SEXIER THAN WONDER WOMAN
Jordan
“Jordie, buddy. Marcia didn’t say you were coming.” Monty rushed through the doors, greeting me with open arms. I tried to focus on his face and not the one who was obviously shocked by my unexpected appearance.
I’d assumed, wrongly, that Cinderella wanted to see me again and that was why I’d been invited over. I was wrong. Horribly wrong. I could see that all over her terrible version of a poker face. She was fuming.
“Monty!” I shook his hand and half hugged. “Brother, how’s it going?” Monty was the greatest guy on the face of the earth. A solid gentleman and amazing human. He was the one side of his relationship with Marcia I got. She couldn’t do better in my opinion. But Monty sure as hell could have. Marcia was drop-dead gorgeous, but she was a spoiled brat. She and one of her friends once had a conversation in front of me that was so ridiculous I couldn’t get a hard-on for a week. It was a tragedy to see him wasted on her arm. But they’d been together for years, and I never got the impression he was a hostage. In fact, it was he who was smitten with her.
“Good. How was the last month or so of school? I haven’t seen you since Easter.”
“Stressful. Finishing the degree up is daunting.” I shrugged.
“Jordan!” The devil herself came sauntering in from the deck, smiling wide with eyes full of mischief. This was her doing. She wanted me here, but I didn’t know why she had orchestrated this if Cinderella wasn’t on board. Was this a game to her?
“Marcia, thanks for the invite. I guess I’m early.” I leaned in and hugged her as well, forcing my gaze not to dart to the place it never wanted to look away from.
The beautiful and slightly sarcastic dream girl at the counter. Hate-eating chocolates and drinking scotch. Because of course she would be doing that.
“You aren’t early; you’re just in time. We were going to start serving appies. Everyone else should be here any second.” Marcia took my hand and led me to the counter where Cinderella was shooting daggers. At both me and Marcia. One of us was dead to her. That much was brutally obvious. Painfully, actually.
Marcia smiled with fake innocence. “Jordan Somersby, this is Lacey Winters. I believe you two met the other night.”
“We didn’t. Not really.” Lacey stood, stuffing another chocolate in her mouth, like she was shutting herself up by plugging the hole.
“We were never properly introduced.” I offered her my hand, begging with my stare that she play nice on this forced date. “Jordan.”
“Lacey,” she said with a full mouth. She let me take her hand, but she just let it sit in mine as I shook both for us. Hers like a limp noodle. “This was the part we actually did alre—”
“What can I get you to drink?” Marcia asked me, cutting her off.
“He likes scotch. Really pretentious scotch,” Lacey said, even with the chocolate coating her teeth.
“She’s right.” I nodded. “Scotch. And pretentious to go with my terrible attitude,” I offered humbly.
“Oh my God. You always have an amazing attitude. Stop,” Marcia said, praising me. She was selling me to this beautiful creature who didn’t even want a sample of the product let alone a purchase.
I was so incredibly lost.
“So, how was your first week back to work?” Monty asked.
“I actually took the week off, sort of. Grandpa Jack had a sailing race for us, and Steph and I hit the spa. It’s been a bit relaxed.”
“Steph?” Lacey asked sharply.
“His brother’s name is Stephen with a p-h, so we call him Steph. He loves it.” Monty chuckled.
The sound of it made me smile too. “Got a massage, and we hit the steam room. It was nice. After such a long and grueling school year, I’m pretty excited to be done. How about you?” I asked Monty as the butler brought me a drink.
“It was great. My dad and uncle got me to help with a merger and let me take the lead with a couple of clients. Smaller deals, obviously, but I felt good.” His eyes darted to Marcia. “Not like spending the week tanning and going to the spa with friends and getting a mani-pedi with my mom. But productive nonetheless.” He gave Marcia a dig.
“You got your back waxed too,” Marcia fired back coldly, making me snort into my drink.
“Yes.” Monty nodded, lifting his drink. “Highlight of my week, without a doubt.”
Lacey laughed and smiled up at Monty, and I thought perhaps I caught a little something there that I shouldn’t have seen.
Which of course would make sense.
