Playing Irish

by Brooke Harris

  ‘Looks nice,’ Nathan said as the car began to move again.

  Eva sat silently as the car followed the contours of the long, sweeping drive. Falling darkness was pierced by the light of evenly-spaced, tall, ivory lanterns at the edge of precisely manicured gardens that seemed to stretch back for eternity.

  ‘Oh. Holy. Shit,’ Eva whispered to herself as her eyes couldn’t take in the enormous mansion in front of them in a single blink. The limo circled a huge fountain just in front of the house and stopped opposite the main door. Eva knew from the invitation, requesting the pleasure of their company at an evening of splendour and entertainment, that she should have high expectations, but this, this amazing place, was mind blowing.

  Eva savoured the crunch of her shoes as she stepped out of the car. Nathan walked around the back of the car and took her hand like a princess. She threw her eyes up the ridiculous amount of solid concrete steps leading to the open main doors and looked pitifully back down at her new and beautiful Louboutin shoes. She smiled at the irony. She was in a stunning wonderland, dressed in the most elaborate dress imaginable, and she had to climb a small mountain to get inside.

  Eva heard the engine of the limo start again and she looked back to see Anthony drive away. Christ, there was no turning back. She gulped painfully and tried not to wobble in her stilettos.

  ‘Name?’ a large man in a black tuxedo demanded as they approached the doors. His hand was raised and his palm was turned toward them. Eva didn’t think it was possible to feel more nervous, but she discovered she’d just been scratching the surface before now.

  ‘Nathan Shields and Evangeline Andrews,’ Nathan answered.

  The man leaned back until Eva was certain he would fall over. He was checking with someone hidden behind the doors.

  ‘Good evening, Mr Shields. Welcome.’ The man stepped aside to let Nathan pass.

  Nathan linked Eva’s arm and she wrapped her fingers tight around him.

  ‘Sorry, Miss. You’re not on the list.’

  Eva stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart raced until it hurt. Silence hung in the air for what felt like eternity.

  A huge grin crept across the man’s face, and he began to chuckle.

  ‘You should see your face. I’m just having a laugh. Do come inside.’

  Eva didn’t find it funny.

  Nathan pulled her closer to him. For a second, she let herself relax into his arms.

  33

  Inside was as beautiful as Eva expected. A huge, sweeping, marble staircase took over most of the foyer. She looked up to take in the view of the massive, overhead balcony. She scanned the landing and couldn’t help but wonder what was up there. Her stare was drawn back to the heavy silver chain linked across the mouth of the stairs; clearly anything beyond that point was out of bounds. She forgot her curiosity when Nathan’s hand pressed on the small of her back, leading her to one side.

  Eva heard her name squealed excitedly in the distance and growing closer. Someone pounced on her, grabbed both her hands, and spun her around.

  ‘Oh, my fucking God. You look incredible.’

  The someone was wearing her mask already. It was pretty, deep burgundy, and it sparkled with lots of coloured glitter. A long, black cape with oversized hood covered her from head to toe. Eva smiled. She recognised her friend’s voice straight away. Just knowing Shelly was there instantly helped her relax.

  ‘It’s awesome here, isn’t it?’ Shelly was physically bouncing up and down on the spot with childlike excitement.

  Eva flashed a toothy grin. ‘It’s fab, yeah.’ She was only half listening. Her subconscious was watching Nathan as he chatted with the girl behind a large, oak table that acted as the reception desk for the evening. Eva had never been to a masquerade ball before, but she’d guessed seeing everyone behind a mask would be different, but what in the hell was the cape all about? Shelly was in total disguise. It wasn’t just different; it was bloody weird.

  Nathan returned with two glasses of champagne and some folded garments in his hand. A huge satisfied grin lit up the lower half of his face and emphasised his dark blue mask with a hand-drawn, black and white eagle on the left side. It was really rather good and Eva smiled, learning that Nathan was obviously very artistic.

  ‘It’s time,’ he announced like they were about to take a giant step into the unknown. And to Eva, at that moment, that was exactly what it felt like. She recognised the fabric in his hand; it was the same as the cape Shelly wore.

