Miracle On 5th Avenue
Page 16
“I’m your wingman. My job is to help you get the girl.” Her husky voice curled around his senses like wood smoke.
“I don’t want the girl, so I don’t need a wingman.”
“I know you’re scared, but I’m right here for you cheering you on.”
“I’m not scared. I’m uncomfortable, and that’s because I don’t like dressing up to make conversation with people who have no more interest in me than I do in them.” And because she was standing so close he couldn’t concentrate.
“You’re going to be fine, Lucas.” The kindness in her eyes took his breath away. His heart, frozen for what felt like a lifetime, started to beat.
“I’m the writer, not you. What does ‘fine’ even mean?”
“Before you continue with your insults, I should remind you that you had writer’s block until I came along.” She nudged him. “I’m going to find you a gorgeous blonde with a pretty smile who will make you forget your fears.”
“I’ve told you, I don’t have fears.” Hell, he didn’t want this. He didn’t want the emotions stirred up.
“Everyone has fears and some people are afraid of showing them, which in fact makes you doubly scared. You’re scared, and you’re scared of being scared. That’s a whole lot of scared.”
“Are you done psychoanalyzing me?”
“I’m just getting started. Why are men so afraid of admitting fear?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I’m not afraid. And blondes aren’t my type.” He kept his gaze away from her blond hair. “I prefer brunettes.”
“Then I’ll find you the perfect brunette.”
“Don’t waste your time. I won’t talk to her.”
“Because you’re scared.”
“Fine, I’m scared. Is that what you want to hear? I’m so scared I’m thinking of staying here.”
“You said ‘fine.’ And you can’t stay here. We had a deal, Blade.”
“You’re a sadist.”
She covered his lips with the tips of her fingers. “Quiet.”
All it would take was the slightest movement of his lips and her fingers would be in his mouth.
He lifted his hand and closed his fingers around hers. “Why are we talking about me when tonight is all about you?”
She seemed to be barely breathing. Her fingers shook slightly in his.
He’d had no idea there could be so much tension between two people who weren’t even looking at each other.
Gently she eased her hand away. “You’re right. Tonight is all about me, and we should go.” Her voice was bright and she kept her eyes away from his. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime evening. I don’t want to miss a single moment. It’s going to be amazing.”
A once-in-a-lifetime evening where he got to watch her flirt with other men.
Lucas reached for his jacket, wondering how in hell that was going to be amazing.
* * *
The Plaza hotel was decorated like a snow palace, complete with towering ice sculptures lit by a dazzle of fairy lights.
It was like entering a grotto. Sensing that Lucas was about to turn around and walk out, Eva quickly handed her coat to a waiting attendant.
“It’s like something from Narnia, although it’s funny to think they’re using fake snow when there is so much of the real stuff right outside the door.”
“I guess they didn’t want the gray slush or the inconvenience of ice and cold.”
To anyone listening, their conversation would have sounded comfortable, as if they’d had a thousand similar exchanges over the course of their relationship. What wouldn’t be so easy to detect would be the undercurrent of tension that had simmered between them since that shared moment in the apartment. They were dancing around each other and it wasn’t the sort of dancing she’d had in mind.
In the end Eva had chosen to pretend it hadn’t happened. That nothing had changed.
Nothing had changed, had it? They’d had a moment, that was all. And it wasn’t the first time.
She walked through the doors into the ballroom, noticing the way heads turned toward Lucas. Despite his reluctance to attend, he looked more the part than anyone else in the room.
She felt a deep ache in her chest. She couldn’t afford to want what she couldn’t have.
“All right.” She injected enthusiasm into her voice. “We should separate.”
Lucas turned, his gaze intense and unsmiling. “Separate?”
“If people think I’m with you, no one is going to ask me to dance, let alone anything else.” She saw his mouth tighten.
“I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Lucas, you have to leave me alone. That’s the idea.”
“This place is a meat market.”
“I hope not, because I’m vegetarian.” She glanced at him, wondering if any man had ever looked this good in a dinner jacket. He was temptation in a tux. “Would you smile? You look as if I’ve dragged you to the dentist.”
“I promised to accompany you. I didn’t promise to enjoy myself.”
“Let yourself go a little. It’s so long since you’ve been out, you might be surprised how much fun it is to talk to real humans. You spend too long in the world of serial killers.” She gestured with her head. “Do you know that guy over there? The one smiling at me?”
“That’s a fake smile. You can tell by the way his lips pull over his teeth. He’s hunting.”
“Hunting?”
“For his next victim. Look at the focus in his eyes.”
Eva was finding it hard to focus on anyone but Lucas. “You think he’s a serial killer?”
“More like a serial adulterer. He’s been married four times. His last wife was eight months pregnant when he left her.”
“You can tell all that by looking at the way he smiles? That’s impressive.”
“I can tell all that because I know who he is. His name is Doug Peterson and he’s a partner at Crouch, Fox and Peterson. They’re a law firm. Do not under any circumstances be tempted to smile back.”
