by Zuri Day
Jake gave him a look. “You know better than that. The membership isn’t a secret. It’s what we do, how we move and the codes by which we operate that only insiders know.”
Cayden’s eyes slid toward his friend. “What do you mean?”
“Ha! Good try, man.” Jake laughed at his friend’s antics. “You’re close to being able to know but not quite there yet.”
They arrived at the ballroom where a long rectangular table held several computers. Behind them, hosts were checking off the heavily guarded and inspected list of invited guests.
“Jake and Bake!”
Cayden and Jake turned to see one of their high school friends coming from behind the table.
“Claude Long.” Cayden grasped Claude’s outstretched hand and ended the greeting with a shoulder bump. “Hearing that greeting, I knew it had to be someone old.”
“I haven’t heard that in years,” Jake added, greeting their old friend, as well.
“Jake and Bake,” Claude repeated. “That’s how y’all rolled back in the day. Always together. Rare to see you at one of these,” he continued with Cayden as a woman sidled up to Jake and he waved a goodbye to the guys. “Who let you out of Point?”
“I get out now and again. You still living here in the city?”
“And loving every minute of it. Chi till I die. There’s nothing I miss about that soap opera on a hill known as Point du Sable. You still working with the fam?”
Claude nodded toward the direction Jake had walked but Cayden didn’t see him. His attention had been pulled to the sight of a sexy vixen entering the room. Avery dressed conservative at the country club but seeing her now in a white baby-doll dress that hit midthigh, revealing lusciously thick thighs and a perfectly round backside further accented by strappy stilettoes, proved that she wasn’t monolithic. The woman had a less buttoned-up, more playful side that Cayden immediately felt compelled to inspect more closely.
“...tried to get a job over there but... Cayden! Are you listening?”
“Sorry, Claude, but no, I’m not.” Cayden extended his hand toward Claude without taking his eyes off Avery. “Good seeing you, man.”
Claude chuckled as he shook it. “Unless you have an eye on your cheekbone, you’re not seeing me at all.”
Avery entered the crowded ballroom. Cayden quickened his pace, working not to lose sight of her in the sea of white worn by most First Friday attendees. He didn’t question why he was following her and ignoring the flirtatious eyes and greetings of some of the women he passed. There was something comforting about seeing Avery’s familiar face in the midst of strangers. Many who met him assumed him to be like the gregarious, extroverted alpha males he hung around. He could call up that persona when need be, but Cayden was much more comfortable in small gatherings of people he knew rather than large events like this.
“Cayden Barker!”
He frowned as his forward progress was interrupted by the woman who’d called his name now blocking his path. Unlike Avery, her face didn’t look familiar.
“Um, hello.” His eyes continued to search the room as he spoke.
The woman crossed her arms and cleared her throat. “Don’t stand there acting like you don’t remember me.”
Cayden stopped looking for Avery to focus on the irritated—and irritating—woman in front of him. She was tall and wore a standout red dress that appeared to have been poured on a body that might have weighed a hundred pounds, one-ten tops.
“Teagan Howard, Northwestern. Professor Yancey’s class. During an open test, I shared a calculator formula I created that saved your ass. How could you forget me after that?”
“Teagan! Of course, now I remember you.”
“Yeah, after I triggered your memory.” She ran her hand over long, black hair that neared her waist and made her pale skin even lighter. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“It’s been a while.” Cayden leaned over to receive the hug she offered. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good. You?”
“Working hard. Staying out of trouble.” He resumed his search for Avery.
“What’s the matter? You lose your wife in this crowd?”
Cayden smiled at Teagan’s less-than-discreet try for information. “I’m not married but I did see someone I need to speak with. It’s good seeing you, though.”
He started to walk away. Teagan fell into step beside him. “Not so fast, handsome. What’s your number?”
Cayden gave her the number to his company cell phone.
“I’m going to call you. Let’s do lunch.”
“You take care,” was Cayden’s noncommittal answer before lengthening his stride to quickly put distance between them.
He reached an intersection in the ballroom where one could go left or right. He was just about to turn right when a movement to his left caught the corner of his eye. It was Avery, jerking away from a man’s attention that was obviously unwanted. When the man turned and Cayden caught his side profile, he couldn’t get to her fast enough.
“Avery.”
“Cayden! Hi.” The relief he heard in Avery’s voice expanded his chest.
“Is everything all right here?”
“What’s it to you?”
Cayden had purposely not acknowledged an Eddington nemesis and by default his, too—all-around-asshole Lawrence Kincaid. He placed a protective arm around Avery’s waist—he’d analyze the move later—and continued to ignore him.
“I thought I saw you walk by. You okay?”
“I am now,” Avery said in a low voice that only Cayden could hear.
“We’re having a conversation,” Lawrence growled. “And you’re interrupting.”
“Is that true?” Cayden asked Avery, still not looking at Lawrence.
“Yes, it’s true,” Lawrence said. “Now back off!”
Cayden looked down at the hand grabbing his arm and slowly up to its owner. “If you have any sort of fondness for those fingers, I’d suggest you unwrap them from my arm.”
