by Anna Howard
“I don’t have my car.” Bianca tells me. “I’m at Christian’s. But we will be there as soon as we can.” She promises me. “And then I’ll take you home and feed you all kinds of sinful things.”
Despite my pain and despair I cannot help but smile. “I am so glad I have you as my best friend, Bee.”
“It goes both ways, Kari.” She assures me. “Be there soon!”
Chapter 3
“Happy Birthday, my lovely girl!”
I grin over at my father. We are sitting at a small table for two in one of my favorite restaurants in Manhattan having lunch. Since my mother’s death in the fall I haven’t gotten out much, but I always make time for my father. And since he has been away more often than not in recent months I am thrilled to see him.
All day he has been getting heated looks from nearly every woman who sees him. It annoys me that most of the female population thinks my father is hot. But I can’t really blame them. With his short light blond hair, his big chocolate brown eyes, and the physique of a body builder, he is most women’s dream man. A few months ago he had even been on the cover of GQ as one of the top ten sexiest business men over the age of forty.
We have just finished some grilled tilapia, one of my favorite dishes and as soon as the waiter has cleared our empty plates he sets a small gift box before me. I know it is jewelry, from one of my favorite shops, Cartier, simply from the shape of the box. With enthusiasm I shred the wrapping and carefully lift the lid to find a dazzling bracelet sparkling up at me.
“It’s beautiful, Daddy!” I exclaim throwing my arms around his neck. “Thank you!” I kiss his cheek and he laughs, delighted that I love my present.
“You can wear it tonight when Bianca takes you clubbing.” He tells me, taking a sip of his wine.
I shake my head at him. “So that’s what she has planned.” I hadn’t been sure, but if my father knows about it then I’m pretty sure that is what is going to happen. I grimace, knowing that my best friend plans on getting me stone cold drunk for my big twenty-first birthday.
“Sh. I wasn’t supposed to tell you.” He winks at me. “Actually Hunter has reserved the VIP floor of Club 101. From what Bianca has hinted at to me when I spoke to her recently you are have a big bang of a celebration ahead of you, pet.”
“Can you tell her I fell and broke something?” I am only half joking. I don’t want to go clubbing, and especially with a large group of friends. All I had really wanted was a quiet night to myself gorging on mint chocolate chip ice cream with lots of extra toppings.
Baxter Brandon gives me a sympathetic smile and downs the last of his wine. “Sorry. But I promised Bee that you would be in one piece for tonight.”
“Oh, Daddy!”
“Don’t blame me.” He laughs.
“Fine.” I pout prettily. “I guess I still love you.”
I enjoy the rest of the afternoon with my favorite man in the world before reluctantly going back to my apartment. I won’t get to see my father again for at least another month because he has more business to take care of in the Middle East. But it was wonderful to spend the day with him.
Bianca is already in the shower when I get home, so I lock myself in my room. Unfortunately my bestie has already raided my closet and selected the dress that she thinks I should wear tonight. I groan when I find it is the little scrap of silk that she bought me for Christmas.
Passion red with shoestring straps the thing is only long enough to cover my butt, just barely. Not surprising, Bianca has also tossed a pair of red bikini briefs on the bed. And of course there is no matching bra, because the dress does not allow for one.
Sighing I toss the items aside and strip. I shower and take my time washing my hair. When I finished I get out and frown at my steamed pink face in my vanity mirror over the sink. I have aged considerably since my last birthday, mostly since the death of my mother and step-father five months ago. And perhaps a little because I have almost completely cut Keith Winthrop out of my life…
My chest hurts at the thought of him and I turn from my reflection to run a bubble bath. I dry my fingers long enough to turn on my playlist on my iPhone and sink into the gloriously hot bubbles. With a contented sigh I close my eyes and try not to think about my sexy stepbrother and all the pain he has put me through in recent months.
Over Christmas I spent a few days at the Winthrop estate with Hunter. It was our first Christmas without our parents and we needed to be together to celebrate for them if no other reason. Of course Keith was there too, and he hadn’t been alone.
