Chapter 43

“Come on, dolcezza, we’re going to be late,” Jake is harassing me from outside the bathroom door. It’s been a day of lazing in bed, food, and movies, but now he’s rushing me to get dressed up to meet friends for his brother’s birthday. The plan is to meet up at a nightclub called Top of the Standard, apparently one of the most exclusive clubs in New York City. It didn’t take much for Jake to swing entry for two dozen of Arrick’s friends and closest family members.

“Well, since you gave me zero warning, I’m doing the best I can,” I pout, finally emerging in a black, strapless cocktail dress that is tight and short, gold high heels, and a gold clutch. I’ve made up my face with nude lips and a smoky dark eyeshadow that Leila showed me when we were on the yacht. My hair is in its usual loose, tousled waves in a side parting.

“Wow, si è assolutamente sorprendente, bambina,” he exclaims, the look on his face telling me that it’s most definitely a compliment. He swoops down to kiss me hard, taking my breath away. “Maybe being late will be worth it.” He smirks, tracing a finger down diagonally from shoulder to cleavage and moving a little too close.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” I slap his hand away sassily. “I did not rush this kind of perfection to have you mess it all up with a quickie.” I put my hands on my hips as he sighs off his lust and relents, his eyes still devouring me.

“Only because Arrick has texted me twenty times already.” He throws me his hot Casanova smile, and I get that annoyingly predictable heat flutter. “That’s the reason I’m not bending you over the bed right now.”

Really? After weeks together, I still cannot control the urge to jump his bones.

He’s in his trademark black shirt and leather jacket, only this time with black tailored trousers and black shoes. He looks every bit the billionaire playboy tonight, his hair spiked to the center and his designer stubble trimmed to perfection. He smells amazing.

“You look sexy.” I grin as he lifts my dark gray jacket from the bed and helps me ease into it. It’s made of expensive Merino wool, calf-length, with the most flattering, fitted silhouette. It’s a new acquisition from Donna at Jake’s urging because I needed a winter coat for formal events. New York is starting to get cooler already.

“You look far sexier than me, bambina.” He leads me out of the apartment, nodding at the security staff in the outer hall.

***

The club is jumping when we finally arrive and find our party taking over an entire corner of tables by the wide windows overlooking New York. We’re on the top floor of a high-rise with the city lights glittering below like a sea of fairy sparkles and nearby buildings looking like neon shows in the dark. The club is glitzy and glamorous, with a central light sculpture reaching up from the floor and spreading across the ceiling like an upturned chandelier; the whole place is aglow with gold tones and a shimmering magical aura. It’s busy and bustling with people everywhere.

Jake has his fingers entwined with mine as he introduces me to the hordes of new faces that swarmed toward him as we arrived. I recognize Arrick right away. He kisses me on the cheek boldly and pats his brother on the back affectionately. I spy Leila, and she waves frantically at me, too caught up in her conversation with some tall blonde to come over, and as I’m glued to Jake’s hand, I can’t go to her.

Daniel appears from the background; he looks toward Leila on the sly and heads in the opposite direction without even the briefest acknowledgment of us. He’s too busy eye-stalking my friend, it seems. I turn back quickly and see a slight creep of color run up her delicate cheeks, then she goes back to laughing loudly with her friend; it’s obvious Hunter affects her more than she lets on. Her eyes never stray toward Daniel again, which is a huge telltale sign. I long to talk to her about it, but I’m soon pulled into the curve of Jake’s arms as he introduces me to many unnaturally handsome people in expensive outfits.

There’s a mix of male and female friends, too many to count, and Jake seems to be at ease with most of them. It makes me feel in awe. He’s effortless with people; he knows everyone, yet I’m the polar opposite. People in social situations make me uncomfortable. I prefer business deals and meetings where I can wear PA Emma’s face and demand respect. This happy social stuff is beyond my comfort zone; I’m a fish far out of water. Jake seems to sense my apprehension and pulls me against him with an arm around the shoulders, keeping me involved with the group he’s talking to and nudging me into the conversation at every opportunity. I sip the cocktail he’s bought me and listen, for the most part, smiling on cue, and eventually start to relax under his attentive and protective care.

The music is good, the place is thumping, and I start to loosen up as I drink more. Jake releases me from his hold so he can lift his beer with a casual arm about my shoulders. Leila winds her way toward me and drags me out of Jake’s arms to dance with her near one of the windows. I find it easier to be a little freer in her company; she has that effect on me, and her happy energy and bubbliness are infectious.

