’ve run into you at the club, you were what? On your break?” I knew I sounded petty, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from blurting the first words that popped in my head. Thanks for nothing, Mr. Cuervo.
“Look, Emma.” Cole took my hand in both of his. “The truth is, I’ve unofficially become the face of Loft25 because Shane and Nic have no interest in mingling with patrons, many of whom are potential business contacts. So, yeah, most nights that I’m here, I spend time on the floor. And, that sometimes includes mindless small talk with girls. But, that’s all it is. Especially now that I’m with you.”
He made the speech without hesitation, and gazing into his dark eyes, I believed he was sincere. So, why didn’t I feel better?
The door opened and Nicholas walked in followed by Shane. I tugged my hand away from Cole and steeled myself for another confrontation.
Nicholas ran a hand through his thick hair, making it stick up on one side. “There you are. I thought I’d find you in VIP?”
“We needed privacy,” Cole responded. “Where’s Alyssa?”
He glanced at me. “She left.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said snottily. “Did I ruin your evening with your girlfriend?”
Shane choked out a laugh, and Nicholas shot him a glare before returning his attention to me. “Why do you keep saying that? She’s not now, nor has she ever been, my girlfriend.”
“That’s not what Miguel said.”
“Well, Miguel has a big mouth and doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about. Shane, Cole, would you mind?”
Shane took a seat on the other side of Cole. “Actually, I’d like to hear this.”
I bit back a smile at the annoyed look on Nicholas’s face.
“Fine,” he huffed. “Alyssa is a girl that my mother has been pushing on me for years. Her parents run in my family’s social circle, yada, yada. I have no interest in her, but my mother doesn’t care. Over Christmas—without my knowledge—she arranged for Alyssa to accompany me to a charity ball. How did you know about that, by the way?”
“Simone Googled you.”
“Freaking Google. Anyway, I mentioned to Alyssa that I was seeing someone else, and apparently it got back to my mother, who encouraged Alyssa to fly out here and throw herself at me. It’s ridiculous.”
“Damn,” Cole muttered under his breath.
“Why didn’t you just tell me about taking her to the ball? I asked you what happened with your family over Christmas.”
“I didn’t want to get into all my family drama right then, and it didn’t occur to me that the thing with Alyssa would ever come up. Besides, we were in a room with two hundred other people. It’s not like it was a date.”
“May I say something?” Shane butted in.
“Might as well,” Nicholas replied, finally sinking into the couch across from us.
Shane looked at me. “He’s telling the truth. Alyssa annoys him, and he freaked out as soon as she cornered him earlier.”
“Okay.”
Nicholas appeared confused. “Okay?”
“Yes. Okay, I believe you.”
“Why do I sense a but in there somewhere?”
I took a deep breath. “But, I don’t know if I can do this.”
“You and me?”
“You and Cole and Shane and me.” Varying degrees of shock and concern crossed their faces. “Look, I came here tonight, hoping it would be fun to hang out for a while. Instead, I saw Nicholas and Alyssa together, heard about how she was his girlfriend, and then saw Cole seemingly flirting with two girls at the same time. Regardless of what was actually happening, this all feels like too much. I don’t know where I stand with each of you, and I don’t know where this is going or how it can work.”
“Are you ending things?” Shane asked.
Panic clawed at my stomach at the thought that I might never see any of them again. But, what was the alternative? Continuing to date all three of them and then choosing one?
“I don’t know. Maybe I just need a little space to figure this out.”
“At least come to the New Year’s Eve party,” Cole insisted. “We won’t pressure you for a decision, but we want you there.”
Shane nodded and Nicholas said, “Cole’s right. Please come.”
Standing, I gave them a tremulous smile. I needed to get out of there before I completely lost it. “I’ll think about it.”
13
My doorbell rang, and I had to force myself up off the couch, where I’d been watching a How I Met Your Mother marathon all day. If I wasn’t going to the party, then I had every intention of wallowing instead. And ordering a large pizza with extra cheese. And breadsticks.
I opened the door and Simone breezed past me, dressed from head to toe in glitter. There was glitter in her long brown hair, sprayed on her body, embedded into her very short dress, and her heels were even covered in glitter. On someone else, it would have looked ridiculous, but she managed to pull it off. Plus, it was New Year’s Eve . . . in Las Vegas. She should fit right in.
“I brought dress options for you,” she said as she disappeared into my bedroom with several garment bags.
