by Tamie Dearen
“Wow Anne! You look amazing” Evan Sterling materialized beside her and offered his elbow. “Can I get you a drink?”
Anne smiled, grasping onto his arm with relief. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you. I could really use your arm to make sure I don’t trip and fall in these heels.”
Evan laughed. “Anne, you’re like a breath of fresh air. I don’t remember meeting another woman so unaffected.”
“I’m not very princess-like—that’s for sure. I don’t know what Johanna was thinking.”
“Who’s Johanna?”
“Never mind. She’s just a friend.” Her ankle started to turn and she had to lean into him for balance. “Sorry. I think I’ll get better after I walk a little bit? Why are you at the party? Do you work for Gherring Inc.?”
“Gram invited me.” Evan gave a low chuckle. “Steven will probably be livid when he discovers me. But it’s so going to be worth it.” His eyes widened as he peered over her shoulder. “Speak of the devil. Here he comes.”
“What are you doing here, Evan?” said Steven, with unveiled anger.
“Hello cousin. Great party you have here.”
Anne swirled around to face him, tucking her hand around Evan’s elbow. “He’s my date. I’m allowed to bring a date, right?”
His expression was stormy. “Where’s Henri?”
“Change of plans. By the way, where’s your date? You’re still dating Ellen, aren’t you? After our little ‘talk’ on the elevator, I wasn’t sure.”
But he wasn’t listening. He was staring… at her dress. Or at the missing parts of it. “What… what did you say?” With great difficulty Anne resisted the urge to cover the sheer parts with her hands. He tore his gaze away from the silk beaded panels and locked eyes with her.
Evan laughed. “Yes, cousin. She does look extraordinary tonight, doesn’t she? Seems it’s my lucky day.”
Steven scowled. “No one asked you.”
“Hi Anne.” Ellen arrived at Steven’s side. “I love your dress.”
“Thanks Ellen. I like yours too. That cobalt blue is one of my favorite colors.” Anne scrunched her shoulders in discomfort, unable to shake the feeling that she’d betrayed her friend. Ellen would’ve been heartbroken to know Steven had kissed her in the elevator a few hours earlier.
“Shall we get that drink now?” Evan led Anne away, throwing a smile over his shoulder. “See you later, Stevie.”
As she walked she could feel Steven's eyes throwing ice daggers at her bare back. “Thanks, Evan. I really needed to get away.”
“I wanted to get away from Stevie as well. And we really can get a drink if you like.”
“I’m not really thirsty yet. But you can get something.”
“Why don’t we dance, instead?”
Anne remembered another of Johanna’s instructions. Dance as much as you can. But don’t dance with Steven.
“Thanks, Evan. I’d love to.”
The band was playing a slow song, and numerous couples were on the dance floor. Evan and Anne moved smoothly into the undulating group. From a distance she could see Steven in an intense conversation with Gram. He didn’t appear very happy, but Gram seemed unmoved.
“You really do look great, tonight. This dress is… quite enticing.” Anne blushed as his gaze fell down to the sheer silk panels on the side.
“Fortunately, there’s practically nothing to show through that lace. Otherwise, this dress would be way too enticing.’”
Evan chuckled. “I can’t believe how funny you are. Stevie’s an idiot to be with that other girl, when he could be with you.”
“Mr. Gherring’s my boss and that’s all. I’m not his type.”
“Is that so? I’m glad to hear it, because you’re certainly my type.” He pulled her a little closer to him, his hands on her lower back, fingering the beading on the sheer silk.
His ministrations felt a bit intrusive. Had she given him the wrong impression. “Actually, Even, you need to know I’m not anyone’s type. I don’t sleep around.”
“I hear you saying that, but this dress says something else.” He slipped his hands to the sides of her dress, his thumbs brushing the peek-a-boo material.
“Stop it!” She clamped her arms down on his hands. “Or I’ll jam these four-inch spike heels into your foot.”
