Two Hearts: Beyond Control (Two Hearts Trilogy Book 1)

by CJ Andrews

  What the hell is her problem?

  Will continued dancing as though nothing had happened. Nothing. Our kiss, the interruption . . . none of it.

  I sighed, feeling foolish, and settled my head on his shoulder. My thoughts kept wandering to that other couple. Will managed to keep his back to them after our collision, probably embarrassed by our little display that caused it, but I couldn’t resist the urge to sneak another peek.

  The woman was stunning. Her upswept chestnut hair shimmered under the ballroom lights, as did her tiny emerald dress. She looked young—late twenties, I’d guess. And she had an amazing body, which we all could get a glimpse of if she were to move a bit too far in any direction.

  Then I saw her partner, and she became a distant memory.

  I’d noticed him earlier. Dinner was already being served when he’d arrived, late and alone. He’d crossed the ballroom in long, easy strides, looking confident and sexy in a black tailored tux. All the women had turned to watch him, including me. He’d disappeared into a section of tables, and I hadn’t seen him for the rest of the evening . . . until now.

  Checking out this guy was wrong, especially while I was in my husband's arms, but something about him intrigued me. I couldn’t resist.

  No harm in looking, right?

  He was tall, about six foot three, with jet-black hair that stopped just short of touching his collar. His fitted white shirt tapered to a narrow waist. The sleeves were turned up at the cuffs, revealing just a hint of his toned forearms and an expensive looking black-and-silver watch. My gaze drifted toward his face, stopping to notice that his tie and top button were undone.

  My eyes continued their journey to his jaw, admiring the dark stubble that covered his olive skin, then moved on to his warm chocolate eyes that were staring right at mine.

  Busted. I sucked in a sharp breath.

  He winked then smiled at me, igniting a fire in my cheeks.

  I buried my face in Will’s chest, trying to hide and wanting him to keep me safe like he always did. I needed to get out of here, now, and placed a single kiss on Will’s neck. “Let’s go back to our room and finish what we started.”

  One hand tightened on my waist while his other tipped my chin toward him. “It’s still early, babe. I thought you were having fun.”

  I shrugged and tried to look away. His dismissal stung, but I didn’t want him to see that. “I was, but—”

  Will placed a finger over my lips. “How about we relax and have a drink or two. You look so beautiful tonight. I want to show you off a little longer.” He caressed the side of my face and gave me a tender kiss. “Then you can have me all to yourself for the rest of the night.”

  I didn’t want to stay, but maybe a drink and a little flirting would restore my mood. “Sure. Whatever.” My response sounded as deflated as I felt.

  When the song ended, Will led me to a small table in one of the alcoves. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek, pulled out a chair, and motioned for me to sit down.

  “The usual?” he asked over his shoulder as he walked away.

  I nodded in response.

  “I’ll be right back.” He disappeared into the crowd of people gathered around the bar.

  Will returned a few minutes later with our drinks: a whiskey on the rocks for him and an absolutely huge strawberry margarita for me.

  “Are you trying to get me drunk?” I teased, attempting to get us back on track. I swirled my straw in my drink and took a tentative sip. It was sweet and refreshing. “Mmmm, this is really good.” I took another sip, this one longer.

  Will tossed back half of his drink then laughed as he sat down across from me. “Better take it easy, lightweight. You will get drunk at that pace.” He reached across the table and took my hand. “And then I just might be forced to take advantage of you.”

  I wiggled my eyebrows and took another long sip of my drink, daring him to bring it on.

  Will glanced at his watch then let his eyes wander slowly around the room before settling on me. We sat there silently, enjoying each other’s company. He caressed my hand and watched while I sipped away at my drink.

  Before I realized it, I’d sucked down the entire thing. My head felt a little woozy, but my mood had definitely improved.

  “You really do look very beautiful tonight, Danielle.”

  It wasn’t something I heard often. Will’s compliment, a few simple words, was more perfect than any gift he could have given me. Except for one, maybe, but the night wasn’t over yet.

