Invisibility Cloak

  “Yes, it is nice, isn’t it?” Sophia murmured before she stepped out of the passenger door that a red uniformed man opened for her.

  He was already out of the car, pressing his car keys, along with a twenty-dollar bill into another young man’s palm. “Take care of her, she’s all I’ve got.” Ryder drawled to the valet.

  “Yes, sir!”

  When he walked over to Sophia, she slipped her hand through his arm. “Did I tell you how handsome you look tonight, Ryder?”

  “Yes, but I’ll welcome as many compliments as you want to give me.” He stood still and took in the majestic views of the mountains that rose up behind the country club grounds. Healthy towering palm trees were spaced on the outside perimeter as if standing guard. Two more fountains spritzing out gushes of water were on either side of the main building. It was a scenic backdrop. But this area, seemed damned familiar. He pulled down his brows. Years ago, he was pretty sure it was a wasteland. Didn’t he take down a few members of the cartel around here? Ryder shook his head to get rid of those thoughts and gave Sophia a compliment instead.

  “You look very pretty tonight too, Sophia.” Her sleek dark gray glitter gown reflected light whenever she moved and was deeply cut in the front and met at her waist. Sophia’s breasts were loosely secured behind her gown and they jiggled a lot. Her blond hair was pulled up in a sleek ponytail. Her eyes slanted slightly by the tight pull of her hair and he took a closer look. Her eyes looked almost black, because her pupils looked dilated. Did she have brown eyes? He’d never really noticed before, but for some reason, he’d always thought she was blue-eyed.

  She licked her gums. “What I’d really like to do, Ryder is show you how good you look to me. Alone.” Her red lacquered nail touched her nose. “What do you say, handsome?”

  No way. No how.

  He cleared his throat and led her to the two huge glass doors that were lit up. Couples swarmed inside the vestibule. “How about a drink, first?” He pulled open the door. “We have people expecting us, don’t we?”

  She rubbed her body against his side. “I could always think up an excuse.”

  He lifted his arm up and waved to Roger and Mimi Carlyle. Mimi saw him and ignored his gesture, but that wasn’t going to stop him. “Hey, there are the Carlyles. I thought you said you wanted to introduce me to some people.”

  “I can always do that later,” Sophia purred as her hands slid to his back. She gripped his back hard and her nails dug into his ass. He grabbed the hand that clawed him and set her in front of him as he navigated through the lobby furniture to the bar. He needed a whiskey.

  Now.

  He turned into the bar and sat down on a stool.

  “Sophia,” a low voice said behind them. “How are you?”

  Ryder turned to see a gray-haired man cup Sophia’s hands inside his own.

  Sophia’s eyes went wide. Sophia Edgington looked hesitant?

  This was a first, Ryder had never witnessed her this tense before. “Sophia, what can I get you?”

  Sophia looked over at Ryder and then back at the elderly man. “Martini.”

  Ryder got up from the stool. “You got it.” He nodded at the man that held her hand tightly. “Ryder Stevenson.” Ryder held out his hand. “Can I get anything for you, sir?”

  “Stevenson . . . Yes, I’ve heard your name before.” Pulling his right hand from Sophia’s the man gripped his hand in a greeting. “General Holmes. Nice to meet you, Stevenson.”

  “Likewise, General Holmes.”

  “Scotch. Please―scotch and soda.”

  “Absolutely, I’ll be right back.”

  As Ryder turned to the bartender, he overheard General Holmes ask Sophia quietly, “Well?”

  His intrigue was piqued until he saw a swirl of light blue move beyond the bartender in the back of the room. Was that Amanda? Lifting his gaze over the bar, it looked like Smeth had her out on the back patio. As soon as the general’s scotch and Sophia’s martini were ready, he pressed their drinks into their hands. Turning back to the bartender, he ordered a shot of Jack for himself, swigged it down and headed for the rear of the club.

  “Ryder, where are you going?” Sophia asked.

  Sophia, I’m not done talking to you, yet,” General Holmes announced following her.

  “General, please give me a few minutes,” she huffed out, walking away from the elderly man to follow Ryder.

  “Come on, I want to see the back of this place.”

  “Oh, okay.” Sophia cooed, “It’s really romantic out back.”

  Yep, there she was. Amanda. She stood by Smeth in her light blue gown. It fit her like a glove and he clenched his jaw.

  Oh yeah, it was because she had nothing on underneath the dress. Damn woman drove him crazy. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. The soft blue material hugged her body before it narrowed down to her waist. But unlike Sophia’s dress, it didn’t display her assets for everyone to see. Instead it let your imagination go wild. The sleek material hugged her breasts and showcased some nice cleavage, and that’s where it ended. Her arms were bare and the dress molded her trim waist and hips, until it flared softly against her legs in feminine cascading tiers. Ryder groaned. What was wrong with him? He’d never looked at a woman like this before.

  Hell.

  Two legs, two arms with all the needed feminine parts sandwiched in the middle and he was good to go. He looked around the back of the country club. No one else had better be checking her out as well or else he’d . . .

  He’d do what? He pinched the bridge of his nose. He needed to get a hold of himself.