“The purpose of tonight is for me to get out and meet people.”
“Not people like him. He’s coming over. I’ll deal with him.”
She was about to protest that she was perfectly able to deal with him herself, but Doug Peterson was already standing in front of them.
“Lucas. Good to see you back in the saddle.” He grasped Lucas by the hand, kept eye contact for a fraction of a second and then turned to Eva. “And who is your charming date?”
If only. “I’m not—”
“This is Eva.” Lucas clamped his hand around her wrist in a possessive gesture. “We won’t keep you, Doug. I’m sure you have a busy night ahead.”
Doug’s gaze lingered on the dip in Eva’s neckline and then he smiled, flashing perfect white teeth.
Like a shark before a meal, Eva thought, resisting the temptation to tug at her dress.
“Got to hand it to you, Lucas, when you come back, you do it in style.” He walked away and Eva stared after him in disbelief.
“You let him think that we—”
“Yes.”
She could feel the firm grip of his fingers around her wrist. “You didn’t need to do that. I could have handled him.”
“I handled him for you.”
“Don’t do it again. If you keep ‘handling’ people, I’m not going to meet anyone. Everyone is going to think I’m with you.” And being with Lucas was something she was trying not to think about. Each time he touched her, each time he looked at her, it was getting harder.
“If that’s what it takes to keep you safe.”
“I don’t want to be safe! I want to live.”
“When we find someone I think can be trusted, I’ll make it clear we’re not together.”
“If we’re waiting to find someone you think can be trusted, we’re going to be here all night. You don’t trust anyone.” She glanced down at her wrist, still encircled by his strong fingers. “Are you going to let me go?”
“That’s why I’d like you to let me go. I’m trying to get into trouble, and you’re preventing it.” She scanned the room and saw a pretty brunette on the far side of the dance floor. “She has a nice smile. How about her?”
“You’re bisexual?”
“I was thinking of you. She’s your type.”
“How do you know?” There was an edge to his voice. “You saw the pictures of Sallyanne, and you thought you’d find someone just like her, is that it? The perfect replacement?”
“No. You told me you didn’t like blondes, and that you prefer brunettes.” She saw a muscle flicker in his jaw.
“I apologize.”
“Don’t apologize for feeling sad and for finding this whole thing difficult.” There were people milling around, but neither of them paid any attention.
“I shouldn’t have come. It was a mistake.”
“I think the fact that you find it hard is a good reason to have come. It will be easier next time.” She slid her hand into his. “I’ll stop matchmaking. Don’t be mad. My intentions were good, just as yours presumably were when you sent that guy packing just now.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It is. We’re both interfering in each other’s lives, so here’s the deal. I’ll butt out of yours, if you butt out of mine.”
His gaze was fixed on the dance floor. “What if you decide to leave with a sleaze?”
“I have a PhD in dealing with sleazy men. Ask that woman to dance. She has a lovely smile.”
“You said you weren’t going to interfere.”
“I lied.” She poked him in the arm. “She looks nice.”
“Nice? What sort of word is nice?”
“Don’t mock me. If you made me a scrambled egg and it wasn’t perfect, I would simply say thank you. I wouldn’t point out all the ways you could have made it better.”
“You’re right. I apologize.”
“It’s okay. I know that it’s being here that’s making you moody and it’s my fault because I forced you to come. But we’re here now, and I’m going to enjoy it so stop scowling.”
He turned to look at her, his eyes glittering dark under the lights. “Maybe I’m not afraid. Maybe I just don’t want what you want. Has that occurred to you?”
“You don’t want friendship and love? Well, of course you don’t, because those two things are pretty horrible. Having someone who cares about you and brings out the best in you? Yuck. Much better to be lonely and unloved, that way you know for sure you’re never going to get hurt.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”
“No? I thought it was the perfect accessory for your scowly face.”
“Scowly isn’t a word.”
“Well, it should be. And don’t be superior.” But her mind wasn’t really on the argument because she was thinking about what he’d said. “Are you serious?”
“That scowly isn’t a word? Yes.”
“I meant, were you serious about not wanting love?”
He paused just long enough for her to know that she had her answer.
Her heart ached for him. “It hurts that much?”
He stared across the room, his gaze fixed on the dance floor. “Yes.”
She wished they weren’t having this conversation here, surrounded by people.
“When something is hard, the best thing is to just get out there and do it.”
He turned to look at her. “Have you ever been in love?”
“No, but it’s on my bucket list.”
“If you haven’t been in love then you’re not in a position to judge whether it’s something a person would want more than once in a lifetime.”
“I wasn’t suggesting you go out there and fall in love. I was thinking smaller. Start with a dance. Even if you’re not going to, then I am. I’d like to spread my feathers.”
“You mean your wings. Feathers are ruffled.” But the light banter held new layers of intimacy. It was superficial because they chose to keep it superficial, not because they didn’t each have a deeper understanding of the other.
“I’m starting to understand why you’re still single. If you keep correcting people it makes them want to slap you, not seduce you. At least talk to a few people. There isn’t a woman in this room who isn’t secretly hoping you’ll dance with them.”
