She smiled sadly and blinked back tears. Her cheek rested over his strong chest, the beat of his heart echoing beneath the beautiful, lyrical vocals.
“Maybe I’m just dreaming out loud, but until then . . . Come home. Come home.”
Her eyes closed as the words washed over her. Her heart wanted to simply wish away the past month and start back where they’d been before he broke her. As the song concluded and their steps slowed, she considered saying fuck it all and telling him just that. But as they stepped apart, her eyes caught on the stunning beauty in the red dress observing them.
Scout’s peace faltered as she drew in a deep breath and stepped away. “Thank you.”
“Evelyn . . .”
She shook her head. “You’re here with her, Lucian. Go be with her.”
He blinked. His eyes creased and she thought perhaps he might deny that they were together, but he simply nodded and stepped back. Scout watched him turn away first and then retreated to the ladies’ room, fighting back the emotions threatening to break the fragile façade she held by a string.
Locking herself in a stall, she pressed her cheek to the wall and held her stomach as she cried silently and without tears. Would she ever stop loving him? Even after everything he’d done, she couldn’t deny that she loved him more than anyone in this world and she’d never overlook the fact that he gave her away.
Once Scout had her emotions under control, she brushed her hands down her dress and tried for good posture. With trembling fingers, she unlatched the stall door and came to an abrupt stop.
“Enjoying yourself?”
Scout’s lips parted as she eyed the beautiful Nicole Nottingham in her glamorous gown and long blond hair. She was even more stunning up close, intimidatingly so.
Scout was too taken off guard to answer. Nicole took in her appearance, an assessing expression in her calculating eyes that told Scout she wasn’t impressed with what she saw. It took everything she possessed not to cover herself. Instead, she stood straight and met the blond bombshell’s challenging glare.
“I must say, I thought you’d make an appearance before now. When you didn’t show up over the past few weeks, I assumed you might not. Your presence this evening took me by surprise. Lucian also seemed a bit put out by your attendance.”
Scout narrowed her eyes. “I don’t usually clear my schedule with him.”
Nicole’s painted red lips quirked. “Of course not. I’ve looked into you, Ms. Keats. Interesting that before you dated Lucian, you didn’t exist. However did you two meet?”
She’d “looked into” her? What the hell did that mean? Scout didn’t need some rich heiress traipsing around in her past. If her background was exposed it would embarrass Lucian, something he claimed not to care about, but Scout had worried over frequently.
Scout refused to show any sign of insecurity. “Kind of you to care so much. If you have questions, I suggest you ask Lucian. Or isn’t he open with you?”
Her manicured eyebrow arched slowly. “You’re a feisty little thing. I just want to make sure that we’re perfectly clear. Lucian’s here with me and he’s leaving with me. I’d like to leave the baggage at the door if you know what I mean.”
Scout jerked back. “Did you just call me baggage?”
“It was the kindest word I could think of,” Nottingham said haughtily.
Scout’s mouth gaped and she snorted. Wasn’t this little viper interesting? “Really?” She tilted her head and smiled, amused. The champagne had apparently given her a solid pair, and Scout was grateful for the false courage.
“Well, let me enlighten your stunted vocabulary, Ms. Nottingham. The only baggage here is under your eyes. And as far as where I came from, or what I am to Lucian, it’s none of your damn business. You can try to intimidate me all you want, but your first mistake was following me in here at all. It reeks of insecurity. You’re nothing but a high-class act on the hunt for a better name, when I know the man behind the name.
“If you think coming in here and cornering me will impress him or intimidate me, you’re wrong. I thank you for the display. It’s enlightened me as to how hollow this charade the two of you are putting on actually is. You don’t know him. And while you may have his company, I have his heart. So, if you’ll excuse me, darling, I must be getting back.”
Scout swept past the willowy creature and came up short when she called her name. “Scout.”
She involuntarily turned and Nicole smiled wickedly. “Like I said, before Lucian, you didn’t exist, but I did find some curious information on who you were, Evelyn. For instance, you also go by Scout and your mother’s a junkie.” She made a patronizing pout with her lips that smacked of pity, and Scout’s stomach dropped. “I’d hate for that sort of personal information to fall into the wrong hands. Patras is a name that can afford some bad press, but wouldn’t tolerate being sullied with the sort of filth that shows up at a sophisticated affair dressed as a hooker.”
It was Scout’s turn to gape. How had she found out about Pearl? She stepped into the woman’s personal space and the she-bitch had the good sense to ease back. “I think you’ve made a mistake, Ms. Nottingham. You see, there’s only one whore here, and she’s wearing red. Come near me again and I’ll show you exactly how low-class I can be.”
Scout turned and marched out of the room. Her legs carried her right to the bar. “May I please have a shot of tequila?”
The bartender raised a brow and poured the crystal liquid from a stout bottle into a tiny glass. He placed a slender green lime on a napkin and slid it across the bar. With trembling hands, she tipped the shot back and savored the burn as it made its way down to her shaking insides.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She turned and found Nick. “Can we get out of here?”
