Playing With Pleasure (20 page)

“
What the fuck
, man?” Jase said, his tone aghast.

It took effort for Sawyer not to burst out laughing, and he decided to have a bit of fun at his friend’s expense. “I don’t know if he would, but he does have that Ken doll look going for him.”

“
G.I. Joe
,” Jase countered, referring to the bad-ass hero action figure over the metrosexual doll with the perfectly coiffed hair and high-fashion wardrobe. “There is nothing
Ken-like
about this body, and my package is
way
bigger than his.”

Sawyer snorted, which earned him a curious look from Kendall. He cleared his throat and averted his gaze back out to the guests. “Is that what you’re doing now?” he asked the woman beside him. “Taking photos for book covers?”

“An author I know asked me to do it for her, and I thought it might be a good addition to my photography business.” She finished off her champagne and set the glass on a passing tray. “Boudoir is my main focus, but it never hurts to diversify. I’ll have to see if your friend is interested in posing for me.”

Jase groaned. “
Posing
is not what I had in mind.”

The orchestra stopped playing, and a man tapped on a microphone to get everyone’s attention. A hush fell over the crowd as he spoke. “The bride and groom are here. I’d like everyone to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Darren Burton!”

Everyone clapped, and Kendall glanced up at Sawyer. “I’d better go and find my seat,” she said and quickly headed toward the tables, just as Melissa and her new husband walked into the courtyard with huge, happy smiles, followed by Ashley, who stood by her mother, then Paige, who stopped beside Ashley…as a family.

Sawyer stared at Paige, his mouth going as dry as dust as he drank in the sight of her. Kendall hadn’t exaggerated when she’d claimed that Paige looked stunning and to die for. Actually, in his estimation, she looked like a gorgeous, exquisite goddess in the strapless gown she wore, with a crystal and beaded top—all hand sewn by her—and soft, flowing material that fell from her waist and swirled around her legs in delicate layers of sheer pink fabric. Both of the girls’ dresses were the same color and fabric, but while Ashley’s dress was tight and conforming and left little to the imagination, Paige’s gown was beautifully constructed to subtly enhance her curves and easily trounced her stepsister’s dress, even if that hadn’t been Paige’s intent.

She’d swept her hair away from her face and up into a fancy twist of some sort at the back of her head, and while Sawyer preferred her hair down, he had to admit the style was perfect for the strapless gown and showcased her sparkling green eyes and full pink lips.

Paige glanced around, and when she saw him standing in the back and away from the activity, she gave him a smile so sweet he had to resist the strong urge to take her in his arms and make sure everyone at the venue knew she belonged to him. Even if
she
wasn’t ready to admit it yet.

The newly married couple, along with Paige and Ashley, made their way to the family table at the front. After a few speeches and toasts, the reception went into full swing, starting with a five-course sit-down dinner, followed by the dance floor opening up for those who wanted to cut loose.

Sawyer watched as Darren and Melissa went from table to table to greet friends, and he had to admit that the couple looked genuinely happy, even if Melissa had married him to support her lavish lifestyle. Or maybe they really were in love, and the guy’s money was just a bonus. Who knew? It didn’t matter to Sawyer. The only person he cared about in all this was Paige.

While watching the guests, he also kept an eye on Ashley, who was never far from Paige, despite Paige trying to keep her distance from her stepsister. Paige spent most of her time chatting with Kendall, but that didn’t stop Ashley from glaring daggers at Paige every time someone complimented her gown or gave her more attention than Ashley was receiving.

A few hours passed, and the excitement gradually died down. Some of the guests started to leave, and as Melissa walked with some friends out to the front of the house to see them out, Sawyer turned his head to find Ashley strolling toward him, a glass of wine in her hand—her second one of the evening because he’d been counting. Everything inside of him tensed, especially when he realized Paige was watching her stepsister advance from across the courtyard.

Shit.
Sawyer knew nothing good would come of Ashley interacting with him, but he wasn’t surprised that she’d finally decided to approach him.

“I’ve got trouble heading my way,” he said to Jase through the microphone. “Cover me for a few minutes.”

“Isn’t that Paige’s stepsister?” he asked, obviously watching Ashley make her way toward Sawyer.

