Zurlo, Michele - Two Masters for Samantha [Awakenings 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

TWO MASTERS FOR SAMANTHA

Awakenings 3

MICHELE ZURLO

Copyright © 2010

Chapter 1

“Do you realize you’re the only one of us who isn’t married?”

The tone of the question relayed amazement more than anything else. Samantha Spencer grinned at the maid-of-honor with whom she shared the changing room mirror. Ginny Breszewski, sister of the bride, had refused the title of matron-of-honor because she said it made her feel like a prison guard or an orphanage director.

“Sophia isn’t married yet,” Sammy said. “Her wedding isn’t until next summer.”

Ginny snorted, a big sound coming from such a petite woman. Ginny was easily half a foot shorter than Sam’s five-ten frame. In the heels she wore, Sam even towered over her brother, the groom, by two inches.

“On the market, then,” Ginny amended.

Having ended an unsatisfying relationship six months earlier, Sam did feel the need to have someone in her life. The major problem she encountered was finding a man who could handle her. The last boyfriend called her “needy.” Nicer exes labeled her “high-maintenance.”

Sammy didn’t think either of those descriptors fit. She was neither needy nor high-maintenance. She just had a lot of energy and a restless spirit. A man who could keep up with her was rare and, so far, elusive.

She blotted her lipstick with a tissue. “I just haven’t met the right person.”

Ginny turned to lean against the edge of the counter under the mirror, perusing Sammy thoughtfully. Before she could say anything, the door opened and the bride came into the private chamber set aside for just the bridal party.

Sabrina had technically been married to Sammy’s brother, Jonas, for a little over a year. Once they hit the skids, it came out that their entire marriage had been an arrangement to help Sabrina get an inheritance. Sammy had seen the pair together too often to believe it was all about money.

Luckily, Sabrina was patient. That was good because Jonas had a stubborn streak that defied reason. Sammy had been unable to talk sense into Jonas, but she wasn’t alone in that regard. Every member of their family had tried to talk sense into him, to no avail. Jonas hadn’t reconciled with his wife until he was ready to do so.

“Ginny, I need you to do the bustle. I have to use the bathroom, and there is no way I can do it with all this material hanging loose back there.”

Sabrina held the train of her dress over her arm and peered expectantly at Ginny.

Samantha looked between the sisters. Both were short, though Ginny was about an inch taller than Sabrina’s five-two height. Both were petite, pretty brunettes with big, brown eyes.

When Sabrina’s hair had been long, the pair sported a striking resemblance. Now that Sabrina had cut her hair shorter and Ginny had grown hers longer, the most distinguishing characteristic was the fact that Sabrina wore an elegant white wedding dress and Ginny was dressed in the same tangerine and pink gowns as the rest of the bridesmaids.

As colors went, it suited each of the women in the bridal party surprisingly well. Sabrina had chosen different styles of dress for each woman, but she had insisted they be made with the same fabric. Sammy didn’t mind matching Sabrina’s favorite rose bush because the dress complemented her athletic build and Nordic coloring quite well.

The satin bodice was strapless and molded to her breasts. The skirt flared from her hips in a way that gave the appearance of curves where she was pretty much flat. It was something she would wear again.

Ginny pushed away from the counter. “I told you to go with a simple dress, but you insisted on traditional. Even when it’s bustled, you have to be careful. You didn’t have to go all-out. It’s not like this is your first wedding.”

“Don’t start,” Sabrina said. “The first one didn’t count. Besides, you’ve been married seven times.”

“To the same woman.” Ginny scooted around Sabrina and took the train from her arm. “I can’t help it if the laws are backwards in more places than not.”

Sammy helped Ginny spread the train. Starting at opposite sides, they folded the voluminous material so that it was off the ground. “And she married the same man twice. It seems you both like weddings.”

Sabrina lifted her head, meeting Sammy’s eyes in the mirror and smiling her thanks. “I wanted something big and memorable. The first one was so quick and no one was there with us. We didn’t even have our picture taken.”

“I think this was a great idea,” Samantha said. Her fingers fumbled with the tiny buttons, but Ginny was having the same issue, so Sammy didn’t feel overly inadequate. “We all wanted to share this day with the two of you.”

The sentiment was true. Over the past year, Sabrina had won her way into the hearts of the entire Spencer family. Samantha loved her sister-in-law.

The door opened again and the rest of the bridal party burst inside. Amanda, Sammy’s big sister, was first. She swept a stray strand of sandy curls from her eyes and smiled at Sam. “Need help?”

More hands wouldn’t fit to help with the tiny row of buttons spanning the curve of Sabrina’s small bottom. Sammy smiled and shook her head. “We got it.”

Sophia was next. Sammy didn’t remember having met Sophia. It seemed the Italian beauty just showed up one day with Jonas and she’d been around ever since.

Lara followed. Lara was Ginny’s wife. Tall, blonde, and sporting an athletic build similar to Sammy’s, Lara was Sammy’s favorite. The two hit it off instantly. Lara’s easygoing manner and friendly smile were contagious. Like Sammy, Ginny could be considered high-maintenance and needy. Sammy wanted someone like Lara who, with a look or a touch, could quell the anxiousness and restlessness that sometimes overtook her.

