by Ruby Forrest
“You could use a good show-off night,” Emily added. “You know it’s been a while. Anyway, I’m sure you’d get enough attention to pay for your drinks. Not that you need it.”
“But it’s nice,” Raelyn said, laughing. She didn’t need the money; she had expensive clients. Raelyn liked being independent and buying her expensive shoes. She almost wishes she could see Blake again just to rub it in his face but reminded herself not to care. He wasn’t worth her time. She could find a guy at the bar or the club they’d go to and Raelyn would be happy enough to settle.
But the thought felt like a lie. Raelyn left her lunch with Emily after they made plans for the next night, still stuck on thoughts of Blake. She kept imagining walking up to him, watching him want her, and showing him that she was the same woman he’d turned away the other night. Raelyn imagined going home with him and hearing Blake call her sexy, or even confess he’d seen past her terrible outfit and wondered about her. Those were all stupid dreams, though—things that would never happen and things she didn’t even believe. Raelyn didn’t want a man that would see her as a toy or a body to use. She wanted someone to appreciate her for the woman she was.
And if Blake can’t do that, I don’t care, she repeated as she searched her closet for an outfit for the next night. Raelyn didn’t mind being written off by some playboy billionaire. It was her sister he’d wanted, anyway. Raelyn had only gone as a favor, not because she wanted to. But you still wanted him to want you, she thought, remembering Blake’s body and the way he’s stood above everyone else in the restaurant. It was a guilty thought that invaded her space and made her shake her head to dislodge it.
“Too bad,” Raelyn said out loud, hoping that hearing the words would help. “If he’s not willing to see me past what I’m wearing, what do I care? It’s his loss.”
Chapter Four
Blake wasn’t in the mood for another date, but he was cheered when a friend approached him after work about a party. It had been a day since Blake’s failed date and he kept finding his mind wandering back to images of Lucy’s violet eyes and the way her heels had fit too perfectly for someone that seemed to have no fashion sense. Blake wanted Lucy to be a woman he could have taken home, but that hadn’t been an option. Not when she’d looked the way she did.
Before the party, Blake decided to indulge himself. He hadn’t shifted in too long, and he’d spent a good amount of money making sure he could do just that. Away from Blake’s penthouse in the city—away from his first home and his vacation home and the empty apartment near the city’s most vibrant area thrumming with nightlife—Blake had a house. It sat on a large stretch of land, guarded and big enough for him to walk unhindered. The trees and isolation gave him a chance to stretch his legs in a way he’d never be able to anywhere else.
Shifting for Blake was something private. He hated that it was—that he held it so close to him, the same way his brother Aaron did—but there was no way around it. Blake knew better than to risk the truth with people he didn’t trust absolutely. Blake didn’t trust anyone. There was no kind shoulder to lean on or ear to speak into. Blake’s shift was something he did away from everyone in the world, and he was going to keep it that way.
The shift itself felt luxurious. It always seemed like stepping into a hot bath or stretching after good sex. It made Blake feel sensual and accomplished. Blake almost felt himself merge with the trees and grass around him. He stopped thinking about boring things like office work and the way his secretary’s gaze had lingered too long on his chest. Instead, he took in the scent of rain rising from the earth and the feel of the breeze rippling by him like the fleeting touch of a teasing woman. Being a shifter made Blake stronger and better than everyone he’d ever met. He’d never had any second thoughts about his power - about the way he could dominate a conversation and make things turn his way. Blake knew how to get what he wanted, and he didn’t fail. Life was a hunt, and he was the best hunter there was.
Still, Blake was in a bad mood when Aaron came over for the party. Aaron showed up at the door, letting himself in and looking around the bedroom as Blake browsed his closet. “What are you doing?”
“Deciding,” Blake said shortly. He didn’t care for Aaron’s questions or amusement.
“I’m sure none of the women will care what designer you’re wearing,” Aaron replied, rolling his eyes. Blake ignored his brother, testing the feel of two silk shirts beneath his fingers.
