In a room filled with people, in that moment, she felt oddly alone—until her eyes locked onto Gavin’s. For Emily, the world seemed to stop. The music whispered in the background while voices became muted and unimportant. Again, the undeniable connection between them was apparent from across the space, even if not witnessed by anyone else. It was there—unwavering and unrelenting through their unspoken words. She found it hard to breathe as the overwhelming tidal wave of emotions took hold and pulled her into the current—pounding and roaring with a power greater than she could ever be.
Her eyes swept over him. He was wearing a charcoal-colored suit that covered his built yet graceful frame. Beneath, he wore a white-collared shirt and pinstriped black-and-gray tie. His lustrous dark hair was sexily mussed as if he didn’t bother fixing it after showering. His impressive presence in the room was that of polished power, economical grace, and unyielding demand. He simply was a force that she couldn’t help but notice. Although he had his arm snaked around what Emily believed to be one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen, his eyes were trained on Emily’s, steady and focused. He sent her a smile from across the room that still managed to disarm her, leaving her in a sea of desire, want, and need, struggling to resurface.
Clenching Emily’s now sweaty hand, hazel eyes bright with curiosity, Lisa asked, “Is that him?”
Emily nodded and a lump wedged itself between the walls of her throat as she watched Dillon approach Gavin, motioning her over in the process. Licking her dry lips, she squeezed Lisa’s hand, and with trepidation, she started making her way across the room.
God, she’s so beautiful
, Gavin thought to himself as he watched Emily close the space between them. Her body swayed with elegant poise beneath an emerald silk evening gown. His eyes followed her sleek legs down to a pair of silver strappy stilettos adorning her feet. He tried to keep his eyes from traveling back up to her subtle curves and long dark locks of hair because it only brought back that familiar ache. He fought to push it away, but his body continued to respond to her as she drew nearer. He could feel his pupils dilate as she swept her tongue across her lips, causing his blood to pump with brutal force toward necessary extremities.
He had a desire for every inch of her—the smell of her sweet breath on his hungry lips, the taste of her tongue against his, the soft feel of her skin beneath his hands, and the sound of her husky voice whispering in his ears. She was an assault on his senses, a constant thirst needing to be quenched. Although he’d had a taste, he feared the only thing he would have left was his instinct of wanting her more and needing to feel her again and again. With all of this, what captivated him the most was her eyes—those deep pools of alluring green that felt as if they were boring into his very soul. His grip may have tightened around Stephanie’s waist, but in his mind, his hands were on Emily.
When Emily and Lisa approached, Dillon reached for her, positioning her back against his chest. “Babe, this is Gavin’s date, Stephanie.”
With a smile, Emily pulled in a slow and shaky breath. “It’s very nice to meet you, Stephanie.”
“You, too,” she replied, tucking a few errant strands of her honey-hued hair behind her ear. Her porcelain-like features emphasized her large whiskey-colored eyes. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you,” Emily said.
Gavin’s gaze captured Emily’s, a smile on his face. “Yes…congratulations.”
With his voice so calm, cool, and collected, Emily couldn’t help but wonder if she was the only ball of nerves standing there. Smiling, she simply nodded her thanks. As soon as she did, her stomach recoiled when she swore she saw a sparkle of amusement in his eyes at her reaction.
“Just an assumption,” Gavin continued, turning in Lisa’s direction, “but there must be some sort of relation between you and Emily. Your features are strikingly similar”
“Yes,” she replied. “I’m her sister.”
“Mmm, younger or older?” he asked casually with his dimpled smile.
“Oh, he’s quite the charmer,” Lisa laughed, looking at Emily. She brought her attention back to Gavin. “I’m older by ten years, but thank you for the compliment.”
“He certainly is,” Emily deadpanned, shifting nervously against Dillon.
A smirk curled the brim of Gavin’s mouth, but he remained silent.
“I’ll keep my thoughts to myself about that one,” Dillon clipped with a smirk of his own. Gavin shook his head. “But, for now, I need another drink. Babe, do you want another glass of wine?”
There was only one way she was going to survive the rest of the night. Emily smiled. “I’ll take a shot of something…strong.”
Dillon nodded and walked away.
