Warren McCarthy is an uptight asshole. I smile briefly into him because it pleases me to have that fact sail through my mind in front of both him and my dad. Speaking of which, I tilt into my father and wait for him to put Warren in his place because God knows if I do it we’re looking at an awkward evening that will start with expletives and probably end with a kick in the balls.
“He’s right.” Dad’s features sag as if he were disappointed that I wasn’t smart enough to figure this out for myself. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’ve got a lot riding on tonight. Warren understands because he’s been in the thick of things down at the office. It’s just one of those days where you can’t afford a single thing to go wrong.”
I glance down at my flag inspired bathing suit top, my Daisy Dukes that glow against my summer tan. “I get it.” I glare over at Warren in his upturned polo, his signature khakis and penny loafers. “I’ll change for you, Dad.”
I trot back upstairs and that stupid picture of Warren and I encapsulated in a silver heart catches my attention. I pick it up and rub my hand over him through the glass. Without thinking, I toss it right into the trash.
Dad is right. Tonight can make or break a lot of things.
I, for one, am about to make something beautiful with Ace and break things off with Warren forever.
Loveless shines like a beautiful woman. She wears her best party dress with glittery shoes, her hair and makeup done to the nines for the night.
Kennedy wraps an arm around me as the crowd bustles in every direction on the McCarthy’s lakefront estate. It’s hot as hell, and I haven’t seen one sign of Ace.
“I have to tell you something.” She’s got that evil twinkle in her eye because whatever the hell she’s about to say is going to rock my world and not in a good way. I can tell.
“Wait.” I pluck Brylee away from Gavin a second and pull her into our circle. “Sorry,” I shout to him before he melts into the crowd. “I have something to say, too.” I crimp a smile. “And I want you both to hear it.” I fill them in on my faux honeymoon with Ace, and my face fills with heat just verbalizing it.
“A week?” Brylee looks impressed as hell—as she should be.
“Aweek, alone with Ace Waterman?” Kennedy deadpans. “Your dad is never going to let this fly.”
“That’s why I’m not going to tell him.” I dot a finger into her chest. “You are.”
“You want me to tell him you’re sleeping with the woodcutter while his pipe dream of you getting laid by a McCarthy goes down the company drain? No thanks.”
“Eww—and no. Tell him I went camping with a couple of friends from school. Ten bucks says he doesn’t even notice I’m gone for the first three days.”
“And what about Warren?” Kennedy nods behind me as he fast approaches.
“I’ll take care of Warren,” I whisper just as he circles his arms around my waist.
His skin glows a deep bronze from logging all that time down at the water. Warren has always been tall and lanky so his body feels leaner, less muscular than Ace’s. And oddly I don’t feel any sexual ache for his arms to linger around me. It’s like having a family member hold me, an older brother.
“What’s this I hear about you taking care of me sweet cheeks?” He thumps his hand over my thigh and his breath bowls over me with the strong scent of whiskey. “I got something you can take care of.” He lands a sloppy kiss on the side of my face.
“Whoa.” I try to ease out of his grasp but it proves impossible.
I scan the crowd, and, sure enough, I catch Ace looking over at the two of us from the white picket fence at the base of the property. He glances away and continues his conversation with Gavin as if nothing ever happened.
Ace is the one I wish was holding me right now, not Warren—never Warren.
“Hands off, please.” I try to pry his arms from around me but he only strengthens his grip. Anger rips through me like a fire. “Warren, I’m serious, letgo.”
His arms tighten like a vice. “Ooh, you like it rough, huh baby?” He whispers, sticking his tongue in my ear and flicking it around.
Dad and Beverly pop up in our little circle.
“All right you two.” Dad winks approvingly at Warren’s barbaric display of affection. “I’ve got a group of people I’d love for you to meet. In fact, why don’t you sit with us at dinner and they can really get to know you.”
Kennedy shakes her head just barely, as if she’s seen the bear trap I’m about to fall into and doesn’t approve.
Beverly links her arm in mine and walks me briskly over to the formal section of the property with its congestion of white tablecloths, waiters in full dress, champagne served in crystal flutes. The McCarthy’s hired a decorator to come out and festoon the place with all things Americana, not to mention the expensive floral arrangements dripping in the center of each table—white lilies mixed with blood red roses. It all reeks ode to country club, and I want nothing more than to ditch back into the crowd and find Ace.
Beverly leans in with the mint julep she just downed exuding from her lungs. “I can’t underscore how important this is to your father.”
Maybe I should get ripped. God knows I’d do just about anything to melt away the next few hours. I’m ready for the real fireworks to begin, and I’m not talking about the ones that are about to shoot over the lake at dusk.