Monty was the full package. But he was taken by her best friend. Was it possible there was more to all this than met the eye? A bit of threesome action I wasn’t aware of?
God, to be a fly on that wall.
“Shall we go outside to eat?” Marcia asked Monty.
“Let’s.” He led the way and had no sooner spoken than food started popping up on countertops and on the tables; a spread like this meant it was going to be some night.
But my eyes were stuck on the girl as she followed Marcia and Monty to the patio.
“So where do you work?” I asked politely as I walked alongside her.
“La Croix Marketing and PR.”
“Oh, you work for Mr. La Croix. Lucky. I heard it’s amazing there.” Fuck me, this night was going to be brutal.
“It is. I’m very lucky he takes pity on me,” she said, as if challenging me.
“She’s a filthy liar,” Monty said as he started serving himself up some food. “Lacey’s his right hand even as an intern. Has her own office and just got assigned the lead on a new product. What intern who isn’t related to the boss has this life?”
“He gave me the worst job in the world because no one else would take it. And I am practically related.” She blushed and shook her head.
Seeing her blush and be humble was amazing. She was perfect. I was trying so hard to find a flaw beyond her obvious crush on Monty, though I had to admit that even I had one of those. Stephen definitely did. He always said Monty was the only guy who could tempt him onto the other team.
I needed something, beyond the thought of my brother switching teams, to focus on, but there wasn’t anything. I was going to be putty in this girl’s hands by the end of the night, if not take her home to my bed. “What is the project?”
“Bug bars.” She cringed, lightening up and laughing a little. It was a magical sound. “Cricket flour.” She actually laughed genuinely.
“Oh, I’ve had those at the gym. I actually didn’t mind them. The whole cricket-protein thing bugged me for a moment. Pun intended.”
“I got sick,” she confessed, losing her humor.
“Yeah. I was swallowing my bite when Mr. La Croix—”
“Rudely told her that they were made of crickets, and the poor girl went rushing from the room.” Mr. La Croix finished the story for her, offering me his hand. “Jordie, how are you?”
“Great, sir. Thank you.” I stood and shook his hand.
“How was Boston?”
“Cold. I’m happy to be home for the summer.”
“You guys will all be excited when college is over. I know I was.”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded. I genuinely was looking forward to that. I loved finances and the simplicity of them, but they weren’t exactly a passion. I wasn’t a mathematician; I was more of a creative thinker. So spending all my time learning about it was exhausting.
“And I see you’ve met my darling other daughter, the one who will take the helm one day.” His eyes sparkled with admiration and love. Naturally I glanced at Marcia, checking for some sibling rivalry, but there was none. Her face was the same. They both adored Lacey.
“Well, unless Prince Harry is still available. Then I’m afraid I won’t be,” she added, making Marcia and Mr. La Croix laugh. Clearly an inside joke.
“Well, maybe you can settle for someone less royal and a bit more local.” Marcia draped an arm over my shoulders, as if we were this close and this joke was anywhere near the realm of appropriate.
“Anyway.” Mr. La Croix shot Marcia a look. “You kids behave yourselves. Try not to get into too much trouble before it’s time to go out. You know how some of you get.” His eyes darted to Lacey. She pressed her lips together and nodded. He smiled. “No one needs to get sick three times in one week.” He chuckled and walked inside, leaving Marcia snickering and Lacey’s cheeks burning, but she nodded along like this banter was normal.
“You told him about the Sunday puking?” Her eyes flashed on Marcia.
“Yes, of course. How else was I going to ensure he felt terrible? He needed to know he was evil for doing that to you.” She’d defended her friend to her father. Her friend who secretly crushed on her boyfriend and was stealing her position at the family company. What a strange group they were.
“Oh my God. He doesn’t need to feel worse. He’s already upset enough. He knows I don’t normally have a squeamish stomach.” Lacey covered her face, which nearly matched her tight pink suit dress. “Remember the sea insects we ate like peanuts in the bowl in that bar in Taiwan? He and I liked them.”
“Yeah, well, it was mean, and any opportunity I get to lecture him is taken.” Marcia stuffed some bread into her mouth, grinning before she started chewing.
