by Lucy Score
When Ashley hung up, she realized Georgie hadn’t asked about Steven, which wasn’t really a surprise. She had never been much of a fan of him since he made a pass at her; it was during a weekend visit with Ashley when they were sophomores. He made a compelling “I was wasted” argument, apologized profusely, and Ashley had forgiven him.
But Georgie hadn’t forgiven or forgotten.
CHAPTER TWELVE
At 7 on the nose, Ashley eased into the marble-floored hotel lobby through the heavy revolving door. The two-story space was accented by huge potted plants surrounding a dramatic fountain.
“Ashley!”
She turned in the direction of her name and was nearly mowed over by a blur of honey blonde hair and long, tan limbs.
“Georgie! I am so glad to see you! You have no idea.”
Georgie threw her arms around Ashley and squeezed.
“I am so glad you called! I’m only in town for the weekend, and I wasn’t sure if we could get together!” She pulled back and squished Ashley’s face between her hands. “You look great!”
“I look great? You look amazing!”
Georgie shrugged off the compliment. “That’s what a week in Ibiza does for you. Now, come upstairs so we can catch up!” She half dragged Ashley to the bank of elevators, waving a friendly hello at the front desk staff.
“This place is beautiful¸” Ashley said, leaning against the elevator’s railing. “I can’t believe you have a job that puts you up in places like this.”
Georgie flashed a brilliant grin. “Yeah, it’s pretty awesome. But I might be moving in a different direction soon.”
The doors opened, and Georgie fished the room key out of her back pocket.
“What kind of direction?” Ashley knew from experience that Georgie could go in a million different directions and still land on her feet. “Surgeon? Astronaut? Real estate agent to the stars?”
“Even better. TV show host.”
Ashley stopped in her tracks and gaped. “Are you kidding me?”
Georgie laughed and unlocked the door. “Cross my heart. Part of the Ibiza trip was an audition.”
“What kind of show? Talk? Cooking? America’s Next Top Club Promoter?”
Georgie pulled Ashley into the room and tossed the keycard on the entry table. It was a suite, sunny and spacious. She grabbed two beers from the minifridge and led the way to the balcony. “Come on, let’s gab out here.”
Ashley waited approximately half a second after her butt hit the chair cushion to start the inquisition. “How did it go? What’s the show about? When will you find out? How did this happen?”
Georgie squinted in concentration. “Um, good. Travel for the party set. Approximately 30 seconds before you walked in the lobby. And a friend of a friend of a boss.”
“You got it?”
Georgie took a dainty sip from the bottle. “They offered it to me and gave me 24 hours to think about it.”
“Holy crap. My best friend is going to be on TV.”
“Hey, I didn’t say yes yet!”
“Are you crazy? Georgie, you couldn’t possibly have designed a better job for yourself. You were born to do this!”
“Born to travel and party?”
“Don’t laugh it off and pretend this isn’t your freaking dream. This is an amazing opportunity!”
Georgie broke into a huge grin. “I know! I don’t think I let myself know how much I wanted it until I heard that it was mine.” She flopped back in her chair and sighed.
“Now tell me about your life. What’s going on?”
It was Ashley’s turn to sink back in her chair. “Ugh. I don’t even know where to start. I’m a mess.”
“ASAP, how bad could it be? You are a master of disaster. You can see your way through anything.”
“Steven’s cheating on me with a woman from work, and they are both involved with some kind of illegal business deal and their boss and an incredibly hot, devious security expert want me to play spy to help them build a case against him.”
Georgie sat in slack-jawed silence.
“Are you OK? Do you need some water or something?” Ashley offered.
Georgie shook her head and only then closed her mouth. “Uhhh. Hmm.” She took a hasty swig of her beer. “I don’t know what to say. I thought you were going to tell me that you were thinking about breaking your engagement or something.”
“Well, I am, obviously.”
“Umm ... I ...”