  “Why thank you, Mr. DeLaney, and you’re looking quite handsome yourself.” I continued in a less playful voice. “Thanks for bringing me here tonight. I know I gave you a really hard time about going out, but I’m glad we’re here . . . and”—I motioned for him to come closer—“if you come upstairs with me, I’ll show you just how glad I am.”

  Will leaned back in his chair. He picked up his glass and swirled its contents then downed the last of his drink. When he returned the glass to the table, he kept his fingers wrapped around it, mindlessly wiping at the condensation.

  Clearly, he was stalling.

  “I was thinking we could hit the dance floor one more time before we call it a night,” he finally said, his eyes fixed on his glass.

  Well, that wasn’t the response I was looking for. I didn’t say anything—I couldn’t. My efforts to rekindle our sex life couldn’t be so ambiguous as to go unnoticed, which meant he was ignoring my attempts to seduce him. But why? I waited for him to look at me, hoping he was teasing.

  Instead he stood and leaned across the table to give me a quick kiss. “I just need to use the restroom first. Wait here.”

  That quickly, he was gone, walking across the room toward the lobby.

  I had no idea what had just happened. What man wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to take his wife to bed?

  I needed a distraction, something to keep me entertained until Will returned. I pulled out my phone to check my messages. A long list of birthday wishes and New Year’s greetings waited for me when I signed into my social network. I scrolled through, reading and acknowledging each one. When I reached the end of the list, I checked the time—twenty minutes had gone by. Will should have been back by now.

  When the waitress passed by, I asked her to bring me another giant margarita—so much for staying sober tonight—then went back to surfing the web.

  Still no sign of Will. I was beginning to get worried and, I had to admit, a bit annoyed. He’d better have a good reason for leaving me alone for so long.

  I called his cell. No answer. I typed a quick text—Where are you? I’m lonely—and hit the send button just as my drink arrived . . . in the hands of the hot-as-hell stranger from the dance floor.

  Chapter Two

  Perfect Stranger

  I closed my eyes, waited a beat, then opened them again . . . nope, not hallucinating. The most gorgeous man I had ever seen stood there, waiting for me to acknowledge him. My skin tingled from the magnetic energy flowing from him as he towered over me.

  Every inch of him was pure perfection, as though he could have fallen from the pages of GQ. His unruly dark hair, a total contrast to his refined style, somehow made him even more attractive. It hinted at a rebellious side.

  Earlier I’d thought the view of the mountains was breathtaking, but this view . . . wow, I could look at this one all night long.

  Mister Tall-Dark-and-Sexy cleared his throat, pulling me from my reverie. My dreamy gaze settled on his magnificent face.

  He was biting his lip, clearly struggling to hold back a smirk.

  The blood rushed from my brain to my cheeks. Okay, so I was caught checking him out. Again. In my defense, he was standing right in front of me looking more delicious than the sweet drink in his hands—it had to be done.

  “Hi.” My voice squeaked, shooting up a full octave. I lifted one shoulder and grinned. No point trying to deny it. I was guilty, and we both knew it.

  “I believe you ordered the o
bscenely large pink margarita.” He managed to keep his expression serious, but the sparkle in his eyes suggested he was here to play.

  “Are you—you don’t—” Jeeze, I used to know how to talk. Way to make a memorable first impression, Danni.

  I swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and tried again. “Sorry. I guess I was expecting the waitress to bring my drink, not—I could have picked it up at the bar myself. I mean, you don’t look like a waiter, but—uh, I’ll just shut up now.” The fire in my cheeks grew to an inferno.

  He shrugged, his suppressed smirk breaking into a lopsided grin that revealed a dimple in his left cheek. “I couldn’t pull off the uniform, but they were nice enough to let me jump in anyway so I had an excuse to come over here.” He placed the glass on the table, leaning closer as he slid it toward me. His eyes never left mine. “Hope you don’t mind.”

