By Private Invitation (2 page)

Jared Golden loved beautiful women, cold champagne, and the hum of a well-run party.

Not always in that order.

Tonight, it was the reverse.

From his vantage point at the Italian marble bar in the second-floor ballroom, he
surveyed Haven Hotel’s annual New Year’s Eve Masquerade.

Excited laughter filled the air, along with good music, the mouth-watering aroma of
gourmet food, and dry-mouthed sensuality. Beneath it all, he heard a satisfied hum.

Jared loved that hum. It gave him a measure of satisfaction comparable only to the
buzz from good champagne. Or great sex.

After five years in the hotel business, he and his brother, Tyler, had done exactly
what they’d set out to do. They’d created a hedonist’s playground.

From the swanky Frank’s Bar and Asian fusion restaurant Dome on the first floor to
the fourth-floor, invitation-only Salon. From the fantasy suites that were booked
solid all year to the Indulgence Spa on the third floor.

Haven was a place to have fun, let loose, give in to your fantasies. The ultimate
adult playground.

Nothing at all like the stuffy grandeur of his father’s hotels.

“Jared, love, dance with me.”

He turned, smile already in place for the luscious blonde dressed in a slinky red
gown reminiscent of a Golden Age starlet. “Sorry, Jane. I’m on duty tonight.”

Jane Collins pouted her collagen-enhanced lips. “I can’t believe how much of a bore
you can be when you’re having so much fun.”

Jared took a sip of champagne to stifle a laugh.
Weird but true.
“I’m sure there’re more than enough single men here to amuse you.”

Trailing blood-red fingernails down the front of his shirt, the twice-divorced boutique
owner sighed theatrically. “Of course. But I wanted to play with you tonight.”

Jared swallowed a sharp-edged retort. His grandmother had instilled too many manners
for him to deliberately brush off a lady. But tonight he refused to be tied down.
Tonight was for mingling and dancing and, later, even more pleasurable activities.

It was not for dancing to Jane’s tired tune all night.
Been there, done that, smacked that ass
, he thought. Thank God he’d been smart enough not to invite her to the Salon later.

“As much fun as that sounds”—Jared injected just the right amount of regret into his
tone—“I do have a job.”

Luckily, after another unsuccessful minute trying to garner his
undivided attention, Jane spotted another eligible bachelor, this one a lawyer, and
glided off in his direction.

Allowing Jared to return his full attention to the only mistress he’d never tire of—the
hotel.

New people in and out every day. Challenges to overcome. Problems to solve.

Parties to plan. Jared lived for a good party.

This one was off to a good start. But it was the invitation-only event scheduled for
later tonight that put a true smile on his lips.

Last year’s first Salon Games had been a carefully guarded secret. He’d chosen each
of the ten participants personally, laid out the rules explicitly, then let it happen.

Everyone had left the next afternoon with a smile. And not one word of it had leaked.
Amazing, considering the nature of the games.

But then, those who’d been there had wanted to be invited back.

Looking out over the ballroom, he picked out several of the guests invited to the
Salon tonight. A few caught his eye, nodded, then went back to what they were doing.
Men and women Jared had known for years, some for most of his life. People who shared
the same interests.

People he trusted and who trusted him. There weren’t many he counted in that category.

As his gaze continued around the large room, he saw two new arrivals approach the
arched entrance of the ballroom. Two women.

He watched as the maître d’ greeted them and showed them to a table close to the dance
floor.

As host for the evening, Jared felt compelled to greet everyone at the party. He started
toward the women’s table, speaking briefly to a few people along the way but never
losing sight of his original target.

When he reached their table, he waited until they looked up at him before bowing his
head.

“Ladies, welcome to Haven. My name is Jared. I hope your table’s satisfactory?”

Pale green and midnight black gazes locked onto him from behind feathered masks. Dressed
in fairy costumes, complete with wings, the women had natural beauty that couldn’t
be bought at a plastic surgeon’s office.

The brunette in blue was sleek and slim, delicate. Her exotically shaped eyes hinted
at an Asian heritage, her mouth a wide bow.

But the redhead…Damn. Her green eyes flashed and held on his, wide and inquisitive,
her hair a rich autumn red that fell in curls around her shoulders.