Gavin flicked Emily another stroke of amusement with his eyes. She could tell he felt her sinking, and all it was doing was pissing her off.
Before she could dwell too long on her desire to knock him clear across the head, Trevor and Fallon approached. Emily smiled at them, happy that they were working out well as a couple. They genuinely enjoyed being together and seemed to be a perfect match of fire and ice. She guessed Dillon would beg to differ since he laughed at the whole courtship when he found out about it. Nonetheless, Emily was thrilled, knowing he would now have no choice but to accept Fallon as her friend. To seal the deal, she made Fallon one of her bridesmaids.
Formal introductions were made between Stephanie and Fallon before Trevor asked the group if he could steal Emily away for a dance. She obliged his request, placing her hand in the crook of his arm as he guided her out onto the floor.
With the pianists playing “The Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra in the background, they began dancing.
Looking up to him, she said, “I didn’t know you liked slow dancing.”
He chuckled. “I don’t to tell you the truth. I actually hate it.” Emily gave him a questioning look. “I just wanted to talk to you about what I had said the last time we spoke.”
Emily knew he was referring to the mess between her and Gavin. It came as a surprise to her when Trevor called to let her know his feelings on the situation. He wasn’t harsh about his opinion over the whole matter, but one would consider his approach a little less than understanding to say the least.
“Oh,” she nodded. “Well, you’ve explained that it puts you in a bad position. I understand that, but to be honest, nothing more’s going to happen between us.”
His face softened as he lowered his voice. “I consider you my adoptive sister, and I wanted to apologize for the things I had said—well, mostly, the way I had said them. I just wanted you to know that, whether or not you and Gavin decide to carry on anything, it’s none of my business. You’re two grown adults, and it’s your lives. Would it be an odd situation for me because I’m friends with Dillon? Absolutely. But I would have to learn to deal with it.”
Widening her eyes, she tilted her head to the side. “Trevor, I’m engaged now, and like I said, nothing more’s going to happen.”
His devil-may-care sneer lit up his features, showing his amusement at her remark.
“Why do you have that look on your face?”
“I may wear glasses, Emily, but I’m not blind.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, pulling back slightly.
He gently pulled her closer. “One, I’ve known Gavin since I was a kid, and his perseverance to go after something he wants has never been an issue for him. And two, even though I haven’t known you as long as him, I can see it all over your face when you look at him.”
She stopped swaying to the music, but Trevor kept them moving swiftly. “I don’t want to talk about this,” she said with a smile on her face, trying to appear unfazed in the crowded room.
“That’s cool with me. I just wanted to put it out there.”
“Well, I thank you for your blessings that are not needed in this case,
Dad
.” He laughed at that. “Now let’s move on to the next subject, okay?”
“Absolutely,” he smiled. “So how do you feel about Dillon being gone for a few days in October?”
“He’s going away? He never told me that.”
“Yeah, we both are. The firm’s sending us to Florida to score an account from some Japanese mogul, Takatsuki Yamamoto,” he laughed, struggling to pronounce the name correctly.
A frown creased her brows. “Wait, Dillon told me he already landed that account.”
“No, not yet,” he shook his head. “You must have it confused with another one. We’re trying to get it now.”
Skimming through her memory, she was almost positive that was Dillon’s reason for bailing on their date in Central Park. She remembered he’d said he was in New Jersey. However, with everything that had happened since, she started questioning herself in that moment.
The sound of Dillon clearing his throat broke through her thoughts. “May I cut in?” he asked, looking to Trevor.
Bowing gracefully, Trevor chuckled. “Go for it. I’ll catch up with you two in a bit.”
Trevor made his way back over to Fallon, Stephanie, and Gavin. Olivia and her girlfriend, Tina, had also joined the group.
Smiling, Dillon curled one hand around Emily’s waist. “Are you having a good time?” he whispered into her hair, his free hand stroking her arm.
“It’s a little overwhelming right now, but yes.” He smiled and pulled her closer. “Can I ask you something, Dillon?”
“As long as it’s about what positions I plan on putting you in after I slip you out of this dress tonight, sure.”
She sighed. “I’m being serious, Dillon.”
He laughed. “Okay, okay. What’s up?”