  I expected him to deliver my drink then make a quick exit, especially after my brilliant display of communication skills. Instead, he lingered, leaning on the table while he studied my face. The length and intensity of his gaze unsettled me, stirring unfamiliar emotions.

  “You know, if I were a cop, I’d have to arrest you.” His warm breath brushed my cheek when he spoke.

  The smooth tone of his deep voice pulsed through me with a soothing rhythm that would put most people at ease, which made it difficult to explain the jumble of nerves bouncing around in my chest.

  I didn’t usually get flustered around men, no matter how gorgeous they were. I couldn’t even remember feeling that way around Will when we first met. So what was it about this man that had me in knots? His dynamic presence intimidated me, yet I felt drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain.

  Will should be back soon. I glanced around the small alcove, looking for him. A few people lingered at the bar. One couple stood in a dark corner, groping each other. No one seemed to pay attention to us.

  And no sign of Will.

  I hated to admit it, even if only to myself, but I was relieved—eager for the opportunity to spend a few minutes with this Adonis. I reached for my drink and took a much needed sip, anxious for the alcohol’s calming effects to kick in, then I struggled to find my voice again. “E-excuse me?”

  “See, it’s a crime for a beautiful woman to sit alone, drowning her sorrows in fishbowl margaritas.”

  That had to be the cheesiest pick-up line I’d ever heard, but it managed to break the ice and make me laugh.

  He grabbed a chair and turned it around to straddle the seat. “Why don’t I join you.” He sat and crossed his arms on the backrest. A carefree smile spread across his face as he extended his hand. “I’m Nico.”

  A fresh wave of adrenaline rushed through me. I wanted to take his hand and introduce myself, but I resisted. Instead, I rested my elbows on the table and looped my fingers together under my chin.

  He was sexy and charming. And younger—early thirties at best, if I had to guess. I didn’t understand why he was sitting with me instead of spending time with that miserable tiny-green-dress chick, but I wasn’t about to ask. Or complain.

  “So, Nico, I’m curious.”

  He tipped his head and arched one eyebrow.

  “Does that line ever work for you?” I watched him closely, or tried to, hoping to shake his confidence and level the playing field. My plan might have worked better if I wasn’t the one who kept looking away.

  He laughed and drummed his fingers on the back of the chair. The movement drew my attention to a platinum signet ring on his right hand. The onyx face contained the initials DG and a diamond accent.

  None of the men I knew wore jewelry—other than the wedding rings their wives insisted they wear. It reminded me I was mingling with a different social class tonight, one that Nico seemed to fit into very comfortably. My mind wandered, thinking about the letters—what they stood for.

  “Well . . .” He waited until my attention returned to him. “I guess that depends on whether or not it works on you.”

  My impaired brain cells screamed, It totally worked on me—good thing he couldn’t hear them. A married woman shouldn’t feel so attracted to a man who isn’t her husband, and I definitely felt . . . something . . . after only a few minutes with Nico.

  That was when I realized we were playing a dangerous game.

  I leaned back in my seat and let my hands slip into my lap. My fingers twisted in the fabric of my dress. “Thanks for delivering my drink, Nico, but I’m not alone.” I struggled to find the confidence to look into his warm eyes. “My husband will be back soon.”

  Nico’s smile faded, and he nodded as though he’d expected that response. “Sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You’ve been alone for a while and seemed upset.”

  He’d been watching me? The possibility shouldn’t excite me. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t.

  My head felt fuzzy from too much alcohol. Or too much Nico. I couldn’t decide which.

  “Well, if you need anything, just let one of the staff members know. They’ll take good care of you.” He stood to leave but hesitated, his eyes still locked on mine.

  His intense gaze reached deep into my soul, holding me. I imagined he could see everything I was feeling about him, but I couldn’t look away.

  He closed his eyes, breaking our connection, and took a deep breath before he opened them again. “Your husband’s a lucky man. Happy new year.” He returned the chair to its original position and walked away.

