by T. K. Leigh
“It’s just me,” Brayden soothed. “I’m right behind you. Just put one foot in front of the other. I’ll steer you. Don’t worry.”
“It’s a good thing we trust you,” Jenna said.
“No kidding,” I added. “You could be leading us off a cliff right now and we wouldn’t even know it.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I’d miss you too much.” He carefully led us around the corner and into an elevator, the doors closing once we were inside.
“With all this build-up, I’m fully expecting to be completely speechless, Brayden,” I said as the car ascended.
When the doors opened, the sound of a large group of people shouting “Surprise” startled us and we ripped the blindfolds off our faces. My jaw dropped when I saw what Brayden had done.
In attendance was everyone who had been at the sorority mixer where our idea for Guilty Pleasures was concocted. I had lost touch with most of them since graduating college, but I was thrilled to see so many familiar faces who had traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to show their support for what we had accomplished.
“Congratulations, girls,” Brayden whispered, planting a kiss on each of our temples before leading us through a darkened room overlooking the dance floor of the club down below.
“Kenzie!” a short redhead shouted, running up to me and pulling me from Jenna and Brayden. “I am so stinking proud of you.”
“Claire!” I exclaimed, shocked to see my big sister from the sorority. I hadn’t seen her since my junior year and it was heartwarming to see my old friend.
“Come on. Let’s get you a drink to celebrate. Brayden made sure the bar was stocked with everything they were serving at the mixer that night, including Milwaukee’s Best.”
“The beast!” I laughed as we walked across the room, arm in arm. I exchanged cordial greetings and hugs with a few old acquaintances, but most people gave me some space to get a drink.
“There’s slippery nipples, too!”
I shook my head in disbelief. I shouldn’t have been surprised at the attention to detail Brayden took when planning our evening. He always had an uncanny ability to remember even the most obscure details, which was why he made an incredible attorney. Still, I shuddered to think of the amount of hours he spent preparing for tonight’s festivities.
“What’ll it be?” Claire asked.
“Old Fashioned,” I said to the bartender.
“Not interested in any jungle juice?” Claire nudged me.
“God, no,” I replied. “I’d like to remember how I get home tonight and not end up passed out on some nasty fraternity house couch.”
“We had a lot of fun back then, didn’t we?”
Grabbing my drink off the bar, I clinked glasses with her. “We sure did.”
An awkward silence passed as I surveyed the room, seeing people mingling and exchanging stories about what they had been doing the past few years. Claire had been there for me since the first week of my freshman year. I was rushing the sorority she was in, and she took me under her wing, showing me the ropes of college, giving me advice on who to date…
And who not to…
It turned out, her instincts were spot on. I wished I had listened to her. She had voiced her concerns about Charlie early on in our relationship, thinking it odd that a twenty-five-year-old army lieutenant and Harvard graduate would be interested in an eighteen-year-old girl. I was stupid, blinded by the combination of his maturity and finally being away from home for the first time, a huge change for me after having been home-schooled most of my life. I should have known better.
Trying to shake off the memory of my biggest mistake, I made the rounds, spending hours socializing with people I hadn’t seen in years. Some had gone on to graduate school. Some had found jobs in their field. Some were starting families.
“Can I have everyone’s attention for a minute, please?” Brayden’s voice cut through the raucous chatter as the dance music that was piped in was lowered. Several hours had passed in the blink of an eye, and even more drinks had been consumed.
Everyone quickly turned in the direction of his voice and I giggled when I saw Brayden standing on a table, his hand placed on his hip as he waited for the crowd’s attention.
“Good,” he said. “First of all, a big thanks to all of you for taking the time out of your very busy schedules to be here tonight to celebrate this momentous occasion. You’re probably wondering why I assembled this particular group of people. Well, see, about eight years ago, before I even knew the two lovely vixens known as Jenna Salerno, now Pope, and Mackenzie Delano, you were all at a mixer at Phi Sigma Rho sorority house. And in that basement, with a floor sticky from liquor, beer, and other things I don’t even want to think about, these two girls dreamed up an idea. Just last night, that very idea became a reality.”
