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  Some sort of guide or butler met us at the door and led us up to the second floor. I hiked up my dress in one hand to avoid stepping on it. My heels were high enough—I didn’t need my dress trying to trip me up too. By the time we reached the second floor lounge, I was thoroughly awed by whoever was throwing this party.

  Their house looked more like a club, at least on the second floor. The walls were made out of sleek black glass, and the floors were black marbled with gold and silver. A long bar was positioned at the back of the large room, and bar tables were spread throughout the space, four tall metal barstools at each one.

  Gorgeous men and women meandered through the space, stopping to talk with one another, or get a drink before returning to their table. I’d never seen so many beautiful people in my twenty-two years of life.

  “Here is a menu,” the man who’d been escorting us said. He set a tall leather bound menu on top of the table. “Someone will be over to serve you soon. Please do enjoy yourselves.” He smiled, the type of handsome little grin that made my stomach warm and my cheeks heat.

  “Thank you!” Gloria singsonged.

  We all took a seat, our eyes still wide as we looked around the lavish space.

  “This is insane!” Gloria squeaked quietly. She held her hands over her mouth, trying to hold back her excitement. “Have you ever seen a place like this before?”

  “Nope,” I said.

  “Never,” Jamie agreed. “I need a drink.”

  I nodded my agreement and picked up the menu, splaying it between the three of us. Jamie and Gloria leaned in close, their sweet perfume filling my nose.

  As I scanned the parchment: each beverage and appetizer were scrawled on the paper seemingly by hand. I found tiny little symbols next to the names of some drinks. By one, there was a drop of water, and by another a crescent moon. There were a few others: a cross, an X, and a star, but no matter how hard I looked, there was no index to identify them.

  “What do you think these mean?” I asked, pointing at one of the water drops.

  “No idea,” Gloria said, her eyebrows furrowed.

  “Maybe this is some kind of secret society, and the symbols mean something weird, or expensive.” Jamie scrunched up her nose like she smelled something awful. “Let’s stay clear of those.”

  We all agreed to stick to our regular drinks. For Jamie, a glass of white wine, for Gloria, Long Island ice tea, and for me, a simple rum and coke. No matter how much I tried to get out of drinking, they badgered me into it. What can I say? I’m a bit of a push over when it comes to these ladies.

  A waiter arrived in an all black suit with a red rose pinned to his lapel not long after we’d decided on what to drink. I let Gloria and Jamie go first before I worked up the lady balls to ask what the hell these symbols meant.

  The waiter blinked at me in confusion for a split second. The look was there and gone so quickly that I might have imagined it. He smiled politely and nodded at the menu. “I can recommend something, if you’d like.”

  I sighed inwardly and shook my head. “No, thank you. A rum and coke will be fine.”

  The waiter nodded and left, returning to the bar where I watched him give our order to the only bartender free at the moment.

  “Damn, there are a lot of hot bachelor types here,” Jamie said. She bit her lip as she made sexy-eyes at a clean-shaven man with his dark, slicked back hair. A grin slowly worked up the man’s face, and I had to pinch Jamie to come back to earth. “Ow! What the hell was that for?”

  “It’s ladies night, remember?” I raised an eyebrow meaningfully. Besides, Jamie was already seeing someone at grad school. They were both going for a law degree and seemed perfect for each other. He was just as hot-headed as Jamie, and I was already picturing their wedding day.

  Jamie scoffed. “So? What’s wrong with a little harmless flirting?”

  Gloria and I exchanged a look.

  “JJ, what’s wrong with Damien?” Gloria asked, her serious face on.

  Jamie shrugged noncommittally. “Nothing.”

  “Out with it,” I insisted it.

  Jamie looked up at the ceiling like she was calling for divine intervention. “Really, there’s nothing wrong with him. He can just be a little boring sometimes.”

  I winced. Snap. That was like the seal of death when it came to Jamie. She always got bored eventually. It was only a matter of time before it was over. “I’m sorry, Jamie.”

  She shrugged, her short blonde waves bouncing around her shoulders. “It’s fine. I’d rather focus on school anyway.”

