by Marie Harte
“Not a problem,” Lou answered. “How about you, Sam?”
Sam shrugged and moved back under the lift. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Better hurry,” Lou advised. “Party’s tonight. Gotta have a girl to kiss when the New Year rings in.”
“I’m bringing Lara,” Johnny announced.
“No shit? I thought you’d be bringing Del,” Lou said with no small amount of sarcasm.
“Did someone say my name?” Del asked as she charged through the outer door of the garage, barely holding back her dog.
“Seriously, Del. Who’s walking who?” Lou asked with a grin. “Hey, Jekyll. How’s it going?”
Jekyll barked and strained to reach Lou, until Sam walked out from under the car he’d been working on. The mongrel pup immediately shifted direction.
Sam wiped his hands on a towel hanging out of his back pocket and knelt. “Come here, boy.”
The dog jerked the leash out of Del’s hands and bounded for Sam.
“Shit,” Del swore. “I mean, shoot.”
“Hmm. Isn’t that a quarter for the ROP?” Foley asked.
Del scowled at him. “Why is it my dog ditches me for Sam every time?”
“Dogs like me.” Sam slanted a look at Foley. “Dogs are loyal.”
Foley sighed. “This is about Cyn, right?”
“No, dumbass. It’s about you ditching me with the wonder twins last night,” Sam snarled. “They took me for twenty bucks apiece.”
“Ouch.” Foley felt for his buddy. “Why did you bet money?”
“He said something about feeling lucky.” Lou shrugged. “I tried to feel bad about taking his money, but I just couldn’t.”
“Neither could I,” Johnny, their darts master, said with pride. “Sam was seriously sucking last night.”
“He was.” Lou shook his head. “Maybe that’s what Jekyll smells. The sad scent of defeat.”
“Fu—” Sam paused at the glare Del shot him. “Screw you, Cortez.” He sounded vicious, but his hands on the dog remained gentle. Like magic, Jekyll calmed under Sam’s touch.
Lou snorted. “Heard that before.”
“No doubt you’ll hear it again,” Del said, which made everyone laugh. Even Sam cracked a half grin.
“You coming to the party tonight, Del?” Lou asked.
Del had attended last year with her cousin and brother.
“Nah. This year I’m hanging with the McCauleys.”
“How suburban of you.” Johnny shook his head. “Will you watch the ball come down on TV? Talk about a wild night!”
Del just stared at him.
Johnny cringed. “Not the wolf eyes. Sorry for asking, boss. But hey, don’t blame me because the McCauleys are domesticating you.”
Foley chuckled, then coughed when she glared at him. “What? I like domesticated-family Del. Much nicer than angry-single Del.”
Lou laughed at that.
“Funny, guys.”
“Do you know if Rena’s coming?” Lou asked. “My buddy wants to know.”
“She and my brother will be there. They’re putting in an appearance at the family party first. Don’t count on Dad being there, though. He’ll be with Sophie. Liam’s days with strippers are over. Finally.” She gave Foley a look.
“What? I’m done with strippers too.”
“Are you going to the party?”
“Yeah.”
“With Cyn?”
“Um, yeah.” What was she getting at?
“Look, moron. If you’re planning on going to the party, you might want to think about all your ‘old friends’ that are going to be there too. Wouldn’t hurt to warn Cyn she’ll be rubbing elbows with your pole buddies.”
“Damn—I mean, darn.” Foley hadn’t considered that. But what better way to introduce Cyn to his new life than by showing her the old one he was clearly leaving behind for her?
A great plan. What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 18
The party was in full swing by the time Cyn and Foley arrived. They’d driven together, and she was glad. She never would have found this place on her own, miles outside the city. A veritable mansion with a garage that could accommodate more than a dozen cars, the place belonged in an architectural digest magazine. And that was to say nothing of the acres of green and meticulous landscaping surrounding the home, what she could see of it at least. She could only imagine the place during the daytime.
The driveway and road leading to the home were littered with high-end cars and a few buses.
