Physical Touch (26 page)

“I mean it, Ry. Being with you…what you do to me…well, what I mean to say.  Ah, shit. This is coming out all wrong.” He closed his eyes and sighed heavily, taking a deep breath before trying again.  “I’m in love with you, Ry. You are the most incredible, sexy, gorgeous, amazing woman I’ve ever been with. I want more. I want more of you, all the time.”

Rylie exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding in. This was big.  Huge. Unbelievably huge. She was literally at a loss for words, unable to respond to the weight he’d just laid on her. What did he mean by wanting more? More of what?

She was thankful for the darkness that surrounded them so he couldn’t see the expression on her face. He would have seen a look of sheer terror, mixed with unfettered joy. How weird of a combination was that?

Mitch placed his hands on the sides of her face and brought her down to just an inch from his, where he held her and stared into her eyes. He then placed the sweetest, softest kiss on her lips. 

“I didn’t mean to freak you out -”

“You didn’t…I’m not…” she swallowed hard. “Freaked out. Maybe just surprised, that’s all. You caught me off guard.” She took his hands and slid her fingers between his. “I want more of you, too. But I think we should figure out what that means to each other. We might have different versions of what
more
looks like.”

Mitch’s devilish grin came about one second before he flipped Rylie over onto her back and covered her with his own
body. Threading his fingers through her hair and just before swallowing her lips in a hot kiss, he said, “I’ll show you
more
right now…then we can talk
more
about it later.”

“You’ve got a stupid grin on your face and I know it’s not because we’re going to this charity event tonight,” Jackson said, shaking his head at the expense of his friend, who was straightening his bow tie in the hall mirror. “And it certainly has nothing to do with your date, either.”

Mitch grimaced at the thought of spending the next five to six hours with the newly single Elle on his arm – a huge favor to his mother who was hosting the event.  After his mother called him several times over the week to remind him of his promise and to be ‘nice’ to ‘poor Ellie,’ Elle had also called and left three messages for him, sounding needy and desperate. While not the least bit interested, he finally called her back to make arrangements for their night. He made sure to mention several times that they were ‘just friends’ and he was dating someone. And, oh how he wished that someone was going to be with him tonight instead of Elle. 

Although he had not specified what his plans entailed for the evening earlier that morning before Rylie left, he promised to call her when he got home. She mentioned she was going to some party with Sasha, but had indicated it wouldn’t be a late night, either.  In fact, he was hoping he would be able to make it an early night and drop Elle off at her home as soon as possible so he could see Rylie afterward without it appearing to be a booty call.

“So what if I’m smiling? Don’t see what it’s got to do with you,
ya prick.”

Jackson took a sip of his beer and cocked his eyebrow at Mitch, who had been fussing with his tie for over five minutes. 

“Must be having some severe withdrawals from your sexy therapist lady to put you in that kind of mood. So what’s going on there? Things must be pretty serious if you’ve invited her over tomorrow night.”

Mitch finished with his tie and turned to grab the beer from Jackson’s hand, taking a long swig before handing it back. 

“Yeah. She’s pretty great. You’ll like her.”

“I’m sure I will. It’s obvious she has your dick tied up in knots, so that’s saying something.”

Mitch ignored his friend’s comments and opened the hallway closet to get his outer jacket, folding it over his arm and grabbing his keys. A limo was parked and waiting outside his house, ready to pick up their dates and head downtown to the Boston Harbor Hotel on the waterfront. He had been with his mother and her co-chair, Charlene, the day they visited the site a year earlier, when he helped her pull some strings with the hotel manager to coordinate the planning of the event. It was a beautiful location and he knew if he could just get over the fact that he wasn’t going to be with Rylie, he’d have a good time.

On their way to pick up Elle and Jackson’s date for the evening, Deirdre, they popped open the chilled bottle of champagne and toasted themselves on another new project they’d signed earlier in the week. They’d also received a copy of
Architecture Today
in which they were both interviewed and a full story written on their last years’ string of successful projects. 

“Here’s to being the new “Eco-Kings!” Jackson toasted, clinking his glass to Mitch’s. 

Mitch smiled at the sound of their new media nickname and toasted back to his friend and partner. “And to the best partner a guy could have. Thanks buddy. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

The limo had pulled up to their first stop, which was Elle’s house. Mitch opened the door and stepped out, leaning back in to whisper. “Looks like she at least walked away from the marriage with a pretty damn nice house,” he said, whistling as he looked at the gated entrance of the three-story brownstone and headed to the front door.

