Private 10 - Suspicion (9 page)

"Business? I thought this was a pre-party party!" Tiffany replied, taking a swig of her champagne.

"It is. But we need to figure out who will be kissing whom at midnight," Taylor said with a wicked grin. She plucked a caviar-and-toast-point hors d'oeuvre from the silver platter on the table and popped it into her mouth. "You know, just so there's no confusion."

"Well, we all know who Reed will be kissing," Tiffany said, slinging her arm around my neck.

They all made the obligatory smoochy noises until my face was about to sear off my head. I adjusted the thin strap on my red dress and turned to look out at the ocean, waiting for the blush to subside. But now, all I could think about was Upton and how we planned to take it way beyond the kissing-at-midnight stage tonight, and the blush became permanent.

"Well, don't any of you bitches get any ideas about Dash," Noelle said.

"Obviously," Kiran said, rolling her eyes. She lifted one perfectly manicured finger. "I call Graham!"

"What!? No fair! You didn't even give us a chance," Amberly pouted.

" I thought you had a thing for Sawyer anyway," Tiffany said, reaching for anhors d'oeuvre.

"I do not!" Amberly protested way too loudly. "But I guess if Graham is out--I mean, if I have to. .."

I glanced over my shoulder at Amberly, whose blush was even deeper than mine. She was definitely not good enough for Sawyer. I almost wanted to warn him to be on the lookout for blond morons on the prowl, but I had faith that he could see right through her shiny veneer to the unoriginal soul inside.

"That leaves West and Gage," Kiran said, looking from Tiffany to Taylor. "What's it gonna be, ladies?"

"I am so not kissing Gage," Taylor said, lifting a palm. "I'll fight you for West if I have to, Goulbourne," she said to Tiff. "I've been doing cardio kickboxing three times a week for the last nine months. Consider yourself warned."

Tiffany shrugged one shoulder. "Whatever. I'll pity-kiss Gage."

"Pity-kiss?" Noelle said with a laugh. "I would kill to see his face if he heard that one." Tiffany giggled, then hiccupped. She held her fingertips to her glossy lips for a moment and composed herself. "I know, right? But given what a he-slut he is, he's gotta at least have good technique."

Everyone laughed. Noelle snapped her compact shut and lifted her champagne glass. "All right, then. Now that we're all sorted, I'd like to make a toast." We gathered together in a small circle, bubbling crystal flutes at the ready.

"To the best year of our lives," Noelle said. "But most of all, to Reed. May this year be free of drama, my little glass-licker."

My heart filled with giddy hope. The very idea that Noelle would dedicate the final toast of the year to me somehow made me feel as if her words were going to ring true.

"To Reed!" Tiffany cheered.

"And to no drama!" Kiran and Taylor added.

We all clinked glasses just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Upton's arms were locked around me in the back of the speedboat as we raced out to the private island locale Kiran had secured for our New Year's Eve bash. It was a surreal sight, all those small, sleek vessels tearing across the waves in the dark, leaving the lazy lights of the big island behind and careening toward the bonfire that raged on the beach up ahead. As we zoomed closer, I could hear the pounding of drums throbbing over the engines of the boats, and could just make out something undulating along the dock. I glanced at Upton in confusion and he shrugged. Even through my fear, being out on the water once again, I felt a thrill of excitement. This was definitely going to be a night to remember. The boats pulled up to the dock one by one and I finally saw that the undulating was actually the movement of a dozen native dancers, moving in sync to the beat of a drums-only band. They danced around, laughing and shouting to each other, welcoming us onto the dock.

Upton helped me up from the boat and we shimmied out of our life vests, handing them to our captain. All along the dock, other guests did the same. Sawyer, Graham, and West had come over together, and Noelle and Dash had shared a boat. Bringing up the rear were Amberly, Tiffany, and Taylor, but it seemed as if there were already dozens of people on the island, mingling under big, white lights. As Upton tipped our captain, Kiran came striding down the dock in a short purple dress, her hair pinned back with one white orchid.

"Welcome to our very own island of paradise!" she shouted, earning whoops from the crowd. "And there's our guest of honor."

I shot Sawyer an apologetic look as Kiran moved forward and grabbed his arm. She dragged him to the front of the crowd, where he stared at his shoes, blushing uncontrollably.