“That’s because they know I have money.”
“It’s more likely to be because you’re pretty hot when you don’t scowl. Being your wingman is hard work. I might have to charge you overtime.” She nudged him. “Smile. Try it and let’s see if you’re mobbed. I’ll stand on the other side of the room and watch.”
He frowned. “No. Eva, you can’t—”
She forced herself to walk away, even though all she wanted to do was stay by his side. He needed to meet someone who interested him and that was never going to happen while she was standing there. And she wouldn’t meet anyone either, if only because while Lucas was close by he was the only man she noticed.
She was going to forget the fact that he was better-looking and more interesting than anyone else there. She was going to forget the way he listened so attentively and the way he made her feel.
She was going to meet someone who actually wanted a relationship.
* * *
Why had he agreed to come?
On the far side of the room he could see Eva, laughing up at a man who had his back to him. Was it someone he knew? The raw, gut-wrenching jealousy was something he’d never felt before and he certainly hadn’t expected to feel it tonight.
“Lucas! It really is you.” A female voice interrupted his thoughts and he turned to see a beautiful redhead smiling at him.
“Caroline.” He leaned forward and dutifully kissed her on both cheeks. He could smell the alcohol and see the extra bright glitter of her eyes.
She’d been an acquaintance of Sallyanne’s, although not one of the inner circle.
“I didn’t expect to see you here. Are you alone?” She slipped her arm through his. “We should dance. Celebrate being young and alive.” Her expression froze as she realized what she’d said.
The look in her eyes took him back to the time of his wife’s death, when everyone had walked on eggshells and he’d found himself comforting those who had no idea what to say to him. His role had been to convince them that he was all right, and then to make them feel all right.
Social situations were almost invariably fake, but since Sallyanne’s death they’d become even more so. Fake smiles, fake jollity.
And Caroline, having put her foot in it, now seemed determined to make up for it by being extra concerned and caring. “How have you been, Lucas?” Her hand stroked over his sleeve, lingering just a little too long for friendship.
Across the room he saw Eva laugh again and watched as the man turned slightly and moved closer to her.
Now he had a better view, and—
Shit. It was Michael Gough. Single man of the town. Eva wouldn’t stand a chance against him. However good her radar was, she was unlikely to detect the flaws in Michael. On the surface he was a charmer, but Lucas knew with one hundred percent certainty that he’d use that condom of hers and then break her heart.
“Lucas?” Caroline was still next to him, standing a little too close.
“Have a great evening, Caroline.”
“Oh, but—”
He didn’t hear the rest of her sentence because he was striding across the ballroom, half-blinded by the sparkle and dazzle of the dance floor and the light, avoiding spinning couples. The music was nothing more than a faint background noise, barely audible through the pounding of blood in his head.
He reached Eva just as Michael leaned closer.
“You,” he purred, “are the most interesting woman I’ve met in a long time. You have the most incredible breasts. And beautiful hair. I want to see how it looks on my pillow.”
Anger
misting his vision, Lucas opened his mouth, but before he could speak Eva reached up and tugged out a strand of blond hair.
“Here.” She handed it over and her voice was kind. “You can take this one and find out. Unfortunately my breasts are attached to me, so I can’t give you one of those to take home.”
Lucas stilled. He knew Michael was considered a catch and he’d expected Eva to fall hook, line and sinker for his smooth patter.
Instead she’d done what few women did. She’d rejected him.
Michael recognized the snub and his mouth tightened, but he wasn’t about to give up, particularly when he realized Lucas had overheard. “Let’s dance.”
Eva shook her head. “No, but thank you.”
“You’re a very beautiful woman. I’m interested in getting to know you better.”
“Are you?” Eva studied him thoughtfully. “How about my brain? Are you interested in that part of me? Or my feelings? What makes me laugh and cry?”
Michael looked mildly alarmed. “I—”
“I didn’t think so. When you say you’re interested in me, what you really mean is that you’re interested in taking me somewhere dark and having sex with me. There’s nothing wrong with that, except that I’m not interested.” She smiled up at him. “Thank you for the compliment. Enjoy your evening.”
With that she turned and walked slap into Lucas.
“My turn for a dance, I think.” He took Eva’s hand in his and hauled her against him, ignoring her startled look.
Michael’s brows rose. “Lucas? Didn’t realize you two knew each other.”
“We’re living together.” Lucas saw Eva’s eyes narrow in a warning and Michael smiled, the anger gone from his face.
“That explains everything. You always were a man of excellent taste. Enjoy the ball.” He walked away and Eva turned back to Lucas.
“Why did you do that? Why did you say that?”
“He was making a move on you.”
“And I handled it! But now he assumes that the reason I refused him is because I’m with you, not because he was behaving like a douche bag.”
“It’s better that way. He’s a man whose ego means a lot to him. I know him, Eva.”
“You know everyone! Unfortunately I don’t, and I never will unless you stay on the other side of the room.”