Two Hearts: Beyond Control (Two Hearts Trilogy Book 1)

by CJ Andrews

  Lord help me.

  They all swarmed toward my bedroom, dragging me with them, and dumped their bags on the bed. When Jen uncovered our dresses, squeals of approval rang out. Not from me, of course. Her beautiful blue wrap dress matched her eyes. The other dress, presumably mine, was a little . . . no, make that a tiny black dress.

  “You’re joking, right? Because there is no way in hell I’m going out in public wearing that thing. Assuming I could even fit into it.”

  “Relax, sweetie. It’s got spandex. Guaranteed to hug you in all the right places.” Kendra demonstrated by dragging her hands across her body. She picked up the dress and held it in front of me. “And Jen’s right, you’re going to look sexy as hell in this.”

  I rolled my eyes. Arguing was pointless. I was outnumbered, three to one.

  Jen threw herself together then joined the tag-team makeover Kendra and Kristi were putting me through. Hair, makeup. . . the works. Last, and most dreaded, was the dress. It reminded me of pulling on a snug leather glove. I kept tugging at the bottom, but it stopped moving mid-thigh.

  Kristi’s bubbly laugh caught my attention. “It’s not gonna grow if you keep tugging on it.” She pushed my hands away and motioned for me to turn. “Let’s see how you look.”

  All three gave enthusiastic oohs and aahs while I spun in a gradual circle in front of the mirror.

  “Enough, already. You all need to stop, because you’re making me really uncomfortable.”

  “Danni, you’re beautiful—inside and out—and you deserve to feel that way.” Kendra gave me an air kiss then eyed me with a wicked grin. “And trust me, every horny guy in that club is going to love your outer beauty so much they’ll wanna get inside.”

  I gasped. “I’m not looking to pick up guys, horny or not. That’s your agenda.”

  “Ignore her.” Jen pushed Kendra aside with a laugh. “Danni, you deserve to be treated with respect. Going out doesn’t mean you don’t love your husband or you’re looking to screw around. You said yourself that you admire Ryan’s and my relationship, and I’m going out too. So relax and enjoy.”

  Jen grabbed her bag. “Okay, finishing touch.” With a dramatic flair, she pulled out a pair of bright-pink-and-black stilettos and a matching handbag. “Ta-dum. A little pop of color guaranteed to make you feel pretty.”

  I wasn’t about to admit it to any of them, but I did feel pretty . . . and kind of sexy. I missed Will though and wished he could see the way I looked right now.

  We all piled into the limo for the short trip into the city. Fifteen minutes later, we were in an elevator, climbing to the twenty-first floor and Metro Sky. Kristi rambled on at hyper speed, filling Jen in on all the qualities that made Ben the perfect catch.

  As we stepped out of the elevator, Kendra moved beside me, bumping her shoulder against mine. “Hey. Have fun tonight, okay?”

  I turned to her and nodded. “I’ll try.”

  We paid our cover charge and passed through the entrance into the most amazing club I’d ever seen. Pale gray floors with mirrored flecks sparkled under the blue and purple neon lights that ran around the ceiling and glowed from large pillars wrapped in bands of nickel. White crescent-shaped chairs surrounded gray marble tables. An elevated VIP section with roped-off luxurious private seating areas rose above the perimeter of the large dance floor, ending next to the raised stage where Ben’s band, The Executives, was playing. Their upbeat alternative rock filled the club and energized the group on the crowded dance floor.

  My steps faltered before I froze in place, eyes locked on the man singing—black hair, dressed in all black. I didn’t need to see Ben’s eyes to know they were an exotic shade of jade. My stomach clenched. My heartbeat quickened. My skin tingled with a now-familiar awareness as I scanned the room.

  Kendra grabbed my wrist. “Oh shit.” She stared at the stage, obviously making the same connection I had a moment earlier. She leaned close and shouted over the music. “Danni, I swear I didn’t know. Do you think he’s here?”

  I needed to stay focused on my search and didn’t look at her. “I don’t see him, but he’s here. Somewhere. It’s like I can feel him, if that makes any sense.”

