His Ransom 5(13)
Chapter Eight
After being coaxed into more cocktail gowns than I’d ever thought I’d wear in my life, I was beginning to realize that elaborate parties were a fact of life for the rich. Going away parties. Birthday parties. Anniversaries. Charity balls. Anniversaries of charity balls. Et cetera.
It was as though they didn’t know how to spend enough of their money, so they used any excuse to throw a shindig.
And Lucas Black, Jake’s best friend, knew how to throw a party.
Jake had come into the hotel room in a flurry of preparations for the cocktail party that night. On the way to the party, he’d complimented my cream-colored dress, which I’d managed to keep paint-free. I wanted to tell him about my painting today, but he was so busy with everything else that I didn’t want to distract him.
“I met with the art collector today,” I tried to tell Jake. But Jake’s eyes were already moving away from me.
“Oh! The lawyer from negotiations just arrived. Sorry, yes, the art collector. We’ll talk about it later, alright? Sorry, I need to mingle. Tonight is crazy for me.”
I bit back any comments about myself going crazy. Jake drifted off to the door, where—
It was her. It was the woman Jake had been with in the hallway.
Jake kissed her on both cheeks in traditional French style. He turned back and waved to me. I smiled back and pointed to the other room, where I escaped to refill my wine glass. I didn’t want to meet the sexy French lawyer who put her hands all over my boyfriend, thank you very much.
He’s not your boyfriend.
I tipped my glass up, trying to drown all of my stupid thoughts.
“You look like you’re about to kill something with your mind.”
It was Lucas Black. His dazzling blue eyes fairly twinkled as he smiled down at me. With the chandeliers lighting us from above, he looked like he wore a gold halo.
I knew better than that. Lucas Black was no angel.
“I’m not much of a party person,” I said.
“That’s too bad,” Lucas said. “I hope you’ll forgive me for throwing so many of them. It’s so much easier to talk business over drinks.”
Business.
“It was fun to have dinner with you and Jake before we left,” I admitted.
“Oh, wasn’t it?” Lucas asked merrily. “And that Clint Terrance guy, he’s a riot. Did you see him come in with his two redheads? He’s a wild horse.”
“I hear you’re just as wild,” I said, not wanting to gossip.
“I’m tame compared to that rock star. He wears women like accessories.”
“No comment,” I said, eyeing him over the rim of my wine glass.
“That friend of yours, tell me about her.”
“Who? Rachel?” I asked innocently.
“No, the other one. The blonde one.”
“Steph? I don’t think she would be a good… accessory for you.”
Lucas laughed and winked at me.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to put any moves on your friend. I only want her cupcakes.”
“Yeah, well get in line.”
“Are her cupcakes that popular?”
“Her business would be fine if she had enough space to keep up for demand.”
“Well, I have a birthday party coming up. It’s going to be a blowout. You’re invited, of course. Cupcakes by Steph.”
I caught myself from saying anything, but I wondered if Jake would still have me around by the time the party came. Was I just another accessory?
Lucas seemed to read my thoughts. He nodded over to where Jake was standing in the other room. There were two beautiful women hanging off of his every word.
“He adores you, you know,” Lucas said.
“He seems to adore quite a few people,” I said drily. “And they all adore him.”
“I mean it.”
Lucas looked at me earnestly. It was the first time I’d seen him quit joking.
“He’s pretty nuts about you. I know it might not show, but he’s been through a lot.”
“You mean his family?”
“It’s hard on him.”
“Yeah,” I said, sighing. “It’s hard on both of us.”
“He doesn’t know what a family looks like. He’s doing the best that he can. It’s up to you to decide if that’s enough.”
“Enough for what?”
Lucas shrugged, taking another sip of his drink.
“Jake grew up alone,” he said. “He’s always been alone. Alone with plenty of company.”
“Hah.”
“That’s why this is so strange.”
“This?” I frowned.
“You.” Lucas took a sip of his drink. I swallowed the lump that had suddenly appeared in my throat.