CHAPTER TWELVE
The champagne bubbles tickled Riley’s nose but the cool golden liquid slid smoothly down her parched throat. She’d danced a few songs with Sam but it wasn’t the tempo that had her out of breath. He’d had her laughing so hard with his silly stories about some of the movie sets he’d been on in his career. Although the hours sounded brutal, it appeared that the actors and crew could get goofy from time to time to break the monotony and liven things up.
“I’m not sure I believe you,” Riley said, holding her side where it ached from laughing. He’d told a particularly funny story about Tyler Gaylord and Nate Mason dressing up for Halloween. “That’s pretty out there.”
And nothing that she’d ever read in People magazine.
Sam held up his right hand. “I swear it happened. There are pictures somewhere, although I don’t have them. Max does, though. I can call him and he can send them to me.” Glancing at his watch, he winced and shook his head. “On the other hand, it’s around two in the morning in London. He might not appreciate that.”
“I’ll try to believe you without the evidence, but let’s just say that I’m on the fence about it.”
A waiter stopped with a tray of champagne flutes.
Sam reached for a glass. “Another?”
Riley was half done with her drink, but she’d already had a couple before. She’d spaced them out, drank some water in between, and eaten from the buffet so another wouldn’t make her tipsy, but she definitely wanted to pace herself. Getting drunk at her ex’s engagement party wasn’t a smart thing to do.
“Not right now.” She nodded towards the staircase. “I think I’ll go powder my nose if you don’t mind.”
“I’ll try to find Tara and my mother. Last time I saw them they were debating fiscal policy with some poor bastard. When my mother gets going on politics everybody needs to look out.”
“Tara knows to change the subject when it gets too heated. How about we meet by the patio doors in about ten minutes?”
“Perfect, but take your time.”
Riley climbed the large, curving staircase to the second floor and slipped into the hall bathroom to freshen up. She’d been in this house a few times when she was dating Chad and had never quite felt at home. The furnishings, while opulent, seemed cold and uninviting. There only appeared to be one rule when they had decorated this house – if it didn’t have a shine then it had to be covered in expensive fabric. Mostly velvet but there was some brocade as well. It gave the home a stuffy, formal feeling, the kind that made a person afraid to touch anything.
Before exiting the bathroom, she swiped on a fresh layer of lipstick and pushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face. She didn’t look too bad tonight. There had been appreciation in Sam’s eyes when he’d picked her up and it had sent tingles all the way down to her toes as if she was a giddy teenage girl going to the prom. Tonight was a fantasy and she’d decided to let herself relax and enjoy it.
The blatant jealous stares from other women, the more surreptitious glances from envious men. Women wanted Sam and men wanted to be him. Certainly not because he was with her tonight but because of what he was. Or maybe what he represented.
Financial success and freedom. Glamour. The pinnacle of one’s chosen career. Public adoration. Rubbing elbows with the beautiful people, especially women. Lots and lots of women. Sam had dated his share too over the years. She’d seen his picture on tabloids and in the magazines at the supermarket checkout stand. All of them tall, slender, gorgeous, and not anything like her at all.
But he was hers tonight. In front of all of these people, she didn’t have to pretend that she wasn’t attracted to him. They expected her to be. It was only in private that she had to act as if he wasn’t funny, smart, and gorgeous. Tonight was – in a way – a relief.
She could pretend that when he took her hand it was because he wanted to. Or that when he danced a little too close it was because he wanted more, much more, later. Sam Collins was a great actor, so she’d be a fool to believe that he was enamored with her.
But a girl could play make believe. Just for one night.
She was so lost in her daydreams that she wasn’t looking where she was going. Before she could move out of the way, she’d run headlong into a man in a tuxedo. She started to apologize but the words died on her tongue when she looked up into the male’s face.
Chad.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his forehead furrowed. “You looked completely lost in thought.”
I was thinking about Sam. And the moonlight.
“I guess I was. You know how busy school gets after Spring Break is over.”
As excuses go it was lame, but Chad seemed to buy it.
“Your dedication is how all teachers should be.”
Most of them were, although she had to remind herself that he had Monica as his main example.
Time to get out of here.
“That’s very nice of you to say. Congratulations on your engagement, Chad. I hope that you and Monica will have a long happy life together.”
Moving to the right so she could walk around him, she was once again blocked when he did the same, blocking her escape–
No, make that blocking my path. I’m not escaping.
“Can we talk for just a minute?” There was a pleading tone in Chad’s voice that she hadn’t heard before. “There’s something I need to say to you.”
