Wild Wedding Hookup

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  “You need to get out more. Find new friends,” Mikelina said. “You need to keep busy.” Maybe get a job? But she knew better than to add in that last part. That was guaranteed to bring out the self-pity of how Tawny wasn’t as smart as Mikelina. Which was bullshit—Tawny was plenty smart. She could set up a conference without breaking a sweat and handle a fund-raiser like nobody’s business. Unfortunately, all the charities she used to work with wouldn’t touch her now with a ten-foot pole.

  “I’m so unhappy. But you’re right. I need to do something about it, not just mope around.” Tawny took a shaky breath. “I should let you go. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

  “You’re not bother—” But Tawny had already hung up. It was more dramatic that way.

  “Damn it,” Mikelina groaned. She’d pay for not comforting her more later.

  The moment of beach zen was gone.

  Abbie’s South Beach Surf Shop was a cute little boutique store, right off the beach. She made a mint selling boogie boards, surfboards, Sex Wax, snorkels and masks. And of course, racks and racks of bikinis and bathing suits.

  “Hey, girl,” Abbie said as Mikelina walked into the shop. The air-conditioning blew over her heated skin like a splash of cold water.

  “Abbie, I’m about to make your afternoon. You can close up and go home.” Mikelina leaned on the counter and petted the store cat, Jinx. Jinx flicked an ear at her.

  “I’m about to close up and go home, anyway.”

  “I need ten board shorts.”

  “Ten, huh? Are you having a party without me?”

  “I would never have a party without you. No, these are for the bachelor party that’s rented my house, or should I say the jewel in the crown of the Five Diamond Resorts’ South Beach properties?” Mikelina quoted the marketing literature, tongue in cheek.

  Abbie gestured to a rack by the far wall. “Take your pick. Are you paying or is Five Diamond paying?”

  Michelina slapped the corporate card on the counter with a grin. “What do you think?”

  “I think we both deserve a treat. You’re not going to believe this. I’ve got tickets to Flow.”

  “What’s Flow? Sounds like something that happens once a month,” Mikelina said, riffling through the suits, making sure to get an assortment of colors.

  “Have you been living under a rock?” Abbie scoffed. “Flow happens to be the hottest new nightclub in town.”

  “What happened to the hottest old nightclub in town?” Mikelina double-checked the sizes.

  “It’s still there, but it’s not as exclusive as this place is.”

  “If it’s so exclusive, how are we going to get in?” She grabbed five beach towels to supplement the house’s stock.

  Abbie flashed two gold tickets. “Because the bartender is trying to get in my pants, so I have these two get-out-of-jail-free passes.”

  Mikelina brought her purchases to the counter. “I can’t go to jail, even if we get out free. I’ve got to open up the house for the bachelor party tomorrow at eleven.” She closed her eyes. “No, wait. At ten because his lordship demands it.”

  “Who’s his lordship?”

  “Bastien Ainsworth. He’s the best man who’s in charge of the bachelor party. He’s been on my ass all month asking for things.” She sighed. “Actually, he hasn’t been that bad. I’ve had worse. I’m just in a really nasty mood lately. I don’t know why.” She handed Abbie the suits to ring them up.

  “I think it’s because you’re finally processing that Tanner is in prison and it’s just you and your mom now.”

  “It’s been a whole year. I’m over it.” Mikelina swiped the corporate card, trying not to wince at the total. It wasn’t her money. She loved her friends, but she wouldn’t drop almost a grand on bathing suits for them.

  “I think you’ve been in emergency mode for most of that year and now that things are normalizing, it’s your turn to be angry.”

  “I didn’t know we were taking turns.”

  “That’s because you’ve been Kirk’s good little worker bee for the past year. When was the last time you went out on a date?”

  “I went out to dinner with an investment banker in Cartagena last month.”

  “You didn’t tell me about this.” Abbie leaned her elbows on the counter. “Spill it.”

  Mikelina rubbed Jinx under the chin as she tried to keep the hurt feelings from entering her voice. “It was very romantic. He took me to this gorgeous seafood restaurant on the water. We had a few bottles of really expensive wine, and then...”

  Abbie leaned forward eagerly.

  “He put together my last name with my father’s and ran out of there so fast, he stuck me with the check.”

  Wincing, Abbie folded the towels and added them to the large shopping bag with the bathing suits. “I won’t even ask you the last time you got laid, then.”

  “I’ll give you a hint. It was in New York.”

  “Oh, honey.” Abbie waved the tickets again. “Let loose and come out for a little PJ Rosé. Find yourself a nice club boy and take him for a ride. Don’t tell him your name.”

  “Those tickets come with champagne bottle service and a VIP booth?” Mikelina wasn’t sure she was up for a one-night stand, but maybe it was what she needed. Some anonymity and orgasms. That way she wouldn’t have to see the judgment on his face when he found out who her father was.

  “At the very least, we can lord over the unwashed masses in our VIP booth and dance until the champagne runs out.”

