by Opal Carew
She wiggled her toes with a smile, admiring the red nails.
What would Blake and Evan think when they saw them? She could just imagine Evan taking off her shoe, his hand caressing her ankle, then the look of surprise on his face when he saw her shiny, cherry-red toenails. A shiver danced through her at the thought. And the images of what would come next.
She hadn’t been with the two men in days and she was really looking forward to tonight. They’d dance and talk at the party, then they’d invite her back to their place afterward. If they seemed at all reluctant, then she’d make this dress work for her. She remembered how they’d looked at her the first time they’d seen her in it in the store . . . and how quickly they’d gotten it off her again.
She was determined that tonight she’d show them the best sex of their lives. After that, there was no way they’d want to give her up.
Danni stepped from the limousine and walked up the steps to the country club with her mother and stepfather. The ride over had been tense. For her anyway. Her mother had chatted with her stepfather all the way over. Danni, however, was intensely conscious of her stepfather’s sour gaze every time he glanced her way.
Now that they were at the party, she could mingle with other people and ignore him.
They stepped into the ballroom filled with people. The women all wore dazzling gowns and the men elegant tuxedos. She noticed that men turned and gazed at her as she went by. Women, too, but the flickering heat in the men’s eyes was disconcerting. She stayed close by her mother’s side as she walked across the ballroom, scanning the crowd for Blake and Evan, but she couldn’t see them.
A waiter stopped and offered them drinks from his tray. Danni took one and sipped it. Mom took her arm and led her to a group of people and introduced her. Danni didn’t really get all the names, but Mom made a point of subtly repeating the names of the two young men in the group—Frederick and Don. They both smiled and told her how lovely she looked. She thanked them, trying to hide her discomfort.
Mom told her Frederick was a partner at Michelo, Smith, and Burns, which Danni knew was a very prestigious law firm. Don was the owner of an up-and-coming brokerage company. Mom headed off their questions by saying Danni was involved with Annex, a large architectural firm, which was not technically a lie since the construction company she worked for did a lot of work for Annex.
Frederick and Don continued the conversation with her and Danni noticed that somehow along the way, Mom managed to draw the other people in the circle to another conversation, leaving her alone with the two men.
“Your drink’s empty,” Don said. “Would you like something from the bar?”
She’d love a beer, but her mom had insisted she order cocktails or wine so she would look more ladylike.
“Yes, that would be nice.”
“What would you like me to get you?” he asked.
She smiled. “Why don’t you surprise me?”
“Of course.”
Don headed toward the bar and Frederick took that opportunity to move in closer.
“I’ve never seen you at one of these affairs before,” he said.
“I usually don’t have the time,” she said.
“Yes, it is difficult to meet all of one’s social expectations while spending the long hours needed to build a successful career.”
She just nodded and wracked her brain trying to remember any of the topics Rhett and Marcus had suggested she discuss. Fortunately, Frederick asked her what she liked to do in her spare time and as soon as she mentioned she loved to go swimming, he told her about his house on Lake Tahoe.
“Maybe I can show it to you sometime. In fact, we could fly out there on my private jet next weekend.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t really get away.” She couldn’t believe his audacity at asking her away on what he probably assumed would be an intimate getaway when they’d just met.
Then she remembered that day by the pool with Blake and Evan and her cheeks heated. Luckily, Don returned with her drink and she took a sip of the fruity cocktail.
“Thank you, it’s very nice,” she said to Don and he beamed.
She asked them what books they liked to read, but when they both started on about thrillers and political suspense, she just listened halfheartedly.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” her mother interrupted, “while I borrow my daughter.”
“What’s going on, Mom?” she asked once they were out of earshot. “I thought you wanted me to meet men here.”
“Yes, but you’re clearly not interested in either of those two, so let’s not waste time.”
Danni had to smile at her mother’s single-mindedness.
Mom introduced her to a group with several young men, then did her subtle disappearing act again. Danni held up her end of the conversation well enough for a while, until one blond man turned the conversation back to jobs and asked her what she did at the architectural firm.
She tried to be vague, but when he asked her if she was an architect, she didn’t know how to answer. She wouldn’t lie and say she was, but had no idea how to describe what she did in a way that wouldn’t embarrass her mom.
She glanced down, trying to think, then noticed a piece of fluff on her red dress. She leaned forward to brush it away and suddenly realized this was exactly what Marcus had suggested she do.
She straightened up again and every man in the group was staring at her, their eyes glittering in the soft light from the chandeliers. They all seemed in a daze.
“Excuse me,” she said, “I see a friend.”
Their eyes filled with disappointment as she moved away.
She placed her empty glass on a waiter’s tray and picked up a full one. She sipped as she walked through the room looking for Blake and Evan. She glanced at her watch and realized almost an hour had gone by. Her heart compressed as she wondered if they had decided not to come after all.
She spent another hour chatting with various men her mother introduced her to, her anxiety level rising as she fretted about Blake and Evan, trying not to fall into despair that they weren’t coming. That they had decided to drop her completely.