"Nowlet's party!" Kiran cried.

As the group surged forward, I detached myself from Upton's side and made my way over to Sawyer. "I swear I'll make sure they keep the fawning to a minimum," I promised him.

"Thanks," Sawyer said under his breath.

I, of course, had my own plans. No matter how much he protested, I couldn't let his actions go by unheralded. But I wasn't going to go overboard. No skywriting or fireworks or anything. Just a simple speech later in the evening. After everyone, including Sawyer, had a chance to have a few drinks and decompress.

"Mind if I borrow my girl?" Upton said.

He grabbed my hand and tugged me away without waiting for an answer. I cast a glance over my shoulder at Sawyer and saw him still standing there, left behind while everyone else joined the party. I hoped he would find a way to get involved in the fun and let loose a little bit, but in the next moment my attention was forcibly dragged away. Up the sandy hill, on a rocky ledge overlooking the bonfire on the beach, was a wide wood-plank dance floor where several attendees were already dancing to the songs spun by the DJ. Athatched-roof bar stood near the top of the dance floor, and the two bartenders behind it were working so hard they were sweating. Up a rocky pathway to one side of the bar was a burbling hot tub surrounded by flutes of champagne and trays of fruits and sweets. Down another pathway closer to the beach was a plunge pool lit from below, its water glowing like an aquamarine stone in the moonlight.

"Kiran has thought of everything," Upton said, pulling me close to his side.

"I didn't think to bring a bathing suit," I told him.

"Perhaps you don't need one," he said slyly, nuzzling my ear.

"Okay, down, boy. How about we start with a dance?" I said, pushing him away with a hand to the chest.

"All right then."

He pulled me onto the dance floor and held me so close I felt as if every inch of my body was touching every inch of his. Upton was an excellent dancer. He not only knew how to keep a beat, but he was so confident and self-assured that when he moved his hands down my back and over my hips it didn't feel awkward or contrived at all. It just felt . . . incredible. I looked into his eyes as we danced. Soon I had forgotten anyone else was there.

"Maybe we should get out of here," I murmured in his ear. Upton smiled. "Patience," he said in an infuriatingly sexy tone. "Later I'm going to go back to the main island to make sure everything's arranged. I've hired one of the boats to take you back a bit after that. For now, let's just have a little fun."

With that, he grabbed my hand and twirled me away from him until our arms were perfectly straight. I was so startled I lost my balance and knocked into some random guy, who tripped into his date. "Sorry!" I said with a laugh.

"No worries. It's a party," he replied in an Australian accent. Couldn't have said it better myself. For the next hour we all hit the dance floor hard and heavy. The drinks were flowing and my friends got louder, messier, and more touchy-feely with each passing moment. I made sure to steer clear of the alcohol, though. Upton had said this was going to be a night neither of us would ever forget. I wanted to make sure I was completely present for all of it. Soon a whole group of us was dancing together at the center of the dance floor, and I smiled when I saw Sawyer allow himself to get dragged in by Taylor and Amberly. He managed a smile as he joined us and just sort of stepped from side to side to the beat. But the more we all twirled and bounced and acted like complete morons, the more he seemed to relax. I even saw him touch Amberly's hip once when she was dancing all up in his face. So maybe he couldn't see through her shiny veneer, but whatever. It was a parry. Let the boy have his fun.

During one of our brief breaks, I sidled over and jostled him with my elbow.

"You're having fun, aren't you?" I said. "Don't deny it, I can tell."

"It's not bad," he replied, leaning back against a palm tree near the edge of the dance floor. He looked me in the eye and smiled. "This might turn out to be an okay year after all." I grinned. "Well, since you're in such a positive mood, I think I should get this over with," I said mischievously.

Sawyer, smart guy that he was, looked alarmed. He stood up straight as if ready to bolt.

""What? "

"I know you hate the spotlight and everything, but I have to do this," I replied, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the DJ. "You'll forgive me one day."

"Reed, what're you doing?" Sawyer asked, glancing around for an escape route. To his credit, however, he didn't struggle against my grip. I stepped up next to the DJ and waved him down to get his attention. "Can I get the mic for a second?" I asked.

