by Kylie Brant
Flipping down the visor, she checked her appearance in the mirror, aghast at her reflection. For the duration of the trip she’d forgotten Lucky’s hand in her dishevelment. With frantic movements, she attempted to restore her hair to order.
Her attempt was thwarted when he reached by her and pushed the visor back up. “Leave it. It looks better this way.”
She sent him a killing glance, then tried to straighten her neckline. “Thanks to you, I look like a slut.”
He brought the car to a halt before the front steps. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
She was saved from answering by the valet opening her door, helping her out from the vehicle. Walking to the door, she felt, rather than saw Lucky join her. She drew in a deep breath and tried to ignore the cloak of trepidation threatening to smother her. This was ridiculous. She was a healthy, well-adjusted adult. The party might turn out to be unpleasant, but it would hardly be life-altering.
Still, as a uniformed maid swung the door open, and the sounds of the party spilled out, Jacey was honest enough to admit that she was glad she hadn’t had to come alone.
Having even Lucky by her side was better than nothing.
Chapter 5
Lucky gave a mental whistle as they walked past the maid and headed for the living room. The floors were marble, the walls were lined with what even his untrained eye could tell was expensive artwork, and the chandelier overhead threw off enough prisms from its hanging crystals to blind a man.
Still, he found himself comparing the place unfavorably to Jacey’s refurbished Creole-style house. The grandeur couldn’t even remotely come close to capturing the cozy elegance of her home. This was a place for show rather than one suited to live in, not unlike Jacey’s childhood home. He much preferred a house that didn’t shout No Trespassing, but given his choice in apartments, he supposed his standards weren’t especially high.
To their immediate right was a living room filled with people. He slanted a glance at Jacey. Although her expression was a smooth polite mask, he could read her underlying nerves in the set of her shoulders. Deliberately, he took a step closer, his lips brushing her hair as he whispered in her ear, “Does it help to picture them all naked?”
He could have sworn he heard her choke back a laugh. She turned her face toward his to murmur, “None of your outrageousness, Boucher. Your appearance is supposed to help my cause, not make it worse.” Seeing an older woman bearing down on him, he didn’t answer, but when Jacey would have moved away, he moved with her, maintaining their proximity. He saw by the woman’s expression that she hadn’t missed the air of intimacy between them. Good. A sense of satisfaction filled him. Let the games begin.
“Jacinda.” Audrey Brummond took Jacey’s hands in both of hers and kissed the air near her cheek. “What a wonderful surprise. You can’t imagine how thrilled I was when Peter informed me that you’d be coming.” She lowered her voice confidentially, her words oozing a sympathy that wasn’t reflected in the avid look in her eyes. “How are you doing, dear?”
“I’m fine, Audrey. Busy, of course. You’re looking well.”
“You’re sweet to say so. I didn’t sleep at all last night. The details of this party preyed on my mind until dawn.” The woman gave up her pretense of interest in the conversation and switched her attention to Lucky. “And who is your guest, Jacinda? I don’t believe I’ve ever had the pleasure.”
Before Jacey could open her mouth, Lucky took the woman’s hand in his, bent over it. “The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Brummond. I’m Luc Boucher. Lucky to my friends. Jacey and I are…business associates.” He imbued the phrase with enough meaning to have the woman’s look turning speculative.
“How…interesting. Have you two known each other long?”
Sensing that Jacey was about to respond, he inserted smoothly, “Years, actually.” He sent an amused glance at the woman by his side. “Have you been keeping me a secret, cher?”
“Lucky and I—”
“—are parched.” Lucky ignored Jacey’s fuming gaze as he interrupted her. “I hope you’ll excuse us while we get some refreshments.”
“Of course, where are my manners?” Audrey waved a languid hand at a white-jacketed waiter. “There’s champagne and wine on the serving trays, and a bar is set up on the terrace if you’d like something stronger.”
With a hand at the base of Jacey’s back, Lucky guided her away.