He frowned and eyed her suspiciously. He jerked around and glared at Lucian. Scout followed his gaze. Nottingham was whispering to Lucian, who was scowling. He stood and turned away from his date, and scanned the room.
When his gaze fell on her, she narrowed her eyes. Lucian’s brow lowered. He glanced back at Nottingham briefly, seeming to blow her off.
“Can I get you anything else, Miss?” the bartender asked.
“Do you want me to get the truck?” Nick asked.
She turned to the bartender. “I’ll have a tequila sunrise.” He nodded and went about concocting the drink. She turned to Nick. “Did you ever just want to say fuck it and do something crazy?”
“Sure.”
She couldn’t keep up with her emotions. Jealousy teetered between shame and indignation. It was all a mess. She was a mess. “Do you want to stay or go?” she asked, letting him make the decision.
He turned back and gave Lucian an assessing glance. “Did he say something that upset you?”
“No, but the slut he’s here with basically called me white trash in the bathroom.”
His nostrils flared and he mumbled something that sounded like, “Fucking rich people.” Sighing, he held out his arm. “Well, lovey, shall we show them how trashy people dance?”
She smiled and took a hefty sip of her cocktail, the sweet cherry a perfect compliment to the tangy tequila. “I’d love to.”
With the dinner hour over, the band kicked it up a notch. Scout didn’t know music and she wasn’t a great fast dancer, but she knew how to fuck and she decided dancing was like fucking, but with clothes on. Turned out, Nick was a great dance partner.
His large hands held her hips as she ground her behind into him. Her arms dangled high above her head as she let the rhythm seep into her limbs. A light dew of sweat coated her skin and by the third song, the liquor permeated her brain and she let go.
It didn’t matter that they were making a display. Everyone had drawn their conclusions the moment she stepped foot into the room wearing a dress too showy for their elitist tastes.
; Nick turned her and laughed as he dropped low on his haunches, bobbing with the beat. She did the same and when she tried to bounce up, she lost her balance and tipped back. Her hand reached for him and he quickly pulled her back up to her full height.
She lurched to the left when something yanked on her arm. Dizzy with exertion and too much champagne and tequila, she stumbled and came face to face with Lucian. He glowered at her and growled, “Enough!”
“Hey,” Nick called, coming to her aid.
Lucian turned like a panther ready to attack. “Back off, kid. She’s drunk and you’re not helping.”
Scout snatched her arm from his grip. “I am not drunk, Lucian.” That was a lie.
He leaned close. “No? You almost fell on your ass. You’re making a scene.”
She drew back. “I’m not the one making a scene. You are! You and that waspy bitch you came here with. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going back to what I was doing. Nick—”
Lucian spun her so quickly she nearly did fall on her ass. “I said enough.”
She shot up on her toes and got in his face. “You don’t call those shots anymore. I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself.”
His chest expanded as he drew in a long breath. Through gritted teeth he said, “I’m giving you one minute to pack it up and leave. Either that, or I’ll have you escorted out of here.”
Mortification and hurt had her lips trembling. How dare he? She stood there indignantly, daring him to embarrass her like that. If he followed through on his threat, she’d never forgive him.
She glanced around. People crowded them, gyrating and dancing in a world of their own. Past the dance floor, she spotted Nottingham speaking animatedly with a woman holding a clipboard. She pointed at them and the woman spoke into a microphone at her ear.
They had every right to be there, but knowing Lucian, he likely paid a great deal to whatever the hell a Rose Bowl was and was a prominent sponsor. They’d lick his ass if he asked them to. He had the power to get them kicked out, which she didn’t believe he’d truly do. But there was no way she’d give that red-lipped slut of his the satisfaction of seeing them escorted off the premises.
Her vision shimmered with unshed tears. She pressed her lips tight and glared at him. “I hate you,” she whispered, and marched off the dance floor.
“Ev, wait up.” Nick hustled after her.
When she passed the coat check, she halted and stomped her foot. “I forgot my bag.”
“Hey, don’t let that asshole make you cry. We were just having fun and he’s pissed because he wants you.”
“Oh, he doesn’t want me, Nick. He just wants me to leave so he can have his little actress.”
Nick sighed. “I’ll go get your bag and meet you out front.”
He quickly turned and went back into the ballroom. She turned and rushed through the door, her heel catching on the runner and causing her to go down with a thump that would’ve likely hurt had she not been so drunk. Strong arms lifted her off the ground and she shoved them away, brushing the hem of her dress down her thighs.
“Ms. Keats, are you all right?”
She looked up at the familiar voice and when she saw it was Dugan helping her up, his eyes creased in concern, she lost it. A wall of tears shimmered and collapsed over her lashes. “No,” she sobbed. “I’m definitely not all right, Dugan.”
His lips parted beneath his thick, handlebar mustache. “Here, let me help you.”
He gathered her in his arms and escorted her away from the door. She sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I’m drunk,” she admitted pathetically. “I’m really drunk and I embarrassed him.”
His lips pursed as he opened the passenger door of the limo and helped her sit so her feet hung over the pavement. He squatted down and withdrew his handkerchief. She winced as he blotted the scrape on her knee.