There was nothing that he had to say that she wanted to hear. That champagne she’d drank earlier suddenly didn’t feel all that terrific in her tummy. Of all the things she’d hoped for, she’d wanted to keep her distance from Chad.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Sam is waiting for me downstairs.”
There. Throw her new man in Chad’s face. Her fake new man but the details weren’t important at the moment.
“Just a minute. I won’t keep you long, I promise. It’s important, Riley.”
All that meant was that it was important to him, but she’d been brought up to be polite no matter what. Especially in a public venue like this one.
“Fine. What did you want to say?”
His gaze darted around at the few people who were upstairs to use the facilities. Apparently this conversation wasn’t one that could be had with an audience.
“Let’s step in here,” he said, wrapping a hand around her upper arm. She quickly shook him off but did follow him into what appeared to be a television room with a large screen at one end and comfortable brown leather recliners in two rows.
“Talk,” she said, a trifle impatiently, her fingers clutching the tiny purse as if it was a lifeline. This had bad idea written all over it. “People are waiting for me.”
Shoving his hands in his trouser pockets, Chad’s gaze fell to the tips of his shoes. “I guess I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for what I did. I realized the other day that I never had apologized and I owed you that. I should have been up front about Monica but I took the coward’s way out and just pretended nothing was going on.”
Riley’s irritation turned to surprise. She hadn’t expected an apology. He was correct in saying he never had before so she hadn’t thought to receive one at this late date. Still, it was an apology. Better late than never.
“Thank you, I appreciate your apology.” But she couldn’t resist a small dig. She was only human, after all. “I deserved better from you.”
His head jerked up and his cheeks had turned bright red. “You did and I’m sorry. It was just…”
His voice trailed away and that impatience and irritation were back. He was the one that had wanted to talk.
“It was just what?” she prompted, her toe tapping on the lush carpet. “You were just a douchebag?”
His eyes widened and then he smiled, chuckling a little. “You’ve changed. You wouldn’t have said that before.”
She shook her head sadly. “You never knew me at all, did you? You only saw what you wanted to see.”
He was doing the same with Monica.
“It was just…Monica was so…sensual. So sexy and adventurous. She made me feel like…well…in a way I’d never felt before.”
Riley rubbed at her temple and turned toward the door. “I don’t think this is anything I want to discuss.”
“Wait,” Chad pleaded, throwing his hands up. “I’m just trying to explain.”
She shot him a look that had him taking a step back. “By telling me how I’m lacking? Why on earth would you think that’s a good idea? You need to take a close look at your people skills.”
“You weren’t lacking,” he quickly denied. “But I think we both know that you weren’t all that into me…not like Monica is. She let me know from day one that she wanted me and only me. I never got that feeling from you.”
She’d never had that feeling either from him, but she hadn’t cared. She’d never been convinced that Chad was the man for her.
Pot, this is kettle…
But she’d been nice for too long. She wasn’t going to let him act like what he did was okay.
“I’m sorry your delicate ego was so bruised. That’s still a pathetic excuse for cheating on me.”
Looking at Chad now, Riley couldn’t see one quality that had attracted her all those months ago. If she’d met him tonight she would have been less than interested.
He nodded in agreement. “No argument there. I shouldn’t have done it and I am sorry. But I guess I understand now. I mean…you sure as hell never looked at me the way you do Sam Collins. And he looks at you the same way. I wasn’t the one and he is. He’s a lucky guy to have a woman like you.”
Except that she wasn’t acting and Sam was.
“I don’t know if he’s…the one. It’s early yet.”
She couldn’t tell him that she and Sam were breaking up in the morning.
“From what I can see, you two have what it takes. I’m really happy for you, Riley. Seriously. Sam seems like a good guy. I just hope he treats you right.”
Somehow she managed to speak despite the lump that clogged her throat.
“Thank you. I need to get downstairs before they start looking for me.”
This time Chad didn’t stop her when she turned on her heel to leave. Her footsteps made no sound on the thick carpet as she descended the stairs, her gaze scanning the room for Sam. She found him exactly where he’d said he would be, smiling and waiting for her, Tara and Paula with him.
He’d done what he’d said he would do. So many men didn’t. It only made this harder. Her attraction for him had grown to such proportions she didn’t know how she was supposed to pretend that she didn’t want to kiss him.
Just a kiss. She’d studied his lips when he wasn’t watching, fascinated with their shape when he spoke. She’d never found a man’s mouth as captivating as she did his but surely that couldn’t survive an actual kiss.
It was the unknown that was alluring.