I felt a hand grab mine as I stood transfixed by Brayden’s passionate speech. Turning my head, I grinned when I saw Jenna at my side, the same place she had been since we met in English 101 on our first day of college.
“I’m truly blessed to have been welcomed with open arms into their friendship. Their duo became a trio and, since the day I answered an ad looking for a third roommate, the three of us have been nearly inseparable. These girls are the loves of my life, my soul mates. We are three parts of a whole, each of us linked through the strongest bond of friendship I’ve ever had. Mack, Jenna, I am so stinking proud of you two. You proved to me, and to everyone in this room, that dreams do come true. That if you have a vision, nothing can get in the way of achieving it. I love you, my wholes.”
He raised his glass. “To Mackenzie and Jenna!” he bellowed, everyone in attendance following suit and toasting to our success.
A lump in my throat, I turned to Jenna and tipped my glass to her. “To you, Jenna.”
“To you, Mack.” We clinked glasses just as the music began to blare again.
“Come on, girls,” Claire said, grabbing both of our hands. “Everyone’s been hogging you long enough. This ginger needs to dance. Let’s show all these guys we haven’t lost it.”
“You bet!” Jenna exclaimed, shaking her hips as we made our way to the dance floor.
“Greg,” Claire said, grabbing the hand of a dark-haired man of average height and decent build, “these are my old college friends, Jenna and Mackenzie. Jenna, Mack, this is Greg, my fiancé.”
“Fiancé?” I asked. “I hadn’t heard!” I hugged Claire. “Congratulations!” Clutching her hand, I stared at the beautiful diamond adorning her ring finger, smiling at Greg. He was certainly Claire’s type. He had a youngish quality to his features and his dark eyes were small. He was clean-shaven with short hair, and the way he seemed to cherish Claire made me thrilled for my old friend.
“Good job,” I told him. “It’s a beautiful ring.”
He beamed. “Thanks.”
“Yeah. I’m one lucky girl,” Claire responded, staring up into his eyes as he leaned down and kissed her. I couldn’t help but sigh when I saw the affection they obviously had for each other.
Out of nowhere, a high-pitched squeal sounded from next to me, and I snapped my head to see Jenna darting across the room. A shocked look spread across Richard’s face as she nearly tackled him to the ground.
“Wow. She’s happy to see her husband, isn’t she?” Claire commented.
“Yeah,” I answered. “He tends to work strange hours and travels a bit for work, so the honeymoon phase is still going strong with them.”
“What does he do?” Greg asked.
“He owns a few boutique hotels across the country, including one here on the island. Fantastic place. A little swanky, but nothing compares to it.”
“Well, it’s good to see Jenna so happy,” Claire remarked. “I honestly never thought anyone would ever be able to make that girl settle down.” She raised her eyebrows. “How about you, Mack? Seeing anyone?”
“Nah,” I responded dismissively. “With the restaurant and everything else, it’s not a
good time for me. A relationship will just distract me.”
“That must get lonely, though,” Claire said.
I shrugged. “I have Brayden and Jenna.”
“But Jenna has her husband, and isn’t Brayden dating someone?”
“Yeah. From the law firm where he works, but they try to keep it under wraps.” I gestured toward where Brayden was talking to a tall man with a shaved head, laughing at whatever he had just said. “But that doesn’t matter. They’re always there for me when I need them. And I have a cat. He’s the perfect man for me. He understands my busy schedule and takes care of himself.”
“Okay, Kenzie,” Claire said, laughing. “Just promise you won’t turn into the crazy cat lady.”
“You got it. I only have one cat anyway. I think the bare minimum before I can hold that title is three.”
The music changed to a slower club mix and I immediately felt as if I was a third wheel.
“Excuse me,” I said politely, not wanting Claire and Greg to think they had to sacrifice dancing together just because I didn’t have anyone to dance with.
