I sank back in the chair and messaged Sebastian before I could stop myself.
Me: I’m just letting you know you won’t win. You won’t get the votes.
I stared impatiently at the phone as three little bubbles floated up and down while he typed.
Renaud: It’s just business.
Me: And it’s my business. Back off.
Renaud: Then your father shouldn’t have taken the company public. You have a board to answer to now, and I’m on it. Get used to it.
After I’d all but slammed the mobile back onto the table, embarrassment flooded my cheeks when I saw that Bella had caught my burst of anger.
She leaned into the doorway of the boardroom, her glasses dangling in hand. “You okay?”
“No,” I said on a sigh. “What’s up?”
She pushed away from the doorframe, her lithe body straightening to its runway model height, then she slipped on her frames and tucked her neon blue hair behind her ears. This was her third new look in the last two months. I loved her for her vibrant spirit. And I was a little envious, too.
“You have a visitor. Hollywood Handsome. Mr. Sex on a Stick. Harrison probably-delivers multiple-orgasms Reed.” She fanned her face, her glittering 1-carat princess cut engagement ring catching my eye. “The man is even better looking than his Instagram profile.”
Wait. What? I jumped out of my chair, chills sweeping up, down—hell, everywhere that I had skin.
She shrugged. “What do you want me to do? I can occupy him if you’d like.” She waggled her brows, her deep blue eyes fixed my way.
“You’re getting married, remember?” I would’ve laughed and teased her with some inappropriate comment if I wasn’t so jumpy and nervous to finally meet Harrison in person. “Send him to my office.”
I slipped inside the nearest lavatory and checked myself in the mirror.
I fixed my blouse, ensuring it was neatly tucked into my red skirt. Blotted a touch of shine off my forehead and cheeks. And thankfully, I hadn’t sucked the gloss dry from my lips during the meeting with Sebastian.
I stared at my reflection. A mini pep talk needed. I can do this. I can face Hollywood Handsome.
A minute later, I found myself standing in the doorway to my office, taking in the sight of Harrison Reed’s perfect backside. He was facing the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a bank of trees outside.
“Hi,” I whispered, the word clinging to the back of my throat as he slowly turned to face me.
He was in jeans, and his white button-down shirt was untucked. Sleeves rolled to the elbows to show strong forearms. Brown suede oxford shoes. No watch. Must’ve been how they dressed in California, much more laid back.
“Hi.” His gray eyes combed the length of me as if he were indulging in a slow and decadent journey, one that’d end with sex and multiple orgasms. Bella was probably right about the man.
He crossed the room to get to me since I’d remained stuck in place, still in shock by his early and unannounced visit.
How was I supposed to greet him?
Handshake? Too formal.
But could I hug a man I’d only just now met in person?
He gathered me in his arms, taking charge of the decision, and I was grateful.
“What are you doing here?” I murmured into his chest before breathing in his heavenly cologne.
Mint. A touch of vanilla and spice. And sex. He smelled like someone who, let’s be honest, knew how to give a woman a proper time in bed.
“Happy birthday. I thought I’d surprise you.” He stepped back, his focus narrowing on me. “You okay?”
I blinked. A few times, maybe.
Harrison Reed should be off-limits for a lot of reasons.
Twelve years older than me.
A possible business partner.
Playboy celebrity.
Lives forever and a day away from Dublin.
Also . . . not Sebastian.
I squeezed my eyes closed at the last item on my list.
Sebastian didn’t belong on my “Reasons not to fall for Hollywood Handsome” list—not for a bloody second.
And yet, it was like Sebastian’s name crushed every other item and towered at the top no matter how much I willed his face, his smell, his deep and sexy voice to go away.
“Holly?”
At the feel of his firm hand wrapped gently around my arm, more protective than possessive, I opened my eyes.
“Words,” I sputtered. “I need to use them now.”
He smiled. “Words are overrated.”
I laughed. That was probably a line from a movie. “I’m truly surprised is all. And it’s just twenty-six. My birthday is nothing.”