“Yeah, and she’s my worst nightmare,” he muttered. Jase had no idea what had happened between him and Paige’s stepsister, so he knew his friend was going to learn real soon, depending on what Ashley said or did.

She stopped in front of him, blocking his view of Paige. “Having fun tonight?” she asked in a flirty voice that made his stomach churn because it was so damn fake.

There were a few people milling around, and while he would have flat-out ignored Ashley if they were alone, he knew he couldn’t be rude with guests watching, considering he was the hired help. “I’m not here for fun,” he said, his tone flat. “I’m working.”

“And who do you think
got
you the job?” she asked, making it clear it was all her doing.

His jaw clenched so tight he was surprised he didn’t crack a molar. “I didn’t
ask
for the job.”

“No, I just told my mother you were the best and that she needed to hire you for tonight, and here you are.” She took a small sip of her wine and leaned in closer. “I thought it would give you the chance to finally realize what you walked away from that morning after you slept with me.”

Her?
Was she serious? The only thing he’d lost that mattered to him was Paige.

“The sex was amazing, by the way,” she said in a seductive tone as she touched a finger just below his bow tie and skimmed it down his chest. “You certainly know your way around a woman’s body.”

He grabbed her wrist and yanked her hand away, then immediately dropped it. “I don’t remember a thing, Ashley,” he snapped, tired of this game she was playing. “In fact, after drinking the beer
you
gave to me, I completely blacked out. I wonder how
that
happened.”

She gave a shrug that neither confirmed nor denied what he’d insinuated. “Well, that didn’t stop you from getting it up. You were all over me, and since you can’t recall anything, I’ll just let you know that you couldn’t get enough.”

Bile filled his mouth, and it took everything inside of him not to lose his temper as one of the guests walked by.

She tipped her head to the side, and he didn’t miss the sudden vicious gleam in her eyes. “Tell me, aren’t you getting tired of Paige yet?”

God, he just didn’t understand how someone so pretty on the outside could be so ugly on the inside. “What the hell do you have against Paige?”

She rolled her eyes in disgust. “I just don’t get what you see in her. She has no personality, she’s a fat cow—”

“
Stop
,” he said in a low voice that vibrated with fury.

“Or what?” she pushed, sneering at him,
knowing
there was absolutely nothing he could do to her.

A person abruptly stepped between the two of them—Paige, he realized—and she pushed Ashley away with a shove that caused her stepsister to stumble back in her heels, but she managed to catch her balance, as well as keep her glass of wine from spilling.

“Back off, Ashley, or I’ll rip all that pretty blonde hair right out of your scalp.”

*     *     *

Paige’s heart raced
a mile a minute as she stared down Ashley, something she’d never done before. Minutes ago, she’d watched Ashley approach Sawyer, had known by his body language that she was goading him, and refused to allow her stepsister to harass him any longer. She arrived just in time to hear her stepsister’s hateful words, then Sawyer defending Paige. Yet Ashley had kept provoking him, and Paige had just had enough.

But now, they were at a stalemate, neither one of them backing down. Paige could feel the warmth and strength of Sawyer’s presence behind her, but in front of her, Ashley’s gaze was as cold as ice. The corner of her stepsister’s mouth curled bitterly, and she slowly tipped her glass over and poured the red wine down the front of the dress Paige had spent so many hours working on.

Paige gasped in shock, devastated that Ashley had deliberately ruined her gown. Her heart twisted inside her chest at the knowledge that her stepsister’s cruelty knew no bounds.

“
Ooops
,” Ashley said malevolently.

“
Shit
,” Sawyer muttered behind her and put a supporting hand on her bare shoulder.

Ashley narrowed her gaze, and Paige refused to look away, needing to hold her own with her truly evil stepsister.

Paige knew they were making a scene, that more and more people were looking their way, and she so did not want this confrontation between her and Ashley to be the highlight of Melissa’s wedding day. “Just go, Ashley,” Paige said, trying to keep her voice calm when her insides were a churning mess. “This isn’t the time or place.”

