Eight
Max
The bar was rammed but there were several members of serving staff so it didn’t take long to place my order. As the drinks were being made up, I turned and rested my back against the surface. The woman next to me reeked of perfume, high end but it still made you gag.
The gardens were now packed with people everywhere ; drinking, laughing, and smoking. My envious eyes watched as reddish cigarette tips glowed back at me as people inhaled. I needed a smoke. I scanned the clusters of people scattered around the large patio area and then down towards the marquee. Maybe I could get in on someone else’s action; passive smoking wasn’t the same but it was better than nothing.
As I lazily people-watched, my eyes fell upon the guest of honour. Lord Swift. Jonathan seemed to be in good form, as people swarmed in and out of the group he was chatting with. At the side of the marquee close to where he was standing was a large table full of presents, it made me smile. Like he needed gifts when he could buy anything he wanted, literally . I had my secretary send him a bottle of his favourite scotch. What do you buy the man who has it all?
Keeping my eyes on the crowd, I noticed Amber was talking to a man. He was leering down at her and I was surprised she allowed that. The guy was stocky and kept touching her arm as he spoke. She didn’t appear to notice or be bothered that he was totally in her face. Amber appeared genuinely amused and it rattled me. My eyes took in the smoothness of her throat as she threw her head back and laughed; now there was a noise you didn’t hear every day. Who knew that such a sinfully melodic sound could come from lips that were usually drawn into a thin line of contempt? It was like sweet poison. She also had such a nice smile and I suddenly wanted to be on the other end of it. As she touched his chest playfully, the thought of planting my fist in the guy's face swam into my thoughts.
The drinks arrived at the bar behind me and I twisted back, checking my order.
Lifting the tray, my eyes scanned the glassware, I’d gone for whisky again, Luca had chosen a bottle of Bud, Mia champagne and Amber, that cheap fricking fizz. What was that about?
As I approached the seating area that we had fortunately bagsied, the table was low with a glass surface and I placed the tray there. Luca was sitting on a wicker sofa with his arm resting along the back, behind Mia’s shoulders. Smooth, very smooth. They were sitting extremely close for two people who had quite literally just met.
As I lowered my fight-bruised body onto one of the wicker chairs, Amber returned, looking flustered. I wondered what the little fucker had said to give her so much colour.
“Sorry about that. I’ll stay for one round and then I’ll have to go and check with the chefs,” she explained, smoothing down her dress as she took the empty chair opposite me. Amber sat up straight in a lofty position, the society princess surrounded by a barbed-wire blockade.
“You worry too much. You need to let your hair down now and allow the people you paid to do their jobs, Amber,” Mia said as she lifted her champagne flute to her lips. “You know you can’t stand half of these freeloaders.”
I chuckled at how plain-speaking Amber’s friend was which drew Mia’s attention towards me.
“Present company excluded of course,” she said with a grin.
“I’ll be fine once everyone is seated for dinner,” Amber replied, moving the conversation on. Even though she was on her best behaviour, that strained atmosphere between us was still present .
Leaning across the table, I lifted her glass and passed it over and she took it with a brief smile.
For fucks sake, she chatted to that fucking hobbit for five minutes, all sweetness and light, I get her a drink and that’s all I get. As I said, countless times, the woman was hard work.
I lifted my tumbler of whisky and cradled it against my chest, tuning into the conversation which circled the table. It had started with the TV show, Breaking Bad before the subject moved on to Luca.
“You know, you look exactly like the guy on the brand of condoms I buy,” Mia said with a laugh. She was very touchy-feely with him, her painted fingertips pressing against his jacket sleeve, to articulate her words.
His grin was meaty as he explained, “It is me. I got contracted to Trojan to advertise their latest brand.” Fuck me, how high was his voice? He’d be offering her his autograph next. It was funny, the guy had worked for Gucci, Calvin Klein and Prada and yet he seemed to be most proud of his lame-ass condom contract. It was like his party piece.
There was no shame at all that the banter had moved onto contraception.