His Eliza had been there!
I clench my fists under the sweet smelling bubbles and push all thoughts of that woman from my mind.
“You awake in there?”
“Go away!” I shout at Bianca. “I am drowning myself. Might I do that in peace, or would you like to plan what I shall wear to my funeral?”
“Hey, I just want to make tonight special!” Bianca calls back, not sounding the least bit offended or sorry.
I sigh, knowing that I am being unfair. “Whatever. I’ll be out in a little while.”
I take my time getting ready. Being extra careful with my makeup; spending a little extra time with the styling tools on my long blond hair. My legs are silky smooth and I skip thigh highs as I slip on my red briefs and then step into my ultra-expensive designer heels. If there is one weakness that I will ever admit to having it is shoes. After slipping into the barely there dress I step back to glare at myself in my floor length mirror.
I look hot. My gold eyes are huge, my smile secretive. My breasts aren’t overly large and a bra is not necessary to keep them under control. The dress ends an inch below my butt and I shake my head at how glamorous I appear.
As I leave my room I grab a matching red clutch and the bracelet that my father gave me at lunch earlier. As I’m snapping it on my cell buzzes and I pause long enough to peek at the caller ID. It’s Hunter, but I’m upset with him for reserving the VIP of the club and conspiring with Bianca when he knows good and well that I hate clubbing. So I let it go to voice mail without a second thought.
Anything he has to tell me can wait until I get to the club.
We take a cab to the club. There is a line outside of Club 101 that is all the way down the side walk and wraps around the side of the building. But Bianca goes straight up to the bouncer with the clip board and smiles her most seductive smile. “Hello, Marcus.”
The big man gives her a welcoming smile. “Bianca.” He steps back and releases the rope so that she can enter the club. When he sees me behind her his eyes light up. “Whoa!!! Hot!” He whistles and I can’t help but giggle.
“Thank you Marcus.” I am blushing, but seriously enjoying his blatant appreciation.
“Happy Birthday, Kari!” He calls after us as we enter the dimly lit building.
I wave at him. “Thanks!”
As soon as we enter the building Bianca turns to me. “I want you to promise me something.” She is taking off her wrap and giving it over to the girl behind the desk. It is the middle of May but there is a storm in the air making it chilly out.
I raise a perfectly shaped blond brow. She looks completely serious and I don’t know if I should be worried or not. “What?”
She shakes her dark head. “I want you to just let go tonight. No heavy thinking.”
That’s what I do, I over think everything. Even when I was getting into trouble back in boarding school I was always over thinking things. But tonight is my birthday, and I can see from the look in my bestie’s eyes that she is really excited for me. And I…Well I haven’t been all that appreciative about any of this.
“Okay, Bee.” I give in gracefully.
She claps her hands and squeals with delight. I get a quick, tight hug before she grabs my hand and starts pulling me through the club. The VIP section is all the way in the back and then up a set of roped off stairs to the second floor. But half way to the stairs Bianca turns to me again, look
ing hesitant.
“What now?” I demand.
She bites her bottom lip. “Well…”
“Bianca! What is it?” She has me worried and that is never a good sign when it comes to Bianca Carrington.
She blows out a long sigh. “I kind of asked Christian if he would bring a few guys with him.” My eyes grow huge and I know my face is turning red with both embarrassment and rage. “You never date!” She quickly defends herself. “And I know why just as well as you do if you would just admit it to yourself!”
I glare at her. I have already admitted to myself. But it hasn’t change anything. I don’t date because no one can make me burn with just a look like Keith does. My heart, my body, my very soul wants Keith Winthrop and it refuses to accept anyone else.
“Please, Kari!” Bianca is looking concerned now. “Just give these guys a chance. Put that fucker out of your mind for tonight and get to know some of them.”