Ringing the door buzzer, he heard the sounds of little feet scampering across the hardwood floors, giggles and some laughter. Elle’s voice from behind the door made a shrill, “Shhh – go back to bed you two,” and then she swung the door open. 

He had to admit, she did look stunning in a long flowing yellow gown and her matching blond hair coifed in a high chignon. She smiled then, and although beautiful, under closer inspection, her face held a desperate and harsh quality to it. Her features were pinched and tight, perhaps from too much work or just being angry all the time. He smiled back and held out his hand to shake hers, which was already outstretched in greeting.

“Mitch, darling, it’s been far too long,” she exclaimed in the same shrill voice, as she came in for the two-cheek debutante kiss. “You look absolutely handsome! Definitely not the scrawny kid who used to push me down in the sandbox.”

He laughed at the memory, not only because it was true, but because he remembered why he’d push her down. Her voice always held that same grating, fingernails-down-a-chalkboard quality and it drove him crazy. Even then. He took a quick breath and smiled.

“You look lovely, too. So glad we could escort one another tonight. I know my mother was appreciative.” Stepping in the foyer, he helped her with her coat as she grabbed her clutch from the hall table. Rattling off a few snippy instructions to her nanny, who looked like a timid house mouse, she turned to him and gestured toward the door. 

“I’m ready if you are.”

Mitch held the door and allowed her to step out, as he followed close behind. No, he was indeed not ready for the rest of the evening, but he’d made a promise and would have to get through it. Thank the good Lord the limo had plenty of booze and it was an open bar the rest of the night.

****

The party and silent auction were in full swing by the time Sasha and Rylie had arrived at the hotel, fashionably late, of course. And more than a little tipsy. Sasha had made sure that they had plenty of cocktails pre-party at her townhouse as they got ready for the evening.

The hotel was one of the oldest and most historic in the city, with the ballroom doors and windows looking out over the scenic Boston harbor. The room was beautifully lit from the glittering crystal chandeliers above, with a soft blue candescent light streaming down from the elegant coffered ceilings. 

Booze was flowing from every corner of the room and the servers were making their way through the crowd with mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres held high on silver trays. Rylie’s stomach growled as someone passed in front of her smelling like bacon wrapped prawns. Her mouth watered. She and Sasha had only had coffee and donuts before their spa treatments earlier in the day and didn’t have time to eat before they got dressed and ready, so she was famished as the trays of food continued to pass her by.

“I need to get something to eat, like now,” she growled, pulling at Sasha’s arm as they entered the ballroom.

Sasha pulled her arm away as she instantly reached for two glasses of champagne from the server in front of her. Handing one to Rylie, she took a sip and smiled. “First, we drink some bubbly. It will make everything taste delicious. Then we need to go find Mark’s parents. They should be around here somewhere. And please be on the look-out for any hot, eligible men…I need one like you need food. My vibrator just isn’t cutting it anymore.”

Rylie shook her head in disgust and then furtively glanced around to make sure they weren’t in earshot of anyone overhearing what she just said.

“Good grief, Sash. Keep it down, will you? We’re in a pretty swanky place tonight where the mention of a V word might just get us kicked out.”

Her volume picked up a notch. “Which V word? Vibrator? Vagina? Vulva?” 

An older gentleman and two white-haired women standing in a close circle within a few feet of them were clearly not amused by her antics and turned around with up-turned noses, giving Sasha the death glare. Sasha shrugged and took a swig of her drink.

Rylie was beyond mortified. “Oh my God,” she winced, yanking Sasha away in the opposite direction of their uptight audience. “Shush. Please remember to use your inside voice tonight and refrain from that kind of language and I promise you I’ll try to help find you a man. Okay?”

Sasha squealed in delight and gave Rylie a quick hug. “I won’t be choosy tonight, as long as he’s tall, rich and extremely gorgeous. Oh, and of course, he has to have a big co-,” Rylie slammed her hand over her friend’s mouth to shut her up before she could finish her sentence. Sasha’s eyes were blazing, as Rylie leaned in to whisper in her ear. 