  Numerous seating and chairs were scattered around big ceramic fire pits. Palm trees bordered the back of the property and further out were the mountains. It was a beautiful evening.

  “Ryder.” Sophia brushed up next to him. His eyes narrowed as Smeth edged Amanda out further onto the grounds.

  He grabbed Sophia’s free hand. “Let’s go explore the grounds back here.”

  “Oh, okay,” Sophia murmured as he dragged her behind him. Silently stalking Amanda and Smeth, he noticed two more fountains against the mountainous backdrop until Sophia pulled on him to stop.

  “Um Ryder, it should be almost time to eat.” Sophia wrapped her hands around his waist when he stopped to see what she wanted. “Unless of course you want to leave . . .”

  God, no. “What?” He turned to her. “And miss all this good food?”

  “Well, I for one have to use the powder room before I eat.”

  “Do you want me to walk you back?”

  “No, no.” She said, “How about I meet you inside?”

  Ryder looked beyond and over her head and nodded. Just where in the hell was Smeth taking Amanda? Jeffrey angled her toward the last fountain on the property. Assessing the situation, he noticed that the parking structures were on the left and mountains were straight ahead. Palm trees guarded the right of what looked like residential properties colliding into the country club development. Turning sharply, he watched Sophia going back through the glass patio doors before he turned back to Amanda and Smeth. Silently catching up behind them, he hid himself in the trees.

  He was so close to them, but hidden in the bushes, he could hear Amanda’s dress swirl around just as she asked Smeth, “Shouldn’t we head back, Jeffrey? Dinner will be served soon.” The shuffle of her feet, just barely rose above Jeffrey’s reply.

  “Let’s sit here, Amanda.”

  Ryder observed Smeth through the trees. “Oh, your wine. Here, take a sip.” Jeffrey held up his own glass and tapped it with Amanda’s. “Cheers. Now, drink up and then we’ll go eat.”

  She took a small sip out of her glass. “I don’t know if I can drink anymore, Jeffrey. I’ve had two glasses already.”

  Jeffrey closed in on her, pul
ling her up sharply against his frame. “I want you a smidgen looser, love.” He held the glass up to her mouth, forcing her to drink some.

  “Why?” Amanda shook her head. “But, I’m not that thirsty, Jeffrey.”

  “For me?”

  Amanda brought her brows down and snapped, “No.” Thrusting the half-filled wine glass at him, she stood and wobbled away. Ryder’s eyes followed her as she headed toward the Country Club’s back patio. Smeth didn’t move and stayed where he was on the bench. Ryder trailed behind Amanda. Since it was getting dark, he didn’t need the cover he did earlier.

  “Amanda, wait!” Smeth called out behind her, just as she made it to the back patio of the Club. She turned as Jeffrey came up behind her with Ryder close behind, hidden behind the dense foliage.

  Ryder swore under his breath as Smeth wormed his way into her good graces.

  “Amanda, I’m sorry.” Smeth directed her to sit down on one of the cushioned chairs in front of the fire pit. “Can we sit down here?”

  She looked around then slowly sank down on the wrought iron loveseat.

  “I think I should go home, Jeffrey.” Amanda put both hands on her stomach. “I don’t feel so good.” The fading sunlight glinted off her silver chain on her wrist.

  Ryder frowned, just how much wine had she drank?

  “Sure, I’ll take you home, Amanda.”

  Amanda nodded and stood up. Her head began to spin and her vision blurred. Instead of only one Jeffrey, there were now three distorted visions of him sitting beside her on the outdoor settee. Bile rose in her throat and her body reacted. Her diaphragm lurched forward and Amanda clutched at her stomach as fire swirled in her gut.

  Oh Crap, I’m going to puke!

  With one arm around her waist, Amanda stood up on shaky legs. “Um, give me just a second, Jeffrey.” Like a blind man she walked unsteadily into the club, pawing the wall a few times to give her support. Looking frantically around for the bathroom, she finally spotted a small sign and followed the arrows to the woman’s restroom. Her body swayed so much she had to extend her arms out at her side just to keep from falling over.

  What is going on? Her stomach lurched again and she stumbled through the door, still feeling like she was going to throw-up. She looked around and her eyes widened.

  Wow. This was one of the prettiest restrooms she’d ever seen.

  And she was going to puke all over it.

  Hang on Amanda . . . she thought dimly before she lurched for the toilets.

  Instead of the usual bright lights and standard bathroom toilets, this place had low lighting and wood doors for each toilet stall. And even a sitting room with brown leather couches, she noticed quickly before reaching out for the lavatory door handle. Amanda pushed at a wooden section of what she thought was the bathroom stall door, but it wouldn’t move. Squinting her right eye closed, she tried to get her brain to work properly and fixated on what was in front of her.

  Good Lord!

  She hadn’t drunk that much today had she? When her eyes re-focused she realized she was trying to push open the wall next to the brown wood stall door, so she shifted one hand to the darker colored section, while she kept the other hand over her mouth.

  Praying that she could wait to puke until she got to the toilet, she turned the brass knob to open the door.

