THE FIRST WEEK of the year was in the bag, and if that wasn’t something to celebrate, I didn’t know what was. It meant one week less to spend at Astor, and more importantly, one week since I’d started my campaign to win the bet of a lifetime—a vacation to any destination of my choosing.
Tonight’s party was essential to my plan, and I hoped that JT would take me up on my invite. All week I’d been going out of my way to ingratiate myself with the guy. Seeking him out to make friends, morning coffee, an extravagant lunch, and the concert… Ah, the concert—that had been the first real inclination I had that this challenge was actually going to be possible, and the memory of JT’s curious eyes fixated on me that night was something I saw every time I closed mine.
It was also something I’d gotten off to more times than I could count, and considering it’d only happened two days ago, it was a shock my dick didn’t have some sort of rash with how much friction I’d given it.
But come on. JT wasn’t exactly hard to look at, and the more I talked to him, the more I actually found myself coming up with excuses to seek him out—bet or no bet. So it wasn’t like this was a chore.
“The bar is going to be over there by the kitchen area.” East’s voice cut through my musings as he opened our front door and gestured for the two men with dollies stacked high with liquor. “Be careful of the walls and floors. Be sure you don’t leave any scratches.”
The men gave clipped nods as they pushed the dollies over the threshold and through the foyer, and East shut the door behind them. He strolled into the living room and slipped his hands into his pockets as he looked around the empty space.
Earlier in the day, the staff at the Towers had been by to clear out all the furniture of the main living and dining areas and placed it in storage for the night. They were great like that, accommodating each and every whim we might have no matter how outrageous, and removing half a condo’s furniture ranked right up there with outrageous requests.
Or what had JT called me—ridiculous?
Either way, it was one of the perks of my parents running the Waldorf Astorias here and around the world. If I wanted to throw a party I made a phone call, and the staff at the Towers went out of their way to make it happen. I was always sure to be gracious about it, though. I knew this lifestyle was a privileged one, and while I enjoyed every single perk it had to offer, it didn’t mean I couldn’t be generous with a smile or a handsome tip.
“Please tell me you’re planning to get changed before people start showing up tonight?”
I looked down at the navy-blue pants, brown belt, and light blue shirt I’d worn to classes today and frowned. “You got a problem with what I’m wearing?”
“Not if you were strolling along the French Riviera. But since we’re hosting our first party of the year on the East Side of Manhattan, I think you could make more of an effort.”
“Gee, East, tell me how you really feel.”
“Okay. I hate it, all of it. Especially those loafers.”
I snorted as the two men finished stacking the boxes of alcohol by the bar and started back toward the door. The staff for the night would be by soon to start unpacking and setting up.
“You’re such a fucking snob.”
“And this is news since when?”
I shook my head, walked over to where the men were wheeling their dollies out, and gave them each hundred-dollar bills and a wave before turning back to East.
“The day you were born. This outfit is designer, all the way down to the briefs hugging my ass, and you still have a problem with it.”
“It doesn’t fit the vibe.”
“Which is?”
“Corruption of a golden boy.” Travis’s mocking voice entered the condo, and I glanced over my shoulder to see him saunter through the foyer.
In a pair of black leather pants and a maroon shirt he’d left open halfway down his chest, he was giving off a sexy rocker vibe that very much fit him and the city that was about to come alive tonight. He had several different chains hanging around his neck, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, showing off a black leather cuff around one of his wrists. His ink-black hair was styled in a spiked mess that fit him and his broody attitude, and rounding out the look was the dark kohl liner around his ice-blue eyes.
So maybe they had a point. Out of the three of us, Travis looked more like a corruptor than I did, and that just wasn’t going to work.
“Dude.” Travis eyed my pants and loafers. “You look like you’re going to go sailing on a yacht. Not smooth-talk your way into someone’s pants.”
“No one asked you.”
“Travis is right.” East shrugged. “No way you’re going to win the bet looking like that. If he even shows up.”
“Oh, he’ll show up, don’t you worry. I know exactly what I’m doing. Party starts in an hour. I’ve got plenty of time to change.”
“Sure hope so,” Travis muttered, and walked over to the stacked boxes of alcohol. “You managed to find some absinthe last minute.”
“Of course,” East said as though it were no trouble for him to find anything, and really, it wasn’t. “Everything on the list you all filled out is there. So I don’t want to hear anyone bitch or moan that they didn’t get what they asked for.”
My lips twitched. “Daire filled out your form?”
“One line of it.” East pulled up the message on his phone and handed it over.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the response Daire had written in the Any special requests? box:
That you fuck off with these dumbass forms.
That was Daire for you. Blunt to the point of brashness.
“I swear, if I hear one complaint from him tonight—”
“You’ll do what?” I laughed, trying to imagine a scenario in which East would go up against someone like Daire. It was ludicrous. East might be able to cut someone off at the legs with his rapier tongue, but when that person didn’t give a fuck about anyone or anything, there wasn’t much you could say to hurt them.
Not to mention, Daire had a good couple inches on East and was built like a boxer. He was all lean muscles, with a scowl that sent people running. Not to mention the many tattoos that covered most of his body and piercings that showed he wasn’t afraid of pain.
So the idea of East getting into it with him? That made me laugh my ass off.
“I was just going to say,” East interrupted. “I’m going to tell him to shoot one of your poisons. God knows he’ll drink anything if it’s in a shot glass.”
A knock on the door signaled the bar and food staff arriving for the evening, and if I didn’t get moving, I wouldn’t be showered and ready when people started to show. “You got this under control?”
East shooed me away, and I hurried off down the hall. I headed into my room and the walk-in closet and looked over the clothes hanging there.