Both Luca and Mia continued to take charge of the conversation. My gaze met Amber’s a couple of times but I couldn’t read her expression. We didn’t have her full attention. It wasn’t possible due to the amount of people who kept interrupting to say their hellos and compliment her on the party. I understood she’d be on edge and would want her Daddy’s big night to go well but she could have at least tried to look interested.
Mia had a great rude sense of humour and I immediately liked her. She was so much more relaxed than her friend.
After around ten minutes of chit-chat about various things, Luca drew the chat back to bloody condoms, no shock there then. He loved to talk about himself the vain fuck. “So, how’s my brand working out for you?” he said playfully .
“They’re not your brand dickhead. It’s just your mug on the packet,” I pointed out with a God give me strength expression. He could be such a fucknut.
Luca lifted one Italian leather-encased foot and placed it across his knee before shrugging. “How many condom packets are your face on?”
I smiled and rubbed the back of my neck, “None, thankfully.”
“So, what size do you buy?” Luca said, turning his attention back to Mia with a squeeze of her leg. The guy was all over her. I felt like saying, yes, she’s got a great arse and you already have your head half the way up it.
Shooting him an incredulous look, I didn’t capture her reply as Amber took that moment to speak to me. Dragging my face away from Luca and his smug expression, I couldn’t stop my eyes from drifting to Amber’s bare thigh through the slit of her dress. Oh, to have those wrapped around my waist. Shit, down boy.
“So, what do you think?” she asked.
“Sorry?” I replied, prising my eyes up from her legs. My actions made her smile, a genuine one. A pleasant feeling settled in my stomach.
“I mean about Daddy’s birthday party,” she said in an amused voice.
Clearing my throat, I leaned back in my seat, “I think you’ve done well. It looks amazing. What company did you use?” I asked, not totally out of my comfort zone. I used event planners to organise the launches of my hotels and bars. But not to the level of detail as Jonathan’s party.
“To be honest, I did most of it myself,” Amber admitted, but not in a conceited way, almost like she couldn’t believe she had managed to pull it off. I watched as she threaded a loose piece of hair behind one of her cute ears. She was so beautiful and I couldn’t stop my thoughts from racing. Did she ever think about our kiss?
I dragged my thoughts away and lifted my eyes from her lips. “If that’s the case, you’ve missed your calling. I’d sack off site work and concentrate your efforts on planning parties,” I stated, taking a sip of whisky and regarding her over the rim of the glass.
Her perfect nose lifted as she questioned, “What do you mean?”
“You should become a party planner, not a project manager,” I explained.
My words caused Amber’s nose to crinkle, lashes lowering as she placed her empty glass on the table.
“A party planner?” she said, drawing back, her tone brisk. What the hell? It had been meant as a compliment. Not even fifteen minutes in and I’d already offended her. Mission failed.
“What did I say?” I questioned in disbelief, rolling my shoulders at the look she was giving me.
“So, you see me as an empty-headed society princess who just plans parties?” Amber drawled with a head tilt.
Her backbone had stiffened even more against her seat. I glanced over at Luca and Mia who were deep in conversation before leaning slightly over the table. “I didn’t mean it offensively. Planning events to this level takes talent, real talent and can be as stressful as fuck. You could easily be a professional and you could charge a fortune,” I said gruffly, attempting to repair the damage I hadn’t intended to cause.
To be perfectly honest I didn’t want to fight with her. I wanted to do the opposite; especially, after ballsing up in Felice’s that night. Thoughts of that forbidden kiss came flooding back.
“Well, you completely trashed my reply to your essay question on project management so maybe you’re right.”
Guilt pumped through me, “Ah, about that,” I started.
“What?”
“Well, it wasn’t that bad. I was in a mood when I read it. I was being a dick, forgive me? ”
My words appeared to soothe her as Amber settled back against the backrest of her chair. We sat in silence as she cast a look out over at the guests with a slight smile gracing her lips.
She then pushed forward and smoothed the wrinkles in her dress over that one-toned crossed leg.
“I suppose it’s something to think about; party planning. I do enjoy organising stuff like this.” Amber said with a nod of greeting toward someone to the side of me. I followed her gaze, thankfully it wasn’t the hobbit.
Dragging her attention back I pointed out, “You have a gift, Amber, everything looks amazing. As Mia said, you should relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jonny as cheerful.”