  “Hey, you two. What are you waiting for?” Kristi called as she came up behind us. She burst out laughing when Kendra and I turned toward her. “Look at your faces. I knew you’d love him. But what’s not to love, right? I mean, isn’t that the sexiest voice you’ve ever heard? Mmmm . . . makes me just wanna run up there and jump him. Anyway, I’m sure you’ve already figured it out, but that gorgeous creature is Ben.”

  “Yeah . . . we’ve, um, already met. Kristi?” I looked at her. “Don’t you think you should’ve mentioned that he’s Nico’s brother?”

  “What?” Her outburst drew the attention of several people nearby. She threw her hands over her mouth before continuing in a quieter voice. “My Ben and your Nico are brothers? No way. I mean, what are the odds? This is just so exciting!”

  My jaw clenched, and I let out an exasperated groan. “He’s not mine. And this is a nightmare, not exciting. How could you not know they were brothers?” I shook my head.

  “Jeeze, give me a little break. I’ve only known Ben two and a half weeks.” A rosy blush crept into her cheeks. “What can I say? He’s a man of action. And what amazing action it is.” She cringed when her eyes locked on my icy stare. “But, you don’t want to know about that right now. Let’s just say we haven’t exactly spent a lot of time talking, if you know what I mean.” Her smile returned. She gave an exaggerated wink, driving home the obvious point.

  Jen finally caught up to us. “Ladies, compliments of Ben, our VIP table is ready.” She narrowed her eyes as her gaze flicked between the three of us. “Something’s wrong. What did I miss?”

  My words erupted in a panic. “Ben is Nico’s brother, and I have a feeling he’s here too.”

  “Oh, shit!”

  “Exactly what I said.” Kendra threw her palms up.

  Jen studied my face. “So what are we doing? Do you want to leave?”

  Yes! Definitely. Get me the hell out of here! I can’t believe you even dragged me here in the first place!

  I looked at Kristi’s pleading eyes. She’d been so excited about tonight. They all had.

  After a few deep, calming breaths, I knew what I needed to do. I forced a cheerful smile and attempted to sound confident. “It’s fine. We should stay.” I nodded, trying to convince myself. “I want to stay.”

  “You sure you’re okay with this?” Jen watched me closely while waiting for my answer.

  “Yeah. I’m sure. Let’s find our table, because I need a drink.”

  As I moved forward, the massive bar came into view. Brushed nickel and neon lights carried through the theme of the rest of the club. Only a single row of tables stood between me and a giant margarita. Do I really need to wait until I get to our table?

  Several patrons were seated along the bar, some with their stools turned to face the large dance floor and stage beyond. My attention drifted to a group of beautiful young women blatantly flirting with the men seated closest to me.

  A tiny-waisted blond with hair halfway down her back wedged herself between the first man’s legs, her hands on his chest. He grabbed her waist as she leaned close, her lips to his ear.

  A phony giggle accompanied a skillful flip of her hair before she took the drink from his other hand and stretched across him to place the glass on the bar. The exaggerated movement caused the hem of her ridiculously short dress to rise even higher.

  Another inch, and we’ll all know her panty preference. I shook my head, wondering why I cared . . . about any of it. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the infuriating scene.

  The man slid his hand over her hip to her exposed thigh, skimming just below the hem of her dress. Blondie wagged a finger at him as she stood up straight, but she didn’t bother to move the offending hand. Taking hold of his tie, she turned and pulled him toward the dance floor, pausing t
o toss a seductive look over her shoulder.

  As he wrapped his arm around her waist, shifting his body to pull her closer, his face came into view.

  I sucked in a sharp breath, realizing why I was so drawn to this couple. He looked toward me, and our eyes met. The heat of his gaze burned through me.

  My chest tightened. An uncontrollable, possessive anger coursed through me as the woman turned in his arms and pressed every goddamned inch of her body against him. He didn’t move. He didn’t release his virtual hold on me.

  I reached for Jen, needing her to drag me away. Now.

  “Ouch, what the . . .” Jen tried to pry my fingers away, failing to ease my tight grip on her arm. “Danni, what are you doing?” With a questioning look, she followed my line of sight. “Oh, damn. Now that guy is seriously hot.”