  That sounded like a better plan. “All right. You talked me into it.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  BASTIEN AINSWORTH LOOKED around the bar and was bored. Flow might be the new “it” place, but to him, it was the same old shit. He did have to give the owners props for their idea of having several ice slopes set up as shot stations on tables around the bar. The server stood on a step stool to pour a shot of tequila or whiskey down a solid block of ice shaped like a ski slope and into a kneeling participant’s mouth.

  Maybe Bastien was just too old for this nonsense or maybe he wasn’t drunk enough, but it didn’t look appealing. Jace would love it, though. Bastien would ask his concierge to get them a VIP booth for one of the nights.

  At least the bar had Wi-Fi, he thought as he thumbed down to his call history.

  Mikelina.

  Sexy name for such a prim and uptight voice. Bastien imagined she was this perfectly coiffed society princess who didn’t care about anything beyond handbags and shoes. Still, she was polite and professional, and he shouldn’t hold it against her that she should have been named something less enticing.

  Mikelina. He liked the way her name sounded in his mouth.

  Unfortunately, he got to say it into her voice mail. “Mikelina, call me.”

  It occurred to him that it was past midnight and the noise from the bar might have drowned out his voice. He wouldn’t hold it against her if she didn’t call him back before their meeting tomorrow. Then again, if she did call back right away, he could get her to let him into the house tonight rather than tomorrow morning.

  He’d taken an earlier flight because he wanted to get some business done before the craziness of the next two weeks, and after lunch with his mother and sister, going back to the office hadn’t appealed. So he dropped them both off at his parents’ house and drove immediately back to his place to grab his bags. It threw off his itinerary a bit, but he could adapt.

  He hadn’t been looking forward to traveling with Jace and his groomsmen anyway. They got on his last nerve under normal situations. He didn’t want to compound his aggravation by adding in Homeland Security and airports into the mix. Bastien was hoping that at the end of the two weeks, however, he and Jace would be friends. But he didn’t think that was going to happen.

  “Why are you marrying this douchebag?” was how he first phras
ed it to his sister.

  “I love him. He’s so exciting,” Kitty had predictably replied, stars in her eyes.

  Their father had looked at Bastien and inclined his head, telling him wordlessly to follow him into his study.

  “It’s a good match,” he said when they were alone. “His father and I have an idea for merging a few of our clothing lines.”

  Again, Bastien had doubts. Ainsworth was an old and respected clothing brand. They paid fair labor costs and provided quality clothes that would last. All About the Benjamins’s clothing line was more profitable and popular with the younger demographics, but rumor had it they cut a lot of corners that weren’t socially ethical.

  Not that it would matter to his father.

  Bastien sighed and stared out around the glowing nightclub. When did all the women in Miami Beach start to look the same? He was about to turn around and leave when he caught sight of a beautiful woman dancing in a VIP booth all alone.

  Well, that seemed like a shame.

  She had her eyes closed and the neck of a bottle of Perrier-Jouët in her hand. He watched as she ground against an invisible partner, his body reacting as if he was there next to her. One of her hands scrunched a handful of curly black hair away from her face. Her soft pink lips mouthed the words to the song throbbing through the club.

  I want you. I need you. Take me all night long.

  Bastien’s mouth went dry. He was moving toward her without realizing what he was doing.

  The gorgeous dancer wore a white cotton halter dress that dipped into a deep V between her breasts. The tight fabric hugged her swaying hips and his fingers itched to touch her. Forcing himself to stop closing the distance, he made his way to the bar. He didn’t want to be a drooling creeper staring at her from outside the rope when she opened her eyes.

  He’d drool from a distance.

  He caught the bartender’s attention by holding up his Flow card, a shiny black badge that gave him VIP access and unlimited tab at the bar.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Bottle of Perrier-Jouët Rosé,” he said, basing his decision on the pink champagne bottle the women was dancing with.

  He took the bottle from the bartender just as the song ended and his dancer reluctantly opened her eyes. She tipped the bottle up to her mouth but must have come up dry. She squinted into it, then put it back on the glass table.

  When she looked up into the crowd, there was a hint of melancholy in her pale green eyes. Her gaze swept the bar, then stopped at him. She gave him a once-over that revved him up to the next level. He showed her the champagne bottle and raised his eyebrow.

  Wriggling her finger for him to approach, she sank down on the couch and crossed her legs. The dress was split up to midthigh and showed off her long, sexy legs.

  Bastien wove his way to the section separated by velvet ropes. He showed the Flow card again to a bouncer who scanned it as Bastien climbed the platform to the private VIP booths. Her skin was flushed, as if she was blushing.

  “You’ve got good taste in champagne,” she said, her voice breathless and sexy.

  “I happened to notice you were dry.” Bastien filled her glass. Their fingers brushed and he wanted more than the quick skim of her soft skin.

  “Thank you for making me wet again.”

  The double entendre hit him low in his stomach. He hadn’t been going that way with it, but he wasn’t going to back away from it either. He caught a glimpse of her tongue as she licked her lips. It was all he could do not to groan aloud. After filling his glass, Bastien nestled the champagne bottle back into the ice. He hated champagne, but he’d choke it down for a chance to talk to her.