After Lucy, Blake was itching for a woman to capture. He craved company in the simplest way - he wanted a good time in bed and he kept thinking about the legs that had been hidden beneath a shapeless dress. If Blake could just get the image of those legs out of his mind, he knew he’d be over Lucy in a heartbeat. She wasn’t special by any stretch of the word and he wasn’t going to waste his time thinking about her. It wasn’t like he’d ever see her again, Blake thought, grimly choosing his outfit and striding toward his bathroom. He was glad about that much.
***
Raelyn was starting to enjoy the idea of going out. She admired her dress in her full-length mirror. The dress was one of the few things she’d splurged on - a designer piece in deep violet to bring out the color of her eyes, nearly black and rich in fabric. The dress sported a low back, open from her shoulders to the dip in her waist. The front hugged her chest perfectly, the dip enough to show a good amount of cleavage but still covered enough for Raelyn not to feel the constant need to hike it up. The dress was a work of art, and Raelyn felt infinitely more powerful in it as she readied herself for the party.
Of course, the party was going to be populated by the rich and socially-famous socialites of the city. Emily—Raelyn’s best friend—had been adamant that she needed a date to appear with, to at least mingle before she met her date. While Raelyn wished she wasn’t a third wheel, she didn’t doubt her chances that night. She could land a guy if she wanted to, but Raelyn didn’t know what she wanted, yet.
Blake was still on Raelyn’s mind. She’d tried to chase him out with a hundred different reasons…that she wouldn’t see him again, that he had been a jerk, and that Raelyn wasn’t ready for any type of relationship. None of them had managed to stop her mind from returning to Blake and the way he’d looked leaning against the hostess’ podium at the front of the restaurant. It’s been a while if I’m starting to think about settling for him, Raelyn thought, shaking her head. She gave up trying to pin her hair—it was too soft to hold well, even with a hundred pins and hairspray to beat it down. Raelyn liked herself better when she looked more natural, anyway. Minimal makeup and a tousle to her gold locks was enough for her.
The bar and club was brightly lit when Raelyn arrived with Emily. There were people inside already and chatter flooding out onto the sidewalk. A soft carpet, blue and rich, was laid down for entering guests. Raelyn had to admit that the rooftop atmosphere made everything more romantic, even if she wasn’t a fan of heights. The venue was beautiful, and it was crowded with beautiful people. All Raelyn had to do was turn and she’d spot no less than five attractive men. Her only problem was figuring out who was interested and who was available. And if any of those overlap.
“Excuse me,” a man said, startling Raelyn. The voice came from near her elbow and she jolted a little, turning.
Raelyn wasn’t sure what to say. “Oh. Sorry.”
“No, it’s no problem,” the man continued. For the first time, Raelyn noticed who was talking. He was pretty, with gold-brown eyes and blonde hair streaked with a honey brown. He seemed to radiate light, like some sort of sun.
As much as Raelyn didn’t like to admit it, she had a type. She went for guys with dark looks, even if they’d all proven to be bad for her. This stranger, with his earthy tones and glowing skin, was not part of Raelyn’s usual target crowd. But it could be fun, she told herself, wondering briefly if she wasn’t right. Going for the same kind of guy was what had made Raelyn so stupid with her last relationship. It had cost her a good deal, and she was
n’t keen on repeating the mistake. Not if she could help it.
“I’m Raelyn,” she introduced herself. The man seemed pleasantly surprised, extending a hand as his eyes peered back into hers with something like intrigue. Good. He’s looking at me and not my chest, Raelyn thought. She wouldn’t exactly have faulted him if he had, but it spoke volumes about the stranger’s personality that he was able to hold back.
“Aaron. It’s nice to see a new face around here,” Aaron added, smiling a little. This time, he did look her over—but with the briefness of someone taking in a snapshot scene, not someone committing the image to memory for questionable use.
“Well, I came with a friend. You can thank her.”