“Next time I’ll use soap,” she said in as menacing of a voice as possible. She loosened up her fingers, but gave her a look that said, “
Are you going to behave now
?” Sasha nodded her head as Rylie released her hand from Sasha’s red lips. Opening her clutch, she grabbed a lipstick tube and handed it to Sasha. “Here, go fix your make-up.  You’re all smudged now.”

During Sasha’s absence, Rylie walked around the ballroom, admiring all the beautifully dressed men and women. She’d only been to one other affair that was quite this decadent, but felt this time that she fit the part. The dress that Sasha had loaned her was a crushed red velvet that fit tightly over her curves. The halter cowl-neck draped in the front, revealing a peek-a-boo cut-out for her cleavage and was backless, displaying just enough skin to be sinfully sexy. Her only thought when she had put it on and looked at herself in the mirror was how it would feel if Mitch were there with her, his hand placed gently on her exposed back, stroking up and down her spine.

God, she thought Sasha was bad always talking about sex, but now it was all that she could ever think about. Finishing up her glass of champagne, she replaced her empty one with a full one as the server swung around and then went in search of a plate of food.

Milling through the crowd, she overheard laughter and stories being shared in the small groups of people formed throughout the room. She smiled at the strangers that passed her or glanced her way, always hopeful no one would stop to make small talk.  She was already feeling giddy from the first glass of champagne and began to sip the other when she spotted a couple across the room and the woman’s dress caught her eye. 

The first thing she noticed, and what drew her attention to her, was the beautiful, silky canary yellow dress that was covering the woman’s lithe body. Her first instinct was to want to run her hands down the material because it looked so very soft…as smooth and creamy as butter.

The next thing she noticed, even though the couple had their backs to her, was how brilliantly happy the woman seemed. Her smile was a mile wide and she continued to look adoringly at her date. One of her yoga-toned arms was wrapped possessively around her date’s arm, as she laughed and smiled up at him, and the other one was on his back, stroking his broad shoulders. 

Even though the lights were dim, and she practically halfway across the room, the man looked extremely handsome and they seemed to make a very attractive couple. The other couple talking with them was laughing at something the man said and they were clinking their glasses in a toast. They seemed charmed and enjoying the moment. 

Her eyes were still on the group when a server came by to offer Rylie some food.  Already past her point of famished, she took a napkin and two little medallions of meat and thanked the hostess, just as someone from across the room called out “Mitch.” Her head jerked up at his name, just as she popped the appetizer in her mouth and glanced up. 

Their eyes met, first in recognition.

And then in shock.

Rylie almost spewed out the half chewed up appetizer had she not just swallowed it down, a choking sensation caught in her throat as she did. 

She couldn’t breathe. 

She couldn’t think.

She had to get out of there. 

It finally registered that the couple, the beautiful canary-like blonde woman and the handsome man, was Mitch. With some other woman. And now he was staring at her, over the shoulder of the man that had called out his name. Spinning around on her heel, her dress caught underneath her and nearly sent her toppling into Sasha, who had conveniently reappeared right behind her again. 

Grinning widely, she helped Rylie get upright. “Be careful, Ry. We know what high h
eels and too much champagne do to you,” she giggled, obviously feeling the effects from her own two glasses. And then she looked into Rylie’s face. “Whoa, girl.  What’s the matter? Are you okay?”

“Sasha, don’t ask me any questions. Just get me the fuck out of here. Now.”

****

Sasha looked around helplessly before running out to try and catch up to Rylie, who was now halfway to the ballroom doors. It was then that she heard Rylie’s name being called by a very low, sonorous voice. Turning in the direction in which it came, she did a double-take when she came face-to-face with Mitch Camden. 

“Mitch! What on earth are you doing here?” she smiled, her voice indicating she was a little confused, concerned and curious all at once.

“Sasha. Good to see you,” he said, without smiling or even really looking in her direction. His eyes were darting around the crowd trying to search out the direction in which Rylie had run off. He gently placed his hands on Sasha’s shoulders and brought his head down to hers. “I just saw Rylie and she saw me, but it’s not good. She ran off. Sasha, I need your help in finding her before she leaves. Please…” 

Mitch felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He was gasping for air like a drowning man. And he felt like drowning. When he saw Rylie’s expression of horror, her eyes darting from Elle to him to back to Elle, he knew right then that he had fucked up royally. And now he saw the same expression on Sasha’s curious face, as Elle came gliding gracefully up behind Mitch, placing her hands on his arms.