  Gloria groaned. “Now who do you sound like!”

  My best friends exchanged a meaningful look. “Clara,” they said in unison.

  My cheeks heated. “Hey. That’s not fair. I’ve dated!”

  Jamie snorted. “Maybe last century.”

  Gloria smiled pityingly. “It has been awhile, C.”

  I closed my eyes and sighed. Before I could response, our waiter returned with our drinks. Thank God!

  “Here you are, ladies,” he said. He set our drinks in front of us. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

  Jamie began to say no when I cut her off. “I know this sounds rude, but I can’t remember who is hosting the party. I’d love to say thank you for the invitation if you could point him or her out.”

  The waiter looked at me in surprise. “Oh, that would be Mr Blackwood.” He scanned the room quickly before his gaze returned to me. “But I don’t see him around at the moment. Apologies.”

  “It’s no problem.” I smiled, grateful for the momentary interruption.

  “I’ll be back to check on you shortly,” he said before slipping off to help another table.

  Before Jamie and Gloria could jump on me again, I took a quick drink. Rum burned my throat, while the coke helped to soothe it. The drink was made well, but strong. For someone who worked at a bar, I didn’t actually do much drinking.

  When I set my glass back down, Jamie and Gloria were staring at someone over my shoulder; twin looks of deviousness on their faces. “Oh no, what are you two looking at?”

  I twisted to follow their gazes, only to find a set of dark eyes. A tall man leaned against the banister next to the stairs, his beard well trimmed and his dark brown hair styled to give him a just-out-of-bed look. Somehow, he pulled it off—looking casual, and sexy as hell—like maybe I wanted to find out if that really was bed head, maybe by spending tonight rolling in the sheets—

  “He’s staring at you!” Gloria whisper-yelled while hitting my arm.

  My cheeks flushed and I quickly turned back around. My heart raced, my pulse pounding in my ears. “No, he’s looking at you hitting me! Quit it!”

  Gloria’s eyes widened and she promptly stopped tapping my arm. “Sorry.”

  “He was looking at you long before G started acting crazy.” Jamie levelled Gloria a look. Gloria looked away sheepishly. “You should go talk to him.”

  I gasped. “What? Are you insane?”

  “Oh my god you should!” Gloria said.

  “What happened to girls night?” I growled. My whole body felt hot all of a sudden. I wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment, or from the man’s eyes boring into my back.

  “Nothing happened to it,” Jamie said with a shrug. “Just because it’s girls night, doesn’t mean you can’t get your flirt on.”

  I groaned. “I have not had enough drinks for that.”

  Jamie and Gloria exchanged a devious grin. “We can fix that.”

  Shit. I walked right into that one.

  Chapter 3

  Gloria Hernandez and Jamie Winslow were the only two women in the entire world that could get me drunk.

  A bubbly laugh fell from my mouth as Gloria made another pun about the tuxedo-wearing party attendees she called penguins. I slapped my hand over my mouth, hoping to contain my chortles, but they only seeped through my fingers. The shaking, constant laughing, and repetitive stream of drinks were starting to get to me. I might n
ot be straight up drunk, but I was definitely tipsy.

  I squeezed my thighs together as I realized for the second time that I had to pee. If I had to listen to one more of Gloria’s ridiculous jokes, I wasn’t sure I’d make it.

  “Okay, okay! Enough!” I begged. “Please! You’re going to make me pee myself!”

  “Oh, but miss! The penguins—” Gloria started in her deep ‘penguin voice’ before I cut her off.

  “Nope! No! Stop it!” I slipped off my chair and swayed precariously on my heels before getting my legs under control. Still, my world spun and I took a few deep breaths before it righted. “All right, I’m going to find the bathroom. Keep your eye on that one.” I motioned to Gloria, and Jamie grinned.

  “Don’t worry, Ca-pi-tain, it’s not the first time I’ve had to babysit her drunk ass.” Jamie grinned like a fool. It was the first time in a long time that I’d seen her so carefree. Law School was taking a lot out of her, but our Jamie was still in there.

  “But mooom,” Gloria whined.

