Ruby stumbled after her. “The roof! Why?”
Clarice hustled her toward the stairs. “They're saying there's a jacuzzi up there. Everybody's going. Come on.”
“But none of us has a suit!”
No one listened. People glutted the stairs and shoved upward. Ruby got caught in the stampede. She barely had to move her legs. The crowd hustled her along until it spilled out a door into the sparkling frosty night.
Clouds of steam blocked Ruby from seeing anything on the roof, let alone a jacuzzi. She already knew she wasn't going in. She had nothing to wear, and once she took this gown off, she wouldn't put it back on. It took her half an hour to get the zipper up when she poured herself into it just an hour before.
No one seemed to think of that. Voices shouted all around her, and the crowd rushed forward into the night. The steam vaporized to reveal a star-studded sky. The city lights lay scattered far below. The steam and the dark combined to envelope the scene in silent mystery.
The excited crowd caught the sense of magical anticipation. Their laughter and cries subsided into tense whispers. “Where is it?”
“I can't see anything.”
“Are you sure it's here?”
“It's freezing out here. I'm not taking my clothes off out here.”
“I'm going back down.”
“Shh!”
“Where are you?”
“Hold my hand.”
“It must be further along. I'm going that way.”
A bunch of people shoved into Ruby from behind. She stumbled forward a few steps and emerged from the steam into an open terrace overlooking the city. A wire studded with pendulous lamps dangled from a trellis to illuminate that part of the roof.
More steam rose from a pool of hot water under the arbor. It wafted around the lamps and drifted away to outline the scene with a fuzzy border. When she glanced back toward the door through which she just came through, Ruby could see no trace of the building, the stairwell, or anything else. She could have been dropped from space into a dream world.
The steam boiled out of a jacuzzi full of people, but Ruby only needed one glance to see everyone in that Jacuzzi was female—all but one. The same women from downstairs surrounded Chad Archer. More women wearing nothing but their bare skin slipped into the water to join the group. They sipped champagne from crystal flutes and murmured to each other in low voices.
Chad Archer sat with his back to the jacuzzi wall, but he didn't sip champagne or murmur to anyone. A woman sat straddled on his lap facing him, and her bare breasts hung in his face. She laid both hands on his shoulders and rocked back and forth to make the water splash over the concrete rim.
Ruby stared at the scene in shocked horror. Never in her life had she even imagined a scene like this, much less seen one with her own eyes. Chad lifted his face to kiss the woman on the lips. Their lips lingered in a languorous kiss, and their tongues lashed back and forth between their locked lips.
In front of Ruby's eyes, he broke away and dropped his face between the woman's cleavage. His hands broke the water's surface to cup her breasts into his mouth. The woman's head lolled back, and her lips parted to let out a ragged moan. The other women in the jacuzzi murmured encouragement to the couple, and the woman on Chad's lap rocked faster and harder. Her cries rose into the night.
People all around Ruby whisked here and there. Whispered exclamations touched her ear, but she couldn't make them out. Some people hurried back down into the stairwell. Tanya came forward, slithered out of her party dress, and slipped into the water with the others.
Ruby couldn't move. She couldn't think. She could only stare at this...this horror. What in God's name was going on here? She didn't have to ask. She could see perfectly well what was going on. They were doing it in the jacuzzi. The past two hours played out in front of her eyes. They must have come up with the idea of taking a midnight soak. Priscilla Connor must have whispered that into Chad's ear at the bar and sealed it with her tongue.
All these people walked in on her and Tom making out in the lobby. They were on their way up here to get it on in the starlight. Word spread, and now everyone rushed up here to join the fun. Ruby's stomach turned, but she couldn't stop her body reacting to the sight. That woman sat on Chad's naked lap. She undulated in open lust. She was doing it with him right now, in sight of everyone.
Ruby wanted to revolt in horror, but in her secret heart of hearts, she couldn't stop the excited pleasure titillating her all over again. Tom's hands, Tom's lips and tongue, Tom's hard-on between her legs—it all came together at this moment.