She stared at him for a moment, assessing. Then her smile broke free, a beautiful
sight on full lips he’d bet had never been artificially enhanced.

“Thank you,” she said. “It seems the party’s in full swing. We were a little late
arriving.”

Jared’s smile widened. “Well, I’m certainly glad you made it. Is this your first time
at Haven? I believe I’d remember such beautiful women.”

“Yes, it’s our first time,” the blue fairy answered. “We’re just here for the night.”

“Then I hope you enjoy your evening,” Jared said. “And I’d appreciate if you would
each save me a dance tonight.”

When he turned to the redhead, her smile had turned downright sultry. And his body
tightened as if she’d stroked a hand over his cock.

“I’d like that dance.” Her voice held no trace of guile, no simpering fakery.

Jared’s heart started a slow, familiar rhythm as he held her gaze. Her smile widened
as he straightened.

He liked that smile. It was sexy but uncomplicated. Completely natural.

So unlike the women he typically dated.

As he nodded again, ready to leave, a glint of color caught his eye and his gaze dropped
past spectacular breasts to the pin at the bottom of the vee on her dress. The pin
looked familiar somehow, pinged something in his brain, some memory. He’d ask about
it. Later.

“I’ll be back to collect.” Jared signaled a waitress to their table and headed back
to the door, trying to shake off the feeling he’d missed something.

“Jared, honey, this is a lovely party.”

Beatrice Golden sat on a barstool, a Manhattan in one hand, a delicate silk fan in
the other. The fan matched the authentic Japanese kimono she wore.

“Hello, Nana. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

His seventy-five-year-old grandmother put her deceptively frail hand on his sleeve,
bringing him closer. “The young woman you were just talking to, is she your date?”

He smiled ruefully. “No date, Nana. Not tonight. I’m working. Besides, there are too
many beautiful women in the world to tie myself to just one.”

Beatrice tsked and rapped his arm with her fan, her short gray
hair swaying around her still-youthful features. “You are going to live to eat those
words. I’ve had to give up on Tyler. For the moment. But I plan to see you fall. And
soon. Then we’ll see who has the last laugh.” She sighed. “I just wish I had the pin
or the ring to give you. The legend—”

“Nana,” he cut her off gently. “You’re going to live forever.” At six-two, Jared had
to bend to kiss his tiny grandmother’s wrinkled cheek. “And the legend is just that,
a story—”

“No, it’s not.” Beatrice’s voice held firm. “Since those jewels were stolen, our family
has had horrible luck in love. Your parents have had such a rough time.” She sighed,
shaking her head. “And Tyler’s fiancée. Her death was such a tragedy.”

“You’re right, Nana,” Jared soothed. “Mia’s death was a tragedy.”
As is my parents’ marriage.
“But believe me, when the right woman shows up, I’ll know it.”

He felt a twinge of guilt at the outright lie. He didn’t believe in soul mates, much
less everlasting love, but the smile on his grandmother’s face was worth the white
lie. “But I won’t find her because some piece of rock tells me. Besides, I like my
life as it is, uncomplicated by fairy tales of true love.”

His grandmother sighed. “I just want you and your brother to be happy.”

Jared hated to see his normally vibrant grandmother so defeated, especially at a party.
“We are happy. Look at everything we’ve accomplished.” He waved a hand around the
room. “Tyler and I put Philadelphia on every pleasure-seeker’s map with Haven. The
spa is world-famous, the restaurant is five-star, and you know we give the best parties.”

And what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

Her lips curved in a small smile.

“Come on, Nana,” he cajoled. “I’m only twenty-nine. I’ve got
plenty of time to find the right woman and get chained for life.” He suppressed a
slight shudder. “When I meet her, I’ll know.”

That made her expression brighten. “Yes, Jared. You will. Your fall from love god
to love slave will make my day. Go on, now.” She waved a hand laced with blue veins
at him then reached for her drink. “I know you’re busy. I’m going to sit here and
soak in the sights. Just be open to possibilities, sweetheart.”

If she only knew…
“I live for possibilities, Nana.”

