by Opal Carew
Danni had actually addressed this envelope to Blake. And the one to Evan, too. She remembered because that’s when her stepfather had gone on and on about how important the two men were, and how it would be a real coup for him—and her mother, of course—if these very influential men attended. He’d stared over her shoulder as she’d written the addresses, as if waiting for her to make a mistake.
Mom didn’t care about the influence her position on the charity committee brought, of course, other than to raise as much money as possible for the children the event was intended to help.
“Good. You found the coffee.” Evan wandered past her toward the kitchen.
He wore just his boxers and she couldn’t help but admire his muscular body, longing to stroke the lion on his chest again.
She dropped the invitation back on the stack of mail.
“I think something about that party is bothering you.”
Chapter Five
Danni started at the sound of Blake’s deep voice behind her. He walked around the couch and sat down beside her. He wore a robe, tied loosely around his waist.
She shrugged. “I just hate big parties like this. Everyone dressed up. Having to act just so.”
“You stepfather puts a lot of pressure on you, doesn’t he?”
“Not really. Usually he just ignores me, but with something like this . . .” She nudged her head toward the envelope. “Well, he takes his networking opportunities very seriously, and he’s afraid I’m going to embarrass him.”
Evan set a cup of coffee in front of Blake and sat down in the armchair across from Danni.
“He probably doesn’t actually feel that way,” Evan said. “Maybe you’re just feeling insecure.”
Her gaze locked on his. “When my mom first insisted I go, he said outright, ‘Don’t embarrass me.’”
“Ah, well, that’s pretty clear.”
“The guy’s a jerk,” Blake added. “I’d say you shouldn’t worry about it, but I’m sure that won’t help. When someone treats you that way, it hurts.”
She sat up straighter, her back stiffening. “Nothing that man does can hurt me.”
Blake said nothing, but his intense gaze unnerved her. As if he could see far more than she wanted him to.
He leaned back, sipping his coffee. “What is he worried about with you going to the event?”
She sighed. “I don’t know exactly. How I’ll dress is one thing. He knows I won’t go like this”—she gestured to the threadbare denim shorts and well-worn shirt—“but even when I dress up, he never likes my choice of dress or shoes. And he hates how I apply makeup.” She didn’t do it very often, so she could understand that one. “And then there’s any time I open my mouth to talk. Aside from the fact he lives in terror that I’ll actually tell someone I work in construction, he thinks I’ll talk like a workman instead of being entertaining with scintillating conversation.”
“Are you worried about these things?” Blake asked.
She frowned and stared down at her coffee cup.
“Well, I don’t like to feel out of place.”
She hated admitting that. Hated showing her vulnerability. But these two men had accepted her just as she was, and being with them made her feel comfortable with who she was. She could open up to them.
“How about this?” Evan asked. “Why don’t we coach you? Help you pick out a perfect dress and shoes, arrange someone to do your makeup.”
“And send me in with a fashionable gag on so I can’t embarrass myself or Jerrold by saying anything?” she asked, eyebrow raised.
“Hmm.” Evan’s eyes lit up. “I like the idea of a fashionable gag. Maybe black leather with studs.” He grinned. “And maybe a blindfold and a few leather restraints.” His lips turned up in a devilish smile. “But not for the party.”
Blake chuckled. “I like that idea, too. But to prepare for the party, we could coach you how to interact with this type of crowd.” He smiled. “I don’t think you have a problem talking to people. I think you just don’t have a lot in common with those who’ll be attending the event, so you feel self-conscious.”
“It’s nice that you want to help me, but . . . why?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want an excuse for you to keep on seeing us.”
She narrowed her eyes. She would have thought that after last night, they’d have had their fill of her and be happy for her to be on her way. But maybe the threesome thing held enough novelty that they didn’t want it to end just yet.
She sure as hell didn’t. And the talk of gags and restraints had triggered unusual urges inside her. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to be on the giving or receiving end.
Or a little of both.
“What do you say, Danni?” Evan asked.
Finally, she smiled. “Okay. I guess I don’t mind spending a little more time with you two.”
* * *
On Monday, Danni got out of her car and walked to the restaurant where she was meeting Evan and Blake for lunch. She’d arranged to pull in some overtime next week so she could take the afternoon off and go out shopping with them. She’d insisted they pick somewhere casual because she’d be heading there straight from work and didn’t want to have to get dressed up in something fancy at the job site. She didn’t want the men she worked with to see her as anything other than one of the guys.
Once in her car, however, she had slipped off the oversized shirt she wore and pulled on a sleeveless cream blouse in a soft, chiffon fabric that she’d found in a Goodwill store a few months ago. It was designed so the sleeves dropped off her shoulders, draping casually on her upper arms.
She didn’t ordinarily wear things like that, but when she’d seen it, she’d just had to try it on. And when she had, it had made her feel soft and feminine. She’d bought it on a whim, knowing she’d probably never wear it. But today . . . it just felt appropriate.