She felt his hands around her bare breasts. His lips sucked her nipples. His rock-hard manhood plowed into her from below. Her hips swayed to meet it in glorious, life-giving pumps.
Dear God, what was she thinking! She burst out of her reverie and raced back to the stairwell. What was she doing up here? She had to find Tom and get the devil out of here. What kind of pervert screwed multiple women in a hot tub on the Mackenzie Castle roof? What kind of wicked sluts would get naked and line up to take their turns with him? What came over her, that she stood there with her mouth open and fantasized about him doing it to her?
She didn't fantasize about him doing it to her. She fantasized about Tom doing it to her. Him? Never! He was a prick. He was a playboy and a charlatan and a womanizer and a toad. She would never look sideways at him, much less fantasize about him. She hated him. He was everything she hated in a man. He had no respect for women. He had no idea what real love could be. All he cared about was sex.
She dashed down the stairs. One thought dominated her mind: Tom. He would save her from this abomination. He would wash her clean and replace those terrible images haunting her mind. She would put himself into them so she could think about giving herself to him instead of...
She wouldn't think about it. She wouldn't think about it. She wouldn't think about it. It never happened. It didn't exist. Chad Archer didn't exist. That jacuzzi never existed. No naked women dipped in and out of that pool in notorious arousal.
She hit the lobby and started searching every face for Tom. He must be here somewhere. She burst into the dining hall. She hurried from one cluster of people to the next. She found Clarice in up to her neck with Peter Roslin. “Have you seen Tom anywhere?”
Clarice didn't even look at her. “Haven't seen him. Sorry.”
Clarice went back to flirting with Peter. Ruby tripped on. Her gown slowed her down. She couldn't walk as fast as she wanted to, and most people at this party had no idea who Tom was. She finally found Eileen MacFadden's date. “Have you seen Tom?”
“He said goodbye . I think he left.”
Ruby gasped out loud. “He left! How could he leave? I don't have a ride home.”
She raced on through the crowd in search of Tom. He couldn't have left, not after they agreed to meet at ten-thirty and leave together. She cursed herself for every going up to the roof. She came to the bar and flagged the bartender. “Hey, what time is it?”
He checked his watch. “Eleven-fifteen.”
Ruby let out a stifled curse. Curse this Christmas party and curse the freakin' jacuzzi and curse Chad Archer most of all! How long was she up on that roof? Tom must have waited as long as he could, but when she didn't come down, he had no choice but to leave without her. He couldn't be late for work.
She blasted through the entrance doors and raced into the night, but it was no use. More cars and limos pulled up in front of the castle. More people got out and bustled inside. None of them was Tom, and he wasn't coming back anytime soon. She paced back and forth in front of the curb. She kicked herself. She cursed herself and everyone else. She swore she'd never let herself in for this again as long as she lived.
While she fumed and ranted under her breath, a valet came over between open the car doors. “Is anything wrong?”
“Wrong? What could be wrong? It's just my date left without me and I have no way to get home.”
The skinny boy smiled
at her. “I'll take you home. I get off at two.”
Ruby snorted. “Thanks a lot. I'd rather walk.”
Just then, Clarice came out. She hugged her arms over her chest and rubbed them with her hands to get warm. “What's going on, Ruby? Did you find Tom?”
Ruby rounded on her with her hands balled into fists. “No, I didn't, and thank you so much for dragging me up to that den of vipers on the roof. While I was up there, Tom left without me. Now I have no ride home.”
Clarice shrugged. “That's no problem. I'll take you home.”
Ruby threw up her hands. “That's just great. So I get to stand around and watch you stick your tits in Peter Roslin's face, and when he dumps you, you wind up sobbing and puking in the bathroom. That sounds like the most fantastic evening imaginable.”
Clarice frowned. “You don't have to get nasty about it. It's not my fault you missed your rendezvous with Tom and got ditched. You should have been watching the clock.”