“Sorry, sorry!” He lifted his palms in a defensive posture. “I promise to be good.”
Though hands slid back to their proper place on her back, Anne was uneasy in his arms. Yet after her scolding, he acted the perfect gentleman. As they continued to dance and chat, she began to relax, and almost forgot all about her boss.
Then Evan’s eyes focused behind her. He released a groan of annoyance.
“What a bother. Stevie’s coming to the dance floor. Let’s get that drink now.” He led her off to the side. “What would you like?”
“I don’t know, I don’t drink much. Just something where I can’t taste the alcohol.”
He returned with two drinks and handed her one.
“What is this?”
“It’s a Lemon Drop Martini,” he said. “I think you’ll like it.”
She took a sip. “Wow, this is good.”
She spotted Steven on the dance floor with Ellen, but his gaze was focused in Anne’s direction. His eyes seemed to reach past her carefully constructed defenses. Could he read her mind? Did he realize how much he affected her? How much he’d confused her? She took another gulp of her drink. As her stomach growled, she realized she hadn’t had anything to eat all day.
“I need some food—I just realized I’m starving.”
“Right this way.” Evan guided her to the buffet table.
“Where can I put this?” She held out her empty glass.
“You’ve already finished it?” He chuckled as he handed the glass to a passing waiter.
“It was light and tasty—good choice. I don’t usually like alcohol,” she said, piling some carrots, cherry tomatoes, and cheese cubes on her plate.
“The good stuff is over here,” said Evan, indicating a table with various meats, including boiled shrimp and roast beef.
“Ughh! I don’t think I can eat anything that heavy.” She popped a piece of cheese into her mouth.
Evan ate a few boiled shrimps while Anne munched on her veggies. But her appetite was quickly assuaged, and she found a waiter to take the plate from her hands.
“I think my stomach’s shrunken. I haven’t eaten much this week. Oh… I can feel that drink already.”
“We should dance again. Some exercise to clear your head. Besides, Stevie’s in the buffet line now.”
She was a little wobbly walking back to the dance floor. But he held her close as they danced, and she felt pretty stable. Feeling drowsy, she laid her head on Evan’s shoulder and relaxed in his arms. She thought Johanna had mentioned something about dance with your head on his shoulder, but she couldn’t remember for sure. His hands traveled slowly up and down her back, and they swayed gently to the music. When it changed to an upbeat song, they ignored the new tempo and continued to rock in a slow circle. Soon she was floating in a tranquil Zen state.
She could almost imagine she was in Steven's arms again. She remembered how it had felt to dance with him at the gala. But he’d held her lightly, not tight and close like this. She would’ve liked Steven to hold her more closely. And his hands were not on her back like this. Wait! Evan’s hands were not on her back—they were back under her arms, toying with the beading on the sheer side panels. His thumbs were… Anne pushed out of Evan’s arms abruptly.
“Stop it!” she cried, looking at him with a horrified expression. The room began to spin and she stumbled a little. He reached out to steady her, but she stepped back, out of his reach.
“I think the lady doesn’t want you to touch her again,” said Steven, somehow appearing at her side, his expression dark and threatening.
Anne was grateful for the reprieve, but fairly certain this hadn’t been in
Johanna’s instructions. Fortunately, she spied Katie and Gary and headed in their direction. She’d just reached them when Steven caught up with her.
“Anne, could you spare me a second? I’d like to discuss something concerning work.”
She panicked—Johanna hadn’t told her what to do if Steven asked to talk to her alone. “I don’t know…”
“Please. Just for a moment. It’s important.” His pleading expression was too hard to resist.
“Just for a moment.”
She followed him to a relatively empty area near the doorway. “Why are you here with Evan? Do you purposely date men I detest simply to irritate me?”
“Gram introduced me to Evan and… wait, you said you wanted to talk about work.”
“I wanted to straighten out some misunderstandings. I’d argue that these affect our work relationship.”