“We need to set some ground rules.” Her lips were fixed in a smile, but her teeth were tightly clenched. “I do not want you giving the impression that we’re…that is, that you and I are…”
“Lovers?” he supplied helpfully. “But why not? People will think what they want, and surely you’d prefer that they believe you’ve already replaced Peter than to think you hauled another man along for appearances only.”
That seemed to silence her for a moment, and he took the time to scan the crowd that filled the large room. More people were on the terrace outside the open French doors. He spotted Brummond surrounded by a group outside. As the waiter stopped before them, he took two glasses, and handed one to Jacey.
“I probably shouldn’t drink,” she said doubtfully. “I haven’t had anything to eat since breakfast.”
“Then we’ll have to trip one of those maids carrying the hors d’oeuvre trays.” He wasn’t certain whether to be offended or amused at the faintly panicked look she threw him. “Relax, I’m on my best behavior tonight. Drink. Drink.” He watched as she gulped from her glass with a faintly frantic air. Even if she got a bit tipsy, he didn’t think that would harm anything. If anything, she’d do better if she relaxed a bit.
When her glass was half empty, he said, “Now. Tell me who you know here.”
“Almost everyone.” He wasn’t sure how she could be certain, since he hadn’t seen her give more than a quick glance around. “The Brummonds and my family have been friends for years. Peter and I grew up together.”
“My sympathies. Turn your face toward mine.”
“What?” Nervously, Jacey drained her glass before looking at Lucky. Somehow he seemed to be looming closer, but when she would have stepped back, his hand on her back prevented it. “So.” He angled his face to gaze into her eyes in what, she was certain, would appear a loving fashion. Then he lifted his hand to brush a strand of hair back from her jaw, lingering there to caress the skin with the back of his knuckle. “Let me explain how we will play this.”
Flames flickered to life beneath his touch. Or maybe she was heating up from the champagne. “Play what?”
“Our relationship tonight. We’ll stay right here, appearin’ engrossed in each other until someone approaches us. Given the fact that you know most people here, it’s only a matter of time.” Mindful of the press of bodies, he lowered his voice. “Our interest in each other won’t go unnoticed. We won’t have to offer explanations for our relationship, people will draw their own conclusions. That way you won’t have to lie.”
There was something wrong with his suggestion, but she couldn’t think what it was. A rather pleasant haze had settled over her mind, filling her with a sense of well-being that she was still alert enough to recognize as false.
She sneaked a peek at the crowd beyond Lucky’s shoulder. They’d already drawn attention, or rather, he had. More than one woman was staring at him with an avaricious gleam in her eye. And there were men watching them, too, their curiosity tinged with suspicion. Jacey couldn’t blame them. Lucky looked like a very sleek, very lethal panther set down amidst a group of domestic housecats. That aura of danger would be its own kind of lure for some females, seeking to warm themselves by the inner fire he never quite managed to hide.
Her empty glass was taken from her hand, and his full one pressed into it. “Lucky, I don’t need any more.”
“’Tite, did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”
The endearment, accompanied by the warmth in his eyes, had her protest dying on her lips. His gaze was intense, momentarily fo
gging her senses. And in that instant, it wasn’t difficult at all to understand his reputed success with women. It was only a wonder that more weren’t tempted to trip him and wrestle him to the floor.
“Jacinda!” It was almost a relief to have her attention torn away from his heated gaze, even if it was to return a hug from the woman who’d been bearing down on them. Sluggishly, her brain kicked in, supplying her with a name. “Emily Jane, it’s been a long time. I thought you were in Paris.”
The brunette clad in a flame-red dress slit up to her thigh, made a casual gesture. “I was, then I got bored and came home. I’d heard you’d been hiding out, but now…” She drew back and looked Lucky over head to toe. “I can see why you’ve been otherwise occupied.”
It took far more effort than it should have to resist from planting her spiked heel in the center of the woman’s foot and grinding mercilessly. She was staring at Lucky like a well-fed feline peering at a saucer of cream.