Lacey rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I have to go get changed before everyone gets here.”
“What, you aren’t going clubbing in your work clothes like every other snobby New Yorker?”
“No, dick, I’m going to steal some of your clothes.” Lacey flipped her friend off and headed inside, surprising me in every way. Except the sarcasm. That I knew she was fully capable of.
“So, how’s Captain Jack?” Monty asked.
“Surly and gross and slutty.” I spoke slowly, really putting thought into those descriptors. “His idea of grandfatherly advice comes in the form of how to avoid getting crabs.”
“I love that old bastard.” He grinned. “He and my Grandpa got along so well.”
“I’m sorry about Old Monty. We were at the funeral, but it was so packed I never got a chance to say hi, and then I had to get back to school.” I lifted my glass. “He, too, was a classic.”
“To Old Monty.” He clinked his glass to mine.
When Marcia left us alone, we sat down and I leaned in. “What is going on here?”
“With what?” He looked around nervously at the switch in my behavior.
“Why am I here?”
“Cause I like you?” He changed to confused.
“I met that Lacey girl a couple of nights ago, we kissed on the boat cruise, and then I stupidly hit on her a bit in front of Amy, who I honestly forgot was my ‘date’ at the last peacocking party. Lacey called me out on it. Which I get. But then I called Marcia to find out her story, certain I could solve my Amy issue by the end of the week and maybe ask Lacey out like a gentleman. I ask one question about the girl, and now suddenly I’m here. Having drinks with Lacey, who doesn’t look like she’s excited to see me, which makes me think she wasn’t in on inviting me.” I lowered my voice even more upon seeing his expression. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”
“Not even a little clue.” He glanced back behind us. “I thought she invited you because you’re one of my favorites, we never see you because Marcia hates Stephen and you two are always joined at the hip, and you’ve been in Boston for school for almost half a decade. Which means”—his eyes got serious again when he looked at me—“Marcia has a plan. She clearly wants to hook you and Lacey up.”
“I can think of worse ways to die.” I chuckled.
“Yeah, but it’s weird because Marcia lumps you in with your brother’s old behavior. She thinks you’re a pig. She wouldn’t normally hook you up with Lacey. And even if she would consider it for some uncharacteristic reason, Lacey’s cool. Like, the coolest girl I know. She’s smart, funny, honest, hardworking, humble, smoking hot. I mean, she’s the whole package. And her little brother is her in guy form. Very rad family.”
“How do you know them?”
“Her grandparents came into some money when Lacey was thirteen. They decided to pay for the kids to go to a good school. They went to Pennbrook Academy with us.”
“Oh, wow, and to think I turned down Pennbrook to go to Dalton.”
“Better football. I was always jealous of you.” Monty sighed, still checking on the girls to ensure they weren’t coming.
“Yeah, well, now I’m jealous of you. You’ve known her this whole time and never accidentally—”
“No, man!” Monty scoffed. “She’s like a little sister. And we didn’t hang out a ton until I started seeing Marcia a few years ago. She isn’t that kind of girl anyway. She dated France—”
“Oh my God, that’s her!” I exclaimed, probably too loudly. “Fuck! Yes. I remember her now. Halloween party like two years back at Warner’s place. She was getting pissed at him, at France. He had cheated or something. She had on some crazy outfit, so I didn’t recognize her.”
“Right. She was Cruella De Vil. Had a wig and makeup on and a bunch of stuffed dalmatian puppies.”
“They always have wigs on. I never recognize half of the Upper East Side; could be my best friend’s girl, and I don’t have a clue whom he’s with. And not just on Halloween either. More wigs than plastic surgery clinics. I’ve just learned to go with it. Man! France blew that one.”
“Did he ever. She actually liked the dipshit too. Hasn’t dated since. Refuses to date a blue blood, in fact, so I don’t know why Marcia would torture you or her.” Monty sounded lost.
“She hasn’t dated in two years?” We had that in common.
