Her hand reached up to the giant ruby dangling around her neck for comfort as they entered the restaurant, which had recently been renovated into a Spanish-cuisine restaurant. She and Michael had stumbled into this very building after long nights of clubbing. Back then, it had been a pizza joint with arcade games and a giant disco ball in the middle of the dining rom. Somehow, the thought that this elegant restaurant streaming with well-dressed people once had been filled with pimply faced teenagers and drunken partygoers made January feel more at ease.

People chatted in groups around the bar and at their tables, deep in their own conversations, as she clutched to Brecken’s large hand and let him lead her through the restaurant. A short and stocky man with brown hair and hints of gray at his temple stood as Brecken approached the table. His smile was big and friendly, and he wrapped an arm around Brecken, pulling him into a hug.

“Brecken! It’s been too long.” He stepped back, and they shook hands as Brecken wrapped his free arm around her waist.

“Martin, I’d like you to meet January Lyle.”

She stuck her hand out to make the proper introduction, but Martin had other plans—using her hand to pull her in for a hug. “You are even more beautiful than he let on. It’s wonderful to meet you, dear.” Then he held an arm out to the woman sitting at the table. “This is my stunning wife Sylvie.”

Sylvie appeared closer to January’s age than her husband’s, but she stood and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, resting her hand on the top swell of her stomach. “Stunning, ha, if I get any larger, then I’m going to need two chairs to sit in.”

“Congratulations. When are you due?”

“Four weeks.” She sighed. “An eternity away.”

Brecken slid the chair in for her and took the seat beside her, falling into easy conversation with Martin.

Sylvie eyed them before leaning across the table to January. “What do you say you and I head to the bar. The service has been terrible, and I need a refill before my ankles swell to the size of balloons.”

She stood, and January looked to Brecken. He smiled and nodded, indicating his approval.

The bar was busy, but people made way for the pregnant lady, and soon Sylvie had secured them two seats at the bar, a water for herself, and the house red for January. She took a long sip of wine and smiled as Sylvie propped her elbow on the bar and leaned in. “If I’m honest, I really wanted to get you away from Brecken so I could ask about the two of you. I hope you don’t think I’m being too nosey. It’s just that he’s never brought anyone to dinner before.”

“He hasn’t?” January looked back at the table and caught Brecken’s eye. There was a flash of concern until she smiled, and then his mouth pulled at the corners into a big grin. Her insides turned to liquid, and she forced herself to concentrate on Sylvie.

“No. Never. How did you two meet?”

“At a bar, actually, on my birthday. We chatted, and then he left and nearly hit me with his car. I think he was afraid I was going to feign a neck injury or something, so he hired me to help organize his late father’s estate.”

“Wow.” Sylvie’s eyes widened.

“How long have you known Brecken?”

“I just met him last year when Martin and I started dating. God, I can’t believe it’s only been a year,” she rattled on, looking to the ceiling as if she were thinking back over it all. “What can I say, when you know, you know. I knew he was the one for me on our very first date.”

She looked back to January with a smile. “Are things serious with you and Brecken? I can only assume they are if he brought you to meet Martin.”

“It’s only been a few weeks.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” Sylvie pointed a finger at her but didn’t wait for her to say more. “Brecken is one of the good ones. He doesn’t take this whole lifestyle too seriously. It was strange for me at first, rubbing elbows with rich people and pretending to care about their second home in Napa or their nanny troubles.” Rolling her eyes, she continued without taking a breath. “In my experience, the ones who spend the most time talking about how they’re spending all their money are usually the ones who are overcompensating for something—a cheating spouse, a company dissolving. Listen to me rambling on. I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t scare you off. I’d like to see more of you.”

Surprised by how much she wanted that too, January laughed easily. “Me, too.”

Sylvie got to her feet slowly and let out a breath. “We should probably get back to the men or they’ll spend the entire night talking business.”

* * *

“They liked you, too.” The hum of his words vibrated in her ear as January peeled off her dress and let it drop to the floor. The wine coursed through her body, making her lightheaded and positively giddy.

She reached down to undo the strap of her heels, but Brecken lifted her back up. “Leave the shoes on.”

Body shivering in anticipation, she slipped her hands under his suit jacket and helped him out of it. “Sylvie and I are going to have lunch next weekend.”

“Good. I’ve always liked her. She talks so much I don’t have to worry about carrying the conversation.” His hands made quick work of her bra and panties, tossing them to join the dress and jacket at their feet.

January fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, cursing under her breath, and his hands joined hers, ripping open the shirt and making the buttons fly off and scatter across the floor. Staring up at him in shock, she watched as he smiled back in a predatory way, his bare chest revealed.

Her laughter echoed in the room, and she fought to speak through the gasps. “Oh my God. Did you really just rip off your shirt like the Incredible Hulk?”

Picking her up by the waist, he laid her down on the bed and removed the rest of his clothing. “You were taking too long. I’ve been thinking about sinking deep inside you since the moment you put that tight little cock tease of a dress on.”

The room spun as he palmed her breasts and arranged his heavy weight on top of her. She fought the blackness flashing in front of her as he whispered sweet nothings and kissed her naked body. Her throat burned as she tried to gulp in the air around her, turning her head from side to side.

“Time out!” She threw her hands up in the air as if she were the captain of a football team and desperately needed to huddle up with only seconds left on the clock. Oh, and it was that urgent.

Brecken stilled as she squirmed out from under him and launched herself toward the bathroom.

Damn these heels!

She barely made it to the toilet when the contents of her stomach came back up and out.

Footsteps padded on the bathroom floor behind her as the second round threatened, burning her eyes and sending cold chills over her sweaty body. His hands brushed back her hair as he sat on the floor beside her and she heaved until her stomach ached.

Brecken’s fingers worked at the clasps on her shoes and then gently pulled them free as she took slow, deep breaths and prayed she was done throwing up. Then he reached to turn the shower on, scooped her into his arms, and moved them so they were under the warm spray.

“Can you stand?”

January murmured and nodded as he slid her down his body so her feet rested on the tile floor. “I’m sorry.”

“Shh.”

The sound of a bottle popping open registered above the water streaming around her face and then his hands were on her, sliding the soap over her chilled body. “A quick shower, and we’ll get you in bed. You’re a total lightweight by the way.”

“Too nervous to eat. Should have known better.” Her words came out in broken sentences. Each syllable making her more tired.

His hands were gentle as he lathered the soap across her body. It was the only time he’d ever touched her that her body hadn’t reacted with wanton desire. Letting her head fall forward, she smiled at his erect penis. Even in her drunk stupor, smelling like puke and desperately needing a breath mint, she admired what a perfect specimen he was.

He laughed gently against her ear. “Stop staring at my penis.”

“Can’t help it.”

“Neither can I.”

Turning off the water and grabbing a towel from the hook on the outside wall, he billowed it out over her head, dropping it around her shoulders. She started to shuffle across the tile to the bed, only to have her feet swept out from under her again as he picked her back up. Protesting seemed silly since he’d already taken such tender care of her, so she nuzzled against his chest and let him put her to bed like a child.