Feeling somewhat out of place, even in a room where I was surrounded by people I knew, I slid unnoticed into the elevator, pressing the button for the main level.
I exited the car and moved through the large, darkened club toward the semicircle-shaped bar, the music tantric. Coupled with the lack of food, I was already somewhat tipsy and light-headed from the drinks I had consumed throughout the evening, but I didn’t care. I felt at ease for the first time in months. For that one night, I had finally stopped worrying about not being at the restaurant and was actually enjoying myself, regardless of the fact that I was surrounded by couples. The truth was, over the years, I had grown accustomed to being alone. There was a freedom to it not many people understood.
“What’ll it be?” a tall, dark, and handsome bartender asked, flashing his perfect white teeth.
“Manhattan, up.”
He nodded and set about mixing my drink. I turned my attention away from the bar while I waited, soaking in everything about the chic club. Strobe lights flashed in a low flicker, making the faces of the people dancing to the slow melody difficult to see clearly.
“Here you go, miss,” the bartender said, bringing my eyes back to his.
“What do I owe you?” I asked, reaching for my card, my eyes trying to focus on my wallet, which proved slightly difficult.
“Don’t worry. Boss says it’s on the house.”
I reeled back, confused. He walked away from me and was already taking someone else’s order by the time I finally opened my mouth to ask who his boss was. Searching my wallet, I found enough cash to cover the drink and a tip, not keen on the idea of accepting a drink from a complete stranger. I left the money on the bar and spun on my heels, heading toward the dance floor.
The mood was enthralling as bodies swayed in a slow rhythm to the music. I immersed myself among the crowd and closed my eyes, moving with the hypnotic beat. Instantly, I sensed a body approach from behind and push my curled locks to the side of my neck.
“Dance with me,” a voice growled. The body attached to it placed his hands on each of my hips.
I tried to turn my head to see who it was, but he reacted quickly, removing a hand from one of my hips and forcing my face forward.
“Don’t. Keep looking straight ahead.”
His voice was low and eerily similar to the one I had been hearing call my name in my dreams.
My mystery man.
Closing my eyes, I envisioned the exquisite body attached to the smooth voice. A dull excitement coursed through me. The unknown, the mystery, the intrigue as to who it could be intoxicated my senses, regardless that I was all too aware it couldn’t be anyone other than the man who had unexpectedly found his way into my innermost desires over the past several days.
“Click,” the voice said and I flung my eyes open. My gaze fell on a pair of familiar green eyes sitting at the bar, sipping a drink, several girls surrounding him with their hands on him. My body immediately tensed up and I fought against the person behind me, holding me to him, trapped.
A hand was instantly on my throat. He skimmed a cold, metal object up my exposed back. A nervous chill spread through me despite the high temperature in the club.
“Who are you?” I asked, my eyes growing wide in terror.
“Click…,” he repeated, just as he had done on the phone calls when he fired an unloaded gun. He tightened his grip on me and my body trembled, recalling what happened after the two clicks during the last phone call.
“Please,” I begged, tears welling in my eyes.
He brushed his lips against my neck and murmured, “Bang.”
I braced for the gunshot, relieved when he quickly released his hold on me. Paralyzed with fear, I lost my grip on my martini glass and it shattered all over the floor, my body crashing down next to it.
Tyler
“SO, WHERE ARE YOU from?” a short, attractive blonde asked, bumping into me and nearly making me spill my scotch that probably cost more than her first semester of college. She threw her arm over my shoulder and I wanted nothing more than to rid myself of her touch.
Just as I was about to respond, a familiar silhouette sauntered toward the bar. I grinned in a sly manner, my gaze focused on her as if she were the only woman in the room. In truth, she was the only woman who mattered, and she would be for the foreseeable future.
Signaling one of the bartenders, I immediately got his attention, which I knew would happen considering I signed his paycheck.
“The woman in the polka dot dress,” I said, gesturing to Mackenzie as she leaned against the bar, checking her phone. “Comp her drinks. She doesn’t pay¸ got it?”