“Emily Jane, this is Lucky Boucher, my…friend.” Even to her own ears, the word seemed imbued with innuendo. She felt a sense of helplessness wash over her. Lucky had been right. People were going to draw their own conclusions. She just hadn’t been prepared to be cast in the role of a sex-crazed seductress.
“Hello, friend,” the other woman purred, as Lucky took her outstretched hand. “Jacinda has really been quite selfish to keep you all to herself like that. Not that I blame her.”
Jacey held her breath, afraid his reaction would threaten the pretense they were creating. Lucky had never made any bones about his appreciation of women. Plural. And Emily Jane was making no secret of her interest.
So it was with mingled relief and pleasure that she heard him say, “I’m afraid I’m to blame for Jacey neglectin’ her friends lately. We get so little time together, and I don’t like to share.” There was that light in his eyes again, the one that caught and held hers. He was really very, very good at this, she thought fuzzily. She moistened her lips, saw his gaze trace the movement. Very good.
“Jacinda, I’m so jealous, I just can’t say. Would you mind getting me a martini, Mr. Boucher? Jacinda and I are going to talk about you while you’re gone.” Emily Jane sent him a coy look that filled Jacey with the irresistible urge to slap her. It wasn’t as if she and Lucky were really a couple, but the other woman didn’t know that, did she? She was all but lapping the man up.
“Of course.” Lucky turned to Jacey. His midnight eyes were alight with amusement. “What can I get for you, darlin’?”
“I’m fine.”
He gave a slow lazy smile in response and turned to wind his way outside to the portable bar, while Emily Jane squeezed Jacey’s arm. “I’m sure you’re better than fine with friends like that. Wherever did you find him?”
“We’re…business associates.”
Emily Jane blinked for a moment before throwing her head back and trilling out a laugh. “Oh, that’s a new one. How delicious. And to think most of the busybodies here tonight were looking forward to seeing you show up, looking awkward and miserable.” At Jacey’s expression, she waved a hand. “Oh, you know it’s true. But you’ve managed to create quite a different scene for yourself, haven’t you?” From her tone it was apparent that she had been one of the ones looking forward to the first scenario she’d described. “Does Peter know?”
Peter. The sip of champagne Jacey was taking at the time went down wrong, and she sputtered out a cough. She thought, she was almost sure, she’d seen the man standing outside earlier, which meant that Lucky was likely to meet up with him.
“Excuse me, will you?” With little diplomacy she headed in the direction Lucky had taken. It would be best if the two of them stuck together. She absolutely didn’t want him speaking to Peter unless she was there as a buffer.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but the crowd seemed to have grown thicker. And every few steps she took she was stopped by one guest after another, ostensibly wanting to say hello, but mostly pumping her for information about the man she’d come with. It seemed as though Lucky’s plan had worked like a charm. She wished she could be certain that it wouldn’t come back to haunt her.
It was a good fifteen minutes before she freed herself and got to the French door. A quick glance outside and she saw that Lucky was leaning against the bar, talking to Jarrett Carmichael, Emily’s brother. Peter was nowhere in sight, and she breathed a little easier.
At least until she heard the voice at her elbow, which threatened to strangle the oxygen in her lungs. “Well played, dear.”
Jacey swung around to find her mother at her side. Sotto voce, the woman continued, “Ever since I walked through the door, I’ve been bombarded with questions about you and your mystery man. I can’t tell you how gratified I was to hear you’d taken my advice.” She took Jacey’s elbow in her hand and steered her toward a corner where they could speak uninterrupted. “Tell me, which of the men did you bring?”
Throwing a panicked gaze back outside, Jacey shifted her weight, trying to block her mother’s view of the terrace. “No one. I mean, I brought a friend of mine.”
“Well, whoever it is seems to have done the trick.” Satisfaction filled her mother’s voice as she angled her head to look around the room. “Which one is he? Audrey Brummond was very nearly speechless from all accounts, and I must say, I would have paid to have seen…” Her words abruptly stopped and her expression froze. With a feeling of resignation, Jacey realized she’d spotted Lucky over her shoulder.