Ashley laughed, the sound harsh and mean. “God, you’re so pathetic, Paige. Do you really think Sawyer’s going to stick around? Zach certainly didn’t. Once he got what he wanted, he was done with you, and Sawyer will be, too.”

“Ashley!”

Melissa’s horrified voice pierced the air, startling both Paige and Ashley. Her stepsister’s head jerked around, her eyes wide as she realized that her mother had overheard her cruel words.

“What is
wrong
with you?” Melissa demanded, staring at her daughter with painful realization and sad acceptance of reality in her eyes. “And
why
would you pour your wine on Paige’s beautiful dress or say those awful things to her?”

Ashley lifted her chin, showing no remorse. “Because they’re true.”

Melissa looked genuinely shocked and devastated. “Both of you girls, in the house,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Paige didn’t hesitate. With a quick, apologetic look at Sawyer, she started for the back entrance, but Ashley didn’t budge.

“
Now
,” Melissa reiterated and grabbed Ashley’s arm, something Paige had never seen her do before, forcing her daughter to follow.

Behind them, she heard Darren apologize to his guests, assuring them that it was nothing more than a sibling squabble, and urged them to enjoy the rest of the evening.

The house was quiet inside, and as soon as Melissa had the three of them in Paige’s father’s old study, she shut the double doors and looked from Paige to Ashley, who had a nasty look on her face.

“You’ve gone too far, Ashley,” Melissa finally said, shocking Paige with her statement. “Not only did you embarrass your sister in front of all those guests, but what you said to her…did you
do
something to humiliate her with this Zach person?”

“He was just a guy in high school who dumped Paige,” she said with a shrug. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

Melissa’s gaze returned to Paige, and the sudden knowledge in her stepmother’s eyes made Paige’s throat go tight.

“Paige, what happened?” Melissa asked softly.

“Nothing.” Paige’s voice sounded quiet and hoarse. “It doesn’t matter.” Which had been her standard reply to Melissa when she and Ashley were younger and her stepmother had overheard or seen Ashley do something mean to her.

Paige never said anything, never
tattled
, because she knew it wouldn’t make a difference with Ashley, and even at a young age, she didn’t think that Melissa would believe her side of the story over her own daughter, who she doted on. So, Paige bottled everything up inside. Every cruel joke. Every mean remark. All the hurt and humiliation and emotional agony that came with Ashley’s hateful behavior.

“It
does
matter,” Melissa said, and then her eyes widened, as if her mind had traveled into the past and she’d just realized that it was never
nothing
. “Oh my God. What
else
has Ashley done that you haven’t told me?”

“Why do you care about her?” Ashley whined, but Melissa ignored her.

“Paige?” Melissa pushed for an answer.

Paige shook her head. She wasn’t going there. She wasn’t going to dredge up things that were in the past that couldn’t be changed. She tried to swallow past the lump in her throat and blinked back the threat of tears.

Melissa turned and stared at Ashley, who feigned a bored look, while her mother’s face was etched with pain. “You’re my daughter by blood, Ashley, but I’ve always loved Paige just as much. But I’m just realizing that I wasn’t a good mother to either of you, because whatever is between the two of you, it never should have gone this far. I should have been more diligent when you were younger, more aware of your relationship as sisters. I thought your behavior toward Paige was something you’d outgrow.”

Melissa shook her head, sadness in her eyes. “For years, I’ve made excuses for your conduct, Ashley. I’ve tried to make up for your real father walking out on us and for what you lost at a young age by being lenient and trying to make your life easy. I’ve given you
everything
I never had. You want for nothing, yet it’s still not enough.”

Paige listened to Melissa’s words, realizing for the first time that her stepmother hadn’t seen her daughter’s behavior because she was trying to make up for something lacking in Ashley’s life. And as a result, never disciplining Ashley or calling her out on mean behavior had created an uncaring, self-centered, spoiled woman. A woman who hated Paige.

“It’s time for you to grow up, Ashley,” Melissa said. “It’s time for you to stop resenting Paige for things that can’t be changed.”

Clearly, Melissa had deeper knowledge of Ashley’s emotions and psyche that Paige did not, though she wasn’t excusing any of her daughter’s attitude or behavior any longer.

“Ashley, you owe Paige an apology,” Melissa said.