“Should I have called first?” He closed one eye and winced as if he were afraid of my answer and let go of my arm.
This man was a titan in his industry. He ran one of the most well-known movie studios in Hollywood, and he was uber hands-on when it came to his passion projects.
“No, I’m happy you’re here,” I admitted. “Had a rough meeting just before. Sorry.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“No, just work stuff. Thank you.”
Sebastian was an off-limits subject matter. I had to protect the company, and I couldn’t let Harrison know I had concerns about one of our board members. I didn’t want to lose a chance at a deal with Reed Productions.
Partnering with Reed to film a movie in Dublin and employing more people because of it—it’d be the boost our company needed, as well as our city.
“Can I get you something to drink? Tea? Coffee?” I motioned for him to sit, but he shook his head.
“I gotta hit the hotel and shower, but thank you.”
And if Bella were in the office, she would’ve offered a play-by-play of what shower sex with Harrison would probably be like—after he left, of course.
I wanted to close my eyes. To be rebellious. To think of this man naked and wet.
But I knew what would happen if I did.
He’d turn into Sebastian in my mind. It’d be The Deal Maker not Hollywood Handsome who’d wind up in my thoughts. Because ever since I met Sebastian, he seemed to take control of every one of my wild fantasies.
“You’re blushing.” Harrison’s lips teased into a grin.
I’d forgotten the art of the English language again, hadn’t I? I was taking tongue-tied to an all-new level. I really needed to get laid. The vibrator wasn’t cutting it these days.
“What’d you say?” Great, and now I needed him to repeat himself because I’d taken a trip to la-la-orgasm-land.
“Blushing.” His oxfords carried him closer to me. Slow, almost cautious steps.
And he should be cautious. If we were in one of his movies, I’d be the heartbreaker, since I was the one who wouldn’t be able to commit.
“Your cheeks are turning pink,” he added when I’d still yet to, you know, S-P-E-A-K. “I had planned to take you out for your birthday, but word is there’s a secret party—one you already know about—happening tonight.”
“Come with me. And this weekend, we can get a head start on all the touristy activities I had originally planned for next week.”
“You sure you don’t mind?”
“I’d love to spend the weekend with you.” The color, no doubt, deepened on my cheeks. “That probably didn’t sound right.”
“It sounds perfect to me.”
Chapter Two
Holly
“Do you like it?” Anna asked as we stood in the entranceway to the grand ballroom at the hotel in Dublin, which overlooked St. Stephen’s Green across the way. Two of the three walls of towering windows offered a gorgeous view of the city park.
“I’ve always loved this place.” My hand went to my heart as memories caught in my mind. “My parents would throw these lavish masquerade balls here when I was growing up, and they were adult-only, but one year I snuck out and hid”—I pointed across the room to the pool of silver fabric—“behind the
drapes and watched everyone dance.” My mood lifted at the memory, the frustrating day at work taking a very distant backseat. “And when they took their masks off at midnight, it was like a fairy tale.”
Ma and Da had been so in love then. I was just ten, but I could see it in the way they danced and moved, how they interacted with each other. I could only hope they’d reconcile, to remember the love they once had and refrain from getting a divorce.
“I take it Adam told you?” I turned toward my brother who had his arm wrapped around his wife’s waist, his palm resting at the side of her pregnant belly covered in a long, flowy silver gown.
“I was the one who found you that night,” he said with a smile, looking handsome in an effortless way in his black tux, a contrast to the clothes he normally donned these days at his fighting gym.
I closed one eye and poked at his chest. “You weren’t supposed to be there either.”
“I followed you. I couldn’t let my sister roam the city by herself.”
Anna pulled herself free of Adam’s arm and moved to a small table outside the ballroom, which had dozens of silver and black masks on it. “Your mask, my love.” She handed a simple black eye mask to Adam. “And this one is for you since you’re the birthday girl. Handmade in Venice.”