“No. It doesn’t help that I have basically made her forbidden fruit either. Every guy in town wants her, but they know I’ll hire a hit on them if they mess with her. And she’s not rich, so of course no guys will actually invest their time in her. Plus she’s in school, has no pressure to snap up someone rich or connected before there’s no one left in the pile, and she works full-time all summer for a company that expects her to take over one day. I don’t imagine she has much time for herself or anyone else.”
“No.”
“And the little brother I was talking about, Martin. He’s sick. Just got diagnosed with cancer. Really shitty, cause it’s the same variety that killed their grandpa.”
“Jesus.” I grimaced, heartbroken for her, and I didn’t even know her.
“Like I said, her brother is a cool kid. Fortunately Marcia said he would be fine—it’s treatable and shit—but the kid’s only, like, seventeen.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Don’t tell her I told you. I just wanted you to know the deal in case Marcia has a plan for you two.” His stare grew serious, threatening almost. “She isn’t some side dish.” He took his role as big brother seriously.
“I’m not a side dish kind of guy.” I thought he knew me better than that, but I tried not to be insulted. “You know I haven’t dated in almost two years either. I don’t want commitment.”
“Dear God. You live like a monk then?”
“Yeah. It’s not so bad. Better than being with someone and worrying whether or not their family meets your family’s expectations. Watching my brother going through his shit to get my family to agree to Cynthia was way too much effort. And I haven’t felt a spark worthy of that much work in a while.” My eyes darted to the doorway.
“You don’t even give in every once and a while and just fuc—”
“No,” I laughed. “I don’t think I could do a one-night stand. Not my thing.”
“Totally changing the subject, but tell me you have a plan for this Amy situation.”
“I’m working on something. I mean she’s not a bad person per se, but she’s so incredibly narcissistic that I don’t know if she’s aware other people even exist. Except her friends. She’s always texting and taking selfies and posting live feed of her with the beautiful people, like they’re entertaining enough for that. Stephen told me she’s obsessed with some drummer of some band. I heard her and her friends talking about them a lot. She’s going to follow the band on tour this summer.”
“Amy’s going to follow a band all summer?” Marcia interrupted as she walked in on us.
“Yeah.” I laughed bitterly.
“Then why don’t you just break it off?” Marcia sat on Monty’s lap and stole his drink.
“Because my dad is cozying up to hers, trying to make us all one big happy family so they’ll invest and he can redeem himself with Grandpa Jack. I can’t burn the bridge; the deal isn’t even done, and it’s a ten-figure payout. It’s got to be handled delicately.” I sounded like my grandpa. For half a second, I contemplated telling them about how I was going to us the Test Dummy to test myself, pretending to be Amy, and risk getting disinherited if I couldn’t work my way out of the so-called relationship, but I decided not to. I needed to look guilty when I got caught, and Marcia was a blabber.
“You need to man up and end that. It’s ridiculous, and it’s killing your street cred, honestly.” Marcia finished the drink. “Your dad’s pimping you out. It’s sad.”
“All right, that feels better,” Lacey interrupted, though it might have been for the best. I didn’t have much to say in my own defense.
And whatever I did have was lost the moment I saw her, my spark.
She strolled out onto the deck wearing the sexiest little pale-pink dress in the history of sexy little summer dresses. It was perfect for a night of clubbing on a warm evening. And perfect for making me desperate to touch her. Her dark hair and milky skin stood out against the dress. It was almost as pale as her skin, making me uncomfortably drawn to her.
I didn’t have a chance to even think about saying something polite, because the party arrived all at once.
“Everyone’s here! Finally!” Marcia hurried inside, shouting and waving. “Time to party!” She was already halfway there.
Monty got up, nudging me. “Close one door before you open another.” He was offering some brotherly advice—not the kind my own brother would give me. No. Stephen would see Lacey and set a challenge for me, betting me he could get her into bed before me. And he would have. And then he would discard her, because that was who he was before he fell in love. But that’s not how I rolled.
My stomach ached as I stared at Lacey smiling and laughing with her friends. I longed to brush a hand along the bare skin of her back or drag my lips up her long neck.
She was beautiful.
Adding the fact that I couldn’t have her made me want her even more.