Over the past week since I'd learned the truth about Katka, I'd felt better than I had since before my father's ultimatum. Despite the risk, Katka and I had decided that we wanted to keep seeing each other. We'd talked every day and just hearing her voice made me feel better. We'd even met up at a hotel during my lunch break on Tuesday. I hadn't said anything to her yet, but I planned on asking her to go on a trip to New York with me next week so we could go out in public together on a real date. I didn't want her thinking it was only about sex.
Things with Livie were going really well too. Since I no longer worried about strange personality shifts, I was able to go back to treating Livie the way I had before I'd first met Katka. She seemed a bit surprised by the change, but not upset by it. In fact, I was sure she was probably relieved. It must've been seriously weird for her to have me behaving as if we'd slept together. The only thing that would've made it better would've been if she'd known the truth so Katka and I didn't have to sneak around.
I considered that possibility. Since they were identical, unless they were seen together, there was no real way my dad's spies would be able to tell the difference. With Livie in the dark about the relationship, Katka and I had to be careful to make sure there wasn't any sort of issue with people seeing double. If Livie knew, the three of us could create some sort of schedule allowing Livie to have the freedom to date whoever she wanted while Katka and I were together. I wasn't sure how long things with Katka would last, but I did know there was something about her that made me want to be with her more than I'd wanted to be with anyone else.
I shook my head. Katka had made it clear that she didn't want either of us to tell Livie about what was going on. If Livie figured it out and confronted us, we'd tell her the truth about what happened, but Katka didn't want her sister to know what she'd done. I couldn't blame her. I had no doubt that Livie would forgive Katka, but the two of them were so close that it would hurt their relationship. Besides, it wasn't my place to interfere.
Plus, I couldn't exactly risk Livie getting pissed at me at the moment. I had a favor I needed to ask her.
I knocked on Livie's door and then took a step back so there would be a respectable distance between us when she opened the door.
“Blayne,” she sounded pleasantly surprised, though I wasn't sure who else she would've thought was here. She never had visitors. “Is everything all right?”
“Fine,” I quickly assured her. “I just had something to ask you.”
She nodded. “Go ahead.”
“Do you have plans tomorrow night?”
She shook her head, looking puzzled.
“It's just, my parents are having this society thing and are being pretty insistent that we be there. I understand if you're busy. I can explain that to them, but I'd really rather you come with me.” I smiled at her, loving that I could be relaxed with her again. “It's going to be miserable without you.” And I wasn't trying to charm her. I really did enjoy her company, especially now.
She gave me an eye roll that was more fondly amused than anything else, but I could see she was pleased at the offer. I'd figured she'd want to go. She'd been honest with me about how she looked forward to making societal connections that would help her with her business.
“What time should I be ready?”
“Seven,” I said. “We'll want to be fashionably late and since it starts at six-thirty, that'll be perfect. Oh, and it's at the library.”
Since the Philadelphia Library was such a beautiful space and a lot of the high society people – particularly the ones my family mingled with – held events there, this wouldn't be my first time, even though I'd never come to check out a book. It didn't matter how many times I walked into that building, the beautiful marble and high ceiling never failed to impress. There was one thing different about this time, however.
I was attending with my wife.
It still sounded strange to me. Wife. Never thought I'd be using that word for myself.
I'd brought women to events before, usually whoever I could think of who would piss my parents off the most. I'd brought a stripper once. She'd behaved herself and no one else had known her profession, but I'd made sure my parents knew what she did for a living, just to watch them freak out all night. Well, there had been a couple of the men whose faces had changed color when they'd seen her, so I figured they might've encountered her before. But they weren't about to say anything.
Tonight, I'd have more fun watching my parents try to juggle their disdain for my choice with their need to appear as if Livie was a fine catch so their friends wouldn't look down their noses. At least they wouldn't have a bad word to say about the way Livie was dressed. She looked amazing.
She'd designed the dress herself. I'd known that without asking, though I did ask just so I could tell her how beautiful it was. The color was a rich scarlet that complemented her coloring and made her eyes stand out. The fabric was some sort of clingy, soft material that she'd fashioned to show off her curves. The neckline drew attention to her gorgeous breasts and the slit in the side of the skirt went up to mid-thigh, exposing yards of amazing legs.
Judging by the looks she got as we walked in, there were plenty of men and at least a few women who were wondering if Livie looked as good out of the dress as she did in it. I was tempted to tell them yes. I may never have seen Livie naked, but she and Katka were identical, so I had a pretty good idea what was under her dress. The rest of the women were glaring at the ring. I may have been a disappointment to my parents, but I was still a Westmore and that had made me an eligible enough bachelor.
“Livie, you look amazing!” My favorite sister-in-law, Hannah, was the first to greet us. Her husband, and the only brother I liked, was right behind her.
“Hey, Blayne.” Samuel grinned at me as he clapped me on the shoulder. “I don't think I've gone this long without seeing you since I was away at college. Guess you must be behaving yourself.”
“Thanks.” I glared at him, but there was no malice behind it. There wasn't much Samuel could do to make me really mad at him, especially considering over the past few years, he'd been the only one to help me out of trouble when I'd gotten myself into it.