“I feel like you’re taking this worse than I did.”
“When did you find out? What’s the asshole woman like? I don’t know whether to hope that she’s hideous-looking or horribly beautiful. Which is better for you? And are you up for spy games? Also, exactly how hot is the devious security expert?”
“Last night. Horribly beautiful and I’m not sure which would be worse either. I have no idea how to spy. And, oh so incredibly hot. Thank God he’s completely ruthless and untrustworthy or I might have let him have his way with me on the racquetball court.”
Georgie was gaping at her again. “I think I’m going to call room service for some pizza and more beer and you’d better start from the beginning.”
###
“Well, you don’t look like a woman scorned,” Georgie said, eyeing up Ashley’s reflection. “You look like a glamazon who’s out to destroy and conquer.”
“You don’t think it’s a bit much ... or maybe not enough?” Ashley fingered the hem of the tribal print mini. It peeked out from under the silky black tank with a banded back that revealed a bit more skin than she was used to. Sky-high strappy sandals wrapped her calves gladiator-style.
Her hair was artfully disheveled in soft, beachy waves courtesy of Georgie’s ceramic curling iron. Smokey eye make-up and dark lips gave her a dangerous-looking edge.
They had splurged on mani/pedis in the hotel spa after the beer and pizza. While Georgie had gone for disco ball silver, Ashley went with a metallic black to match her mood.
Georgie joined her in front of the mirror. Her gold-fringed mini dress clung to exactly all the right spots. “Damn, we’re hot. Watch out Wilmington.”
Ashley laughed and let the feeling push back against the cold, dark knot in her stomach. Tonight was for forgetting about yesterday and not worrying about tomorrow.
###
Launch lived up to Georgie’s predictions. It was loud, crowded, and dark. The perfect recipe for success on the club scene.
Purple neon bounced off of glass and stainless steel at the bar. The beat of the music hammered in Ashley’s head, making it impossible to think about anything.
Perched on clear acrylic stools, Ashley handed Georgie a shot of tequila.
“To us.” She raised her glass to her friend’s.
“Long may we reign,” Georgie yelled over the music.
Ashley knocked back her shot and reached for a lemon slice. “I seem to remember liking these better in college,” she wheezed.
Georgie snorted through her lemon. “We were younger and dumber back then.”
The bartender set two more shots in front of them.
“To younger and dumber,” Ashley toasted.
“Cheers!”
Georgie pushed her empty glass to the service bar. “I’m going to go scope out the ladies’ room and then see if I can find the shift manager to get some info. Are you OK by yourself for a little while?”
“I’m going to have a nice, delicious ice water and go check out the view from the balcony. Meet you back here?”
“Perfect! Do me a favor and get a pic of the dance floor from upstairs. I want to see how the lights look from above.”
“You got it,” Ashley said with an exaggerated wink.
Georgie gave her a thumb’s up before disappearing into the crowd.
Ashley flagged the bartender down for a bottle of water and turned to survey the scene. Between flashes of light from the dance floor, she watched the anonymous bodies writhe together in a wave.
It was a good place to be a stranger.
So why did she feel so vulnerable?
She slid off the barstool and paused to shrug off the happy spin of tequila. The beers from earlier in the evening and two shots put her close to her no-hangover limit.
She decided to move and hydrate. Ashley made her way around the dance floor toward the stairs that led up to the second level.
A pair of hands preceded by a pungent cologne cloud snaked out of the crowd to grab her hips from behind.
“No thanks.” Ashley briskly slapped the hands away and kept walking. She rolled her eyes. There was something about darkness in clubs that made people more brave. And more stupid.
She gingerly took the red-carpeted stairs one at a time. Between the shoes and the booze she was feeling a little unsteady.
“Hey.”
A lifeguard-looking guy with muscles barely restrained by his black t-shirt nodded at her when they passed on the stairs.
“Hey,” she nodded back, nonchalantly.