  I managed to close my eyes, breaking the connection, and turned to my sister. “Oh, Jen . . . that guy is Nico.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Losing Control

  I rushed toward the exit with Jen in tow, my heart pounding at a frantic pace.

  “Danni, slow down.” She dug in her heels and forced me inside a ladies’ room along the way. “Where are you going?”

  “Home. Where I should have stayed in the first place.” I paced the narrow space. “I can’t do this. I have a husband I love and a marriage to fix. I don’t need this—whatever it is that happens around Nico—interfering.”

  She took my hands. “Relax. I’m not gonna deny you two have some intense chemistry. But you said yourself, several times, that you’re committed to Will and your marriage.”

  I nodded.

  “This is a girls’ night. It’s okay to let yourself have some fun with your friends. We’ll all stick together, and you’ll be fine.”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “Besides, Nico’s date looked like she plans to keep him entertained. I don’t think he’ll be a problem tonight.”

  My fists clenched every time I thought about Nico and that little tramp. “Will would want me to stay home.”

  “That’s not very fair, is it?” She tipped her head and stared, daring me to argue. “Come on, Danni. We’re already here, this place is amazing, and I really want to dance. Please?”

  I never was good at saying no to Jen. The long silence and her pleading expression weakened my resolve to flee. “Fine. I’ll stay.” I gave her a weak hug. “Let’s go, before I change my mind.”

  We made our way to our spacious VIP section, right near the stage and dance floor. I would have loved to stop at the bar first, but I didn’t dare risk running into Nico.

  Kendra and Kristi had settled in and were already on their first round of drinks. Jen called out to them several times before they turned around. Their stunned expressions as they rushed toward us told me I must look as awful as I felt.

  “Where have you been?” Kendra said.

  “Oh my, Danni. What happened?” Kristi grabbed my hands. “Are you okay?”

  Jen motioned for them to move closer. She took a deep breath and paused. “Nico’s here.”

  “You ran into him?” Kendra grinned. “I would’ve liked to see that.”

  “He and Danni spotted each other. You should have seen the way he looked at her. Practically stripped her with his eyes . . . while he was wrapped around some other woman on the dance floor.” Jen waved her hand dismissively. “Anyway, Danni just needed a few minutes to pull herself together before we joined the party.”

  “Hi, there!” A petite redhead poked her head into our tight huddle. “I’m Leah, your server for tonight.”

  She took a step back and smoothed a hand down her long ponytail, an amused expression on her face. “What can I get you started with?” She hugged her empty serving tray, focusing on each of us as we placed our drink orders. She quickly repeated them to us then turned to leave.

  “Hold on a sec,” I called after Leah as she walked away. “Can you add a shot for me? Anything strong.”

  “Sure thing. I’ll be right back.” She tipped her head to the side and smiled sweetly, a sympathetic look, then slipped through the crowd toward the bar.

  I looked at Jen, who was staring at me from beneath arched eyebrows. “What? I can’t waste time sipping girly drinks and waiting patiently for them to calm my nerves.” I walked past without giving her a chance to reply and collapsed in one of the plush chairs. My arms dropped over the sides, and my head fell back on the top edge, leaving me to stare at the ceiling.

  “What the hell is wrong with me?” A muffled groan escaped me, and I wondered if the band would be loud enough to cover the raging scream brewing inside. Probably shouldn’t try to find out.

  “I mean, seriously . . . I have no damn clue what happened to me down there. The sight of that sleazy little bitch hangin’ all over Nico made my blood boil. I wanted walk over there, grab her bleached-blond hair by its dark roots, and physically drag her off of him.”

  “Sounds to me like someone’s jealous.” Kendra’s voice held a smug, gloating tone. “Does that mean you’re finally ready to admit you have the hots for Nico?”

  I lifted my head and narrowed my eyes at her. “Not in the mood for your meddling right now. And for the hundredth time, I don’t have the hots for Nico. I love my husband.”

  “Okay, fine. Whatever.” She threw her hands up in surrender, but I could tell she wasn’t buying my story.