I flung myself back on the couch, facedown. Why was she here? I’d already told her I wasn’t go
ing anywhere tonight.
When the sound of her heels gave away that she’d followed me to the living room, I mumbled, “I’m not going to Loft25.”
“Yes, you are.”
I rolled over and gave her a dirty look. “And, besides, we’re not even the same size.”
“No, but I wear my dresses tighter than you do, so I’m sure at least one of them will fit.”
“Simone, give it up. I’ve thought about this nonstop for the last two days, and I won’t keep doing this . . . whatever it is with them. It can’t end well.”
Part of me was determined to choose one and get it over with. Logically, I should be more attracted to, more compatible with, one over the others. And, as much as it would suck, surely choosing would be better than walking away from all three. But, no matter how many times I told myself that, I wasn’t ready.
Simone sighed and moved my legs so she could sit on the couch. “A good friend would bring over pints of ice cream and offer to stay home with you.”
“No, I don’t—”
“Eh, eh, eh. You didn’t let me finish. A good friend would offer to stay home with you, but I won’t, because I’m a better friend. I’m the one refusing to enable you when you’re being stupid. I know that deciding what to do about the Ts is difficult, but at least go have fun with them tonight. Then, you can go back to moping tomorrow.”
She hopped up. “Now, I have to go, because Miguel is working the midnight to three shift at Loft25, and we have partying to do before then. I will see you later at the club.”
After she left, I stared down at my T-shirt and sweats. Was this seriously how I planned to ring in the new year? By throwing away the best thing that had come my way in, well, ever? Sure, I could stay home and watch other people celebrating on TV. Or, I could get up, put on a sexy dress, and go after what I wanted.
The safe, boring path?
Or, the bold, maybe even a little reckless, one?
I checked the time on my phone—one hour until the driver would show up to take me to the club. It’s now or never. Oh, who was I kidding? I didn’t believe in taking the cowardly way out of a challenging situation. Deep down, I’d probably known all along that I would make this choice. I just hadn’t been ready to accept it yet.
Running to my bedroom, I examined the dresses Simone left on my bed. The first two were okay but not exactly what I had in mind. When I got to the last option, I pulled it fully out of the garment bag and held it up to me. If it fit, it would be perfect. I checked the tag and saw that it was my size, not Simone’s. Tricky girl.
I slipped on the nude cocktail dress covered in gold sequins and smiled when it fit like a glove. Once I added my red shoes from Cole, the outfit would be complete. I grabbed my phone and shot Simone a text.
Me: Thank you, fairy godmother.
Simone: You’re welcome.
Simone: Now, stop texting me and go make yourself look hot!
After the quickest shower I could manage, I hurriedly put on makeup and curled my hair. Since I didn’t have time to attempt an updo, I pinned a few pieces away from my face and let the rest fall around my shoulders. I was stuffing my lipstick into a small clutch when I received the call to let me know my car had arrived.
I stepped onto the sidewalk in front of my building, expecting a Town Car and found a limousine instead. Why am I even surprised?
A man in a crisp black suit held the door open. “Miss Harris?”
“That’s me.”
“Please make yourself comfortable and enjoy a glass of champagne.”
“Thank you.”
Knowing I would probably have a drink in my hand moments after walking into Loft25, I resisted the champagne and attempted to remain calm. If I didn’t dwell on what I was about to do, maybe I’d make it through the evening without a meltdown.
When the limo pulled up in front of the club, I took a deep breath and then another. You can do this.
Almost immediately, my door opened and I found Shane smiling down at me. “May I?” he asked, offering his hand.
I slipped my hand into his and ended up pressed against his body a second later. He kissed me once, sweetly.
“I’m happy you’re here, enchanting Emma.”
“Me too.” My voice shook with emotion and determination. No matter how the night ended, I refused to let myself regret it.
He held out a perfect red rose. “For you.”
“Thank you.”
With the hand still holding mine, Shane tugged me past the short line of people outside and into the club. Since the event was invitation-only, the dance floor was less crowded than usual, and waiters waltzed by with trays of drinks and appetizers. Candlelight—flameless, I assumed—flickered from the bookshelves on the upper level.
“Dance with me?”
Unlike the last time he asked, I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Our bodies melded together as one, and despite the upbeat tempo of the song playing, I looped my arms around his neck and laid my head against his shoulder. Everyone around us faded into the background until I was only aware of the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and the heat permeating every point where our bodies touched.