“Or what?” Lawrence took a step closer but removed his hand.
“No need to puff and bluff, brother. You’re not worth an assault charge.”
Lawrence broke out in a fake smile, straightening his suit and tie as he sneered at Cayden. “Yeah, you’d better back down. About to get in over your head, son.”
Cayden returned his attention to Avery but kept Lawrence in his peripheral view. “May I get you a drink?”
“I’d like that.”
They began walking toward the bar.
“Pretty big of you to sleep with a former enemy,” Lawrence murmured as Cayden passed him. “You never were that street-smart, though. Must be hard up.”
“What did he say?”
Cayden shrugged, pretending that he hadn’t heard Lawrence. Sleep with a former enemy? The comment threw him. He tucked it away for later examination. For now, he tried to relax.
“Thanks for that interruption.”
“No problem.” He eased the arm that still held Avery’s waist away from her and immediately felt the void. “What was that about, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“It’s business related.” Cayden paused midstride before she expanded the explanation. “Something that Lawrence wanted held at the club that couldn’t be accommodated.”
Cayden didn’t know whether or not he believed her but he let it go. For now. They reached the bar. “What can I get you?”
“A glass of pinot noir, please.”
They found a space at the crowded counter. Cayden placed his hand on the bar with a twenty tucked beneath it. The bartender saw it, nodded covertly and was over in seconds. He took their drink orders and brought over a bowl of mixed nuts before leaving again.
Avery bobbed her head to the beat as Mary J. Blige got the room “perculating.” She leaned
closer to Cayden’s ear so she could be heard over the music. “I didn’t know you came to these.”
“I usually don’t.”
“I didn’t remember ever seeing you at one before. What brings you out tonight?”
“Jake invited me, for one thing. Plus, with the event a month away I thought it would be good to see if there was anyone I missed or don’t have contact info for who should be there. What about you?”
“I’m a regular. It’s a great place to network so I guess you could say it’s part of my job.”
Cayden leaned away from her. His eyes twinkled during a head-to-toe scan. “I like your work outfit.”
Avery laughed. “I said it’s part of my job, not that I’m on the job.”
“I was just giving you a compliment,” he teased.
“Thank you.”
The bartender brought Avery’s wine and the bottle of imported beer that Cayden requested. He saw Jake approaching and waved him over.
“Jake, you remember Avery from high school. She’s Lisa Gray’s sister.”
“She’s Lisa Allen now,” Avery interjected.
“I remember Lisa,” Jake said. He extended a hand. “Nice seeing you.”
“You, as well.”
“How’s Lisa?”
“She’s had some health problems but is doing much better now.”
“Your sister, Lisa. She’s good friends with Brittany, right?”
Cayden looked at Jake with narrowed eyes. People shouldn’t believe the hype. Men could be messy, too.
“They used to be friends. But that was a long time ago.”
“What ended their friendship?”
“Brittany moved out of state. They lost contact and grew apart.”
“Did you see Lawrence?” Cayden asked, abruptly changing the topic.
“No. He’s here?”
“Yeah. I had to check him.”
“What else is new. Just him or are the rest of the gang here, too?”
“Gang or gangsters?”
Jake chuckled at the reference to the Kincaid clan.
“I only saw him.”
Jake shook his head. “I could do without seeing any of them.”
Cayden knew why. Even though the families had never gotten along, the youngest sister, Priscilla, had tried to hook up with Jake for years. The bartender came over and took Jake’s order. The DJ continued playing the hits. Bruno Mars came on. Avery grooved in her seat.
“Do you want to dance?”
“Me?” Avery asked.
“Well, I’m damn sure not asking Jake!”
Avery smiled as she slid off the bar stool. “Sure.”
Cayden spoke to Jake. “See you later, bro.”
“Nice seeing you, Jake,” Avery added.
Soon the two were swept up in a sea of gyrating bodies. Cayden maintained a suave back-and-forth while checking out Avery’s sexy moves. Her hips and booty making the flouncy dress come alive. Damn, she looks good in that mini. Had she lost weight? All too soon, the song ended. The DJ threw on a slow jam and switched up the party vibe. The opening notes to Ray J’s “One Wish” changed energy between Cayden and Avery, too. He stepped close to her.
“I like that song.”
Her eyes fluttered as she looked up at him. “Me, too.”
Without another word he put a hand around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. A short gasp escaped her lips. She slid her arms around his neck. They swayed to the beat. She settled her body more firmly against him. He smiled, and had just begun to really groove when he felt eyes on him. He looked up. Lawrence wore a cocky, lopsided smile as he watched the two of them dancing.
Sleep with a former enemy. Must be hard up.
Cayden pulled his attention away from Lawrence and back to the voluptuous curves raising his body heat. His hand slid down to just above Avery’s luscious backside, which very well could be the “business” Lawrence wanted but couldn’t have. Floral perfume with citrus notes wafted up to his nostrils. Silky soft curls tickled his chin. He tuned into the lyrics about making a wish. No doubt, if he did that right now, Avery Gray would very much be a part of it.