She used the move Marcus had suggested several more times. A couple of times it didn’t work and she used the follow-up trick and wound up on the dance floor, but she was uncomfortable dancing with these strangers. Especially since most of them seemed to think she’d be willing to fall right into their bed, or join them on some weekend excursion.
Then she found herself with one man named Webster who, although giving her an appreciative gaze when she leaned over, wasn’t distracted from his questioning. He was very interested in architecture, so she knew she could easily get caught in her mother’s lie. Even when she tried to prompt him to ask her to dance by saying she liked the song the band was playing, he didn’t seem to notice.
“There you are, Danni.”
Danni glanced at the tuxedoed man stepping to her side.
It was Marcus. Webster seemed a little uncomfortable at the sight of him. Although the tuxedo was well tailored and quite elegant, Marcus still had that rough edge, with the tattooed vines visible above his collar, the large insert in his ear, and his cropped black hair.
“I’ve been looking for you to collect on that dance you promised me. I’m sorry, Webster, but I’m going to steal her from you.”
Without waiting for Webster’s answer, Marcus took her hand and led her to the floor.
“You looked a bit desperate, so I thought I’d save you.”
“Thank you,” she said as he drew her into his arms and swept her around the floor. Of all the men she’d danced with this evening, she found she was most comfortable with him.
“Are you enjoying the party?” he asked.
“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be,” she said as they glided past another couple. “Thanks to you and Rhett. Your advice was very helpful.”
Marcus smiled, then drew her closer. “Happy to help.”
As she danced,
she felt the tension of being on all evening slipping away. But as that happened, she started to fret about Blake and Evan again.
“What time is it?” she asked.
His eyebrow arched. “Tired of spending time with me already?”
She smiled. “No, of course not. It’s just that . . . well, Blake and Evan told me they’d come to the party after all. I expected they’d be here by now.”
He glanced at his watch. “It’s after nine. If they’re planning to show up it’s getting pretty late.”
Her chest tightened.
Oh, God, they aren’t coming.
He frowned as she stiffened in his arms. “So tell me. Which one have you fallen for? Blake or Evan?”
She gazed at him, then pursed her lips.
“Both.”
“Really?” He laughed. “Again, you really are my kind of woman.”
Her eyes started to well with tears.
“Hey, I’m not hitting on you. Look, the fact they’re late doesn’t mean anything . . . except maybe that they’re idiots for making such a pretty lady wait around.”
“You don’t understand. Something went wrong this week,” she confided.
“What kind of thing?”
“I . . .” She sucked in a breath. “I asked them for a favor. I think they weren’t happy about it and . . .” She shook her head. “I wish I’d never done it. It wasn’t worth losing them over.”
“If those two idiots walk away from a sexy beauty like you because you asked them a favor, they’re complete losers.” His lips quirked up. “And Blake and Evan are anything but. I’m sure that’s not why they didn’t come.”
She gazed at him and he must have been able to tell she wasn’t convinced because he took her hand and led her from the floor, then out to the atrium. He guided her to a quiet area and then tapped on his phone. He put it away and turned his focus to her.
“Okay, we’ll just sort this out right now. Why don’t you call them?”
She shook her head. “It’d be too awkward. They must not want to talk to me or they would have called and explained.”
Rhett appeared with two drinks in his hand. He gave one to Danni. She smiled her thanks then took a sip.
“I got your text. So what’s up?” he asked Marcus, his concerned gaze on Danni’s face.
“Blake and Evan told Danni they were coming tonight and they haven’t shown. Danni figures she’s been stood up and is none too happy about it.”
Rhett slipped his phone from his pocket, opened his contact list, and dialed. She could hear a single ring on the line, then someone answered.
Rhett glanced at her. “Voice mail.” He disconnected, then flipped through his contact list again. “I’ll call them at the office. Maybe they got held up in a meeting. If so, their secretary should still be there.”
He made the call and then pursed his lips. He slipped the phone back into his pocket.
“I’m sorry, Danni. Their message says they’re out of town until Monday.”
She felt the blood drain from her face. “So they really aren’t coming.”
Rhett shook his head. “I’m afraid not.”
Her stomach clenched and she felt ill.
“Sweetheart,” Marcus said. “I know you think you’ve done something wrong, but you haven’t.”
She just nodded. And he was right. It didn’t matter whether she’d asked a favor of them or not. That might have hastened the end, but this relationship had been doomed to fail from the beginning. She had known that deep inside. Blake and Evan were totally out of her league. As nice as they’d been to her—and as hot as the sex was between them—they weren’t going to fall for her.
Even though she’d totally fallen for them.
Her stepfather was right. She was a loser.
Chapter Twelve
“I think I should probably go.” Danni knew her mother and stepfather would be staying to the end, but she could just catch a cab. She’d slip away quietly.
“No way.” Marcus took her hand. “We’re going to cheer you up. And don’t worry about your mother introducing you to any more clowns. Rhett and I will work as a tag team and keep you occupied.”
