Unravel Me (17 page)

* * *

The quiet in my apartment was so heavy and suffocating I couldn’t breathe. Not knowing when or if I’d see him again chipped away at my heart. If I hadn’t been so stupid, this would never have happened.

Curling up on the couch, I hugged a pillow close and regretted it immediately. Alastair’s scent engulfed me. I buried my face in the pillow and cried.

* * *

“This legal matter is turning into a nightmare.” Bruce rubbed his eyes and sighed. I sat in his office along with Cynthia, Vance and Jeanie. “Not only is the guy not the alleged murderer, he’s not even a suspect anymore,” he continued.

The woes of the wrongly worded story weren’t going away any time soon. Jeanie shifted in her chair, shooting me a dirty look.

“Maybe if people paid more attention to detail,” she huffed.

I ground my teeth, willing myself not to lash out at her.

“We all missed it, Jeanie,” Bruce said, giving her a look. “Now we all have to fix it. This attorney isn’t backing down. He says his client’s name was slandered and now he’s unable to work or go out in public without people hounding him. Apparently, this guy hasn’t left his house.”

“What does he want?” Vance asked.

“I’ll do another on-air apology,” Cynthia said. “What else is there?”

“They want a million dollars for emotional distress and damages.”

A chorus of disbelief rang out in Bruce’s office. Cynthia stood up and paced the room.

“Are they high?” she exclaimed. “It was a missed word. We didn’t do it on purpose.”

Bruce nodded, rubbing his eyes again. “I know. Everyone knows that, even the damned lawyer. But that’s what his client wants. Our legal team is working out some sort of settlement.” He paused, looking around at each one of us. “He also wants whoever was responsible for writing it to be fired and the producers suspended without pay.”

I sat up straight, shocked. Jeanie’s mouth dropped open.

“Jesus Christ,” Vance muttered. “You’re not going to do that, are you?”

Leaning back in his creaky chair, Bruce shrugged. “I don’t want to. We have to wait it out and see what legal comes up with. Until then, do your jobs and do them well.”

We left his office in a quiet, single file line. Take us out of the newsroom and we’d pass rather nicely for a funeral procession. Only Cynthia simmered in anger. She stalked back to her desk and immediately made a phone call. I sat heavily in my chair dreading the rest of the day. Sydney didn’t make a move to say anything. She continued writing and offered small smiles of solidarity.

I forced all the unpleasantness to the pit of my stomach and powered through the afternoon. I didn’t even stop for lunch. If I worked hard enough and fast enough the time would fly, right? Sort of. Sitting in the control room was like being at an oasis. The crew left me alone for the most part and the only human interaction I had was with Cynthia and Vance. The closer the red digital numbers crept to six-thirty, the more I smiled internally. Tonight was Stephanie’s party and I couldn’t wait to let loose and have a great time.

Thankful to be done with this annoyance of a workday, I drove home singing at the top of my lungs. For reasons known only to the enigmatic British guy in my life, I was free to drive myself to and from work today. Whatever he’d rushed off to do last night required him to bring Paxton with him. I didn’t even care. I wasn’t going to let anything spoil my best friend’s special night.

I wanted to look great for the party. It might enhance my efforts to feel great as well. The new dress I’d bought certainly helped. The slate gray looked amazing against my sun-kissed skin. Tousling my hair a bit, I let it fall naturally on my shoulders in big, soft waves. I grinned as I slipped into a pair of sparkling gray high heels.
Alastair will love these.

Giving myself one final glance in the mirror, I nodded in approval and dashed off to meet Stephanie.

* * *

Scores of people dressed to impress were lined up outside the main entrance of the dark brick building. Stephanie was chatting with one of the bouncers at the door.

“Yay, you’re here,” she squealed, running over. “Come on. Marcus says everything’s all set up for us upstairs.”

She grabbed my wrist and pulled me in her overly excited
you’re-going-to-miss-all-the-fun-if-you-don’t-come-now
way. A dizzying mash up of rock and hip-hop bounced off the dark cherry wood walls. The space was intimate and dimly lit, giving off a lavish vibe that screamed ‘exclusivity.’ High-backed, plush leather couches lined the wall of the VIP section. The amber-lit curved bar was just a quick walk to our right.