The quartet which had been playing instrumental versions of the theme tunes from the James Bond movies changed to an obscure ballad and it filtered across the patio. I was an angry rock music man myself, but the sound was pleasant and went with the ambience. I noticed some people were dancing and I wondered what it would feel like to have Amber in my arms, her head resting against my chest.
“So, you came with a friend,” Amber suddenly said, changing the subject.
“I did. What about you?” I questioned, hoping she didn’t mention the guy from earlier. He was now standing at the bottom of the stone steps which led to the entrance of the marquee. There were around six of them all laughing and knocking back their drinks like drunken pricks.
“What about me?” she said, glancing to see where I was looking.
I dragged my gaze back. “Where’s your plus one?”
“I didn’t have time to invite anyone—” Amber’s voice turned to vapour as she didn’t finish her sentence.
So, I did it for her, “Of course, you don’t date,” I said with a head nod. I felt daring going there, considering the last time we’d walked that path I’d fused my mouth with hers. Fuck, my dick twitched at the thought .
Amber glanced at Luca and Mia who must have found whatever story he was feeding her hilarious . Their body language said it all. “Neither do you,” she pointed out. “I must say I didn’t see you bringing a guy,” she said, taking a sip of her drink.
I frowned, “Surely you knew I was coming with a male friend.”
She shook her head which brought me back to my earlier thought. “But you put us in separate rooms.”
Amber pursed her lips and replied, “Yes, I did that on purpose. If you had brought a woman, the last thing I wanted to do was give you the opportunity of screwing someone in my house.”
Then the penny dropped. “Ah, I see. That’s a low blow, even by your standards,” I mocked.
Her eyes narrowed further. “Not at all.”
I gestured with one hand, “Hey, a man’s got needs,” I added with a grin, rolling the ice around my glass, and pushing back into the chair. I crossed my ankles as I surveyed her over the low table.
Amber threaded another tendril of hair back which had escaped the masterpiece on her head. “And you’re free to fulfil your needs where you like, Max, as long as it isn’t my house.”
I pinched my brows together, “Why do you care what goes on behind closed doors? It’s not like I’d screw someone in the middle of the marquee.”
She tried to mask her expression but I saw a flash of annoyance or was it something deeper, “My room is only down the hall and I’m a light sleeper.”
A huge smile pulled at my lips, “Whatever. I think it’s something else.”
Amber watched me with a strange expression, guarded almost, “Like what?”
Fuck it, the booze had loosened me up, “Jealousy?”
I saw the sign that I was right. It gave me a minor sense of victory. I had learned that Amber blinked when she was nervous, it was one of her tells. I wondered how far I would have to go to get her to shed that thick skin of hers .
Overegging her snort, she replied tartly, “Me jealous of you with another woman?”
The demon inside me smiled, “Not that necessarily. How about you being jealous that someone is getting some and you’re not?”
She uncrossed her legs, running her hands down the skirt of her dress. I could see her hands were shaking slightly, “Who says I’m not?” Amber muttered, glancing down at her lap.
“You admitted that you don’t have a date tonight,” I pointed out.
From her body language, Amber was fighting a war inside her head. She glanced around and then leaned further forwards in her seat before whispering, “I don’t need a date to find someone to fuck, Max.” She was watching me through heavy lashes, her eyes sparkling. “Have you seen the security men?” Her tone suggested she was being purposely provoking.
A fresh surge of jealousy pumped through me. That feeling of anger was like a physical slap. I clenched my teeth, telling myself to keep it together, if I admitted anything she would probably laugh in my face.
I ran my eyes over the source of my torment from top to bottom with a look of forced distaste, “Really? You’re that tacky that you’d sleep with the hired help?” Our friendly, normal conversation was turning on its axis.
Amber lifted her chin, regarding me, now thoroughly unfazed and it pissed me off, “So you are a snob.” She’d called me that at Felice’s when I’d spoken about her dating a tradesman.
I swallowed the rest of what had to be my sixth double whisky and placed the glass none too gently back onto the table, “Not at all. It just feels a bit desperate, like you’ll settle for anything. I was surprised you drink cheap shit like prosecco too. What are you doing, trying to rough it?” The direction of our discussion was going the wrong way but I couldn’t stop myself.