Color her impressed. Joaquin sure knew how to throw a party.
They approached, following a few other couples. Electronic dance music thumped as she walked up the marbled stairway of the outer landing to the double-doored entrance of the grand home. Through the open doors, Cyn noted glitter and streamers dancing in the strobing lights that winked around a wall separating the inner foyer from the rest of the house, just beyond the guard checking people in. A heavily tattooed man with huge gauges in his ears and a Mohawk hairstyle high-fived Foley and shared a manly half hug.
Foley grinned and introduced him to Cyn.
Marlon looked her over and whistled. “Seriously, Foley. I don’t know how you do it. You, Cyn, are one fine lady.” Marlon nodded to noise behind him. “Go on in. The gang’s all here.”
Foley slapped him on the back then put an arm around Cyn. She’d worn a pair of tight-fitting jeans and an off-the-shoulder short-sleeved blouse, because she’d figured any place that had dance music would get warm. Especially with the hundred-plus crowd Foley had mentioned.
The music grew louder as they walked through the impressive entryway into a living area that had been cleared of all furniture save a few tables and couches. She goggled at the rich detail. The house looked like a Colonial mansion, complete with archways and columns and marbled flooring. They’d driven nearly an hour toward Newcastle to get to the place, and she could see why. Joaquin had acres of land surrounding his mansion. Not something easily attainable in Seattle unless you’d grown up there and inherited the land or had megamillions to spend on real estate.
Outside, a massive pool patio looked congested. People danced under space heaters and around fire bowls scattered to increase the heat. The home wasn’t so crowded that it was elbow to elbow, but as they moved into the freaking ballroom, where the DJ stood on a dais and several bars had been set up, the crowd seemed denser.
“Remember what I said about some of my exes being in the crowd. I wouldn’t be surprised,” Foley said loudly into her ear to be heard above the music.
Typical male. He’d told her to expect that they might run into an old girlfriend or two only when they’d already been on the way to the party. Had she known that beforehand, Cyn didn’t know if she’d have agreed to attend. Silly to be intimidated by the thought of meeting one of Foley’s old flames. But considering how attractive he was, she just knew his exes would be sexy and no doubt slender.
They ran into Lou, Johnny, and Lara, and she calmed down.
She smiled at Lara, pleased to see someone she knew and liked.
“Hey, Cyn.” Lara gave her a hug. The woman looked amazing. She’d pulled back her long dark hair, which showed off her high cheekbones and full lips. Lara wore a short skirt and a tank top, and she looked like someone a rock star would choose to accompany him back to his room after a concert.
Cyn felt overdressed and clunky.
“Cyn. Lookin’ good.” Lou nodded and gave her an approving grin, one that Foley didn’t seem to like. As usual, Lou looked fierce and lickable at the same time. He wore dark jeans and a black button-down shirt rolled up to midforearm. Wow, did he clean up nice.
“Back off, Lou. She’s mine.”
“Easy, jackoff. Just welcoming your girl to the party.”
“Foley.” She elbowe
d him, and he grunted. “Be nice.”
“What? I’m not allowed to be jealous?”
She blushed and hoped the flashing lights hid it. “What’s with the lights? It’s like they’re trying to get someone to have a seizure or something.”
Johnny laughed. He looked sexy, strong. Masculine. Hell, all Foley’s friends looked like buff models. Tattoos decorated both of Lou’s thick arms and one of Johnny’s. Foley had worn what he called a dressy T-shirt—a solid black crew neck—with black jeans and one of his many pairs of black boots. All the black made his gray eyes look even brighter.
She had another moment of befuddlement. What am I doing with all the pretty, muscular people?
He gripped her shoulder tighter and hugged her close. Then he kissed her. A possessive gesture, and one that made her giddy. He was acting all macho in front of his friends.
She looked away from their smiles to see Sam approach with a gorgeous blond on his arm.
“Hey, man.” He gripped Foley’s arm with his free hand. “About time you got here. Look who I found?”