When one song turned into two, Shane began trailing kisses down my forehead, then cheeks, and finally pressed his lips to mine. He lingered for a few moments, the kiss sensual and full of unspoken meaning.
“Don’t give up on us.” The words were spoken so quietly, I wondered if I imagined them.
Shane pulled back and plucked two glasses of champagne off a passing tray. “Here you go.”
Surprised by his sudden withdrawal, I asked, “That’s all the dancing I get?”
“For now,” he said mysteriously. “Come on.”
We wound through the other dancers until we reached the doors to the patio. “Why isn’t anyone out there?” I asked, noticing the empty space for the first time.
“It’s reserved for a private party.”
He nodded at the man standing guard at the door, and I saw that he was the burly bouncer who denied me entrance to the VIP room two days before. We stepped out into the cool air, and Shane came to a stop, pulling me into a hug.
“I’ll see you in a little while.” He placed a kiss on my cheek.
“What?”
He tilted his head toward the bar, and I followed his gaze. Nicholas sat on the exact same stool as the first time I saw him.
“Now I see what you’re up to. Do you really think it’s a good idea to re-create the night you made the bet?”
“Think of it as allowing us to relive the night we met you, the best night of our year.”
I shook my head but smiled. “A little cheesy.”
“It may be cheesy, but it’s true.” He took my now-empty glass and patted my butt. “Go have a drink with Nic.”
When I sat down on the stool next to Nicholas, Xavier appeared behind the bar. “What would you like?” Before I had a chance to respond, his face flashed with confusion, then recognition. “It’s you.”
“Hi, Xavier.”
“You two have met?” Nicholas asked.
“He waited on me in the VIP room, then I ran into him at his day job before Christmas.” I smirked. “And, he shared a few entertaining stories about you, Shane, and Cole. Is it true that you bet them they couldn’t remain celibate for three months?”
Nicholas rubbed his hand over his jaw and muttered, “Of course.” He gave Xavier a scathing look before turning back to me. “We wondered how you found out about the bet, but none of us wanted to bring it up. Guess that mystery is solved.”
Xavier watched us with wide eyes. “They made a bet about you? I didn’t know, promise.”
“It’s fine. I’m over it. But, I will take a sidecar.”
“Coming right up.”
After serving our drinks, Xavier disappeared, and I took a sip of my cocktail. “I should probably drink this slowly since I just downed a glass of champagne.”
“Good. That means I get more time with
you before I have to pass you off to Cole.” He brushed his fingers down my arm, causing sparks to follow in their wake. “Are we okay? We haven’t had a chance to talk since the Alyssa thing, and I need to make sure you’re not still upset.”
“I’m not upset, but I need to ask you something.”
“Anything.”
“Is this what you want? Your family is important to you, and I understand, I really do. But, I also don’t want to cause problems. So, if you want out, it’s okay, but you need to tell me now.”
His usually pale green eyes darkened, and he leaned in, kissing me softly. “You are what I want, Cinderella.”
I licked my lips, loving the taste of Nicholas and whiskey on them. His eyes followed the movement, and he stood, propping both hands on the bar behind me. I grasped his neck and pulled him to me, craving the feel of his mouth on mine. Much like our first kiss, this one was slow and sensual but somehow deeper. Or, maybe it was my feelings that were so much deeper.
After a few minutes, he broke away. “I’d love nothing more than to keep going, but I’m afraid I’ll get carried away and forget that wall of windows behind us.”
Panting slightly, I glanced over my shoulder. Although the outdoor space was lit only by the strands of globe lights, it was illuminated enough that anyone watching would see our silhouettes, if not more. “Good thinking.”
Nicholas returned to his barstool, and I gulped down the rest of my sidecar. So much for taking that slow. “How do I know when I’m supposed to go upstairs to Cole?”
“Check your phone.”
I dug my cell out of my clutch and found a new text message.
Simone: Get your ass back in here! Cole will meet you in VIP in 5.
I laughed. It was the same text from that night, except I was told to meet Cole in VIP instead of Simone at the bar.
“Pretty elaborate, dragging my best friend into your scheme.”
“What can I say? We like to do things all the way.”
“That you do. Thanks for the drink.”
After grabbing my clutch and rose, I started to walk away but stopped when his hand encircled my wrist, again. “You forgot something.”