“I'm surprised to see you, Blayne.” My oldest brother, Benjamin, spoke up from where he was standing next to his wife, Delphine. “I was under the impression that Friday nights were usually your key slumming time.” He made a show of looking at his expensive watch. “Shouldn't you be drunk and trying to score with some low class slut?”
I gave my brother a tight smile. It was too bad only family was standing around because our father would've ripped him a new one for saying something like that around his friends. Since it was just us, Dad didn't say a word.
My hand was on Livie's back from where I'd rested it to help her steer her way through the crowd and I felt her stiffen at my brother's words. Samuel opened his mouth to say something at almost the same time I did and I was willing to bet it would be in defense of my wife.
Livie, however, spoke first, “Surely someone with a beautiful wife such as yours knows that, once married, a true man does not need to venture outside the home for satisfaction. Blayne has certainly proven that.” She raised an eyebrow. “Is there a question of it in your life, Brother?”
For several seconds, my entire family was dead silent. Samuel's laugh broke it and Hannah joined in almost immediately. Benjamin's face was red and I could see the muscles in his jaw clenching as he fought for control. People were starting to look our way to see what was so funny and since Livie had delivered everything with a smile, no one had any clue of what had just happened. My parents would keep it that way.
“I couldn't have said it better myself.”
I blinked with surprise at my father's words. Those weren't 'smoothing things over' words. He'd meant them.
“You seem to be quite well-educated,” my mother spoke. “I wasn't aware the Czech Republic could offer such things.”
My fingers flexed on Livie's bac
k. Mom wasn't as adamant about things as Dad, but she could still be a snob. Livie gave me a reassuring smile before answering my mother with the same professional tone she'd used the first time we'd met. “Our education was quite similar to what I have seen of the American public school system, but I never wished to be simply average. I taught myself and have been taking online classes.”
My mother's lips puckered as if she'd eaten a lemon. That hadn't been the response she'd been expecting.
“If you'll excuse me,” Benjamin mumbled as he shoved past me. I couldn't tell if he was amused or annoyed, but I was glad to see him go.
My other siblings splintered off with politely given excuses, to either mingle or avoid various members of the party. I stayed where I was, knowing my parents wouldn't take it well if I left my wife and went off on my own. I did drop my hand though, using a passing waiter as an excuse. I took two glasses of champagne and handed one to Livie, keeping the other in the hand closest to Livie so I'd have an excuse not to touch her.
I wasn't sure what I'd expected when I'd told Livie about the party, but I was pretty sure a part of me had been thinking I'd have to spent the entire night either keeping Livie away from my family or figuring out some other way to protect her from them. Instead, I found myself standing next to her and listening as she fielded every question and comment from both of my parents. She never faltered, never showed any sign of being bothered by the subtle and not-so-subtle digs at her. She rebuffed each one with the same clever wit I'd enjoyed during our non-awkward moments. I'd almost forgotten how much I'd liked listening to her talk. Not romantically, of course, but she was intelligent and didn't let anyone push her around.
As the night continued, I found myself enjoying the event more than any other function I'd been to. Even after my mother went off to talk to a couple of her friends, Livie and my father continued to talk. By this point, he was no longer trying to make her feel like she didn't belong, but was discussing business with her as seriously as he did with my oldest sister, Cecily. That was saying a lot. Cecily was the only woman who he'd ever talk business with and that was only because she had an MBA.
“If I may be excused,” Livie said. “I have drank too much of this lovely champagne.” She gave me and then my father a smile. “I will return.”
I didn't want to be left with my father, but I couldn't see any way to leave without looking like I was running away.
“I like her.”
My jaw dropped and I knew I looked like an idiot, but my father's words shocked me enough that I didn't care. He liked her? The first time he'd met her, he'd called her a gold-digger and a few other choice words that weren't so nice.
“Don't look so surprised, Blayne,” my father's voice was dry. “I am allowed to change my mind.”
That was true, I'd just never seen him do it.
“She's intelligent, a hard worker.” He drained the last of his champagne. “You know, she might not be from money or an old family, but I think she's out of your league.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I muttered.
He shrugged and walked off, calling out for one of his friends. I watched as he went and then watched as Livie came towards me. It was strange, I thought, how two people could look so much alike and be so different. I didn't know how I hadn't seen it before. The twins both carried themselves with confidence, but Katka oozed charm and sexuality. With Livie, she was sexy, but in a forbidding sort of way. I'd seen it before with her, when I'd first met her at the bar. She totally had a “hands off” vibe. Katka was fun and sweet. Livie was strong and smart. Both were amazing women, both so much alike and so different.
I sighed and smiled at Livie. I really liked her, especially now that I understood what was going on. I just wished I had met Katka first. But there was no use wishing. I couldn't go back and change things. All I could do was make the best of the situation.
And right now, that meant taking my beautiful wife by her hand and smiling at all of the nice people who were coming by to give their congratulations while simultaneously analyzing everything they saw and heard, filing it away for later gossip. They could talk all they wanted. I had a friend at my side and a gorgeous woman to call when I got home.