“Are you going to explain what happened on the elevator today?” She remembered what Johanna had said. Make him explain why he kissed you when he’s supposedly dating Ellen.
“Yes. Yes, that’s part of it. Anne, I—”
“Because I really want to know why you kissed me when you’re dating Ellen.”
“But Ellen doesn’t mind. She’s—”
“Give me a break! I’m not that naïve! Did you tell her? Does she know you kissed me?” She was starting to get really angry. Perhaps the alcohol had made her lose her inhibitions.
“No, but—”
“Obviously you kissed me because you thought I was still dating Henri. So… News flash! We’ve broken up, okay?”
“I’m glad, but Anne I need to—”
“But I can’t handle it anymore. Maybe it’s easy for you to kiss me and stir me up like that. But it’s not easy to be on the receiving end—I haven’t slept in days!”
“I haven’t slept—”
“I don’t want to hear about your sleeping arrangements because here’s another news flash… I'm sleeping alone!” She felt her lower lip quivering.
“I am too. I’m sleeping alone.” He grabbed her shoulders. “Look at me. I’m telling the truth.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m tired, Mr. Gherring. I’m going home. Please don’t do this. Ellen deserves better.”
“Wait just a minute.” He held a finger in front of her face. “Right here. Don’t move. Okay? I’m going to get Ellen.” He left her standing by the door. Alone. Crying. People were staring. This wasn’t anywhere in the instructions Johanna had given.
Anne walked out the door, out of the party, out of the hotel. And out of Steven Gherring’s life.
To the Airport
The taxi took her to the apartment building. “Just wait for me, okay? I’ll be back in five minutes. I need to go to the airport.”
“Okay lady, but you’ll have to pay while I wait.”
“That’s fine. Please, just wait…”
To speed things up, she ran through the lobby in her bare feet, carrying her heels in her hand.
Rayna called out as she bolted past the front desk. “Anne! What are you doing? Where are you going?”
“To the airport.”
“Wait, Anne. What are you talking about?”
She ignored Rayna, and dashed into the elevator, pushing the button for the tenth floor repeatedly in an attempt to make it move faster. Inside her apartment, she threw her toiletries into a carry-on bag with some underwear and a change of clothes. She didn’t even bother to change out of her dress, but put on some comfortable boots and a warm coat. In less than five minutes, she was back in the lobby and headed for the door.
“Anne! Wait! Where are you going?” Rayna caught her before she could escape.
“To the airport. I’m going to the airport.” Her tears were coming in torrents.
“But where are you going?”
“I’m sorry, Rayna. I need to go now,” she sobbed, moving toward the door.
Rayna grabbed her arm. “Why do you have to leave so fast? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to Texas, where I belong. I have to go now. My taxi’s waiting outside.” She swiped at her wet face and peered out the glass door.
“Don’t be rash, Anne. That’s not like you. Tell me what happened.”
“I have to go. The taxi’s waiting—”
“What time is your flight?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t got one yet. I just have to get away from here.”
“You’re running away? Really? The Anne Best I know would never run away.”
Anne sniffed. “Anne Best is a fake! I thought I wanted an adventure. I thought I wanted excitement. A new start.”
“What happened, honey?”
“I did something really stupid…” She took a shuddery breath.
“You don’t have to run away, Anne. You have friends who love you. If you’re pregnant, I’ll help you raise the baby. Antonio will too.”
“I’m not pregnant. It’s almost worse than that.”
“What is it?” Rayna’s eyes were round as saucers.
“I fell in love with Steven Gherring!”
“What?”
“Anne Best… countrified widow, mother of two, from Weatherford, Texas. And I fell in love with billionaire Steven Gherring.” She laughed bitterly. “I know. I couldn’t believe it either. I kept trying to convince myself it wasn’t true.”
“Doesn’t he kind of like you too?”