  My heart sank the instant he was gone, but sending him away was the right thing to do. As I turned to watch him leave, my gaze drifted toward the doorway. Will stood there, adjusting his jacket and tie. His shoulders were slightly hunched, his gaze cast downward.

  An uneasy feeling twisted in the pit of my stomach. How long had he been there?

  Will tucked his hands in his pockets and entered the room, closing the distance between us at a leisurely pace.

  Nothing happened with Nico beyond a little harmless flirting, so there was no reason I should feel guilty. Okay, maybe those few exhilarating minutes with him made me—but I’d never let myself explore any of the emotions he sparked. Not even if I wanted to.

  Which I don’t. I love my husband.

  The two men politely acknowledged each other as their paths crossed. Nico stopped. He turned and watched as Will made his way back to me.

  I forced myself to focus on Will and tried to control the tension building inside me. Nico wouldn’t have had a reason to check on me if Will hadn’t left me sitting alone for so long. He only had himself to blame for . . . whatever he thought happened. I angled my chair toward him and tried to be patient. Jeeze, could he move any slower?

  “I was starting to wonder if you were coming back.” My voice was more harsh than I intended. “Do you even know how long you left me sitting here? Alone?”

  Will stood silently, staring at me, hands still in his pockets. He gave a noncommittal shrug and acted as though my tone had no effect on him, but I could see a shadow of pain in his beautiful blue eyes.

  Desperate to prevent myself from saying something I might regret, I grabbed my drink and tightly clamped my lips around the straw. I didn’t want to start an argument with Will and needed a moment to compose myself. It wasn’t going to be easy.

  Tonight was supposed to be a special night, a celebration, and it all seemed to be falling apart.

  My eyes drifted to a couple seated by the bar, their bodies turned toward each other, their legs intertwined. They talked and laughed, always touching and leaning in so their faces brushed together. His undivided attention focused intently on her. The way it should be.

  Maybe Will and I had been like that. Long ago.

  I sucked harder on my straw, cheeks hollowing, but the cool liquid stopped flowing. The distraction pulled me from my trance. Will had pinched the straw and continued holding it between his thumb and forefinger. I lifted my eyes to find him watching me.

  “Take it easy, babe.” He eased the half-empty glass from
my hands and pushed it toward the center of the table. “I’m sorry I was gone so long.”

  He reached for my hands, gently lifted me from my seat, then wrapped me in a tight embrace. Several moments passed without a word. I snuggled against him, eager for that familiar sense of security I always felt in his arms. It didn’t come.

  A shiver ran through me. I tried to pull away from him. There had to be a reason he was gone so long, and he was obviously trying to avoid discussing it.

  I’ll be damned if I’m going to let it go.

  He’d ditched me for half an hour . . . on my birthday . . . in a room full of strangers . . . and I deserved to know why. I broke free from his tight hold and stepped back enough to glare at him. “Where were you?”

  Seconds ticked by. No response.

  “Will?”

  “I forgot how feisty you get when you drink.” His mumbled comment was barely audible. He skimmed his knuckles down the side of my face. “Babe, I’m sorry. Okay? I didn’t realize how much time had passed.”

  Music filtered in from the ballroom where the band resumed playing.

  Will reached for my hands, laced our fingers together, and pulled them to his lips. “Come here. Let’s go dance.” He attempted to tug me toward him.

  I took a step back, pulled my hands free, and held them up to stop him. “I’m glad you’re sorry, but I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. It doesn’t take that long to use the restroom. So what are you hiding?” I crossed my arms and waited.

  “Shhh . . . calm down.” He reached for my arms again, but I took another step back and continued glaring at him.

  “Okay. Fine.” Will retracted his hands and held them up in surrender, his frustration evident. “There was a fight in the hall outside the men’s restroom.”

  That’s it? Did he think that was enough of an explanation to satisfy me? After fifteen years, you’d think he would have known better.

  Most of the other guests who were in the alcove with us had returned to the ballroom. A quick glance around reassured me we weren’t drawing the attention of the few who remained.