Maybe my life could be just as good as it was before.
Chapter 5
Livie
I was actually surprised that I enjoyed my night out with Blayne. I'd been looking forward to going, but I'd thought of it as business. Making connections, meeting the people who would eventually become my clients or would at least get out the word about my work. I'd also known his family would be there and it would be a good chance for us to get to know each other. His parents and one of his brother's had been at the wedding with his wife and kids, but it hadn't been like we'd had much time to bond.
My time with his family had, it seemed, been well spent. I'd known I’d need the support of the Westmores to make it in this particular social circle. Marrying the black sheep in the family wasn't the best way to do it, but it had gotten my foot in the door. I was pretty sure I'd managed to make my own headway after that. The Westmores might judge by association, but they weren't stupid.
I'd almost thought I'd blown it with my smart remark to Blayne's oldest brother but the guy had been such a dick that I hadn't been able to keep my mouth shut. Fortunately, Mr. Westmore had seemed to appreciate the wit and the more I'd spoken with him and his wife, the more they'd seemed to like me. Well, I wasn't entirely sure they liked me, exactly, but the questions became more sincere and less like the poorly disguised jabs they had first sent my way. I hadn't taken any of it personally, not really. I'd gotten the impression that the things they were picking at weren't chosen from some sort of prejudice, but rather because they were the things about me they could choose. No matter who I was or where I was from, they would've found something to use against me. Besides, growing up as an orphan in the Czech Republic had given me plenty of practice dealing with insults, disguised or not.
I hadn't been entirely certain that things had gone as well as I'd thought until Blayne and I had been on our way home and he'd told me his father had said I'd impressed him. Blayne didn’t need to tell me that this was rare and didn't happen very often.
While Blayne and I hadn't done anything intimate at the event, not even joining other couples in dancing, there had been something between us. He hadn't done anything inappropriate, but there had been touching. Innocent enough, but I hadn't been able to shake the heat from his hand on my back. I told myself that I didn't want him and that he didn't want me. He was with Katka and that was fine with me because I knew they'd treat each other right. He wouldn't hurt my sister. And even if Katka did have a tendency to be a bit flippant with her relationships, she'd be careful with Blayne simply because she wouldn't want to mess things up for me. Those were the only things I should be worrying about. If anything, it made more sense for him to be with Katka than anyone else. The people Mr. Westmore had spying on us wouldn't be able to tell the difference between my sister and me. Infidelity would be harder to prove.
The logic of my reasoning, however, wasn't enough to keep me from having difficulty sleeping that night, nor was it enough to prevent me from worrying most of the next day. Blayne was out, I assumed with Katka, and I was alone in the apartment, trying to convince myself that things with Blayne were good now and that was all I wanted.
By later afternoon, I'd given up my attempt to work as a lost cause and was trying to figure out what I could do to distract myself. I couldn't stop thinking about Blayne and Katka. I told myself that I only cared because of what it would mean for me if Blayne got caught, but I had always considered myself a self-aware person. While I was concerned about what would happen to me if Mr. Westmore found out, that wasn't the true reason I cared so much. If anything, I was now reasonably sure I could convince Mr. Westmore of a nice settlement if Blayne and I divorced prior to the three year minimum.
That, more than anything else, was what prompted me to get dressed and leave the a
partment. I didn't second guess myself or even think about what I was doing or going to do. If I did, I'd talk myself out of it. For once, I wanted to just do something without thinking about it, without weighing all of the pros and cons. My sister lived her entire life that way, acting without giving any true concern for the consequences. I wanted to have a single night of that freedom.
I didn't have a particular destination in mind, only that I wasn't going back to Frankie's. The kind of man I was looking for wouldn't be found there. Neither was the experience. I wasn't going to get drunk, but I would take the edge off before I followed through with what I hadn't been able to do before.
Before the night was over, I fully intended to fuck someone.
I picked one of the clubs I usually referred patrons to and got inside without a problem. I supposed my outfit had something to do with it. When I'd packed, I'd accidentally grabbed a couple of my sister’s items, including a sexy black dress I'd designed for her. It stopped mid-thigh and showed off the tops of my breasts. It was modest by club standards, but definitely more revealing than most things I owned. The only time I wore clothes like this was when I made them, and even then I tended to stick with the ones that showed less skin.
Tonight, however, I wanted to show skin because I planned on showing a lot more of it once I found the right guy.
I ordered a drink and scanned the crowd. A few guys were already checking me out, probably determining whether or not I was waiting for someone or if it was safe to come over. I waited, letting the alcohol make the world pleasantly fuzzy. Then I started to look back. A couple I dismissed immediately. They were already stumbling drunk, which meant they'd be a bad lay, if they could get it up at all. No, if I was going to do this, I wanted to make sure I picked someone who would get the job done.
And there he was. Tall, broad shoulders, and what I was certain was a fine specimen of a body beneath his clothes. The outfit wasn't expensive like Blayne's, but they were too pricey for some poor college kid. He had dark hair, but the lighting prevented me from seeing if it was brown or black. His eyes were dark too and held enough lust to tell me that getting this guy into bed wouldn’t be a problem.
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