  ‘Here’s yours,’ Nathan said, shaking out the long black silk and draping it over Eva’s shoulders before she had a chance to protest.

  It was soft and comfortable, and she hated to admit it, even to herself, but the anonymity gave her a strange confidence. Eva rummaged in her rucksack for her mask, hoping no one would notice that she was the only one not collecting hers at reception. She tried to ignore how flushed her cheeks were by the bag’s frayed edges and out of place appearance.

  ‘Jesus, you came prepared. What do you have in there? The kitchen sink?’ Shelly joked.

  Eva adjusted her mask on her face and stuck her tongue out at Shelly before she knocked back the full glass of bubbly in one gigantic gulp. ‘Let’s do this thing. Before I change my mind.’

  She kicked her rucksack behind the heavy, floor-to-ceiling curtain on the bay window beside them, and turned around to discover Nathan had both his cape and mask on, completely transforming him.

  ‘You look like the Phantom of the Opera,’ Eva said.

  Nathan stepped back dramatically and flung his arms as far apart as they could stretch. ‘Sing for me, my pretty,’ he sang loudly in a low, deep voice.

  Eva laughed. Maybe tonight would be more fun than she thought. And if not, she could always pretend to be something she wasn’t. After all, she had the perfect disguise.

  A large golden banner hung over the massive double doors leading into what Eva imagined was the main function room. Black and ivory letters reflected the evening’s black-tie elegance.

  ‘’Libertia Supra Omnis’’

  ‘Freedom above all,’ Nathan whispered into Eva’s ear.

  Tiny bubbles of excitement popped inside Eva’s tummy. It was just the sign she needed. Maybe she could fit in after all.

  ‘No inhibitions,’ she replied.

  ‘Well, yeah. I think that’s the idea. It’s the theme.’

  ‘Pretty cool, huh?’ Shelly said, obviously not wanting to be left out of the conversation.

  Eva nodded. She really wished Julian was here. It was as if the banner was made with him in mind. Nathan and Shelly just didn’t understand what it meant to her. How could they?

  ‘C’mon,’ Shelly said, charging forward. ‘It’s a free bar, and there are shots inside with our names on them.

  Eva’s hands instinctively covered her mouth as the doors swung open. She shouldn’t have worried about being early, the room was already awash with people. She couldn’t believe the Romanesque beauty in front of her. Large golden columns were spaced evenly around the perimeter of the room supporting the incredibly high ceiling. The intensity of the rich ruby walls was broken up by cream and mirror panels, evenly spaced the entire length of the room. Matching drapes hung on the opposite wall, open and exposing the moonlight from the countless number of floor-to-ceiling windows.

  ‘C’mon, Eva. You can’t stand lurking in the doorway all night. People will think you’re weird,’ Shelly said.

  ‘People always think I’m weird,’ Eva whispered, purposely not loud enough for Shelly to hear. She reached across her chest and pulled her cardigan closed. She laughed out loud as her fingers grabbed the silk robe instead of the cashmere she’d expected. Old habits, she thought, laughing even louder.

  Nathan and Shelly stared, obviously confused.

  ‘Champagne,’ Eva snorted, pointing to her head.

  ‘Well, you know the only thing for that?’ Nathan asked.

  Eva shook her head.

  ‘More,’ he said confidently and
walked toward the bar.

  34

  The large, sterling silver candelabra in the centre of the table obscured Eva’s view of the guests sitting opposite them. She snorted and shook her head. It wouldn’t make a difference even if she could see them; they were as well disguised as everyone else. It was actually kind of fun, an entertaining game, trying to decipher familiar voices under the masks designed to reveal their souls. Eva tried her best to disguise her New Jersey twang. It was a total giveaway. She wasn’t sure if it was the wine gone to her head or the sheer elegance of the venue that made her feel everything and anything but herself. She liked this new version of herself. This new confident, sexy version. She wished she could feel like this all the time.