“Foley!” The blond jumped into Foley’s arms, causing him to let go of Cyn.
“Hi, Cyn.” Sam nodded at her, his expression distinctly less friendly than the one he’d given Foley. He greeted the others, giving Lara a half smile and a kiss on the cheek. Very different from the greeting he’d given Cyn.
“Ah, hey there, Stacy.” Foley gently pulled out of her embrace. “Cyn, this is Stacy, an old friend of mine. Stacy, meet my girlfriend, Cyn.”
Old friend—more like ex-lover. Expecting Stacy to be a cold bitch, because anyone with hair that golden, eyes that blue, and breasts that perky had to be nasty, Cyn waited.
“Oh, hi there.” Stacy smiled at her and shook her hand, stepping away from Foley. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to jump him.” She blushed. “I just haven’t seen him in a while. It’s great to meet you. Want something to drink?”
Not wanting to appear unfriendly, Cyn pasted on a smile. “Ah, sure.” She refused to look back at Foley while Stacy dragged her away.
At the bar, Stacy scored them two rum and Cokes without having to wait. “Sorry again for getting grabby with your man. Foley’s such a great guy. We went out last year for a little bit.”
Went out likely meant they’d screwed like bunnies.
“Oh?” Cyn took a fortifying drink.
“Yeah. It was just casual. I was starting out on a new modeling campaign, and he didn’t want anything serious. But, honey, you are one lucky girl. He’s a catch.” Stacy showed her around, introduced her to a few more of Foley’s exes—just awesome—then returned her to Foley and his friends.
“There you are. I lost sight of you past the DJ.” Foley smiled at Stacy. “Thanks for grabbing her a drink. Great seeing you again, Stace.”
“You too. I’m off to Paris in a few days or I’d say we could catch up.” Stacy chuckled. “But I don’t think Cyn would like that. I know I wouldn’t if I were her.”
“Right.” Cyn latched on to Foley, not pleased with him at all.
Foley must have read the look on her face, because he looked suddenly nervous. “Ah, sure. Well, come on, Cyn. Let’s dance.”
He dragged her from Stacy and the others and steered them onto the dance floor, where bodies bumped and jammed to some rump-shaking music. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she’d pull you away. But hey, she and I were over a year ago. It was never anything more than casual at best.”
“That’s okay.” Cyn smiled through her teeth and downed the rest of her drink in one long gulp. “Stacy introduced me to Brittany, Erika, Monica, and Tracy too.”
He paled. “Hell. I had no idea they’d all be here.”
“Seriously? How many women have you been friendly with, exactly? Or maybe not so past. How long ago did you sleep with all of them?”
He had the grace to look totally embarrassed. That made her feel a little better. “I had needs, okay? I’ve lived in the city for the past seven years, and most of my friends run in the same circles.”
“Your lovers, you mean?” She was irked yet strangely amused. Foley seemed sincerely contrite and a little…scared.
He groaned again. “I’m sorry, okay? I knew I’d see one or two of them, but who the hell knew Joaquin had hired a bunch for his magazine?”
“And yet they’re not all models, are they?” She had to laugh, that or cry. And she refused to feel like less because she wasn’t in a magazine. “We have a few models, a yoga instructor, and a professional volleyball player—oh wait, she happened to be in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, right?”
Foley swore under his breath. “Cyn, this is not my fault.”
She wanted to be angrier at him. “You’re not getting off on seeing all your beautiful exes in one place, are you?” It would have helped if a few of them had been rude or nasty. But all the women Stacy had introduced her to had been pleasant and congratulatory to her about snagging Foley. Cyn felt, in a weird way, like she’d joined part of an exclusive club.
“I’m in hell. No, I’m not happy about any of this.” Foley hugged her tight. “I swear, I don’t know what they’re all doing here. I’m not that much of a player. It’s been years since I’ve seen some of them. Please don’t go.”
She pushed him back to get some space, startled. “Go? Where? You drove us here.” Wherever here was. Model-land?