“Whatever!” I brush by her and glare at the bouncer who is standing guard at the VIP stairway. “I’m the lucky birthday girl.” I tell him and he gives me an appreciative once over before stepping aside and holding the rope for me.
But by the time I reach the top of the stairs my rage has evaporated and I realize that my friend is completely right. I vow to myself then and there to keep an open mind…And to lose my virginity by the end of the night. I cannot let Keith’s hold over me keep me from moving on with my life. Especially when it seemed as if I had no hold what-so-ever over him and he had no problem jumping into multiple beds in the same month.
February being just one example!
No! I am not going to do that to myself tonight! It is time I exorcise him from my life once and for all.
Bianca grasps my elbow when she reaches me. “Please don’t be mad.” She murmurs.
I shake my head. “I’m not.” I promise. “And I will give them a chance. But first I need some tequila rushing through my blood.”
“Hell yeah!” She shouts. “Margaritas baby!”
Giggling we turn to find three large tables full of our friends. They are all talking amongst themselves but stop and turn when Bianca shouts. Everyone jumps up and I am hugged for the next fifteen minutes. Happy Birthdays ring in my ears.
The last to pull me into his arms is Hunter. “Happy Birthday, Kari.” He kisses my cheek and holds me close for a long moment. When he steps back he pulls a present out of the breast pocket of his dinner jacket. “This is for you.”
I beam at him as I take the jewelry box from him and carefully open it. There is a platinum locket hanging from a long silver chain. With a slightly unsteady hand I open the beautiful locket and find a picture of my mother and his father smiling lovingly back at me.
It takes me a minute to get myself under control enough to raise my eyes to smile at him. “Thank you.” I whisper.
“Welcome.” He gives me another kiss on my cheek. “Now, I want to buy the birthday girl her first legally obtained drink!”
“Hell yeah!” I shout, just as Bianca did earlier and link my arm through his.
It isn’t until I have two margaritas in me and several shots in me that I remember my stepbrother had attempted to call me earlier. I am standing beside of him at the balcony overlooking the lower part of the club. There are friends all around us and he seems deep in conversation with Christian. So I bump his shoulder to get his attention.
He turns with a grin for me. “Are you drunk already?” He asks loud enough to be heard over the music.
“No.” Just a little tipsy and feeling way to good. “Why did you call me earlier? Was it important?”
His blue eyes darkened. “No, it wasn’t important. I just wanted to tell you I invited a few other people.”
“Oh. Okay. That’s cool.” I drain the rest of my margarita. “I want to dance.”
The man to my left, whom I have been ‘keeping an open mind’ about and has been dragged into a conversation with two other guys, is instantly alert. He wraps his strong arm around my waist. “That’s my cue!” He winks down at me and tugs me toward the stairs.
Giggling I wave at Bianca on my way downstairs and she gives me a beaming smile and a thumb’s up.
Out on the dance floor I take a minute to give my dance partner a once over. Short brown hair, nice smile. Cute, in a boyish kind of way. And big! As in my father would have loved to spend an afternoon lifting weights with him. His name is Blake something-or-other and he seems nice. Of all the guys Christian has brought tonight Blake is the one that I have found I have the most in common with.
And I find, as I let myself go to the music, that he is an excellent dance and can easily keep up with me. I laugh happily—and yes tipsily—as he swings me around. Giggling I hold on to his wide, hard shoulders and just let go.
The music ends and I convince Blake to dance one more with me. But before the music is even over I am thirsty and ready for something cold and refreshing. So we return to the VIP area and I drop down beside of Bianca and Christian at one of the tables. I take my bestie’s frozen daiquiri from her hand and take two gulps of it before offering it back to her.
“Having fun?” She asks, resting her back against Christian’s strong front.
“A blast.” I assure her. “And don’t you dare say ‘I told you so’ Bee or I will never speak to you again.”
She holds up her slender hands. “Now would I ever do that?”