Over his grandmother’s head, he nodded to the bartender, who nodded back. Fred Carvell,
a retired, twenty-year police veteran, wouldn’t let anyone hassle Beatrice. She’d
refused his earlier offer of a table, saying she liked the constant ebb and flow of
atmosphere at the bar.

He had a lot in common with his grandmother.

“Yes, you certainly do.” Beatrice patted him on the arm, and he was sure she’d read
his mind rather than replied to his last statement. “I’ll see you later, dear.”

“I’ll be back. Don’t go dancing with any strange men.”

He swept into a low bow that never failed to make her laugh, then meandered through
the crowd, stopping to greet a few friends before he made his way to the guest register,
stopping next to his brother.

“Hey, Jed.” Tyler didn’t look up. “How’s Nana?”

“She’s fine.
She’s
enjoying the party.” Jared threw a mocking glance at his brother. “Are you going
to glue yourself to this spot for the rest of the night or are you going to try to
have a good time?”

Tyler actually deigned to look at him for a brief second, and Jared saw a glimmer
of humor in his eyes. “I plan to make the rounds in a few minutes. We’re still waiting
for a few stragglers.”

“You know we actually pay people to man this station, right?”

Tyler gave him his big-brother look, designed to intimidate. At one time, that look
would’ve pissed off Jared. Now, Jared was merely unimpressed. He waited, one eyebrow
raised.

Tyler returned his gaze to the touchscreen set into the stand. “I’m waiting for Mom
and Dad. I figured one of us should actually show some decent manners and invite them.”

Every muscle in Jared’s body tightened. “God damn it. Why the hell did you invite
him? Mom, sure, but that bas—”

“Be a big boy and try to behave.”

Jared gritted his teeth even as he smiled at an arriving couple. “I thought we agreed.
The old man tried to run our lives for too long. We don’t need him. We didn’t need
his money to build this hotel and we certainly don’t need his phony attempts to bond,
now that we’re grown.”

Tyler shook his head, another wry smile on his lips. “You know, you’re a lot like
him. Now, don’t get all ticked off.” Tyler raised his hands as if to ward off a blow,
which made him look idiotic because he stood six-three and was still built like the
linebacker he’d been in high school. “But you are. You’re both stubborn to the core
and too intelligent for your own good. Be an adult for two hours tonight and let the
old man believe you’re happy to see him for a change. At least pretend and make our
mother happy.”

Jared grimaced at the thought of playing nice with his father but, even though he
hated to admit it, Tyler had a point. It would make his mother happy. And she needed
all the happiness she could get.

Still, he didn’t have to make it easy for his father.

“Fine. I’ll be nice to Mom and Dad tonight if you ask one woman to dance with you.”

Tyler laughed, but it had a hollow sound to it. “Sure, why not. But I get to pick
her, and you have to dance with Mom.”

Jared smiled. “Agreed.” He knew he’d gotten the easier end of the bargain. Tyler hadn’t
come close to a woman since his fiancée’s death from cancer eighteen months ago.

“Enjoy yourself tonight, Ty. It’s the start of a new year. Maybe this will be the
year Nana’s dream comes true and she can marry off one of us. Not me, of course. But
maybe I’ll get lucky tonight.”

“What? With the brunette you seated a few minutes ago?”

Jared’s gaze locked onto his brother, whose attention appeared to be glued to the
screen. He wasn’t buying the act.

“Actually, I don’t have my eye on the brunette. Why don’t you ask her to dance? You
could fulfill your part of the bargain.”

Tyler grinned and looked out at the lobby. “Yeah. And so can you.” He nodded toward
the entrance.

“Hello, Tyler. Jared.” Glen Golden strode toward them, a hearty smile on his still-handsome
face, his white hair gleaming. “How are you both tonight?”

Their mother, Helena, walked beside him, her slim hand tucked into her husband’s elbow.

To the world, they looked like the perfect couple. His mother’s ash-blonde hair was
perfectly styled, her evening gown a designer original. His father’s tuxedo was Italian
and handmade and the lines around his blue eyes only added to his air of stately appeal.

But Jared knew it was all a farce.

Suppressing a groan, Jared forced a smile to welcome his parents, sliding one more
glance at his green fairy.

It was still early.