  “Hush, child,” Jamie joked. “There will be no tomfoolery here. Not while the Captain is gone.”

  I snorted a laugh. You dress up like a pirate captain for Halloween one freaking time, and this girl wouldn’t let me forget it. Well, it wasn’t entirely her fault. We’d attended an undergrad party where half of Jamie’s floor turned up as sailors. They followed me around half the night with constant choruses of captain this, and captain that. Jamie would not let me live it down.

  “I’ll be back in a few! Be good.” I made eyes at both of them until they rolled their eyes. Someone had to be the responsible one.

  “Go on, before I let G start talking about penguins again!” Jamie narrowed her eyes.

  I knew that look. She meant it. Before Gloria could launch into another joke, I turned on my heels and took off.

  I made my way through the crowd, slipping through unfamiliar men and women all dressed to the nines. We might as well be at a Hollywood party, that’s what it felt like, especially with the bubbles in my head and chest, forcing a giggle out of me every now and then.

  I had just stumbled my way clear of the other partygoers when a man caught my arm.

  “Are you okay, Miss?” he asked.

  I blinked in surprise, leaning into his steady hold. Was I okay? I might be a little more than tipsy. “Sure. Yes, I’m good.” I smiled. “Just looking for the ladies room.”

  The handsome man nodded and smiled so wide he revealed his teeth. I squeaked and took a step back, not expecting the sharp, elongated canine that winked at me in the dim light.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” he tried again.

  This guy had fangs. Fucking fangs! What the hell kind of party was this? I blinked quickly, trying to get the image out of my head. I was just drunk. Yes, that had to be it.

  “I’m fine, thank you. Have a great night.” Before he could corner me, I slipped back into the crowd. I used the surrounding people to make my way back to the other side of the room, where I tried a different hall.

  “Apologies, Miss, you can’t go back there.” A man with a black suit and a gun at his hip stood in the middle of the doorway with his large arms crossed over his chest.

  “Oh, sorry,” I mumbled. “I’m looking for the ladies room.”

  The man nodded and pointed at the stairs. “Downstairs to the left.”

  “Thank you.” I skittered away as quick as I could, not liking the shot of cold through the warm bubbles that had filled me moments ago. That guy had a gun. Was Mr Blackwood some kind of drug lord, or mafia boss? Who else had armed guards at a party?

  My heart raced with possibilities by the time I reached the first floor. I slipped into the bathroom and closed the door behind me. After taking care of business, I washed my hands, dried them, and then braced my hands on the sleek white marble countertop.

  I stared into the mirror, meeting my grey gaze surrounded by long black lashes. “Everything is fine,” I assured myself. “Whoever he is, he’s just an important business man with some bodyguards. There’s no need to worry about it.” I stared into my eyes for a few moments longer. Yep, I was drunk. It took until now to fully accept that, but there was something about looking at your own blurry image in a mirror that made it clear.

  “Let’s just head back up there and have fun,” I told myself. “If anything weird happens, we can call a cab and stay at a motel.”

  Damn right I’d done my research about the small town we’d driven into. Only a few minutes drive away was a small motel just off the highway. We could return in the morning for Mr Jeep if anything went wrong.

  Feeling more assured than I had before, I slipped back upstairs. I reached our table a few minutes later, only to find Gloria and Jamie missing.

  What the hell?

  I looked around, my eyebrows furrowed as I scanned the crowd for curly black, or blonde hair. I caught sight of a few similar heads, but none of them were my best friends.

  Did they seriously leave me? Even drunk, I knew that wasn’t like them.

  With a small huff, I decided they’d just gone looking for me. They’d find me soon enough. I made my way through the crowd to the bar. I hitched a heel around the base of the stool and pushed myself up into the chair. I swayed a little until I got my balance, holding onto the bar for support.

  A bartender appeared in front of me as if from thin air. “What can I get you?” he asked.

  “Water,” I said. Yep, it was time to sober up.

  The bartender leaned back and grabbed a glass. He’d just started filling it with ice when the man who’d been staring at me earlier slid into the chair beside me. “How about a house cocktail instead?” he suggested. His lips curved in a flirty smile, the kind I desperately wanted to sink into.