He winked and continued his descent.
Ashley grinned. She could totally do the single thing again. Piece of cake.
Except the anxiety over first dates. And the bad blind dates. And the fact that she’d be expected to spend every Friday and Saturday night, for the foreseeable future, out instead of curled up on the couch in pajama pants.
Damn. There were upsides to long-term monogamous relationships. Just not the one she was currently in. Or pretending to be in.
Ashley shook her head. Too many thoughts, not enough tequila. She’d snap a picture from the balcony and then find the second floor bar.
She put her water glass down on a cocktail table next to the railing and fumbled for her phone in her clutch.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and the spot between her shoulder blades tingled. She knew what that meant. Danger.
Ashley whirled around.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jason leaned casually on the other side of the table.
Dressed in another suit — this time sans tie — he had a beer in his hand and an unreadable expression on his perfect face.
They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds. Ashley crossed her arms. “I take it this isn’t a coincidence?”
He pulled a phone from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. Georgie’s Facebook status was on the screen. “Happy hour(s) with ASAP. Let the tequila flow at Launch!”
“Is there a reason you’re stalking me through my Facebook friends? How did you know ASAP was me?”
He raised an eyebrow and Ashley rolled her eyes. “Right, security expert. I forgot.”
“Do you really think it’s a good idea for you to be wandering around a club by yourself, half drunk?” His tone was clipped.
Ashley snorted. She was way more than half drunk. “I don’t see how it’s any of your concern.”
He rounded the table, stepping between her and the railing. She frowned up at him. “I’m off the job for tonight, boss.”
“I can see that. I’m wondering if you’re off the job permanently.”
“You’re starting to really piss me off.” She jutted out her chin. “I don’t have to justify to you how I spend my time.”
“Holy fireworks.” Georgie magically appeared at Ashley’s side. “I leave you alone for five minutes and you pick a fight with Tall Dark and Angry.”
“For you.” She handed Ashley one of the cosmos she was carrying and then extended her now empty hand to Jason.
“I’m Georgie, the keeper of this lovely lady tonight.”
He took her hand. “Perhaps you should try keeping her a little closer. She was wandering around here alone.” Jason’s tone was cool, and Ashley wondered if he was the one man on the planet immune to Georgie’s charm.
“You don’t have to be rude, Jason. Georgie, this is Jason the hot, devious security guy. Jason, this is my best friend, Georgie, who knows that I’m completely capable of taking care of myself. Now if you’ll excuse us. We have many beverages to consume.”
She clinked her glass to Georgie’s. “Cheers,” they said in unison.
Ashley sipped deeply.
“So you’re that Jason,” Georgie said, eyeing him over her glass. “Interesting.”
“Hot, devious security guy?” His mouth quirked. “Should I add that to my business cards?”
“Don’t take it as a compliment,” Ashley frowned. “I’m not feeling very complimentary toward you right now.”
Jason smiled, but his phone signaled. Glancing at it, he frowned. “I have to take this. Will you please wait here?”
“See. Why don’t you start all of your conversations that way? It’s so much more pleasant.”
Taking that for a yes, Jason paced away to deal with the phone call.
Georgie smacked her shoulder. “That is super hot security guy?”
“Yep.” Ashley glumly took a large gulp of cosmo. “And he’s not happy that I’m here jeopardizing his plan.”
“Did he say that?”
“I don’t know. It was more like ‘I’m Jason Baine. I’m very tall and angry. You should feel bad. Blah blah blah.’”
Georgie dissolved into a fit of laughter. “Oh my God, I’ve missed you! Especially drunk you.”
“I missed you, too! What am I going to do while you’re off gallivanting all over the world?”
“Gallivanting? That’s a lot of syllables for someone in your condition.”
They were still laughing when Jason returned, stowing his phone in his jacket pocket. “Ladies, I would like to apologize for getting off on the wrong foot. I was concerned because any woman — no matter how capable — alone in an environment like this can still be at risk. Can we start over, and may I join you?”