I held the work of art in my hands. Intricate details and beading like small, glittering diamonds with touches of white lace atop the silver base. A small crown-like feature at the center. “It’s perfect. Thank you.” She helped me put it on, tying the silver ties around the back of my head. My hair flowed wavy and loose over my shoulders tonight.
“My lady.” Adam offered Anna’s eye mask next. A simpler version of mine. “Everyone is here. Ma and Da even arrived together.”
There was optimism buried in his words, the same hope I shared that our parents would reunite. “If ever a place to get a reminder of their love, this party just might do it.”
“I do think Bella may have invited your entire office tonight, though,” Anna said a moment later. “She was in charge of invites, and she said something about hitting control-all accidentally when the party invitations went out.”
Adam laughed. “Bella make a mistake? She used to work for me before Sean, and trust me, she doesn’t make mistakes.”
“True,” I agreed, surveying the room, trying to see who actually showed up. The masks hid a few identities, but for the most part, I could tell who was who.
“I was hoping Bree would be able to come. I miss her and Jack.” It would’ve been a nice birthday surprise if my cousin and her son had managed to fly in from New York. She would’ve loved this party. As kids, we used to throw our own pretend balls while our parents were at the event, well, up until she moved to Manhattan with Cole when I was eleven.
“She really wanted to be here.” A scowl crossed Adam’s lips. “The divorce with Derek . . .”
Mr. Baseball. I’d never liked her pro-ball husband, but he was still little Jack’s father, so I’d always done my best to be polite around him. “I wish she could move back here with Jack.”
“Derek will never let that happen.” Adam’s shoulders dropped, and I could feel his mood growing dark and protective.
Anna caught on as well, and she smoothed a hand up and down the side of his arm. “How about we go mingle? A ton of people want to say their hellos.”
“I just want one more second to take it all in. Go ahead.”
Adam kissed my cheek and whispered, “Happy birthday, Sis,” then he and Anna moved into the room.
I remained still, relishing in all the details. My throat thickened as memories continued to float to mind. A time of youth and innocence, when I believed a man would one day sweep me away and marry me. My dreams were a touch different now, but there was still a princess in all of us, even when we grew up, right?
And this place was fit for royalty, too. The room was seamlessly divided into three sections: a dance area where men and women in their masks moved before a full orchestra, high-top cocktail tables with the staff serving hors d’oeuvres, and lastly, a lounge-like area near the windows overlooking the park with several couches and a bar. The bartender even had on a mask and bow tie.
The only windowless wall in the room glowed in silvery hues as if the lights were moving slowly over the wall in a rhythmic dance.
But my favorite part had to be the immense hand-forged chandeliers suspended from the coffered ceilings. It was as if strands of diamonds, or crystals, dripped from the heavens above.
“We couldn’t have done this without Anna,” my brother Ethan said from behind, and I whirled around to face him as he placed on his black mask.
“You wore a tux for me.” I nearly clapped a hand to my mouth in surprise. Ethan was never much of a suit-and-tie kind of guy.
“For you, anything.” He kissed my cheek and hugged me. “Happy birthday.” He held on to my hands as he stepped back to observe me. “Ma buy that for you?”
“Yes.” Now I knew why she had insisted on giving me the dress and shoes as an early gift. The color theme of the party was silver and black.
The floor-length dress was strapless and only when I walked could you catch sight of my silver heels peeking out. The black leather bodice of the gown was an alluring contrast to the silk chiffon asymmetric skirt, and it’d been designed by one of Ma’s favorite designers, Brunello Cucinelli.
“You look like heaven itself.” My brother had adopted some of Sean’s charm, so it would seem. “Come on. Let’s get the hellos out of the way so we can get a drink and loosen you up a bit.”
I scoffed. “I’m loose-ish.”
“Sean told me about your meeting earlier,” he muttered into my ear as we made our way into the room. “And I’m thinking you might enjoy something strong to drink.”
Good point.