“I’m glad you approve,” she said evenly. “I was far more comfortable bringing a friend than calling a stranger from your list. But you were right about not coming alone.”
“Have you gone insane?” The deadly undertone was at odds with the pleasant look on Charlotte’s face. Appearances, after all, were of the utmost importance. “How could you bring him here? He’s totally unsuitable to work with, much less to let people believe you’re involved with.”
“On the contrary, my appearance with Lucky seems to have robbed the gossips of their fodder tonight.” Jacey gave a defiant little shrug. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Mother, I’m going to go rescue Lucky before those women out there perform a strip search on him.”
She took advantage of her mother’s momentary silence to slip outside. Fixing a bright smile on her face, she moved to Lucky’s side. Or at least as close to his side as possible, considering the fact that he was two deep in women. Spying her, he murmured something and extricated himself with a finesse she would have admired if she’d been in the mood to appreciate it.
“Having a good time?”
He handed her a drink she didn’t want and shrugged uncomfortably. “I’m thinkin’ of asking for combat pay. You have some very…hungry acquaintances.”
Making an attempt to avoid looking at the group of women who even now were gazing covetously at him, she raised the glass to her lips to hide her smirk. “I’ll bet you thought these sorts of things were civilized.”
“Non. But subtle would be an improvement.”
“It’s more like sophisticated warfare.” Someone bumped her, and she stepped closer to him. “I suppose I should have warned you, though. Given you time to don a bulletproof vest or something.”
He straightened with a jerk, and threw a narrowed glance at the redhead who’d brushed by him and was even now giving him a coy look. With one hand going to his backside, he muttered, “I don’t think a vest would have provided me the protection where I most need it.”
She snickered and tipped her glass to her lips again. A moment later she froze in the act. In the far corner of the terrace was stationed the happy couple. And from the expression on Peter’s face, he’d not only spotted her, but recognized her companion.
Her good humor abruptly evaporated. “Toughen up, Boucher. The best part is yet to come. It’s time to go over and congratulate Peter and his fiancée.”
Ironically, that did seem to cheer Lucky up. He turned to follow the direction of her gaze, and a smile crossed h
is lips. He raised his glass in a mock toast toward the man who was still glaring at them, and then turned back to Jacey with a wicked light dancing in his eyes. “You know, I think you’re right. And if I’m not mistaken, this just might be the highlight of the evenin’.”
“Lucky,” she said in a warning tone as they began moving in the direction of the two. “Behave yourself.”
“Darlin’.” His hand went to her bare back, for a quick heated caress before settling familiarly on the curve of her hip. “What fun would that be?”
She was saved from answering by the crush of people on all sides of them. They had joined a swell of well-wishers who were taking turns paying their regards to the couple. The wait didn’t bother her. The man at her side did. He was firmly back into play-acting mode again, taking every occasion to touch her, lean close to whisper in her ear, and playing her lover with a dedication worthy of a Tony Award winner. So when she should have been spending the minutes thinking of something nonchalant and witty to say to Peter, she was constantly being distracted by the weight of Lucky’s hand at her waist, the tingle of awareness that trailed after he touched her arm, her shoulder, her throat.
“This is not helping,” she breathed into his ear, catching his hand before it roamed to her bottom. More than once she’d seen Peter’s gaze on them, and his countenance had gone stony.
“You don’t think?” He gave her a slow smile accompanied by a lazy wink. Reaching out, he toyed with a strand of her hair, wrapping the end around his index finger. “Me, I think it’s brilliant.”
Her response went unuttered. The people in front of them parted and suddenly they were faced with Peter Brummond and his fiancée. A tension-filled second ticked by. Another. Then a lifetime of Charlotte’s drilling on etiquette clicked in and Jacey smiled warmly, held out her hand to the woman. “Hello, I’m Jacinda Wheeler. Peter’s family and mine are old friends.” Far from the timid woman described by Brummond, Longwaite seemed amply able to hold her own in any given situation. She shook Jacey’s hand briefly before slipping a proprietary arm through Peter’s.