When she opened the door and stepped inside, she told the host that she was meeting two gentlemen there. He led her to a table by the window. Evan glanced up at her and his jaw dropped. Blake turned around. She sat down in the chair between the two of them at the square table.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“Nothing’s wrong. You just look . . . different,” Evan said. “Very nice,” he added quickly.
“I’m wearing jeans and a summer top,” she said wryly, though she was elated he’d noticed. “You didn’t think all I had to wear were denim shorts and a plaid shirt, did you?”
“Of course not,” Evan said. “It’s just that you look quite feminine in that top, with the soft fabric and all.”
She waved to the waitress and ordered a drink, then picked up the menu.
The waitress came by and took their food order.
“So where are we going this afternoon?” Danni asked.
“I thought we’d start at E.V.’s. The staff there will help us pull together the perfect dress, shoes, and accessories for you,” Evan said.
Danni had heard of E.V.’s. It was an exclusive store for the very wealthy. No one knew what the initials stood for and only a select clientele could shop there. You had to be on the list to get in. She knew that because Jerrold had been incensed when he had been refused membership.
He would be livid if he knew she, of all people, had been allowed to shop there.
“Then we’ll take you to a salon,” Evan continued, “where they’ll discuss your hair and makeup in preparation for your appointment before the event on Friday.”
“Do you think they’ll want to cut my hair?” she asked nervously, running her hand through the dark brown tresses. She liked her hair long.
“I’ve already warned them that if they try and talk you into cutting it, I’ll have them blacklisted in our social circle.” Blake lifted a coil of her long locks with this finger. “I love your hair long.”
“You didn’t really do that.”
He smiled, but didn’t answer her.
Lunch arrived and they enjoyed their gourmet
burgers and sweet-potato fries, then she accompanied the men to their car. They had the driver take them to E.V.’s.
When she walked in the front door, her eyes widened. The woman who greeted them, dressed in an expensive black designer dress tailored perfectly to her svelte body, her blonde hair coiled behind her head, welcomed them pleasantly and introduced herself as Karri. Then she turned and led them down a wide hallway. The dark hardwood floors reflected the light from the large, glass block walls and the skylights above. Light fixtures with glittering crystals lined the walls, sending rainbows cascading across the cream ceiling.
Karri opened a door and gestured them into a large room with quilted leather sofas in a soft taupe. Danni sat down in one and almost moaned at the softness of the leather. A bottle of champagne sat on the glass coffee table in front of them. The pedestal that held the glass tabletop was a stunning sculpture of a swimming mermaid, her body curled upward, her bare breasts visible, and her long hair swirling around her as it would in the sea.
Karri opened the champagne bottle and poured them each a glass. The tall flutes were cut crystal and glittered in the sunlight from the large windows.
Suddenly, Danni became very aware of her slightly frayed denims and her secondhand top. She drew in a breath, feeling spectacularly out of place.
Their hostess didn’t seem to notice, however. Of course, Karri wouldn’t show any sign of disapproval. Not when Danni was a guest of Evan Swift and Blake Hawkins.
Danni sipped her champagne while Karri explained that their team had picked out several outfits to show them. Karri assured them that in any one of these gowns, Danni would outshine everyone else at the party.
Danni knew it was just a sales pitch, but when Karri ushered in the sales staff with each of the outfits displayed to perfection on special racks, Danni realized the woman was right. The gowns were exquisite. No one would even notice her face or hear what she had to say while she wore any one of those gowns. In a way, she’d be invisible in plain sight.
When Karri asked her which one she’d like to try on first, Danni turned to Evan and Blake questioningly.
“Which do you think?” she asked.
“You heard what Karri said,” Blake replied. “Any one of these will be perfect, so pick the one you like best.”
“I think the red color really suits you, so why not try that one last?” Evan suggested.
She gazed at the different dresses, some adorned with sequins, some with lace, one just an amazing concoction of fine, liquid silk. This was not what she was used to. It was overwhelming.
“Uh . . . I’ll start with the green one, then the blue, and after that the red,” she said.
Karri gestured her to a dressing room across from the couches. Danni opened the door as Karri followed her with the green dress. The dressing room was as big as Danni’s whole living room.
She peeled off her camisole before she realized that Karri was still in the room.
“That bra won’t show off the dress to its full potential.” Karri picked up a phone and told the person on the other end to bring in a bra and panty set, giving a model number and Danni’s exact bra size.
How she knew that Danni wasn’t sure. Someone knocked on the door and a young woman brought in a gorgeous bra set in black silk with wide lace trim. The lovely silk seemed to shimmer in the light. The woman left and Karri waited expectantly for Danni to remove her bra. It felt odd changing in front of this stranger, but Danni stripped off her bra and dropped it on the leather bench.
Karri handed her the new bra and Danni slipped it on. Oh, God, it not only fit perfectly, but it was so comfortable. She turned to the mirror and adjusted the straps. Her eyes widened as she saw how wonderful it made her breasts look, lifting them and making them look rounder and fuller.
Danni dropped her jeans to the floor and stepped out of them, then laid them on the bench, too.