"You Reed Brennan?" he asked.

"Yep," I replied. I had asked Kiran to clear it with him earlier. He nodded and handed over a silver microphone. "S'all yours." Then he turned down the volume on the driving dance music until it was nothing but background noise. Gradually the people on the dance floor slowed their movements and looked around in confusion.

"Hi, everyone," I said, lifting my arm. "Sorry for the interruption. I just have a couple things I want to say."

Sawyer leaned in toward my ear. "I hate you," he whispered. I just smiled at him.

"As many of you know, this isn't just a New Year's Eve party. We'realso here to celebrate a friend of mine, Sawyer Hathaway, a guy who just happened to save my life a few nights ago," I said.

"Whoo! Go Sawyer!" Graham shouted.

Everyone laughed and applauded. Sawyer blushed, turning his profile to the crowd. He started to fiddle with the woven bracelets he always wore around his wrist, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"I'm goingto make this brief, since he doesn't like the spotlight, but I just wanted everyone to hear me say. . . thank you, Sawyer." I turned to look at him. "If you hadn't jumped in the water at the exact moment you did, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be able to be with my friends, to experience this incredible parry, to do any of the things I've got planned for my future." I looked at Upton as I said this and a new thrill of excite -ment shot through my core. "And I swear, I'll never do anything like this to you again, but I just thought you deserved a little toast."

I turned and lifted a champagne glass from a tray on the DJ's table. Kiran really had prepared for everything.

"To Sawyer, my hero!"

"To Sawyer!" the crowd shouted.

There was a lot of cheering and whooping and clapping. Sawyer managed to raise his hands to acknowledge it, even though he seemed to be melting in embarrassment on the inside. Soon the DJ turned up the music again and everyone got back to their dancing. I handed the microphone back to him and then gave my champagne glass to Sawyer.

"Here. Looks like you could use this," I said.

Sawyer downed the whole thing in one gulp. "Thanks."

"You don't actually hate me, do you?" I asked.

He smiled. "No. But you really are done now, right? No more thank-yous, no more speeches?"

"I swear," I said, crossing my heart for good measure.

"Omigod! You guys are not going to believe this!" Kiran cried, bursting out of the crowd.

"Come on!"

She cut a weaving line through the dance floor--one that we attempted to follow as best we could without getting elbowed in the face. When we arrived on the other side we found that the rest of our crew was all lined up on the rocky ledge, staring out at the water. I squinted into the darkness, trying to see whatever it was that had caught their attention. Finally I zoned in on a lone boat, bobbing out on the waves a good distance offshore.

"What's up?" I asked.

"That's Daniel's boat," Noelle said, lifting a hand. "Those losers are out there spying onus!" I laughed. "You're kidding."

"They are so pathetic," Taylor said.

Noelle extricated her iPhone from her clutch and turned it on.

"What're you doing?" Dash asked.

"Just wait." Noelle held the phone to her ear and cleared her throat. "Voice mail. Figures." She waited a moment, then spoke. "Are you really that pathetic that you couldn't find anything better to do on New Year's Eve than spy onus? Oh, Paige, how the mighty have fallen. Have fun wallowing in your friendlessness."

She dropped her phone back in her bag and turned to the rest of us. "Hot tub?" The girls cheered and the guys tore off their shirts. Sawyer shrugged and followed Graham, who was running toward the hot tub in nothing but his boxers.

"Hope you've got a bra on under that dress," Tiffany said as she lifted her frock off over her head, revealing a matching--and very sexy--set of black lingerie. Luckily, I did, but still. . . did I really want all the guys seeing me in my underwear? Especially Upton, who was supposed to see it all later? And Dash, who had already seen some of it on one of the most shameful nights of my life?

"It's sweet that you're so shy," Upton said in my ear, noting my hesitation. "Here." He produced a blue T-shirt from behind his back and handed it to me. "I got it from one of the dancers just in case."

"Upton . .. thank you."

He brought his forehead to mine and our noses touched. "Like I really want any of these gits to see my girl half naked. You are all mine."

His words sent a shiver of delight across my shoulders, down my back, and all the way into my toes.

"Yes, I am," I replied. I pulled the large T-shirt on, then shimmied out of my dress. "Now let's get in the tub."