Hmm… What to wear, what to wear…to seduce the golden boy.
I looked over the lighter colors I tended to gravitate toward in the summer, but East and Travis were right—it wasn’t the vibe I needed. Not for tonight. Tonight was about introducing JT to my world. To the city at night and all the possibilities that came with it.
I zeroed in on a pair of loose-leg black pants with the faintest hint of a silver pinstripe. They molded to my waist and ass like a dream, and anytime I wore them, I got lucky. It was a sign, and I immediately reached for them and a tight black shirt. They were a perfect match.
Minutes later, I was in the shower. The hot water on my body felt amazing as I planned out my moves for the night. I was going to have to play this just right if I had any hope in hell of JT feeling comfortable enough to let down his walls.
So far I’d gotten past the friendship barrier, and considering the dean and Caleb had been sending out warning signals like I was a walking natural disaster, I felt pretty confident I was on the right track.
Something about me intrigued JT. I’d seen the way he watched me dancing at that club, and it sure as shit hadn’t been the way my other “friends” watched me.
Sure, I’d made myself difficult to ignore, but at the same time, I had a feeling that if JT didn’t want to know me, he’d tell me. Since that hadn’t happened, I was feeling pretty confident going into tonight.
My cock stirred at the possibilities and the fantasies I’d been playing out in my head the last few days, but I wasn’t going to give in to its demands just yet. If I played my cards right, it would get its turn soon enough.
I stepped out of the shower and dried off, throwing on my clothes for the night and styling my hair. After a final once-over, I was satisfied that if there was a chance JT was even remotely curious about getting closer than friends, then this outfit just might tempt him.
I walked out of my bedroom and saw the rest of our group had arrived, and so had the DJ, who was setting up in the corner. The bottles of alcohol had been unpacked, and the bar was set up like something straight out of an established club. As I moved closer to the guys, Travis’s attention shifted from Preston and Serena to me.
“Still look like I’m about to go yachting?”
A wolf whistle filled the room, making East wince, before Donovan clapped me on the shoulder. “Only if we’re talking masts and vertical poles. Sometimes I hate that I know you so well.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That your pole never stays in one place long enough to make it worth my while.”
“Aww.” I flashed a grin at Donovan. “You want a safe harbor. A port to call home. I get it.”
“Fuck no, I don’t. But I also have to be in tiptop health, not wondering where you’ve…anchored for the night.” He snorted at his own stupid joke before I flipped him off.
Preston’s brow furrowed. “Can someone please tell me why we’re talking in sailing terms?”
“Does anyone care?” Daire’s droll voice had me looking at the bar to see him pointing to a bottle of vodka as the door to our condo opened and the first round of guests flowed inside.
Let the games—and shots—begin, I thought, as I wandered over to East in the kitchen.
It was about to get insane real fast up in here, and I had to steal a bite of whatever it was I could smell before they disappeared.
There was a platter of crispy mushroom caps with cream cheese and lox on the counter. I grabbed one up and popped it in my mouth. As I chewed it, I noticed the way East was looking me over.
“You can admit it. I look good, don’t I?”
East brushed his hand across my shoulder. “You had a piece of lint, but now”—he stood back and eyed me—“now I’m rethinking this whole thing. Good-looking bastard.”
“I told you. I’ve got this.”
East arched his brow as only he could. “He’s straight, West. Don’t forget that. You’ve still got a looong way to go, and that’s if he even shows.”
I shrugged, not put off in the slightest. JT would show, I could feel it in my bones, and if he didn’t, I’d just go and get him.
As a new tray of food was pulled from the oven, my mouth watered at the sight. I grabbed a napkin and one of the cheddar cups with avocado feta mousse, not bothering to let it cool before I bit into it. Something had to soak up some of the alcohol I’d be consuming over the next few hours.
I winked at East and then headed back to the transformed space, which was quickly filling with scantily clad bodies and thumping music. The alcohol was being cracked open, and it looked like our annual first-week-back party was in full swing.
I made my way through several of the partygoers, stopping here and there to chat with them, and finally came to a standstill by Travis and his latest hookup.
“Looks like it’s going to be a good night,” I said, eyeing the door.
“He’s not here yet.”
“I know.” And I did know. Because when JT was anywhere near, it was like my body had a laser that immediately locked on to him. So far, the target wasn’t in range.
Travis took a sip of his drink. “You sure he’s going to come?”
I winked at him. “I mean, I’m not one to brag, but I’ve never had a problem making someone come.”
“Too much information, asshole.”
“Hey, you asked.”
Travis feigned heaving, and that was when my radar pinged.
The hair on the back of my neck stood tall and my shoulders stiffened. It was like an electric charge had just filled the air. I turned around and saw JT step inside.
Anticipation began to course through me, making my every nerve ending feel alive. This was it. I’d been playing it cool with JT, friendly, with a little flirtation here and there. But tonight I was going to see if that heat I thought I’d seen at the club was back.
Maybe it was the night and vibe that allowed our innermost devious sides to come out and play. But the intense response I was having right now told me I needed a second to rein this shit in.
Don’t come on too strong. You’ll scare him off.
“The fuck is he doing here?” Travis’s furious outburst had my eyes shifting to the person who’d just stepped in behind JT, and something about the fact that Travis had given me shit earlier made this little revelation all the more fun for me.
“Oh, did I forget to mention I invited Caleb?” I threw a shit-eating grin Travis’s way that was met with a death stare. “You’re welcome.”
A distinct “fuck you” was all I heard as I made my way through the crowd, more determined than ever to put my plan for the night into action.