“Pardon my French, Ms. Keats, but any man who lets you walk away is a fucking idiot and deserves to be embarrassed.”
Her sob cut off and she looked at him, shocked. Was she that drunk or did he really just say that? She suddenly cracked up, giggles pouring from her lips as she draped her hand on his shoulder and held her stomach. “You’re right, Big D. He is a fucking idiot.”
“Am I interrupting?”
She and the chauffeur drew up short. Lucian towered over them, an unimpressed and quite put-out expression marring his beautiful face. His eyes traveled over them and stilled when he noticed her knee.
Dugan stood and Lucian took his place. He peeled back the handkerchief and made a sound of exasperation. “Goddamn it, Evelyn.”
“I swear it was the shoes,” she said. Dugan handed him a bottle of water from the limo and Lucian wet the handkerchief and dabbed it over her abraded skin. She winced and hissed at the sting.
“Stay still,” he snapped.
Fucking idiot. She giggled and hiccupped. Crap, she was definitely plastered. As he doctored up her knee, Dugan producing a small bandage and some ointment, she watched how the streetlights turned Lucian’s dark hair almost blue. Without thinking, she ran her fingers through it, and he stilled.
His gaze slowly traveled to her face and the air became charged. Dark eyes stared at her, not seeming to trust the energy between them. “Why did you come tonight?” he whispered in a voice so low, she could barely hear it.
“I needed—”
“Lucian!”
Jerked out of the quiet moment they each turned. Nottingham stood glaring at them, a gold wrap draped over her long arm. Lucian stood and Scout spotted Nick waiting with his keys and her clutch. The truck was idling behind the limo.
Dear God, when would this nightmare end?
She slowly climbed out of the limo and touched Dugan’s arm. “Thank you, Big D, for coming to my rescue yet again.”
Nottingham scoffed and rolled her eyes. She stepped close to Lucian and handed him her wrap, turning her back expectantly. She might as well have peed on his ankle.
Lucian held the gold wrap dumbly for a moment and then as though pulled on puppet strings, placed it on her narrow shoulders. His fingers never touched her. He nodded to Dugan, who gestured to the back door of the limo. Nottingham turned her picturesque face, and a slow, wicked smile curled her lips.
“It’s nice to see that they know when to take the trash out around here,” she muttered snootily.
Scout unsteadily stepped forward and Lucian held up a hand halting her. Nicole gracefully slid into the limo and Lucian stepped to the door. “Darling . . .” the shadow of her arm extended over the seat and Scout could imagine her self-satisfied grin.
“Dugan, take Ms. Nottingham home.” He slammed the door.
“Gladly,” Dugan said, rounding the front of the car.
Scout stood paralyzed. He’d sent her away. For some reason the triumph at seeing the car drive off was bittersweet. Nothing would erase the scene she caused tonight, but Scout knew she’d won in some fashion.
Lucian turned and faced her, his hands in his pockets. His anger seemed replaced with something else. She caught the slight way the side of his mouth kicked up as he stared down at her. She didn’t know what to say.
He turned to Nick. “I’ll be seeing Ms. Keats home this evening. Thank you for bringing her.”
“Uh . . .” Nick looked at her for conformation. “Ev?”
She glanced nervously at her co-worker, betting he never imagined their evening playing out like this. “It’s fine. Lucian can take me home. I’ll see you on Monday.”
Lucian frowned.
She ignored him. “Thank you for being my date.”
Nick nodded slowly and handed over her purse. She took it and they watched as he climbed into his truck and drove away, the roar of the engine fading away in the distance. Lucian turned and glanced at her. He didn’t say a word, just watched her.
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
“How are we getting out of here?”
“I’ll hail a cab.” His hands remained in his pockets as if he were forcing himself to keep them there. “Why did you come here tonight, Evelyn?”
She looked down. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. Tell me.”
“I wanted to see . . .”
“Me?”
“Her,” she admitted. “I wanted to see who she was.”
“She’s nothing.”
She laughed without humor. “Don’t tell her that.”
“I’m sorry she spoke to you that way.”
Scout met his gaze. “She wants you.”
He smirked. “She can’t have me.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
“No.”
“Kiss her?”
“No.”
“Are you attracted to her?”
“I’m attracted to you.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
He drew in a slow breath. “Nicole’s an attractive woman, but she isn’t my type.”
“She looks nothing like me.”
“Exactly,” he said. A few beats passed. “How do you know Nick Ramsey? Who is he to you?”
“He works with me.”
“Are you attracted to him?”
She smirked. “He’s not my type.”
Lucian smirked and stepped closer. His hand slipped from his pocked and he ran his fingers down the filmy sheath of her dress. “This dress is something else. Did you buy it for me?”
She shut her eyes and breathed him in. “No.”
“Liar.”
“Lucian—”
“Will you come home with me?”
Her eyes shot open. She was frustrated her intoxicated brain was not as sharp as it should be. “I can’t.”
“You can. You just have to say yes. I’ll take care of you. Get you something for your hangover in the morning.”
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