“What did you think I’d drink?” Amber questioned with raised eyebrows .
I shrugged nonchalantly, “I don’t know. The blood of small children.” My ratty comment didn’t soften the sharpness of her look.
Amber didn’t like that and her face twisted, “Funny. And it isn’t desperate, it’s easy with no strings, just how I like it.” Her tone was matter of fact but her voice cracked part way through that sentence. Interesting.
I went in for the kill, purposely baiting her. Pretty ballsy stuff considering where we were. People surrounded us but they were all locked in their own conversations. Even Luca and Mia were in a different zone.
Moving my body forward, I uncrossed my ankles and placed my hands on my knees saying, “Well, if you’re looking for an easy no-strings lay, look no further. I’d be only too happy to oblige,” I husked, my tone sexually suggestive.
“I can imagine,” Amber said, her voice having deepened.
I carried the hell on, suddenly getting off on the hunt, “I know what I’m doing too as I proved at the restaurant that night. Just say the word.” As soon as that offer sat between us, I felt a shiver of anticipation. The thought of ruining her and shaking that perfect porcelain exterior and proper education made my dick lengthen in my dress pants.
How hard would it be to expose the woman hidden underneath the layers of bullshit she’s covered herself with?
Amber crossed her arms over her chest, squaring her slight shoulders in a defensive gesture.
“That’s funny Max. I do love a good fairy tale. You should write children’s books.”
“Believe me, what goes on between my sheets is way too racy for kids.”
Amber’s expression turned into pure ice., “I’m surprised there is room for anyone else in there with the size of your ego.”
I carried on down the cocky route. Shit, it was out there now, on the table. What she did with it, only time would tell. “As I alluded to before. It isn’t the size of my ego you need to worry about.” What had started as a joke backfired. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it. I glanced briefly over at Jonathan. Could I have sex with his daughter and then walk away? Probably not.
As I viewed Amber’s stiff body and her snooty look of disgust, I’d say it wasn’t on the cards anyway. I only had myself to blame for that.
Still, I powered on, “Well, what do you say? I’m bossy in the bedroom, but I know exactly how a woman likes it. Especially when she’s as uptight as fuck,” I said rubbing my bottom lip with my thumb thoughtfully. The way her mouth had felt against mine flashed into my head.
Amber pushed to her feet as her eyes lasered through me. She wasn’t impressed. “I’ll pass thank you.”
“Your loss.”
“I doubt that. You’re nothing but a crude, classless pig,” she snapped, staring down at me.
I uncurled my frame from the chair and towered over her with only the small table keeping us apart. “Hey, don’t start with the name-calling. We both know I’ve got the edge on you in that department,” I needled. I was part joking as I’d enjoyed our sparring but her Ladyship wasn’t amused.
Amber’s shoulders stiffened as she muttered, “Excuse me but I have other guests to see to.” And there was no other way to describe it, the woman stropped off, wobbling slightly against the stone on the stilts she was wearing.
“Amber, I’m playing —for fucks sake, I can’t say anything right,” I said the latter part to myself.
I moved to go after her but a man and woman got in my way as they crossed towards the bar before me.
Shit.
I stopped, holding up my arms in front of me. What the hell? We’d been getting on fine and now she was angry with me again. That bothered me more than I could put into words. I clenched my teeth so hard I was surprised they didn’t crack.
What did you expect when you spoke to her like a dirty old pervert?
Amber sailed over to the guy she had spoken to earlier and his tanked-up buddies.
The sound of my dickheadedness rattled around in my brain. Why did I behave like such a prick in her presence?
You bait her on purpose to get a reaction; fighting with her is better than being ignored.
Even standing still before the group of blokes all looking at their host’s daughter like she was their next meal, Amber wobbled. Those stupid bloody shoes. I scrubbed a hand down my face before reaching into my tux for my pack of smokes.
“Bet you a tenner she faceplants on the way back up those steps,” Mia said as she came to stand beside me, watching where I was looking. I withdrew my hand, if Amber saw me smoking, even in her garden, I’d be even further up her shit list.