As proof of her magic powers, Lara brushed a hand along Ginny’s cheek. Immediately, Ginny’s fumbling fingers calmed and she powered through the buttons even faster.

Ellen was the last to arrive. Technically, Ellen was Jonas’s best friend. Sammy had known Ellen for almost eighteen years. When Jonas had first brought the strong-willed, curvy brunette home his first year of college, Sammy thought she was meeting the woman destined to become her sister-in-law.

Jonas and Ellen both disabused her of that notion. At the tender age of eleven, Sammy learned that friendship was genderless and that sisters did not need to be genetically related.

“I am so glad you didn’t have the reception at your house,” Ellen said to Sabrina as she leaned closer to the mirror and pulled at a stray hair. “You must have over two hundred people out there and the party isn’t supposed to start for another half hour. I would hate to be the one who has to write all those thank-you cards.”

As Sammy and Ginny finished with the buttons, the swish of satin and the smell of beauty products filled the air.

Surrounded by family and friends, Samantha Spencer smiled contentedly. This was a good day.

* * * *

Alexei Morozov hated weddings. He was invited to entirely too many. Morozov Industries had been created thirty years ago by his father. Their holdings were widespread, which meant a huge network of friends and associates all over the world. That meant representation at a huge number of wedding, anniversary, birthday, and “just because” events.

He and Stefano often divided the required appearances between them. Being identical twins came in handy under these circumstances. He pretended to be himself for half the time and Stefano for the other half.

Even their mother had a difficult time telling them apart at first glance. Of course, she knew they were mirror-images of each other. Stefano was right-handed while Alexei was left-handed. The twins learned to remember these details when they impersonated the other around their parents and clients.

However, this occasion required both of them to attend. Sabrina Breszewski had invited him because their parents were old acquaintances. Though he hadn’t seen her in years, he maintained her business interests and investments, so he spoke to her every few months. He hadn’t been surprised to receive an invitation. It was a formality, something she did because it was expected. Alexei would have done the same thing in her shoes. It paid to maintain the old connections. In that spirit, the boys had decided to attend the reception only.

Plus, he wanted to connect with Stephen Galen to discuss some recent areas of interest they shared. His father assured him that Sabrina was still on good terms with the Galens. In fact, she represented their advertising interests.

“Hello, handsome.” Warm, champagne-enriched breath wafted to his nose.

Closing his eyes and suppressing a groan, Alexei turned his head to greet the drunken woman. Being the son of a wealthy man had inoculated him against the lure of a beautiful woman long ago. Even if the woman was unaware of who he was, Alexei was wary. Being six-two with an athletic build that wore a suit extremely well, a thick shock of dark brown hair, and cobalt blue eyes was a combination that attracted women to him since he had been too young to appreciate the fairer sex.

He had yet to find a woman who didn’t want something from him. At thirty, he was definitely one of the world’s most eligible bachelors. He and Stef had been the subject of numerous magazine articles on the topic. When they were younger and didn’t know better, they posed for the pieces, granting interviews to pretty journalists. They didn’t bother with that anymore.

Besides, no woman knew him from Stefano anyway. They’d traded dates before for fun, just to see if the woman professing her love and undying devotion could actually find the subtle differences between them. None had noticed.

“Hello.” He didn’t ask her name. “Nice wedding we’re having.”

A feminine laugh came from behind him, somewhere on the other side of the buffet table. A quick glance brought a frown to his face. The laugh appeared to have been directed at him, yet he could see no evidence of anyone listening in on the woman’s pickup attempt.

The woman hadn’t caught his joke, lame as it was. He wasn’t used to having to try hard. People usually laughed at his dry jokes because it was expected, not because they found his comments witty.

The blonde cocked her head to one side, flashing a coy smile. “Would you like to dance with me?”

Alexei studied the woman. She was beautiful and she knew it. Blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and a flawless complexion combined perfectly. The neckline of her dress plunged almost to her belly button. Her breasts were perfectly rounded in a way that screamed falseness. This was a woman who was never turned down.

Alexei’s false smile was brief. “No.”

She sidled closer, sliding her hand across his ass and pressing her hip into his thigh. “How about we skip the preliminaries and head up to your room?” Her hand stopped at a stiffness in the region of his front pocket. A teasing frown marred her brow briefly. “What’s this?”

The question was leading, but Alexei didn’t bite. “My room key.”

She fished for it, but he stopped her with a firm hand on her wrist.

“Not tonight.”

The pout she used was no doubt effective with most men. Alexei hated women who pouted. He liked honest begging and screaming, but not pouting.

“There you are.”

A hand slipped through his arm to rest on his bicep. Alexei looked over to find another blonde he didn’t know. There was something different about this one. Her long hair cascaded down her back, curling in gentle waves. Cornflower blue eyes twinkled with mirth and coral pink lips curved with the same amusement.

Her skin was tanned. The muscles in her arms were long and clearly defined, identifying her as an active, athletic woman. Her high heels brought her to within inches of his height, but she would be tall without them.

The tangerine satin dress labeled her a bridesmaid. For the first time, he regretted having missed the wedding. The light in her eyes was sympathetic, not predatory. A genuine smile, the first of the night, lifted his mouth and his spirits.