I loved the feel of this place. The decor and lighting projected power and prestige but in a non-threatening way. For a split second I wondered if this was what Alastair’s house would feel like if he injected the softer side of his personality into it.

A two-tiered cake decorated with pink, brown and white stripes, and flanked by a sugary pair of edible hot pink heels, sat between several bottles of top shelf alcohol on the table near the leather couch. Stephanie grabbed my arm when she noticed it.

“Did you make that?” she asked.

I laughed. “No. I wish.”

“It’s gorgeous. I almost don’t want to eat it.”

“The cake is pink champagne flavored.”

“Shut up,” she exclaimed. “Where did you order it from?”

“That little bakery we always walk by in Altamonte. I hope it tastes as good as it looks.”

“It does, lass,” a male voice wrapped in a Scottish accent answered. “I’ve already licked the frosting.”

We both spun around, shocked to see Darren standing behind us.

“MacCourty,” Stephanie yelled, throwing her arms around his neck. “What are you doing here?”

“I never miss a party, you know that,” he laughed. “Besides, I wanted to hang out with my new flatmate to see if we were compatible.”

“I had no idea you were coming.” She turned to me. “Were you in on this?”

I just smiled and shook my head.

“This was a covert operation,” Darren grinned. “The only ones who knew were yours truly and Alastair.”

Stephanie and I both looked at him.

“I was going to tell you, Lia,” he continued, “but Holden said you’d accidentally slip up and spill the beans.”

“Oh he did, did he?” I folded my arms, smirking. “Such a smart ass.”

“Where is he, anyway?” Stephanie asked.

I shrugged. “Probably still holed up in his little office.”

“Call him and tell him to get his ginger ass over here. It’s Friday night and he should be living it up with the rest of us, not pushing paper or whatever the hell it is that he does.”

“Can I quote you on that? ‘Get your ginger ass over here’ by decree of Stephanie?”

“Yes,” she said, ice blue eyes gleaming. “We’re going to ply him with alcohol and party that stuffy Britishness right out of him.”

Darren draped his arms around our shoulders and squeezed. “Ladies, ladies. Enough about him. You have me. I’m better looking anyway.”

Stephanie laughed and attempted to ruffle his immobile spiky blond hair. Some of her co-workers showed up, along with my friends from the station. Tyler and Wesley looked sharp for once in their lives.

“You guys clean up nice,” I teased. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you two were regulars here.”

“This is my scene, Lia,” Wesley grinned. “Good threads, lots of drinks and hot girls. I’m in my element. If you’ll excuse me, I see my first love of the evening.”

Tyler and I nearly doubled over from laughing. Wesley was a good kid but he was no Lothario. Cute in his own right with an impish grin and mischievous cobalt eyes, he carried himself with a forced impression that he owned the world. The girl he sidled up to knew it as well. She humored him and let him buy her a drink but that was as far as it went.

Stephanie positively glowed as the center of attention. Her co-workers showered her with cards, gifts and drinks. Before long we all gathered on the dance floor as the DJ continued to spin great song after great song. Feeling relaxed and stress free thanks to being in the company of my friends, I let go and danced like there was no tomorrow.

As nice as this club was, the dance floor was a little cramped. One couldn’t help but become entwined with the ebb and flow of gyrating bodies. I must have bumped into and brushed against a dozen people before finding a somewhat safe space to dance. I lost myself in the mesmerizing bass, closing my eyes and swaying my hips to the beat. After the week I’d had, this was what I needed.

I was so caught up in the music I barely noticed when a pair of hands grasped my hips from behind. I spun around and grabbed them, ready to give the guy a piece of my mind. A weird sense of deja vu crept through my body as I locked onto the wide emerald eyes staring at me. Casually elegant in his fitted black button down shirt -with the top button undone- and black dress pants, Alastair owned the room. At least he did for me. Especially with that look in his eye.

Still holding onto my hips, he pulled me closer as a new song started to play. I’d only ever slowed danced with him so this had the potential to be mind-blowing. Oh, and he did not disappoint. Thank goodness the lights were so dim. The way he moved his body with mine - grinding his hips and grabbing my backside - almost felt like we were having sex in the middle of the club with our clothes on. Neither one of us had a predilection for public fornication but wow, this could easily sway my position on it.