“Why’d you tell me that you were in New Jersey the morning we were supposed to meet in Central Park?”
Cocking his head to the side, his hold on her waist tightened. “Because I was in New Jersey. That was weeks ago. Why are you asking me about this now?”
“Why are you going away to Florida in October?”
He stopped moving, his eyes narrowing on her. “Why are you answering my question with another question?”
“Because you’re not answering mine,” she replied without missing a beat.
He dropped his hands to his side. “Emily, just get to your fucking point.”
Taken aback by his response, she studied his demeanor for a second. “You told me you were in New Jersey that morning because some guy from Japan flew out and wanted to meet with you personally, correct?”
“Yeah, Emily, he wanted to meet with me. I met with him and gained his account for the firm. Like I said, get to the fucking point already.”
Still shocked at the way he was acting under her scrutiny, she drew in a deep breath. “My point, Dillon, is that Trevor just said you two are going away on business in a couple of weeks to meet with the exact same Japanese gentleman whom you already had claimed to have landed an account with.”
Emily watched his eyes scan the room as if debating on what to say to her. Waiting for his response, she impatiently crossed her arms.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, his eyes traveled back to hers. “Okay, I lied.”
“What?” she asked breathlessly, the feeling of rising bile quickly making its way into the back of her throat. “Where were you?”
Although she pulled away, he circled his arms around her and drew her near. “That was the morning…” He hesitated a second. “I was picking up the engagement ring.” She parted her lips to speak, but he continued. “They thought there was a problem with the set, and I got held up there. I almost fucking lost it, thinking that I was going to have to go somewhere else to get one.”
Before she could question him, his mother floated over—her blonde hair twisted into a tight bun, which only further exaggerated her high cheekbones.
“Dillon, Uncle Bruce and Aunt Mary just arrived. They’re not feeling well with their emphysema. Damn smokers,” she huffed. “Anyway, they want to say hello to you and Emily. Do me a favor and go over and greet them.” With the flick of her wrist, she motioned in the direction of the couple sitting comfortably at a table across the room. Each with their own breathing machine anchored next to them.
Dillon reached for Emily’s hand. “Sure, we’ll be there in a second.”
“Actually, I need to use the restroom,” she replied, walking away from him. “Go ahead without me, and I’ll meet you over there in a few minutes.”
Tossing his hand through his hair, Dillon looked to her and nodded. As he crossed the room with his mother, Emily let out a sigh. She didn’t need to use the restroom. She needed a breather to clear her racing thoughts. Confusion spun through her mind. She didn’t understand why, even though she had explained that she knew about the upcoming trip, he had continued to lie to her. She understood that he couldn’t actually tell her where he was on that particular morning—especially if he was indeed purchasing her ring—but here, right now, why not just confess to it? When one of the waiters approached her with much-needed bubbling champagne, she earnestly plucked two glasses off the tray, downed one, and then thanked him. With that, she turned in the direction of the terrace, only to discover Gavin watching her every move.
Effectively ignoring him, she made her way outside.
Gavin shifted uncomfortably in his chair, trying to drag his eyes away from Emily as she exited the restaurant. She looked like a princess—so beautiful that she made his chest ache with the need to touch her. Even though laughter and conversation between Stephanie, Fallon, and Tina hummed around him, he couldn’t help the urge of somehow finding a way to follow her outside. His chance came when Trevor approached the group.
“Anyone need a drink?” Trevor asked. “I’m going over to the bar.”
“Get me and Tina an Alabama Slammer each,” Olivia piped out, adjusting the straps to the silver dress she was wearing. “Actually, get us two each.”
Trevor nodded at her request.
Rising to his feet, Gavin smiled. “I need another, and I’ll take a walk with you.” He turned to Stephanie. “Did you want something?”
“No, I’m okay, but thank you.”
Feeling like the slithering snake he knew he was for leaving Stephanie like that, Gavin surveyed the crowd in an attempt to locate Dillon. He found him consumed in a conversation among a few men that appeared to be his age. Gavin figured that they were his friends from high school or college. As he and Trevor approached the bar, it was apparent to Gavin—based on the look in Trevor’s eyes—that his friend knew something was up. Trevor placed the order with the bartender and turned to Gavin.