Eight
The song ended. Avery unclasped her hands from around Cayden’s neck. He didn’t release her so she stayed in his arms, resting hers against them. The look in his eyes awakened her yoni and tightened her nipples. Another slow song began to play. Cayden pulled her close again and lowered his head. Hers raised as if of its own accord. Their lips were so close, almost touching. His hand traveled up her back, coming to rest against the nape of her neck. The gentle pressure of those long, strong fingers was all the encouragement needed. Their lips touched. Something inside her exploded. The music intensified while everyone in the room—heck, even the room itself—faded away. She felt his tongue swipe across hers, a silent invitation to deepen the kiss. She opened her mouth and welcomed him, a moan escaping even as his hand went from her back to her ass.
Avery couldn’t believe how her body reacted. Every part of her combusted and longed for his touch. He kissed her lazily, thoroughly. She could have enjoyed those lips for hours, days, and wanted to introduce them to another set of hers. Lips that even now grew wet with the evidence of her attraction, her body preparing itself for what it clearly wanted. The feel of his shaft against her hard evidence that her feminine flower hadn’t been that far ahead of the game. A part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind, pull him down to the shiny, hard floor and make love right then, right there, as people danced and networked around them. The other part of her remembered that this wasn’t a house party. It was First Friday. With some of the city’s most prominent movers and shakers in attendance. The thought caused her to step back so quickly that she almost tripped. Cayden’s firm grip steadied her.
“I’m sorry but I need to...”
“Give me a second, baby. Let my body calm down.”
At the mention and feel of his arousal, her whole body flushed. They continued to dance until the song ended and Cayden’s soldier returned from “salute!” to “at ease.” This time she stepped out of his embrace without daring to look into those eyes. Cayden seemed much less flustered. He took her hand and guided them through the still-crowded dance floor.
“Thank you. I enjoyed that,” he murmured as they walked.
Avery couldn’t think of anything to say. Right now it was a good thing that walking was a natural, automatic occurrence because she couldn’t think at all!
They reached the edge of the dance floor. “Would you like another drink?”
Cayden seemed to remain unaffected, as though making out in the middle of a networking affair was totally normal and perfectly fine. He was still holding her hand, too. Everything about him felt good. Too good. That was a problem.
“No, thank you. I need to...go freshen up.” Without another word Avery turned and made a beeline for anywhere Cayden wasn’t. The bathroom, hallway, parking lot, any space with air and without him would do. She reached a bathroom and stepped inside. Thankfully, a stall was empty. She hurried into it, closed the door, then leaned back against the cool metal. Her nipples ached. Her pussy throbbed. Avery, get it together!
She sat down to handle her business, closed her eyes and took deep breaths. Slowly, her heartbeat and heated body parts returned to normal. At the counter, she ran cold water over her hands and wrists and dabbed some on her neck and forehead. Feeling back in control, she fluffed up the hair where Cayden’s chin had rested, then pulled out a compact and lipstick.
A toilet flushed. A nearby door opened. The occupant sidled up to the sink next to Avery, openly eyeing Avery’s reflection in the mirror while washing her hands. Avery put away the lipstick and reached for her powder brush. The woman walked over to an air machine, her eyes traveling several times to Avery while drying her hands. Avery’s first reaction was annoyance. Wh
o did this woman think she was to be checking her out? Then...another thought. She was the event director for a very prominent country club and had worked at Lake Chalet for two years before that. Perhaps the woman had attended a wedding at the hotel or had dinner at the Point. Perhaps they hadn’t met at all but was rather a potential client she should get to know. This was a networking event after all. Clearly, Cayden’s kiss still had her somewhat affected. She put away her makeup bag and pulled out her favorite fragrant lotion. When the woman returned to the mirror and pulled out her lipstick, Avery looked at her mirrored reflection, admired the red dress on what had to be a size-zero body and smiled.
“I could never get away with wearing a dress like that. Looks good on you.”
“Thanks.”
A rather dry response, but okay. Avery lotioned her hands. “Nice gathering, huh?”
The woman paused to look at her, the tube of lipstick near her mouth. “It’s okay.”
So much for networking. Avery didn’t do women with attitude. She replaced the cap on her lotion bottle, slipped it into her purse and turned to leave.
“How do you know Cayden?”
Avery turned and replied pleasantly, “Cayden who?”
“Cayden Barker. Don’t play dumb. I saw you two dancing.”
The woman’s demeanor was beginning to work Avery’s nerves. She should have walked out of the bathroom then, but curiosity and maybe just a tad of bitchiness kept her glued to the spot. “Do you only dance with people you know?”
“I might dance with a stranger,” the woman glibly answered. “But I usually don’t put my tongue down the throat of casual dance partners.”
“You might want to try it. Could put some spice in your life.”
Avery managed to keep a smile in place as she exited the bathroom. Inside she was feeling all sorts of ways. If that woman saw her and Cayden kissing, there’s no telling how many others saw the extended tongue tasting and what businesses or organizations those folk represented. Avery’s professionalism was stellar, usually way above par. She honestly didn’t know what had gotten into her to make her lose all common sense.
Liar. You do know.
