Scandalous Park Avenue Prince (Park Avenue Princes #3)

Prologue

Mid- to late October

The night of the Elysium charity event

“PRESTON! SERENA! LOOK over here.”

Photographers shouted at us from where they stood behind a velvet rope while I led my girlfriend, Serena Carrington, down the red carpet ahead of Elysium’s latest charity event.

It was a necessary evil, doing this whole song and dance, putting ourselves out there to grace the gossip pages that followed Manhattan’s elite, all under the guise of raising money.

That was part of it, but the unspoken role was that we were the next generation that would rule the city, taking after our rich and influential parents of the Elysium, the premier social club that wielded its influence over New York with an iron fist.

My fingers tightened around Serena’s as we smiled for the cameras, and I knew exactly what it was they saw when they looked at us.

The perfect couple. Students at prestigious Astor University for now, but following in the footsteps of our parents—mine a longtime politician and current senator, and hers the owner of the top theatrical agency in the country.

Our paths were already laid out for us, and we played our parts to perfection.

Serena squeezed my hand back, and kept smiling as she said through her teeth, “How long do you think it’ll be before they ask us?—”

“When can we expect an engagement?” someone to our right shouted.

Aaand there it was. It didn’t matter how many times we answered or ignored the question—it was the one we could rely on every time we walked a red carpet.

Or saw my parents.

What I wanted to often say was along the lines of fuck off , but that didn’t suit the good-boy image I’d honed to perfection.

Thank God for the woman on my arm, the one who knew me better than anyone and also knew exactly how to move the attention elsewhere.

“We can’t give away all our secrets, now can we?” Serena said, and then blew a kiss for the cameras. She pushed us forward, toward the end of the red carpet, keeping that smile on her face, her long blonde hair down around her shoulders making her look like a Hollywood starlet.

“Serena, is that a baby bump?”

She sucked in a sharp breath, and my gaze shot to the asshole photographer trying to get a rise out of us.

“Too far,” I warned him. I tightened my grip on Serena, moving us off the red carpet and through the high wrought-iron gates of Elysium that led into a courtyard.

My tie strangled me, and I had to resist the urge to pull it off my neck as I muttered, “That fucking dick.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have had that extra slice of pie last night,” she joked, but that only upped my annoyance at the piece of shit.

I stopped walking, jerking us to a halt. “Don’t do that. You look beautiful.”

She lifted a shoulder, but her smile didn’t meet her eyes. “I know.”

“Seriously, they only say that shit to get in our heads. Don’t let them.” When she only nodded, I added, “Want me to go kick his ass?”

Her brows rose at my attempt to lighten the mood. “Really. You’re going to go kick his ass?”

“Hey, I could do it.” I paused. “If I brought Daire.” His scowl alone would send anyone running.

She laughed, a genuine sound that had my shoulders relaxing. I didn’t want her thinking about that stupid comment all night, so if I could help get her mind off it, I would.

“I think I might have a better chance at an ass kicking,” she said, a smirk playing on her pink lips. “These heels could be a weapon.”

I glanced down at the shoes she wore, the heels several inches tall and as thin as a spike. “On second thought,” I said, “have at him.”

Shaking her head, she looped her arm through mine and tugged us toward the entrance of the grand four-story building that took up half a city block on the Upper East Side. “You’re supposed to be the good influence here, not encouraging me to commit a felony.”

“Some acts of violence are warranted.”

As we entered the main hall, where chandeliers cast a golden hue over the multicolored marble floors and walls and elaborately decorated tables were set up with precision, the sound of hundreds of people milling about greeted us.

I’d had a hand in putting the event together, always quick to volunteer before my parents could suggest me for the job, and with the hall filled almost to capacity, I could see that we’d nailed the aesthetic.

“It looks beautiful,” Serena said, taking a moment to look around. “You and dad make a great team.”

My eyes cut to the formal greeting line where the head members of the Elysium stood welcoming their guests, and there standing at the front of the line was her father—and the president of the Elysium—Archer Carrington.

The very definition of debonair, Mr. Carrington wore a tuxedo better than any man I knew. His dark blond hair was styled back from his handsome face, showing off his chiseled jaw line, and the smile he aimed at every person he greeted was one full of confidence and charm.