Marcus gave her hand to Rhett who led her back to the dance floor.
Danni saw her mother approaching as she stood with Rhett while Marcus went to the bar for drinks.
“There you are, dear,” Mom said while eyeing Rhett with a smile. She gazed at Danni expectantly.
“Mom, this is Rhett. Rhett, this is my mother, Marjorie Collens.”
“Very nice to meet you, Ms. Collens,” Rhett said, shaking her hand.
“Marjorie, please,” her mother said. “I’m glad you could make it to the party.”
Rhett smiled in Danni’s direction. “So am I.” He turned to Danni. “I’ll go help Marcus with the drinks so you can have some time with your mother.” He took Danni’s hand and kissed it. “I trust you’ll still be here when I get back.”
“Of course.” Danni smiled.
He was being extra charming so Mom wouldn’t drag her off to meet other men.
“Well, you certainly seem to have found someone you’re interested in,” Mom said once he was gone. Then she smiled. “Or should I say two someones. Are you having trouble choosing or”—she grinned—“are you planning on seeing both of them?”
“Would that be a problem?” Danni asked.
“For me? No. For them? I don’t know. They seem to be close friends.” She raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever thought they might have something a little . . . um . . . risqué in mind?”
Shock vaulted through Danni. Mom couldn’t be talking about what it sounded like she was talking about. Was Mom really thinking that Rhett and Marcus were angling for a threesome with her?
Not that Danni didn’t think Rhett and Marcus would love that. She just didn’t think her mom would think about that kind of thing. Or grin at her that way while suggesting that was their intent.
“What are you trying to say?” Danni asked, eyebrow raised.
“Nothing. I just hope you’re open to interesting new experiences that might come your way.”
“Mom, we are not having this conversation.”
Mom squeezed her arm. “Look, honey. I can tell something’s bothering you tonight and I just think you should grab some happiness if you can. If someone broke your heart, then don’t be afraid to move on. Or to open yourself to something new. And these two men both seem eager and willing to make you happy.”
Danni’s cheeks were heating, more so when she saw Rhett and Marcus approaching through the crowd with their drinks.
Mom glanced over her shoulder and saw them, then patted Danni’s arm. “I’ll be getting back to your stepfather now.”
Once Rhett and Marcus were back, Danni took the drink Marcus handed her and took a deep sip. Then another.
“Tough conversation with your mom?” Rhett asked.
“No. She just . . . confused me.” Then she put on a smile and said, “I really like the song the band is playing.”
Marcus chuckled. “That sounds like my cue.” He offered his hand. “Shall we dance?”
She nodded as she placed her hand in his, then accompanied him onto the floor again.
Marcus held her snugly against him as they swirled around, then the song ended and the band switched to a much slower number. Marcus drew her even closer to his big body. The heat of him, and the solid muscle, made her remember what it was like to be in Blake’s arms. And Evan’s.
God, she didn’t want it to be over.
“I know you’re feeling down now,” Marcus said, “and I’m not going to hit on you while you’re still reeling, but I meant it when I said you’re my kind of woman. I’ll give you a little time, but then . . . fair warning . . . I’m going to pursue you. And I won’t give up until you say yes.”
She didn’t know what to say. She actually felt a spark for him. He was ultramasculine with his short, cropped black hair, the vine tattoos curling up from unde
r his collar and around his neck, his burning amber eyes, and the dark shadow of whiskers on his jaw. Something about his bad-boy swagger all dressed up in an elegant tux held a lot of appeal. But the attraction she felt for him was nothing compared to the full-out inferno she felt for Blake and Evan.
Her gaze flickered to the door and she sucked in a breath.
“Blake and Evan just arrived,” she said as she watched them standing near the ballroom door scanning the room.
“Of course they did.” Marcus turned them around on the dance floor and gazed toward the door. “I assume you want to go and talk to them.”
Evan glanced in her direction and their gazes caught. Her heart thumped loudly and a confusing flutter of emotions swirled through her. She wanted to go and throw herself into his arms. To tell him how much she missed him. Both of them.
But just because they’d shown up at the party didn’t mean everything was okay between them. In fact, maybe they’d purposely come late to make a statement of some kind.
Or maybe they’d come here to tell her it was over. They were nice guys, so maybe they didn’t want to just end it without talking to her first.
Maybe they were here to break up with her.
“Danni? Do you want to go and talk to them?” Marcus asked.
She drew back and stared at him in a daze. She frowned, knowing she couldn’t face them right now.
“No,” she murmured. Then her heart compressed and she pulled away from his arms and dashed from the dance floor and out the double doors to the balcony.
Evan caught sight of Danni. The way she gazed at him was odd, her eyes wide as if she was startled to see him.
He nudged Blake.
“There she is. On the dance floor with Marcus,” Evan said.
As they watched, she said something to Marcus, frowned, then pulled away and darted toward the nearest doors.
“What the hell?” Blake exclaimed.
Blake strode after her, Evan on his heels. Halfway there, Rhett intercepted them.
“Where have you two been?” Rhett asked.