  The meal was divine, the wine flowed freely, and the staff were attentive if not slightly unnervingly dressed. The women wore barely-there bikinis and the men were topless with tight-fitting grey trousers and a neat bow tie. Eva tried to disapprove, but their gorgeous bodies made it hard to look away.

  Nathan had at least two drinks for everyone Eva or Shelly had. Freedom above all, Eva said silently in her head as Nathan draped his arm across her shoulder for the third time in as many minutes. Eva stood up and made her excuses, mumbling something about the bathroom and hoping Shelly would follow. Shelly didn’t.

  The surreal surrounding suddenly became daunting. Maybe it was because she was on her own for the first time or maybe it was because she finally became aware of the strange tension in the atmosphere. She looked across the open dance floor at a sea of black capes, laughing and chatting as if it was any Friday night in their local bar.

  Eva breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a hand on her shoulder, delighted that Shelly had followed. A tiny shriek escaped when she turned around to come face to face with the man from the opposite side of her table. He didn’t speak and Eva didn’t react to his silence. They just stood, statue-like, as Eva’s pulse thundered through her veins. His mask was as black as his cape, and the only colour was four, block gold letters spanning across the front. M.I.N.E.

  Eva was hypnotised by his big, beautiful, chocolate eyes. She couldn’t walk away, even if she wanted to. She fought her instinct to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. He was here, but why? Julian was standing right in front of her, and try as she might, she couldn’t get a single word to pass her lips.

  After many more minutes of silence, Julian finally led the conversation. ‘Hello.’

  Hello, Eva thought, hearing the word ring in her ears. After the way they had left things; the letter, sending his driver for her, the expensive dress she wore - everything. After all that, that was all he wanted to say? Just bloody hello? Eva was so frustrated she could have screamed.

  ‘Hello, Julian,’ she replied so calmly she surprised herself.

  ‘You recognised me?’

  ‘Why are you so surprised? You recognised me, too.’

  ‘Hard not to,’ Julian said softly, brushing the palm of his hand down Eva’s face. ‘You’re wearing the mask.’

  Eva wished the mask covered more of her face. Her cheeks were on fire, and she really didn’t want him to see. She felt so stupid. He’d known who she was from the moment she’d walked into the room. It was probably his intention all along. The mask was his stamp on her, his very own beacon that set her apart from the crowd, in his eyes only.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ she said, the words just came tumbling out before she had time to think.

  Julian’s reply was interrupted by someone rushing toward them. It was the woman who had sat beside Julian for the duration of the evening so far.

  ‘There you are,’ the woman said, touching Julian’s arm possessively. Eva tried not to react. She knew she should walk away, but there was something so familiar about the woman’s voice. Eva looked for clues in the small part of her face that was exposed below her mask. Eva consoled herself with how ridiculous her mask was. A mess of feathers, sequins, and ribbon; it looked like a craft store had exploded in her face.

  The woman whispered something in Julian’s ear and he laughed; not loudly, but enough for Eva to hear. Her eyes narrowed and jealousy bubbled in the pit of her stomach. She knew she had no right. This was what Julian did; it was his job, and she’d known that from the very start. But seeing another woman touch him the way she wanted to, hurt like hell.

  ‘Beautiful mask,’ the women said, draping her arms around Julian’s neck.

  Eva closed her eyes briefly and exhaled sharply. She recognised the sarcastic, snide tone of the woman’s voice. Her jealousy was pushed aside and replaced with blinding anger.

  ‘Thank you,’ she replied through gritted teeth. ‘It’s a gift from a friend.’

  ‘Well, your friend has exquisite taste.’

  Eva had taken a moment before she spoke. She was shaking inside, and she was desperate to hide it. She looked Julian up and down before flicking her eyes across to disapprovingly stare at the woman.

  ‘I thought he had, but now I’m not so sure.’ Eva shook her head and walked away as briskly as her stilettos would allow without a fall.

  Julian caught up quickly and pulled her back, his eyes burning into hers.

  ‘Meghan, Julian? Of all fucking people…you had to come with her? I know you like games, but this is just fucking sick.’