“Please excuse me while I confer with my colleague,” Ashley said snootily.
The two women turned their backs on him and began whispering. They nodded and turned as one to face him.
“Your apology will be accepted, and you will be allowed to join us if you meet the following criteria,” Ashley announced.
“One, you will take a picture of us because, let’s face it, we look awesome and our arms aren’t long enough to capture the head-to-toe awesome in a selfie,” Georgie said.
“And two, you will go to the bartender and order a strawberry daiquiri with extra whip cream, which you will then drink.” Ashley said, crossing her arms. “Do you accept these terms?”
Jason bit back a sigh. “Give me your phone.”
###
He was a surprisingly good sport, Ashley thought, hand under her chin, as she watched Jason suck down the last of his daiquiri.
“Good?”
“It’s actually not bad.” He gazed into the glass, frowning.
“Just wait until the sugar rush hits you,” Georgie warned. “If you drink more than one of those an hour you might end up in a diabetic coma.”
Jason pushed the glass away. “Good to know. So, now what?”
“Now we dance!” Georgie pushed back from the table. “We finally have a bodyguard, ASAP!”
Ashley laughed. “It’s nice to have a guy on the floor or lurking nearby so strangers don’t get too, um, hands-y,” she explained. She pulled him with her as she followed Georgie toward the stairs.
“Are you a dancer or a lurker?” she asked over her shoulder as they descended.
“What?”
The music was pulsing at brain-vibrating levels.
Ashley stopped suddenly on the last step and Jason gripped her shoulders to steady her. She leaned back against him. The alcohol made him slightly less scary and even more ... desirable.
“I said, are you a dancer or a lurker?”
“Let’s find out.”
Ashley caught up with Georgie, and together they wound their way through the bodies on the floor to the center.
She noted that Jason had stationed himself at the bar. Watching.
“Looks like your friend can’t hang,” Georgie shouted o
ver the music.
Ashley shook her head and relaxed into the music. “I’m not surprised. No one can look that good in a suit and dance.”
“Are you going to sleep with him?”
Ashley tripped over her feet. “What?”
Georgie leaned in. “You heard me! Are you?”
“Oh my God, Georgie!”
“Oh my God is right!” Swaying to the music she ticked points off on her fingers. “He’s gorgeous. He knows your engagement is non-existent. He cares enough to stalk you to a club and babysit you. And he can’t take his eyes off of you.”
Ashley shot a peek in his direction. And met his gaze.
“Ash, he smolders.”
“Yeah —” He really did. “But I can’t just sleep with him. I haven’t even gotten out of the relationship I’m in.”
“Steven has already exited the relationship.”
“I know that!” Ashley’s voice battled the music. “But look at him. How would I hold my own? I get overwhelmed just having a conversation with him. And I don’t know if I can trust him.”
“There are some men you don’t have to hold your own with. You just be you, let him be him, and enjoy this gift from God to make up for the shitstorm you’re in now.”
“So you’re saying I’d be stupid not to?”
“Never stupid, my lovely friend. Just chicken.”
“Bock. Bock. I’m just not ready yet. And I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for someone as smolder-y as Jason Baine.”
“I can respectfully disagree, but still support your decision,” Georgie sighed.
“That’s fair of you.”
The song changed and Georgie squealed. “I love this song!” A man in a pink fedora caught her eye. “You in the hat,” she bellowed. “You know this one don’t you?”
Ashley laughed and watched Georgie and her new friend weave and slide in a complicated step.
She threw her hands up and swayed to the beat. Music therapy.
Hands slid around her waist from behind. But they weren’t the right hands. Sweaty palms and thick fingers squeezed her hips.
Ashley stepped out of the grip and turned. Her uninvited partner was no Jason Baine. A few sheets to the wind and barely taller than she was, he was glistening under a beady layer of sweat.