  The door flew open so fast, she landed hands down on the toilet rim. It was probably the exact place she needed to be at that exact moment. Leaning over the stool, she waited for it to come, but nothing. Still nauseated, her skin was clammy, covered in sweat. Slowly pivoting, she pulled the wooden lid down and sat down. She bit back a sob. It was scary feeling like this. She’d never been this drunk before. Tears slid down her cheeks and the salty drops curved into her mouth.

  Carefully she reached for the toilet paper roller and pulled a few squares off to dab at her neck and face. And again, she tried to re-group. Even as drunk as she was, she still noticed how nice this bathroom was as she peered around. Dark walls, pull chain to the right of her and brass toilet paper holder to the left. She sighed again, for cripes sakes, she could live in here it was so darn nice. Thankfully it was quiet in the ladies lounge. Everyone must be in the dining area.

  The last thing she wanted was for anyone to see her like this or create a scene. The bathroom fan thrummed steadily above her and Amanda closed her eyes and willed herself to calm down. Okay. She sucked in a deep breath.

  Without warning, the lounge door opened and the outside sounds of the corridor burst into the restroom briefly. Clipped footsteps of someone in high heels brushed past where she sat enclosed in the bathroom stall. She really didn’t want to see anyone, so she held her breath. Maybe no one would know she was even in here if she was really quiet.

  “Ewwwww! That woman drives me crazy!”

  “Oh, Sof,” another woman’s voice purred. “You know he just feels sorry for her, don’t you?”

  Sof? Someone was actually named after a sofa? Amanda slapped her hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t burst out in laughter.

  “Well then, where is he?” The snappish click of high heels walked by her stall again. “Come on, I need to calm down.”

  “Sit here.”

  Amanda heard a faint shuffling of something. “Do a line. That always makes you feel better.”

  “Aarrr!” It sounded like something was thrown across the room. “She’s as bad as her moronic husband!”

  “There, there. Sit. Snort.” A woman’s sharp laugh echoed through the restroom. “It always makes you feel better.”

  “She’s such a baby.” A large inhale. “All stupidly wide-eyed and the bitch even limps!”

  Amanda’s stomach jumped. Were they talking about her?

  “Sof, calm down. Here, just one more.”

  Another soft sniff. “I still have to deal with the general. He won’t leave me alone.”

  Amanda shook her head, wanting to focus so she could hear more. The voices sounded cloudily familiar.

  “I can keep the general busy. You never should have joined with him in the first place. Would that make you feel better?”

  “You know what would really make me feel better?” A large inhale. “Ryder naked underneath me.” Crackled laughter followed more sniffing. “Or on top of me.” A small giggle. “I wonder if he is as big as I imagine him to be.”

  “You look gorgeous.” Sniff, sniff. “He won’t be able to turn you down tonight.” Sniff, sniff.

  “As long as he’s not playing Mister Fricken’ Bodyguard to Creepy Miss Science Nerd.” Sniff, sniff.

  Yes, they were talking about her.

  Images of the popular girls from Junior High School making fun of her invaded her head and she bit her lip. Amanda thought that after you grew up and worked hard to get a few degrees that it wouldn’t hurt as much.

  But she was dead wrong. Her heart and lungs squeezed tight at that very moment. That crappy I’m not-good-enough shame she hadn’t felt in over twenty years rolled over her. She’d never wanted to have to go through those feelings again. Never thought she would.

  Why’d it still have to hurt?

  But now, instead of a thirteen year-old geek, she was an inebriated thirty-five-year woman sitting on a toilet seat in a country club. She clutched her head with her hands.

  Could it get any worse than this?

  “I’ll distract her if you want me too.” Sniff, sniff. “And the general, too.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” Sniff, sniff. “I thought I had it taken care of, but time will tell.”

  “Let’s get back to the dance. We can always do a few more lines later.”

  “Yes, I suppose. Hey, I know.” Crackled laughter again sounded through the lounge. “Maybe I’ll start limping! Then he’ll pay more attention to me!”

  He
r heart contracted and she narrowed her eyes at the back of the stall door willing them to keep talking. Those voices . . .

  She was positive it was someone she knew, but her head was too blurry to put it together. They obviously knew her. But her stomach unexpectedly lurched again and bile rushed up her throat. She needed to cough.

  Ah! Her eyes watered and tears rolled down her cheeks as she pressed her mouth together. No!

  “Come on,” one of the women said. “Let’s take care of the general first.”

  Their high heels clacked out of the women’s lounge.

  The fleeting sounds of the country club lobby resonated through the restroom as the door opened and closed. That brief rush of muffled conversation and glasses clinking heard in a two-second span. All the while her head swam around and around. The only thing she could do was lower her head in her hands and pray.

  Ryder caught up with Smeth and grabbed his left shoulder as he walked back into the club’s rear lobby. Jeffrey turned to see who was there and jerked away from his grip.

  “Where is she?” Ryder growled. He was so pissed-off; he had to hold himself back from ripping Smeth’s head off.

  Jeffrey’s eyebrow’s jumped up under his wire-rim glasses. “What?” He shook his head. “Oh God, it’s you again?” Smeth turned totally around and put his hands on his slim hips. “For God’s Sakes, Stevenson, go kill something or someone and leave me alone.”