  Meghan couldn’t possibly need an escort; she had men dropping at her feet. What the fuck was going on, then? Was it all a sick joke at Eva’s expense? She wouldn’t put it past Meghan, but Julian? He wouldn’t take the game this far, would he?

  Eva yanked her hand free from his grip so roughly she almost lost her balance. She struggled not to burst into tears as she rushed toward the open, glass doors at the side. She was desperate for the sanctuary of fresh air.

  35

  Julian let Eva gain quite some distance before he began to follow her. He smiled at how sexy her temper made her as she raced down the granite steps that led into the precisely manicured gardens. He’d run down those very steps himself so often as a child. He’d almost forgotten the games of chasing he used to play around the bushes and trees. But Eva reminded him; she reminded him of a lot of things. He’d worked so hard to never get too close to anyone. And he wasn’t about to let all that work be in vain. But right now, she needed him. Emotional barriers or not, he couldn’t abandon her. He had to protect her. He’d think about everything else tomorrow.

  He watched with some amusement as she ripped her robe off her shoulders and flung it aside. Her mask followed and landed with a thud on the grass. She’d taken her shoes off and she swung them from side to side as she carried them by the heels. She looked so petite and delicate in her bare feet. Julian knew the dew on the fresh cut grass must have been cold, but she never faltered. She was determined to reach her destination, wherever the hell that was. The land stretched on for acres. Julian wondered when she would finally stop. She was leaving behind the dim glow of fairy lights and low-level lanterns. The only light now was from the moon and Julian quickened his pace; he didn’t want to let her out of his sight.

  Eva finally stopped at the edge of a stream. Her shoulders shook, and Julian knew she was crying. He was so close behind her now that he could smell her perfume. Her ivory skin exposed by her backless dress, the dress that he had chosen for her, made his cock ache and swell. He wanted to touch her. He was desperate to rip the dress off her body with his bare hands and fuck her right there. But he fought all his urges. Instead, he placed his open palm on her back and kissed her neck softly.

  ‘Don’t,’ she said, sobbing hard. ‘Don’t touch me.’

  Julian did as she asked and pulled back.

  ‘You know how much I hate her, and you still brought her here. What the fuck, Julian? Why would you do that?’

  Eva was talking to him, but she still had her back turned and she was still crying.

  ‘Meghan is just a job. You’re pleasure.’

  ‘I’m just a game to you, you sick bastard,’ Eva shouted. ‘This isn’t who I am. I don
’t want to play.’

  ‘You don’t know who you are.’ Julian slid his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him.

  ‘Please, stop. It’s too hard.’

  Julian tilted his body a fraction, just enough for his cock to brush against her ass. ‘It’s definitely hard.’

  Eva spun around to face him, shook her head, and bit her bottom lip. ‘Stop it. Be serious for a moment.’

  ‘I am serious.’

  Julian took her hand in his and placed it on his throbbing cock.

  ‘Fuck everything going on in here.’ He tapped Eva’s temple gently with his fingers. ‘Fuck everything going on in there…’ He pointed back toward the lights and music of the mansion in the distance.

  ‘…and fuck you, I suppose.’ Eva finished.

  Julian couldn’t help the salacious grin that crept across his face; it was instinct. ‘If you insist.’

  He waited just a couple of seconds for Eva’s attempt to protest as he knew she would before he made his next move. Her warm lips invited his tongue to slip inside her mouth and explore her taste. He savoured the mix of champagne and innocence. His hand gripped her ass cheek tight and pulled her as close to him as he possibly could as his fingers meandered down the length of her spine. He sighed as he felt her body shiver and shake in his arms. He closed his mouth and pulled back just enough to stare into her eyes. He reached for his mask, but Eva pushed his hand away and fixed his mask back in place. Her nose twitched, just a little, and she had the most fuckable cheeky grin.

  ‘Leave it,’ she whispered. ‘It’s more fun this way.’

  Fuck; she took his breath away. He hadn’t seen that coming. She had just upped her game, and he liked it. He wanted to do so much with her; he just needed to be sure she was ready. Her beautiful, bright eyes stared back at him and her tiny nod told him everything he needed to know.