“Don’t forget the panties.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Danni said.
“These will show no panty line,” Karri said.
Danni sighed and pushed down her panties, her cheeks flushing a little, then pulled on the black lace ones Karri handed her.
Karri unfastened the zipper on the green gown and held it so Danni could just slip it over her head. It fluttered into place, then Karri zipped her up. Karri smiled as she gazed at Danni.
“That really is stunning on you.”
Danni turned to the mirror and stared. The dress was generously adorned with sequins, ranging from emerald green to sapphire blue, and a range of tones in between. The effect was elegant and unusual, giving the dress a multidimensional look.
Karri handed her a pair of shoes covered in matching sequins. Danni stepped into them and instantly gained six inches, making her legs appear longer and her whole body trimmer, yet still curvy.
“I’ll go show the guys.”
“Wait. First the finishing touches.” Karri opened the top of six drawers in a cabinet against the wall and Danni saw it contained glittering jewelry.
Karri selected a diamond necklace with a large teardrop-shaped emerald hanging from it. She attached it around Danni’s neck, then handed her a silver evening bag with sequins that matched the dress.
“Now?” Danni asked.
Karri smiled. “Yes.”
Danni opened the door of the dressing room.
* * *
Blake’s eyes locked on Danni as soon as she stepped into the room. Surely this couldn’t be the same feisty woman in a plaid shirt and cutoffs that had been drilling in their offices on Saturday.
Danni was a stunning woman no matter what she wore, but just like a jewel that had been polished to perfection, this dress brought out the full extent of her beauty.
“Wow,” Blake said.
“I second that,” Evan said with wide eyes.
Karri beamed at their reaction. Danni just seemed nervous. Or maybe she was just overwhelmed by the whole thing.
She walked farther into the room, clearly hesitant.
“Turn around for us,” Evan suggested.
Danni moved closer, then turned and walked away.
Damn, in those tall shoes, the sway of her hips was more pronounced. Blake’s groin tightened, and he longed to run his hand over her sexy, round derriere.
She turned back again. “I’ll go try on the next one.”
She hurried into the dressing room again, with Karri accompanying her. Blake sipped his champagne, then checked his e-mail. A few minutes later, Danni stepped into the room again, this time wearing a blue silk number. It hugged her perfect, full breasts, then narrowed at the waist, and finally the full skirt flowed to the floor like a waterfall. When she walked toward them, it fluttered around her like a shimmer of iridescent clouds. The shoes she wore this time were simply a blue silk that matched the dress, but with high heels covered in clear gems. The flap of the matching blue evening bag was covered in the same gems.
“This is very nice, too,” Blake said.
And sexy. And quite arousing with the way it clung to her torso, showing every lovely curve.
Danni turned around, the skirt swirling around her legs.
“What do you think of it, Danni?” Evan asked.
“It’s very nice,” she stuttered. “Beautiful.” She glanced in the floor-to-ceiling mirror on the wall. “I still have the red one to try on.”
She disappeared into the dressing room again.
“They both look great on her,” Evan said.
“True,” Blake answered.
“So I have one question. Are you getting as hard as I am?”
“Oh, yeah.”
This time when Danni stepped into the room, Blake’s eyes nearly popped out at the sight of her.
The dress was a vivid crimson, and it was just perfect for her. Evan had been right about the color on her. It set off her dark mane of hair beautifully. The slinky red fabric seemed to mold to her body, setting off every curve, accentuating her full, round brea
sts. It dipped low in front, showing off her ample cleavage, but in an elegant way. As she walked toward them, his cock grew harder with her every step. Then when she turned . . .
Oh, fuck, she was basically naked from the waist up, with only a strand of diamonds across her back holding the fabric together. He longed to run his hands over her naked skin and test the strength of that bejeweled string.
“Definitely this one,” Evan said, his eyes gleaming as she turned back to face them.
“I like it, too,” Danni said, “but you don’t think it’s too revealing?”
“Not at all,” Karri said with a smile. “And it sets off your figure beautifully.”
“Karri, why don’t you leave us alone so we can discuss the options,” Blake suggested.
“Of course, Mr. Hawkins. Just pick up the phone if you need me. It’s a direct line.”
She turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Blake lurched to his feet and walked toward Danni.
“This dress is the sexiest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”
Her eyes widened as he drew her into his arms, then his hands wandered over her naked back and glided over her ass. He pulled her closer, pressing her against his throbbing cock. Evan stepped behind her and ran his hands over her shoulders, then stroked her ass with one hand.
“I totally agree.”
But Danni stiffened in his arms. “I’m sure there must be cameras in here.”
Blake nuzzled her soft neck, his need growing. “Who cares?”
“I do,” she protested.
“Okay, we can fix that.” Blake turned her around and led her to the dressing room, Evan following on their heels.
The room was huge. Once they were inside, Blake closed the door behind them. And locked it.
Chapter Six
Danni felt heat rushing through her, a result of Blake’s and Evan’s desire-filled gazes. Her breasts suddenly felt confined in the previously comfortable black lace bra.