  No, wait what! Get a hold of yourself, Clara!

  “House cocktail?” I asked dumbly, unsure what else to say. It was hard to think of anything under the intense red-brown of his gaze.

  “You’ll like it. It’s sweet like your rum and coke,” he said. He had an accent I couldn’t quite place in my drunken haze.

  “So you’ve been watching me,” I realized aloud.

  His smile spread. “You noticed?”

  “Well, my friends did,” I said. Again, I stopped to take a look around for them, but neither was in sight. “Speaking of, I think those dicks ditched me.”

  He snorted a laugh. “Did you just call your girlfriends dicks?”

  “Yep,” I said. “That’s what they get for leaving me alone.”

  Wait, should I be telling this stranger that I’m alone? Nope, definitely not. Shut up, Clara!

  “I’m sure they’re around here somewhere,” he said.

  British. His accent was faintly British, but it was also something else I couldn’t quite identify in this state.

  “They probably just went to the ladies,” I said. “I’m Clara.”

  “Ryker.” He smiled slyly and offered me his hand.

  I took it, and shook. His skin was colder than I expected. He must have been holding onto a drink recently. “Do you go to parties like this often?”

  “More often than I’d like,” he admitted. There was something rueful in the way he smiled. He turned, swivelling to look out over the partygoers just like I was.

  “Why do you go if you’re not having fun?” I asked. I waited for a cheesy line, something like “to meet sweet girls like you”. I almost laughed out loud at the thought, but instead, he just shrugged.

  “It’s an obligation,” he said. “I always follow through on my commitments.”

  I raised an eyebrow. Before I could ask what the hell that meant, the bartender pushed my drink across the bar.

  “Here you are, Miss,” he said. “Can I get you anything Mr—”

  “I’m good, thanks,” Ryker said.

  I plucked my drink off the bar. It was red and purple, and glittered in the light. I blinked at it in surprise as I inspected it. The color slowly turned before my eyes, like
whatever the bartender had just put inside melted from red at the top, to purple at the bottom.

  “How is it doing that?” I murmured, more to myself than to Ryker.

  “Lemonade,” he replied anyway. “The acid reacts with that type of juice.”

  “Huh.” I continued to marvel at the drink for a moment longer before taking a long sip. “Oh my god!” Sweetness burst on my tongue. It was simultaneously fruity, and a little sour from the lemon. “This is amazing!”

  Ryker grinned, and my breath caught. Damn, he was handsome. “I’m glad you like it.”

  Heat rushed to my cheeks. Whether it was from the alcohol, or not, I couldn’t be sure. Before I could say anything more, a commotion broke out across the room.

  Ryker leapt off his seat, looking frustrated and worried. “Apologies, Clara. I’ll have to excuse myself.”

  “O-Okay.” I barely got out the word before he disappeared into the crowd.

  I sighed as I turned back around in my chair, taking a long drink of the house cocktail. As I swallowed, something hazy began to fill my mind. My eyebrows furrowed as my stomach heated. I was suddenly way too hot.

  I took another drink, and swayed on my seat. “I think I need to lie down.” I left my drink and stood. With some kind of commotion still going on near the stairs, I took my time slipping around the outside of the crowd and down a hallway. I just needed to lie down for a minute, and then I’d be okay.

  I kept telling myself that until blackness took me.

  Chapter 4

  Sunlight filtered through my eyelashes, slowly waking me. I blinked lazily into the warm streams of light coming through the blinds. They hadn’t been completely drawn, and were left open just enough to cast a line of light directly over my eyes.

  I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut. I nuzzled against the soft down-filled pillow, my entire body relaxed and warm. I hadn’t felt so good in a long time. I felt alive and ready to take on the day. It was like having that first shot of espresso in the morning. It buzzed beneath my skin and pulled my eyelids back open. I looked at the black leather headboard, and then the dark wood nightstand with an industrial looking lamp sitting atop it. My phone lay by the base of the lamp, the tiny light at the top blinking rapidly to let me know I’d received a message.