“No. He’s dating Ellen. I ought to know. I’m the one who matched them together. Just like you and Antonio. And Steven was… he was… you know… with her. And what am I supposed to do now? Huh?” Her voice rose to a hysterical pitch.
“You should go upstairs and go to sleep and decide in the morning what to do. My mother always told me you shouldn’t make an important decision in the heat of passion.”
Anne’s mouth dropped open. “I always said that to my girls too.”
“So you’ll stay? At least until tomorrow?”
“Rayna, I need to get away now. If I stay, I might betray my friendship with Ellen and do something with Steven Gherring I’d regret for the rest of my life.”
She hugged Rayna, who wiped her wet cheeks with her sleeve. “Please don’t go.”
“I have to,” Anne said, picking up the carry-on bag she’d dropped on the floor. “I don’t belong here. I don’t know where I belong…”
“You belong with me.” Steven's voice sent a warning ripple through her body. He stood in the doorway, barring her chance of escape.”
Her heart began to thunder in her chest. “No, I—”
“I took the liberty of paying off your taxi. But my car is outside. I’ll drive you to the airport.” He picked up her bag and took her by the arm, leading her toward the waiting limo.
Over his shoulder he said, “Thank you, Rayna. I appreciate your help.”
“Rayna!” Anne cried, gazing accusingly at her friend.
Rayna silently mouthed, “Sorry,” but she had a traitorous grin on her face.
Inside the warm car interior, Steven sat across from Anne. She tucked her jacked around her, hugging herself for comfort. He smiled at her.
“It’s a long ride. You should take off your coat and get comfortable.”
She didn’t respond but sat staring at her feet. He followed her gaze.
“Nice boots. But I really like those sexy sandals you had on earlier.”
She refused to answer. Even talking was dangerous with Steven Gherring.
“I must say, you’re very difficult to converse with. Either you talk so fast you don’t let me get a word in edgewise, or you refuse to talk at all.”
“There’s nothing to say.”
“Then why don’t you ask your questions again, and actually listen to the answers this time?”
She closed her eyes. “I’m not asking any more questions, because I don’t want to know the answers.”
“Fine!” He let his irritation show for the first time. “I’ll do both parts. First qu
estion. Where’s Ellen? Answer. She’s with Ben.”
Anne opened her eyes, regarding him with suspicion. “Who’s Ben?”
“Nicely done. See how much more fun it is when you participate? Ben is Ellen’s—wait for it—boyfriend. In fact, she already told you about him. He’s her leading man.”
“But…”
“Aha! Now you have so many questions to ask.” He wore a smug grin.
“So you two aren’t dating?”
“Nope.”
“And Tuesday night?”
“Nothing happened.”
Anne contemplated his words, and suddenly she was filled with rage. “You pig!” She flew across the car and began to pound on his arm with her fists. “You made me believe you slept with her! You called me up there! I can’t believe you did that!”
He grabbed her arms to stop the beating. “Wait! I’m sorry. I admit it wasn’t the wisest decision I made. But you drove me to it!” One of her hands escaped to strike him. “Ow!” He secured the offending hand again.
“You were the one who set me up with Ellen after I asked you not to. I only wanted to find out if you’d be happy if I accepted your offer.”
Anne was still twisting her arms to get them free. “Why would Ellen do that to me? We were friends.”
“You forced us into a relationship neither of us wanted, so we made a bargain. I promised to help the play monetarily and get her some publicity, and she promised to help make you jealous.”
Anne stopped struggling. “You wanted to make me jealous? And then you kissed me to teach me a lesson?”
He pulled her hands toward him and placed them on his chest. “Do you feel my heart beating?”
She nodded—his heart was pounding almost as fast as hers.
“I kissed you because I couldn’t help myself. And soon… I’m going to do much more than kiss you.”
He pulled the coat off her shoulders and threw it on the floor.
“Did I mention how much I like this new dress? These little parts on the side where I can see your skin through the fabric…” He ran his fingers lightly up and down her side, bolts of electricity erupting at his touch.