“Yeah. That’s right. You can’t go home without me. Cyn, let’s enjoy tonight. You and me. We can leave if you want. Go anywhere. I just want to have fun with you.”
She glanced over his shoulder to see his friends laughing together, while Sam stared at them, his focus intent. She turned back to Foley. “Are you having fun?”
“No. I’m worried you’re going to ditch me.”
She blinked. “Foley, I just spent half an hour with the gorgeous ladies of the Foley ex-girlfriend club. If anything, I should be worried you’re going to ditch me.”
“Are you kidding? Ask any guy here. Hell, Marlon wanted to fuck your brains out. Lou still thinks you’re available, which you’re not. It’s all I can do not to punch half a dozen assholes who won’t stop staring at your ass.” He frowned. “Did you have to wear jeans that tight?”
His jealousy, not that she’d meant to cause any of it, soothed her wounded ego. She didn’t see his exes anymore. She only saw Foley.
She put her hands on his stubbled jaw and drew him close for a kiss. Ignoring everyone around them, she kissed him long and deep and hard, until he was lifting her against him and grinding into her on the dance floor.
“Foley.” She tugged his hair. “We can’t have sex out here.” She blushed at some of the wolf whistles around them, as well as the cheering to see more. Which, to her consternation, started to stir the others around them to start removing clothing. She noticed poles in several corners of the room suddenly highlighted with spotlights, now populated with girls in thongs and nothing else.
Then one of the topless gyrators spotted Foley. She smiled and waved with enthusiasm.
“Oh my God. Strippers too?”
He swore under his breath and dragged her toward his friends. “I swear, the only one up there dancing that I dated was Celine, but that ended months ago.”
She started laughing, a little hysterically. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I wish.” He glared at Sam as they drew closer, who gave him a smug look back.
“Foley?”
“That asshole. Sam did this. What the fuck?”
He took a step in Sam’s direction, and she grabbed his arm. She didn’t like the look on his face, or his clenched fists.
He turned back to her, and his expression flattened. Foley looked…defeated. “Let’s go.”
“No. We can stay. I liked Stacy.” And she refused to let herself feel intimidated. “It’s flattering to know I’m in su
ch beautiful company.”
“Are you sure?”
She rubbed his shoulder, empathizing. What a crappy thing for his best friend to do to him. “It’s okay. Really.” But she didn’t think things would go so smoothly for Sam when he and Foley next spoke.
They rejoined the others, and after Cyn pointed out Foley’s many exes, Lara laughed so hard she cried. “Foley’s fan club,” she managed to get out, which had the others laughing as well. Only Sam and Foley seemed immune to their shared mirth, the pair keeping some distance between them.
A song Cyn loved came on. Lou noticed, because he started dancing with her right there in their little group. Then Foley was behind her, grooving as well, and the bunch of them got down and dirty.
A hell of a way to kick in the New Year, for sure.
* * *
By the time Foley drove them both back home, the New Year had officially started. Even better, Cyn had kissed him to bring it in. He still had a chance with her.
Fucking Sam. A brief conversation with Joaquin had confirmed Foley’s suspicion. Why the hell had his best friend tried to screw him over? Given the way Cyn doubted herself, Foley had been beyond terrified she’d dump him when she saw the others.
They had nothing on her, but try telling that to a tall, angry redhead. He still had no idea if she had been putting on an act by taking everything in stride, or if she really hated him for a bummer of a party.
Though with the exception of meeting his exes, the music, the booze, and the company had been stellar.
He pulled up in front of her house and turned off the ignition. He didn’t want to wake her. She looked so comfortable sleeping. Instead, he found her keys and unlocked her door. Then he returned to his vehicle and carried her inside the house. She was no lightweight, for sure, but she fit in his arms perfectly.
Tired and no doubt still buzzing, she didn’t stir when he kicked the door shut behind them. He put her down on her bed and hurried back outside to lock up. Then he joined her.