I schooled my features to a friendly, polite mask, knowing we were up next, and as Serena guided us forward, the nerves I’d felt out on the red carpet returned.

“Well, hello there, gorgeous.”

As her father reached for her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her cheek, I stood aside and watched the display of affection with a knot in the pit of my stomach, because I had a secret, one bigger than engagements or babies, one that would cause a scandal unlike any this city had ever seen.

You see, I was in love with a Carrington—just not the one I was dating.

“Hey, Dad. I was just telling Preston what a great team you two make. The place looks amazing.”

Mr. Carrington’s attention shifted to where I stood, and as our eyes locked, my pulse skyrocketed.

“I agree, we do make a great team.” He smiled then, and I struggled to return it. “I couldn’t have done it without him.”

I stepped up beside Serena, reminding myself I had a role to play as I wrapped an arm around her waist.“It was no problem. You know I don’t mind helping out.”

Mr. Carrington chuckled, and the rough rumble vibrated through me as he clapped me on the arm.

“I appreciate that. I know it’s the last place you kids want to be spending your time.”

Now that was a laugh. If he knew how quickly I volunteered to help out with every single event, he might start to wonder what the hell was wrong with me.

He’d never guess, though. The truth was nowhere on his radar.

“Are you kidding?” Serena grinned up at me. “Preston’s always asking if you need help.”

Unless , of course, my girlfriend decided to tell him.

Well, he still wouldn’t guess the truth. Just that I was a lame-ass with no life.

“I figure my parents will volunteer me anyway, so why not just save them the time.”

Mr. Carrington leaned in a little closer to me, and my heart just about stopped. Jesus, did he have to smell so damn good?

“And also to get on their good side?”

Yeah, sure, that sounded plausible. “You know it.”

He nodded and looked down the line to where my parents stood, then turned back to me and smirked. “Your secret’s safe with me. Does that mean I should sign you up for the Winter Ball?”

“Dad.” Serena rolled her eyes. “Come on, he just finished this.”

“It’s okay.” I squeezed her waist, letting her know it really was. Hell, it was more than okay, not that I was going to tell her that. “I’d love to help out.”

“Great. I’ll put it on my calendar and let you know when.”

I nodded and did my best not to smile like a lovesick fool, but seriously, more time with Mr. Carrington? Sign me up.

We finished making our way through the line, and once my parents had fawned enough over Serena, we grabbed a couple of drinks each at the bar and found the table that had been reserved for “the Park Avenue Princes,” as my group of friends and I were known.

It was the first time we’d gone to an event with other couples, since West had officially started dating JT, the dean of Astor’s son, and Donovan—better known as Van—was currently serving up a distraction by bringing his current interest, Kelly Sinclair, to show off.

If any of the members here knew Kelly was actually a porn star that went by the name Sin, it would no doubt cause a massive scene, but both couples were currently keeping the heat off me and Serena, so I settled back in my chair, sipping on a much-needed glass of champagne.

From where I sat, I had a prime view of a certain someone’s table, a detail I’d made sure to arrange when helping with the seating assignments. It was pathetic, really, and I was glad no one else was privy to my inner thoughts, or they’d pity me too. Or think I’d lost my damn mind. Probably both.

Serena’s hand was suddenly on my thigh, giving me a quick squeeze, and then she leaned in by my ear, keeping her voice low and only for me.

“Did you see the guy who just walked in? Navy tux.”

I brought my glass up to my lips and casually looked in the direction of the entrance.

The man didn’t look at all familiar, but that wasn’t why she was pointing him out to me.

Tall, dark, and handsome, that was why. Whoever he was, he’d surely get the attention of many in the room, and maybe even mine if things had been different.

If my entire being wasn’t currently focused on a certain blond man I still kept track of out of the corner of my eye.

“Not bad,” I said under my breath before taking a sip. “You should go for it.”

“I didn’t mean for me .”

“Why not?”

She smirked, her gaze moving to mine. “I’ve seen him before, and let’s just say I’m not his type.”

“Ridiculous. You’re everyone’s type.”