Maybe I should get wankered instead of smoking? Frustration powered through me.
Luca appeared by Mia’s shoulder, “Well, that went well,” he snarked. “What was your mission tonight, not to piss Amber off? I’d say you failed to sidestep that landmine, buddy.” The sarky bastard.
“Bite me,” I replied under my breath. I wasn’t in the mood for the shithead's sense of humour. “You need a few lessons on how to romance a woman.”
“From you?”
“Yeah, if you like,” Luca offered proudly.
I snorted, “Didn’t you buy your last girlfriend an edible thong for her birthday?”
“Ah, you know about that?” he said sheepishly.
“ Everyone knows about that Luca,” I replied, throwing Mia a wink. My friend had the sense to look embarrassed.
“Anyway, what did you say to her?” he asked, swiftly changing the subject.
“She did look pissed,” Mia added with a flick of her head towards her friend.
I shrugged, “I was just fucking with her and she got upset.”
“Yep. That happens regularly with Amber.”
I turned to them both, giving the bane of my life my back, not that she was even remotely looking in our direction.
Luca had moved to stand behind Mia. They looked so cosy as he placed his chin on her shoulder and stared at me with puppy eyes. They’d known each other for minutes and already looked like a couple. But that was Luca, women fell into his lap. He didn’t need to romance them, charm naturally radiated from him. That’s why he worked so well in front of the camera.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes briefly. “The woman is driving me mad. She can dish it out but she can’t take it,” I explained before shooting Mia a look of despair.
Her lips pulled into a smile as she leaned back against Luca’s body. “You’re right. She can’t. Especially where you’re concerned.”
My brow threaded, my eyes darting between hers and Luca’s.
“What do you mean?”
She shrugged and placed her hands over Luca’s which rested around her waist. Mia didn’t answer my question. Instead, she looked up and down my body; i nspecting me.
“I must say you’ve surprised me. You’re not like I thought you’d be at all.”
Shooting her a lopsided smile I said, “And how was that, with horns and a tail?”
Mia shook her head, “I don’t mean in appearance. Amber said she thinks you hate her and that the only spark between you is one of annoyance. ”
“I’d say that about sums the situation up perfectly if the last five minutes is anything to go by,” I stated.
Luca released Mia and stepped to her side, fake coughing, “Bullshit.” Into his hand.
I hated that they appeared to be teaming up on me.
“I saw your face when she walked through the doors. You’re obsessed mate,” Mia announced with a giggle. It pissed me off that both she and Luca gave each other a secret look. Where the fuck was my wingman now? Traitor.
I gave him a devil’s stare to which he replied, “What? She’s right. Something is going on.”
“And you’ve both had too much to drink. O bsession is a bit strong,” I batted back, clearing my throat.
I was now desperate to see if Amber was still talking to those pricks, which was rich having just brushed off their obsession comment. Oh, the irony.
Mia opened her mouth and then closed it. Like she was undecided on whether to say her next words. I’m glad she did, “She feels the same way you know.”
I sucked in a breath. “She does?”
“Yes. It’s like playground behaviour. You both act like pieces of shit to each other because there’s an attraction; one you don’t like. But…”
“But?”
“But I don’t think it’s just an attraction thing. There’s more to it than that. That’s why you feel bad for being a shit to her,” Mia psychoanalysed bluntly.
Feeling a flair of guilt for behaving like such a dick, I glanced behind me but Amber wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Pushing my hands into the pockets of my dress pants, I rocked on my heels. “The woman cannot stand me. It’s been that way since day one.”
“You're wrong. You’ve got under her skin and that isn’t easy,” Mia said before turning to my friend. “Luca, why don’t you top up the drinks? ”
He immediately jumped to it like her trained puppy. “Yeah. I’ll go to the bar whilst you ladies continue your girl talk,” Luca said with a wink. I wanted to punch him in his perfect face.
“You’re a sweetheart. I’ll have a Cosmopolitan and then I’ll give you that tour,” Mia replied with a saucy wink . Sweetheart was a bit much.
“You good?” Luca asked me.
“Yeah, I’ll grab another in a bit. I should probably find the guest of honour and wish him many happy returns and all that bullshit.”