“I’ll have to,” Aaron said, smiling a little. Raelyn let herself be charmed. He seemed like a decent guy, and he wasn’t acting the way Blake had. There’s still hope in the world. See? Raelyn almost wanted to laugh. All her agonizing had been for nothing.
Raelyn plunged in headfirst, hoping that it would make things easier. The conversation with Aaron was simple and short - he asked, she answered, and the cycle continued with different positions. Aaron didn’t push her to answer anything and didn’t laugh or make rude remarks about her job. Still, despite his interest and his relative charm, Raelyn couldn’t hold her attention. She kept looking around the room, eyes flicking to the dance floor and the bar and the people crowded near the back door.
“My brother’s here,” Aaron said suddenly. His confession brought Raelyn’s attention to him once more, and she felt guilty for having zoned out at all.
“Really? I’d love to meet him,” Raelyn said, smiling. She hoped to smooth things with Aaron—maybe even go further, if he was looking for more than a brief encounter—and so Raelyn followed Aaron toward the cluster of people near the back of the place.
The crowd at the end of the room made Raelyn want to frown. She didn’t get the fanaticism of people seeing those they deemed as famous in such an oppressive situation. As Raelyn drew closer, she realized Aaron was leading her toward the center and Raelyn almost pulled away. She didn’t want to throw up or seem weak, but memories invaded her mind and Raelyn just couldn’t handle being pressed.
Fortunately, the panic faded. Raelyn was left with Aaron, watching the last few people part, and then she was looking at a face that was all too familiar.
Blake was standing there, glass in hand, an eyebrow cocked on his face like it had been tattooed there. It didn’t move when the crowd tried to circle close, and he didn’t even bother trying to hide that he was basking in attention.
Raelyn’s first thought was that she’d been conned. Maybe Blake was coming to collect for the bad date, or maybe he’d been wanting to shove one of his critical reviewers out of the way. In either case, Raelyn was trapped.
“Blake. Hey—I brought someone new,” Aaron said simply, gesturing at Raelyn.
The first thing Raelyn felt was triumph. Blake seemed to have inhaled slowly, his eyes getting the oddly hazy look Raelyn remembered from the dinner date. Raelyn considered making a snide remark—those, she had in abundance—but the payback was enough to silence Raelyn. For the moment, at least. She wasn’t about to make any promises.
Chapter Five
Blake turned at the sound of his brother’s voice, but his body had already been moving. He’d caught a scent—a faint smell at first that reminded him of blazing eyes and a soft smile—and Blake had instinctively moved. It wasn’t until he was halfway around that Blake was hit with an instant rush of something intoxicating. The spice and warmth made his blood heat and he thought, with a flash of hope, that maybe he was going to forget about Lucy.
“This is Raelyn,” Aaron said. He said something else after that, but Blake didn’t hear him. Raelyn was Lucy.
Blake would recognize the woman anywhere. There was no fooling him; his instincts and senses made it impossible to make a simple mistake like confusing a face or body. Blake knew every inch of the woman who had called herself Lucy, and now she was standing before him as Raelyn. She was wearing a deep purple dress that hugged her curves in all the right places and sleek pumps that made her legs look a mile long. The legs Blake had wondered about were on full display, lean but perfectly curved along her calves.
“Hi,” Raelyn said, her smile wide. In that instant, Blake knew that she knew. She remembered him, and their dinner wasn’t doing him any favors. “I hope you’re enjoying the party.”
Blake was furious. His immediate instinct was anger. He felt cheated - not only had his date been a waste, but she’d come with a fake name and a shabby appearance. Blake couldn’t even imagine what it would have been like to have a real date with the woman before him, who walked like she knew the room better than anyone else and was only barely interested in the people around her. She lied, Blake thought, and I didn’t catch her.
“It’s just now becoming interesting,” Blake replied. He smiled back at her, knowing it was more predatory than charming. Good, he thought, noticing the way Raelyn startled. I won’t forgive lying and wasting my time.
The only comfort Blake had was that Lila hadn’t failed in the matchmaking service. She’d found a fantastic woman, by the looks of it—but for some reason, Raelyn was hiding an alluring beauty and sexuality behind glasses and ugly dresses.