Ruby wrung her hands. “I'm sorry. It's just this is the worst Christmas party ever. I wanted to leave, and we were on our way out the door when Tom got distracted by someone, and then I went up to the roof, and now he's gone. I didn't mean to lash out at you. I'm just so upset right now, I don't know what to do.”
Clarice touched her arm. “Come on back inside. I'll be ready to leave soon, but it's too cold to stand around out here whining about it.”
Ruby didn't turn around. “You go ahead. I'll be there in a second.”
Chapter 3 Clarice disappeared, and Ruby hung around the curb with her shivering arms clutched across her stomach. She never felt so miserable in her life. She could almost welcome the vicious chill cutting straight through her gown. She couldn't ask for a better punishment for being so all-fired stupid as to miss going home with Tom when she had the chance.
She couldn't spend the rest of the night out here, though. She would do just about anything to avoid going back into that party, but the cold numbed her nose and ears. Her lips trembled until she could barely sniff. She had to go back inside, but she tarried longer and longer in the blessed silence.
She made up her mind to go face the music when the door opened behind her and laughing voices emerged behind her. A couple locked in a tight embrace came up next to her, and the man handed the valet his ticket. Ruby glanced over, but she turned away in a hurry when she saw Chad Archer with Priscilla Connor draped over one arm. Priscilla whispered into his ear, and they laughed again.
The couple fell silent, and Ruby heard them kissing. Their lips made a subtle smacking sound that went on and on in the frosty night. Priscilla sighed, and when the couple separated, she giggled.
Ruby kept her head turned. What was she doing out here in the freezing cold, listening to these two making out at the valet station? Didn't she have anything better to do with her life than this? She hated herself for rubber-necking, even if she only did it with her ears. She might as well be staring straight at them.
All at once, a man's voice snapped her out of her stupor. “Are you okay?”
She whipped around to find the couple regarding her with amused smiles. Ruby lowered her eyes to the pavement. “I'm fine, thanks.”
“Are you waiting for somebody?”
Ruby shrugged, but she didn't look up. She couldn't look at those two, so warm in their intimate embrace. “No, I'm not waiting for somebody. I missed my ride home. I'm just putting off going back inside.”
Priscilla put out her hand to Ruby “You should go inside, dear. It's freezing out here, and I don't think that gown is doing you any favors.” She burst out laughing and turned to Chad to share the joke.
Chad smiled at Priscilla and went back to studying Ruby. “If you don't have a ride home, I can call you a taxi.”
Ruby shifted from one foot to the other. Her teeth chattered, and her lips wouldn't move right from the cold. “Oh, I have another ride. My friend is inside. She'll take me home as soon as she finished flirting with her latest flame. I just didn't want to go back inside yet.”
“She's probably in there getting drunk.” Priscilla brayed with laughter.
Ruby turned away toward the curb. Another limo of party-goers pulled up and flooded around her. “I'm sure she is.”
A long silence followed the new arrivals into the castle. Priscilla paid no more attention to Ruby, but Chad stood still and watched her shiver. After a while, he patted Priscilla on the arm. “Would you go back inside, baby? It's too cold to wait out here. I'll come and get you when the limo comes.”
Priscilla whispered something to him, and her high heels tapped across the paving stones into the hall. Ruby hugged her arms and waited for Chad to leave, too. He surprised her by coming over to her side. “I really think I better get you a ride home. You don't want to be here, and I can't have you freeze to death out here. Come on. I'll send you home in my limo.”
Ruby didn't look at him. “That's all right. Thanks anyway.”
“Really. Let me give you a ride home right now. You don't have to stay here if you don't want to.”
Ruby snorted. “I'm not going home with you. That's for certain.”
He chuckled. “Touche. I don't think we've met. I'm Chad.”
Ruby snapped over her shoulder, “I know who you are.”
He stiffened, and his voice dropped to a menacing growl. “And I know who you are, too. You're Ruby Dunroy from HR, aren't you?”
Her head whipped around, and she found herself staring up into his firm, chiseled face. “How do you....?”