  Kristi took over, her words hesitant at first. “Well, then it’s no big deal that he’s here, right? I mean, you said Nico wanted to be friends, and well, friends hang out together. So . . . we can still have a fun night. Can’t we?”

  It seemed like an easy enough request. At least it should have been. Except for the fact that I planned to avoid Nico.

  I leaned forward, pressing my fingers to my aching forehead. “You know Will doesn’t like me going to clubs without him. Sneaking out while he’s away was . . . it was a bad decision. Maybe I should just—”

  “Oh, come on . . . do you really believe that dear, sweet, asshole hubby of yours isn’t out having a good time right now? Has he even taken a minute to return your call or bothered to send a quick text?”

  “Kendra, shhh. Back off a little. She’s already upset enough.” Jen’s calming voice was barely audible over the music.

  “Maybe she needs to get upset for a change.” Kendra pulled my hands away from my face, squeezing them as she looked in my eyes. “You know I love you, sweetie, but when are you going to realize you deserve more? Someone who’s gonna treat you better.”

  My chest tightened. My throat burned. It hurt like hell that Will had brushed me off all day—I knew that’s what happened. I’m not stupid. That didn’t mean I wanted to share my humiliation—not even with my best friends—so I needed to be strong. I’d assumed he was punishing me for upsetting him this morning, or all week, but . . . what if Kendra was right?

  Stop it. How could I even let myself think that way? Will was working, winning over an important client. Period.

  Leah returned with our drinks.

  “This is just what I need.” I threw back my shot, drowning my internal dispute.

  My eyes fell shut on a slow, heavy breath. I shuddered as the liquid burned a trail down my throat. The fire cooled to a soothing warmth that spread throughout my body and eased my anxiety, even if only a bit.

  When I opened my eyes, I reached for my margarita and locked my lips around the straw. “Mmmm.” The cool, sweet liquid went down so easily.

  My friends stared, concerned expressions etched on their faces.

  “I’m fine. Or I will be in a few minutes anyway.” I raised my glass and forced a goofy smile. “To girls’ night!”

  All three ladies tapped their glasses to mine and chimed in with their toasts. We downed our drinks then slammed the empty glasses on the table.

  “That’s more like it. Let’s get this party started.” Kendra’s voice boomed, and she rubbed her hands together. “All I need now is a hot, sexy guy to r
ub against on the dance floor, and everything will be perfect.”

  As if on cue, Logan ducked under the velvet rope and entered our private section. “Well, that’s the best offer I’ve had all night. Hello, ladies.” He looked at each of us before lingering on Kendra. “You look stunning. I’m going to be the envy of every guy out there.”

  I’d have sworn Kendra blushed, but I didn’t think she was capable.

  “You’re damn right you will be. So you better not disappoint, because you can easily be replaced.” She winked as he moved toward her.

  Logan placed a hand on her arm and leaned to her ear, but he didn’t bother whispering. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”

  Kristi fanned herself. She silently mouthed the words, “Oh . . . my . . . God. Dreamy.”

  Remembering our conversation about Logan the other week, I knew Kristi was dying to have him join us. But that would undoubtedly mean spending the night with Nico.

  “He’ll be here any minute, Danni.” Logan studied me for a moment before giving a slight shake of his head. “Should be an interesting evening.”

  Interesting. I had a hunch that would turn out to be a major understatement. “Good to see you again, Logan.”

  The music stopped, and Ben’s voice filled the room, announcing the band would take a short break. He introduced the DJ who would keep the party going until they returned.

  Jen and Kristi moved next to me, talking while casually observing Kendra with Logan.

  “Wow, Danni, you were right,” Kristi said. “Guess there’s a first for everything.”

  Kristi’s face lit up. She let out a squeal as Ben rushed toward her, scooping her up in a huge hug and planting a kiss on her mouth.

  My skin tingled from the happiness radiating from them. I leaned back in my chair and pulled out my phone. No messages. No missed calls. No relief for the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  Jen grabbed my arm and shouted over the music. “I think I’m going to slip out for a minute—call home to check on Caden.” She glanced over at Logan then back at me. “You’ll be alright?”