“I just came with a friend,” Raelyn said, directing her words toward Aaron, even though he nodded as if he’d heard it before. “She insisted on having a date, but now, I can’t find her.”
That explains it, Blake thought. There was no way someone who’d come to a date the way Raelyn had could dress herself the way she looked at the party. She’d been roped into something by a friend, and as glad as Blake was for the intervention, it irritated him to know that he’d missed out twice. Raelyn clearly didn’t know how beautiful she was or how sexy she could be. It was a good thing that was easily remedied. All Raelyn needed was some direction.
“Hey. Blake,” Aaron said, startling Blake from his thoughts. Raelyn was gone, and Blake narrowed his eyes, looking around. Aaron watched him with an unimpressed gaze. “She went to find her friend.”
“That’s the woman from my date,” Blake said. He hadn’t meant to spill the information, but it came out of his mouth before he could stop. He was still reeling from the knowledge.
Aaron took the information in stride. He shrugged, browsing the crowd while he stood by his brother. Blake almost wished Aaron had reacted more to the revelation. It was important, Blake knew, and he was still trying to figure out why Raelyn’s scent was so compelling. She was clearly sexy beneath the bad glasses and clothing decisions, which made everything worse. Why couldn’t it have been a model? Blake wished he’d found someone that required less work on his part, but he finally settled on seeing it as a challenge. Raelyn was rough and unpolished, but she had the potential to be something impressive. With his direction, Raelyn would flourish into the perfect woman. He would make sure of it.
When Blake tried to find her, however, he noticed Raelyn talking to another man. A man Blake wasn’t fond of. The guy was buff in the sort of way only men who spent their lives in the gym could achieve. He was also, in Blake’s eyes, a pushover. Someone who was too nice to everyone and didn’t have the charisma to be at the party or talk to Raelyn. The image of the two of them laughing over a drink made Blake growl and he stepped forward, feeling the urge to shift grip his chest like a vice. It was only with a long minute of struggle that Blake forced himself to ignore the unwelcome nightmare, frowning. He wasn’t afraid of stepping in or taking Raelyn’s attention.
Blake started making his way to Raelyn, but before he could go far, a woman sidled up to him and beamed. “Hey, sailor. How’s your night going?”
One glance told Blake the woman was looking for someone to take her home. Another look told him she was good for a steamy night—her dress was barely a dress, doing only the minimum to cover her chest and ass. If he hadn’t been so distracted, Blake might have taken her up
on her obvious offer. I might still, if Raelyn proves too much trouble.
“It’s just fine,” Blake said to the woman, looking to get away, but she wasn’t letting go anytime soon. Blake wasn’t about to shove her off, so he bit his tongue and glanced at Raelyn, trying to come up with something to say to get away. He wasn’t going to let Raelyn get away.
***
“You don’t seem to be part of this crowd,” the man said, laughing. His name was James, and Raelyn was enjoying his company. He’d been sweet—a welcome distraction from Blake and his judgment.
“I’m not, really,” Raelyn said, amused. She was enjoying herself more as the night wore on. Raelyn had forgotten how nice it felt to go out and have positive attention. Even if her relationship with Christian had ended badly, it had given Raelyn a taste of what a long-term relationship was like. It had been nice.
James grinned and then glanced over his shoulder, seemingly surprised. “Damn—sorry, I think I lost my friend. I’m supposed to keep an eye on him. He’s drinking tonight and I’m driving.”
“Oh, of course,” Raelyn said quickly. “I understand. Have fun.”
“Yeah—I hope I run into you again,” James said.
He was nice, Raelyn thought. She looked around again—Emily was hanging onto a man that looked flustered but pleased. Aaron was talking to a friend. Blake, the one-person Raelyn was trying to avoid and forget, was staring at her. He was preoccupied with a drunk woman who was laughing so loudly Raelyn could hear her. Raelyn turned away from the sight, taking care to toss her hair over her shoulder.