“I know everyone in my company by name and sight. How do you think I got where I am now? I never forget a face, and I approve every hire in my company, even when I don't take part in the actual interview process. I know who you are, and I know every page of your employment record.”
Ruby couldn't take her eyes off his face. “I'm sorry, Mr. Archer. I should remember my manners. Thank you for the offer of a ride home, but I'll go with my friend. Please don't take offense.”
Just then, a black stretch limousine pulled up to the curb. The driver got out and opened the door to Chad. Chad waved toward it. “Look. Here's the limo. Get in. I can have you home in two seconds.”
Ruby hesitated. “Aren't you going somewhere with Mrs. Connor?”
His mouth cracked open in a toothy grin. “I think you mean she was going somewhere with me. Come on. You can't stand out here in the cold any longer. Get in. The heater's on.”
Ruby raised her eyes to his face. His last words didn't encourage or cheer her. They snapped with the crisp, short syllables of an order he expected her to carry out. She hung back. “I think I better not. It wouldn't be right.”
“Would you feel better going home alone? I can stay here with Priscilla while the limo takes you home. How about that?”
Ruby's mind spun. What in the Sam Hill was going on here? She couldn't ride home in this limo. “You don't have to do that.”
“Get in, Ruby. You're lips are turning blue, and you're not making any sense. I never let one of my staff freeze to death at a Christmas party yet, and I'm not about to start now.”
He took hold of the door and held it open. He waved his other hand into the opening. Cream leather seats gleamed inside and invited Ruby into their sheltering comfort. All she had to do was ride home. What could be the harm in that?
She cast one last glance up at his face. He waited with that casual smile touching his lips. He didn't care if he stood out here all night waiting for her to make up her mind. Did she really want to wait however many hours Clarice would take to be ready to leave? She'd made that mistake before and lived to regret it. She should jump at this chance while it lasted.
With a last ditch effort, she overcame her reluctance and strode to the curb. Chad smiled broader, and she ducked into the welcoming envelope of heat and soft leather. She slid into the seat, and Chad slid in behind her. The door slammed shut on the cold, the party, Clarice, and everything else outside.
Ruby smoothed down her gown and looked ar
ound her. Soft overhead light illuminated the compartment. A tinted window separated them from the driver. The limo glided away from the curb, and the castle fell away into the dark.
Chad shifted in his seat to arrange his jacket around his barrel chest. He peered out the window. Ruby folded her hands in her lap. She just had to get through the next few minutes. Then she could relax.
Chad touched a button in the door, and a panel popped open near his knee. Glasses and bottles gleamed inside. “Can I offer you anything to drink?”
Ruby held up her hand. “Thanks. I've had enough for one night.”
He grinned and shut the panel. “A wise move. How did you like the party?”
Ruby fidgeted. “It was fine right up until I missed my ride home.” She cast a glance at him. “You seemed to enjoy yourself.”
“Yes, I did. I always enjoy myself. If you don't mind my asking, why did you miss your ride home?”
Ruby blushed to her ears. “I...I got distracted.”
He fixed his brilliant eyes on her. “I saw how you got distracted with that boyfriend of yours in the lobby. Was he the one who was supposed to take you home? Did he leave with someone else, or what?”
The memory of Chad breaking in on her make-out session with Tom popped into her mind. Chad examined her with that same curious expression right now. He studied her under a magnifying glass. He could see straight through her gown to the squishy hot tissues between her legs. His eyes caressed her breasts and ass the way Tom's hands caressed her. He lit her fire all over again, and he knew it.
Ruby swallowed hard. “He didn't leave with someone else. He had to go to work at ten-thirty. I...I got roped into going up to the roof with my friend and I ...I guess I took too long up there.”
Chad's eyebrows went up. “The roof? I didn't see you up there. I thought I saw....” He stopped.
“I wasn't....you know... I just went up for a second, or at least I thought I did. I didn't do anything, I just...you know....watched.”
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