I share a grin with Christian over her head and we both say “Yes!” and the exact same time. Blake, having been busy acquiring me another drink drops down across from me. “Ah! I love you!” I exclaim as I take a long swallow of the lemon-lime soda he has put before me.
“Damn it!”
I frown over at Bianca and the sudden fierceness of her tone. “What?” I ask, wiping my lips with a cocktail napkin.
Bianca isn’t looking at me, however. Her glacier blue eyes are glaring over my head and I turn to see what, or more who, has put such a cold look on my friend’s normally happy-go-lucky face.
Of course I regret it as soon as I turn my head and find Keith Winthrop standing a few feet away speaking to his brother. I make a quick survey of the room but cannot spot any other newcomers and realize that my stepbrother appears to be dateless.
My heart clenches. I have just promised myself that I am going to forget about this sexy as sin man and he choices now to voluntarily appear here tonight? I want to shout and scream and slap his sardonically raised eye-browed face!
As I watched the two devastatingly sexy brothers talk I couldn’t help but notice that there was a difference in Keith. Even in the dim lighting and from my distance I could see that he wasn’t nearly as tense as normal. The set of shoulders weren’t as ridged and the lines around his eyes and mouth that were usually wrinkled with stress has eased. It made him look younger, more carefree. And so, so much more appealing to my senses.
Of course I cannot help but wonder what had brought this new change to him. A new woman perhaps? After the scandal he had stirred up back around Valentine’s Day my step-brother has surprisingly been out of the gossip tabloids. And I haven’t heard about any new girl-friends in just as long. So I was pretty sure that he had someone special in his life and he was just keeping it quiet.
My heart contracted at the thought.
“Let’s dance!” Bianca hollers and I force a smile to my lips. She stands and pulls me to my feet before turning to Blake. “Let’s go, lover boy. Don’t want someone still the girl do ya?”
Blake laughs and shakes his head as he stands and I am practically lifted off my feet with just one arm. “Let’s dance!” He hollers just as Bianca did and the three of us head for the stairs.
I can’t help but giggle. “I can walk.” I beat on Blake’s arm, but he doesn’t seem to notice and only hikes me higher. Squealing I wiggle trying to get free and he shifts and tosses me over his shoulder just as we are passing my stepbrothers.
My dress, as short as it is, uncovers my butt and lets everyone see tha
t I am indeed wearing underwear. I raise my head and meet Keith’s hard gaze. Those green eyes are as hard as emeralds as he glares after me and my friends. I decide that I don’t care if he is angry and that I will still have a great time with him here. So I smile sweetly at him. “Hey, Keith. Thanks for coming!” I call as Blake starts to descend the stairs without any trouble.
Bianca, who is walking behind me, has the most amazing expression on her face. It is both amused and proud. She is glad that I have not rushed to Keith’s side and forgotten all about my many promises to her and myself about forgetting about him tonight.
Blake doesn’t set me on my feet again until we are in the middle of the dance floor. I fix my dress and despite my self-assurance that I would not worry about Keith I peek up at the second floor balcony. My heart misses a beat when I find him standing there watching me with Hunter.
“Kari!” Bianca tugs on my hand to distract me. “Kari, don’t!” She has to raise her voice to be heard over the music. “Dance with Blake.”
I sigh. I need another drink. “Bee…”
“Dance, girl!” She pushes me into Blake’s arms and he has such a cute expectant look on his boyish face that I find myself relaxing and soon let the music take over for me as I dance with him.
Half an hour later, my hair is a tangled mess and I am sweating and thirsty. Bianca has already left me for something to drink and Christian, but Blake is still going strong. I tell him that I need a drink and that I will be right back. With a nod and a grin he keeps on going.
A grin of my own touches my lips as I cross to the bar and request a glass of ice water and a shot of Patron. I sip the water until it is half empty then toss back the tequila with a whoop! It burns oh so nicely and I feel ready to conquer the world once more.
The bartender gives me a sexy smile and I grin as he sits another shot in front of me. “For the beautiful birthday girl!”