As Luca swanned off to the bar, his face full of excitement for their tour , of what, who knew. The bedroom probably. God, he was a fast mover.
“You were saying,” I said to Mia.
“I think you remind her of someone and that terrifies her.”
“Who, an ex you mean?”
“In a fashion. Amber has a past that isn’t all unicorns and rainbows.”
My lip curled as I shook my head, “You’re going to have to give me more than that Mia.”
Mia was clearly close to her friend and as my eyes drilled into her, she became agitated. As if she realised that she’d said too much. “Look, it isn’t my story to tell but Amber has been through stuff. She’s been hurt in the past.”
I dragged my hands out of my pockets and ran one through my hair. What the woman was saying didn’t sit right with me, I didn’t like the thought of Amber hurt.
“I know about the death of her mother,” I admitted.
“There’s more to it than that, Max. She has secrets, baggage, guy related shit. She needs someone who understands that.”
“Surely, she’s a bit young to be so jaded about men? She pushes most of us away. Amber is a strong, confident female. I would say the woman needs no one, understanding or not,” I huffed .
Mia raised her eyebrows and her face became deathly serious. “You’d be surprised, Max. What Amber needs is a good, strong man. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
I felt another surge of anger at the thought of a man messing with her. My protective mode kicked in. It was a strange feeling, wanting to protect Amber and punish her for being such a cold bitch at the same time.
“So, what are you suggesting? That I could be that man? It doesn’t sound like anything I’d want to tangle myself up in. I’m as selfish as they come, Mia. I’m as far from good as it gets.”
“At last, the man speaks some truth,” Luca chuckled as he came back from the bar and handed Mia a glass of bright pink shit. He raised his beer in salute.
“Shut it, Luca. You’re not helping.”
“You stand up to her and don’t take any of her bullshit. Amber is surrounded by people who have always told her yes. What she needs is a real man to say no. In the first instance anyway.”
Shaking my head, I sighed. Talking to Luca and Mia was now draining. I was surrounded by blind matchmakers. “I’m going for a walk. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” I stated pointedly at Luca. He gave me a ‘would I’ expression.
I pushed off through the crowds of people and set off down the steps towards the gardens. I needed some space.
Mia’s words surprised me, almost like she had been egging me on to do something. Make a move on her friend. I couldn’t imagine that Amber had painted the best picture of me and so why was Mia so encouraging?
Fuck, first Gabriel and Luca, then Wes and now one of Amber’s friends was suggesting I should go for it . I was trying so hard to do the right thing and walk away but my willpower was folding fast. Amber turning up looking so fricking sweet hadn’t helped the situation either. The thought of kissing her again was creeping towards the top of my bucket list with every shot of whisky. Hence my decision to have a break .
I suddenly wanted to shove one of my size twelve feet up my arse. Getting involved with Amber on any level was not a good idea. She also worked for me, in a roundabout fashion and I was the one who made the rule of no relationships at work.
I’d spent years not allowing anyone to get too close to me and it appeared I was heading towards breaking all my rules. I was starting to feel shit I had no right to feel. The thought of some other guy hurting Amber in any shape or form made me want to make the fucker pay.
After a brief walk around the gardens which were as big as a park, I caved and lit up a cigarette. Taking the nicotine into my lungs felt good, it chilled me out. I could do without women and their complicated crap.
The music and laughter from the party had begun to grate on my nerves. Luca had ditched me for Mia and I was no fucking gooseberry. I made a beeline for Jonathan and his old timers gathered around some stone benches. He was busy but I needed to at least wish him a happy birthday.
“That’s a determined face,” a female purred, forcing me to stop as she stepped in front of me. I noticed it was the woman Luca had pointed out earlier. Molly something. The underwear model. She was tall and slim, only slightly shorter than my six feet plus.
“Fancy getting a drink with me?” she said. At that point, I couldn’t be arsed with it all. Yes, she was pretty but I wanted to find Amber, and make amends.
After a swift glance around, I reluctantly replied, “Lead the way,” shoving thoughts about Amber Swift to the back of my mind.
I was usually the life and soul of the party.
Time to act like it.