  “Have a seat,” she said, motioning next to her.

  “I saw you dancing. Are you an actress?” He joined her on the couch.

  She flashed him a smile. “We’re all actors, aren’t we?”

  “Mysterious.” Bastien clinked glasses with her. “All right, well, if you’re not going to tell me, I’m going to have to guess. I think you’re a choreographer for a local show.”

  “It’s frightening how close you are to the truth. What do you do for a living?”

  “As little as possible.” He took a sip. It was god-awful. He forced himself not to grimace.

  “I know a lot of guys like that.” She rolled her eyes and slightly shifted away from him.

  “Do I look like those guys?” he asked, leaning back.

  “You don’t.” She appraised him again and the slight hungry look in her eyes made him forget the sickly taste of sweet champagne in his mouth. “You look like an MMA announcer.”

  “Announcer?”

  Reaching out, she grabbed his hand and rubbed her thumb over his knuckles. “No calluses. So you must be a retired fighter.”

  “Retired? As in old?” He smirked.

  “Seasoned, like a good steak.”

  “I’m salty all right.”

  “A good steak isn’t salty.” She looked down her cute nose at him.

  “My apologies,” he said with an incline of his head.

  “Anyway, I’m guessing you’re more like a lover than a fighter.” She kept a hold of his hand, her thumb still gliding over it.

  “It’s astonishing how you were able to read me like that.” Her light little touch shouldn’t be as erotic as it was. “So what do you do for fun?”

  “Truthfully, it’s been so long I think I’ve forgotten how. I’ve been working nonstop this past year. This is the first time I’ve taken the night off in a long time. Pathetic, huh?” She gave him a sad little smile.

  “I’m the same way. I was just going to head out when I saw you. This really isn’t my scene.”

  “What about it don’t you like?” she asked.

  “The music kinda sucks. But I liked your song. I’d probably like it better if I was dancing with someone. Do you want to try?”

  “Yes, but first, a toast.” She poured them both a glass of that nasty sickly sweet champagne.

  “Okay.” Bastien wondered if there was a potted plant he could dash the contents into without her noticing it.

  “To Flow.”

  “Really? We’re drinking to Flow?”

  “Work with me,” she said.

  He clinked glasses and tried to swallow a mouthful without tasting it. He just barely resisted a shudder. “Now, we dance.”

  She led him out into the throng of people on the dance floor. The music was loud, but the song was familiar. He hoped he didn’t look like someone was electrocuting him as he jumped and danced with her. She kept bouncing into him and that was all good. A slower song with a grinding beat came on and he got to hold her against him. That was even better.

  “I need more champagne,” she said after the song. Her face was flushed, and her nipples were clearly outlined against her dress.

  If he stayed out here any longer, he’d have to dump the ice bucket down his pants. So he followed her back up to the table. She sat down in a graceful heap, while he grabbed a water from the fridge next to the booth.

  “Where did that come from?” She craned her neck to see where he pulled it out of.

  Bastien handed it to her and got another. “Perks of being a VIP.”

  “It’s my first time,” she admitted, tanking half the water bottle.

  “A virgin, huh?”

  “Touched for the very first time...today.”

  They finished their waters, but he didn’t want to go back on the dance floor. He wanted to spend the rest of the night talking with her.

  She gathered her thick hair up into a ponytail and twisted it up to the top of her head. Fanning her neck, she said, “I wish I was a delicate little flower that glistened when she perspired. Instead, I sweat like a warthog.”

  His bark of laughter surprised even him. When was the last time he’d laughed aloud
? This was a great beginning to his first vacation in over two years. It was almost worth having Jace marry his little sister.

  “I think you sweat divinely,” he said.

  “Very gallant of you to say so.” She helped herself to more champagne and offered him a glass.

  “I should stick with water for the time being.”

  “Are you the designated driver?”

  “No, I’m here alone.”

  “What a shame. Me, too. I mean, I had my friend here, but she ditched me to get laid. I can’t really blame her.”

  “I blame her. It’s bros before hoes. Or in your case, I guess it would be sisters before misters?”

  “Chicks before dicks.”

  “Yeah, she shouldn’t have left you all alone ripe for the picking of any urban predator.”

  “You make me sound like a gazelle. I thought I told you I was a warthog.”

  “A divine warthog.”

  “Exactly. Well, luckily I have a knight in shining armor to protect me from the club lions or club tigers.”

  “Or club bears,” he said.

  “Oh my,” they said together.

  “It’s a little scary that we’re right on the same page,” he said.

  She nodded. “You’re weird, but you’re my kind of weird.” She took his hand and kissed the back of it.

  “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a long time. Do you want to get out of here?” he asked. “I’d love to take you somewhere a little more private.”

  She took a deep breath and he could see the indecision warring on her face.

  “You don’t have to answer right away. I just thought...”

  She dropped his hand. “I guess I did just come on like a freight train. I’m not so good at this.”

  “I think you’re doing great.” Bastien wanted to ease the awkward moment. “I jumped the gun. I’m usually a little more slick than this. You’re just so damned sexy, I lost my mind a little.”