“Sure thing, boss,” the tall man said before heading in her direction.
“Boss?” the blonde asked, flipping her hair behind her ear. “So you own this place?”
I raised my glass to my lips and savored the taste of the 1949 Macallan I kept in my private selection. While I’d always appreciated everything my brother had taught me through life, I was most thankful for his taste in good scotch.
“Yes,” I replied to the blonde, not tearing my eyes from where Mackenzie stood, an adorable perplexed look on her face as she probably tried to figure out who had paid for the drink she held in her hand.
She turned from the bar and I admired the way she swayed her hips to the soothing sound of the club mix. I could almost picture myself near her, smelling her heavenly aroma of cinnamon, and it caused a slight twitching in my pants, unsettling me. I wasn’t supposed to be attracted to her. I wasn’t supposed to have feelings for her. I hadn’t cared about a woman in years and, as my luck would have it, the one woman I wasn’t supposed to care about was the one I couldn’t stop thinking about.
“Who are you looking at?” the blonde asked, interrupting my fantasies about how Mackenzie smelled on other parts of her body.
“One of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met,” I responded, my voice flat. A few years ago, the girl next to me would have been just my type. Perky, vivacious, and one shot away from making a really bad decision…hopefully with me. But something had changed in me, practically overnight, despite the possible ramifications of forming any meaningful feelings for Mackenzie, the girl I was being paid to deceive and betray.
“Well, looks like she found someone else to dance with,” the blonde said, nodding toward the dance floor.
I followed her line of sight and my face flamed when my eyes fell on Mackenzie dancing rather intimately with a tall, muscular man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. She seemed to be enjoying herself, and I debated storming over there and pushing him out of the way. Part of me was concerned that whoever it was could interfere with the mission. The other part wanted to get rid of her new dance partner due to an odd feeling of jealousy forming in the pit of my stomach.
I continued to observe her, almost willing her to open her eyes and see me watching her. As if
she had heard my thoughts, she opened her eyes and her gaze fell on mine. She immediately tensed up. The next few seconds seemed to pass in slow motion as she visibly fought against the body that had her trapped. I shot up from my seat, leaving the scotch on the bar, and pushed the barely legal college co-ed away from me.
Starting in Mackenzie’s direction, I grew frantic when she suddenly disappeared from view. Rushing forward, my eyes fell on her body lying on the hard floor. A circle had formed around her, people murmuring and staring in shock. I kneeled beside her, holding two fingers up to her neck as I looked past her to see if anyone fit the general body type of the man I saw dancing with her.
“Did any of you see who this woman was dancing with?” I asked authoritatively.
“He was kind of tall, but not as tall as you,” a short brunette said. “I saw him leave when she passed out. He was carrying a gun, I think.”
“What did you say?!” I roared in disbelief.
“Or a cell phone,” the girl continued. “It was hard to see. I just remember seeing a flash, like a reflection of light on metal.”
“Damn it!” I bellowed. Seeing the shards of glass Mackenzie had fallen on, I quickly picked her up and carried her from the main floor and down the back hallway, opening the door to my private office.
I gingerly lay her on the black leather couch and ran to my desk, picking up the phone. After a brief pause, a voice answered on the other end.
“Eli, it’s me. I need you to get all of the club’s camera feeds from tonight. Have them on my desk by tomorrow morning.”
I hung up and returned to Mackenzie, examining her injuries. She had several shards of glass stuck in her skin. The wounds appeared to be shallow, but they would need to be disinfected and washed.
Walking into the en-suite bathroom, I found a first-aid kit and ran a towel underneath the faucet of the dual vanity. About to return to Mackenzie, I paused, admiring her exotic beauty, her chest rising and falling. She looked so peaceful…the most at peace I had seen her over the past several months. There was a tender smile on her face and her mouth moved ever so slightly. I could stand there and gaze at her for hours, and I wanted to. I wanted this moment to last forever.