After an hour or so of chatting with family and friends, I finally made it to the bar. “Something strong and delicious,” I ordered, rubbing the tip of my heel against the back of my calf muscle over the fabric. “Surprise me.”
“Sure thing, Birthday Girl.” He grabbed a martini shaker and went to work, and I lifted my chin toward the ceiling and closed my eyes, allowing the music, the Italian lyrics, to move right through me to my very soul.
I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better birthday.
“Sorry I’m late.”
I opened my eyes at the sound of Harrison’s voice. “How do you know it’s me?” I teased. “You can only see me from behind.”
He wrapped a hand around my elbow and urged me to face him. “Such beauty is hard to miss.”
“Mm, you’re smooth, I should’ve known.”
The black mask made his gray eyes even more exquisite, and the well-fitted tux was a rather nice look on him. “I bet you attend a lot of Hollywood parties like these.”
“We do like to play dress up out there.” His head tilted ever so slightly, his gaze thinning a touch as he lowered his chin, quickly taking in my dress.
I wanted heart palpitations and to feel a greedy need of desire, but I was coming up empty in regard to him, and it was all because of another man.
“Would you dance with me?” He stepped back and extended his hand, and I glimpsed the freshly made drink out of the corner of my eye.
“I’ll be back for that.” I slipped my hand inside his and allowed him to escort me to the dance floor.
My first dance of the night at a ball I’d always dreamed of attending . . .
Harrison placed my hand over his shoulder and held my other firmly in the grasp of his left hand. He moved with a gentle grace, a sophisticated understanding of the music.
He dipped me then asked, “Are we still on for tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
“I can pick you up, and we can go from your place.”
“Well,” I began, mid-twirl, “I just moved out of my flat in the city to the suburbs. Boxes are everywhere, so I’d be embarrassed to have you over and not actually invite you in.”
&nbs
p; “Understandable.”
He was so agreeable. And easy to talk to. The kind of man who should make me feel all the things: butterflies, racing heart, lightheaded.
We’d had a few late-night chats (my time zone), and I’d slowly learned more and more about him, from his favorite Al Pacino films to the character quirks of his siblings, and he’d discovered I was more of a Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman fan than an action-flick kind of girl. I was also from a decent-sized family, so I had plenty of my own sibling stories to share with him.
. . . But all I could feel for Harrison was friendship.
“You okay?” he asked when I stilled, my heels becoming rooted in place.
A rush of unease traveled up my spine and goose bumps scattered across my skin.
It was insane, but I could feel him there.
HIM, as in Sebastian Renaud.
I shifted out of Harrison’s arms and turned to confirm the truth of what I’d felt.
Sebastian advanced through the room, long strides carrying him my way in his fitted, black tuxedo trousers. The black leather mask on his face was perfect for a man whose very presence screamed danger, authority, and sex. He sure as hell looked like he belonged in a high-class BDSM club, in the role of a Master, of course.
“Holly?” Harrison placed his hand on my elbow, seeking my attention, but I remained frozen in place.
Right now, I was that young girl with dreams of her prince stalking toward her to claim her as his in a room full of whispering onlookers.
But my prince wasn’t the hero. He was the villain.
And yet, I couldn’t help but want the bad guy.
“You came,” I whispered, surprised by my ability to speak with Sebastian now at arm’s length, his brown eyes cutting straight through me as if he were capable of peeling back my layers and exposing every grain of truth about me. The little pulses of need, the desire to do naughty, erotic things with him.
“I was invited,” was all he said before setting his focus on Harrison. “Reed,” he greeted.
Harrison offered his hand. “Renaud?” A touch of surprise graced the tone of his voice, and my heart leapt off the proverbial cliff of oh-shit at the fact Harrison knew him. Well, maybe of him. The man’s reputation probably crossed oceans. “I was hoping to meet you while I was in town.” Harrison folded his arms in a defensive stance, confirming he knew Sebastian was trouble.
The Real Deal: A Dublin Nights Novel Page 3