“Can I just say, wow! I mean, wow!” Leila giggles and then pulls me to a quiet table by a window. She throws herself down and clicks her fingers toward Jake, miming a drink when he looks her way. He sticks his fingers up at her, then turns and walks toward the bar, making me laugh.

“What are you wowing at?” I laugh and slide beside her, watching Jake’s sexy ass swagger across the club.

“Ummm, you and Jake! Like only the most loved-up couple I have ever seen, like, ever. He rarely lets you out of his grasp, and for him, that’s something, Ems.” She beams at me.

“Yeah, I guess we kinda like each other.” I giggle and look over at him; he’s propped his elbows on the bar as he waits for the bartender and is in full conversation with some guy. I notice Daniel move up behind him and throw a casual arm around Jake’s shoulder, motioning two fingers at the bartender over Jake’s head. The contrast between the two handsome men happens to be the most attractive sight in the bar, one blond, the other dark. I’m slowly warming to Daniel enough to no longer see him as a sleazy creep. He isn’t a patch on Jake’s looks, but he’s a close contender.

“Pity he has such shit taste in best friends.” Leila glares across at the two men, then looks down at her lap, suddenly fiddling with her nails.

“You want to talk about it? He kinda showed up a few days ago, and I got the brief outline.” I throw her a supportive smile as her eyes widen.

“He told you and Jake?” I don’t know if it’s a surprise or hurt. She is definitely shocked.

“He asked after you, and Jake almost beat it out of him. Jake was really pissed, too.” I move to the seat next to her and take her hand in mine, pulling it to my lap and entwining fingers. “I’m here if you want to vent; he’s not exactly my favorite person in the world.” I try for a laugh, but her lackluster look and down-turned mouth halt me. I think she’s going to cry.

I’m going to fucking kill him.

“No, there’s nothing to say. I fell for it again; I slept with him, and he never called me back. I’m so stupid when it comes to Daniel Hunter; I never learn.” Her eyes fill with moisture, but then she sniffs them back down, her inner strength forcing its way up. She lifts her chin defiantly and looks at me with extreme purpose. “I won’t let him get to me, you know. He doesn’t deserve the time it takes to talk or think about him, so let’s forget it.”

“I think he does care for you, Leila. The way he and Jake talked, it seems like he’s overanalyzing and has a huge case of cold feet.” I try and soothe my friend, but I catch the cold look that moves into her eyes.

“Guess that’s why he brought a date, right?”

The color drains from my face, and anger ignites. My eyes scan the room in a fury, and I glimpse the tall porn star-like waif standing near the bar where Daniel’s still hanging over Jake.

Asshole.

“What? He knew you would be here, though?” I’m beyond perplexed. It seems I have given him more credit than he deserves.

“Exactly! Fuck him. Fuck men.” As Jake approaches with two pink cocktails festooned with sparkly decorations, she sits up straighter. Leila reaches up and kisses him on the cheek as he hands one to her before putting mine on the table. He slides in beside me and drapes an arm around the back of my chair. Watching us, Leila then stands and downs half the drink in one go. I think she’s deliberately turning her back on the scene of Hunter and his date dancing nearby. It’s pretty obvious they’re hooking up tonight.

I could literally kick him in the face right now.

“I’ll be back in a bit.” She smiles and takes off toward the far side of the club with a drink in hand, and I sense Jake frowning at me.

“Is she okay?” I can tell by the look in his eyes he means, “How much has Daniel hurt her this time?”

“She will be. She’s a tough cookie who knows she’s worth far more,” I stick up for her gallantly. It’s all true. Leila is feisty and a fighter; it will take more than Daniel Hunter to break her. Jake gazes after her departing figure for a moment, lost in thought, then seems to shrug it off, the alcohol pushing aside whatever thoughts transpired. I can tell he’s pretty mellow right now.

“Want to make out? I’ve been missing you over there.” He smiles at me, and I can’t resist the tug toward his mouth as soon as he even hints at kissing. It doesn’t take long for us to end up wrapped in a clinch with mouths engaged in our second favorite physical pursuit. His tongue caresses mine softly, our lips moving in perfect unison. His arms surround me, with one hand holding me close on the back of my head. I could kiss him for an eternity.