I think he whispered something in my ear. I felt his breath but didn’t hear anything. All I could hear was Britney Spears purring about giving her more and the never-ending pulse of the music. I gave his bottom a squeeze and surveyed the dance floor. Bathed in blues, greens and reds from the lights everyone else had the same glossy, trance-like expression as they danced with a potential one-night stand or significant other. Alastair and I were just another two random bodies mixed in with the sea of movement.

“I’m thirsty, love. Let’s go get a drink,” he spoke clearly into my ear, jolting me out of the seductive cocoon I’d been enjoying. I followed him to the bar and waited while he ordered the drinks. Freed from the unrelenting grip of the dance floor, I was finally able to see where Stephanie and everyone else had disappeared to. They were all laughing and drinking in the VIP section.

“Here you go,” he said, handing me a glass of water. The cool liquid felt amazing sliding down my throat. The temperature must be near ninety in here. Sweat beaded on my forehead, threatening to run down the sides of my face.

Alastair grinned in his crazy-sexy way, driving me nuts. “One more round on the dance floor?”

Nodding, I grabbed his hand and pulled him back into the churning tide of people. Feeling his hands on me and his body pressed into mine negated all the tension from last night. That was another lifetime as far as I was concerned. All I cared about now was falling into a deep, messy oblivion with each sway of my hips.

Fisting his hand in my hair, he held me tightly and lowered his mouth to my ear. “You realize if we keep this up I’m going to have to find a secluded corner and have my way with you.” The velvet tenor of his voice slid through my bloodstream, igniting everything in its path.

We stopped dancing. As tempting an idea as it was, I wasn’t about to sneak off into a bathroom stall and bang him.
Who am I kidding? I’d do it right here.

“I know that look, kitten,” he grinned. “Come. Let’s go back to your friends and cool down a little.”

Disappointed, I followed him back to the VIP section. We found a spot on the couch and sat down. Stephanie and Darren noticed we’d arrived and joined us.

“Glad you could make it, mate,” Alastair smiled and shook Darren’s hand. “Were the girls surprised?”

“Yes. Couldn’t have been more perfect.”

“Brilliant.”

“You seem pretty satisfied with yourself,” I teased, nudging Alastair. “Is it because you kept this from me so I wouldn’t ‘spill the beans’?”

“I’m more surprised Darren didn’t slip up and tell you,” he said, tilting my chin up. “He can’t keep a secret to save his bloody life.”

“Just like the English to rag on the Scot.” Darren feigned a hurt look.

Stephanie giggled and reached across him to tap my arm. “I think we have a bromance forming with these two.”

“He wishes,” Darren snorted. “Can’t say I blame him though. I am a catch.”

“Jesus,” Stephanie muttered. “You’re a nut. Come on. Let’s go dance.” She stood up and grabbed Darren’s hands, yanking him off the couch. “Feel free to join us,” she called over her shoulder.

I settled into the luxurious leather cushions and snuggled into Alastair’s side. He draped an arm across my shoulders and kissed my forehead.

“You threw some pretty decent shapes out there,” I said.

Laughing, he squeezed my shoulder. “Think so? Reckon I looked more like a brick on marionette strings.”

“If that’s how a brick dances, you’re doing just fine.”

“You’re just saying that because you want to score with me later.”

I looked at him, lifting an eyebrow. “If I wanted to score with you I would have said you’re a well-dressed brick who smells amazing and has hot dance moves.”

His already sultry gaze darkened even more as he grasped my waist and squeezed. I jumped, stifling a squeal. Sliding his hand under the hem of my dress, he leaned in close.

“You look so sexy in this dress. I can’t wait to see what you have on underneath.”

And just like that, I became a useless pile of perfume, sparkles and lace. His fingers crept up my inner thigh, giving me a rush. Snared by his very presence, I had to keep reminding myself that we were in public, surrounded by people I knew.

“I think we should fly to New York straight away and not wait until morning.” His lips tickled my ear as he spoke in a low, seductive tone. “I want to start this weekend with you immediately.”

“Okay,” I breathed.

“If I had my way,” he murmured, brushing his lips to mine, “I’d take you back to Glasgow with me now.”

“We’ll see about that, chief.”

Giving my thigh a squeeze, he kissed me. “I hated not waking up next to you this morning. I don’t want that to happen again.”