Steel and Lace (Lace Series) (2 page)

Friday morning Cate and I sat sipping coffee at our kitchen island before starting a busy day. I was off to meet with a local accessories designer to talk about the new trends that came out of fashion week, and Cate was gearing up for another day of designing.

"Sawyer said he saw you at the coffee shop the other day. I think he's still got it for you," I shook my head at her. "So we should all go out tonight. We haven't had a night out since you got to town. We should go to The Roxy."

I didn't answer her and took another long draw from my coffee.

"That's it, we're going. I’ll call Sawyer and have him meet us."

Just as Cate picked up her phone, a loud knock echoed through the apartment. Cate hopped up and headed for the door. I continued to sip my coffee and thought about the questions I had for my interview today.

"Eva," Cate's voice rang out like a bell. "For you," she glided into the kitchen. She carried a white vase overflowing with dark purple calla lillies. The contrast of the two colors was stunning.

"Who are they from?" Cate's excitement was palpable.

"I don't know..." my voice trailed off as I touched a delicate petal with my fingertips.

"Eva, look," Cate pulled out a small blue box that was nestled amongst the petals. My eyes widened. The perfect eggshell blue was contrasted with the words
Tiffany & Co
emblazoned across the top. I slowly opened the box with tentative fingers. Nestled amongst the Tiffany blue padding was a delicate diamond cocktail watch with a square face surrounded in pave diamonds. The strap was in the style of a bracelet with fine diamonds, easily totaling 2 carats or more. A small note was nestled amongst the soft fabric.

This reminded me of you. Carter

I sat in stunned silence, the wheels in my brain frozen in shock.

"Eva! Who is it from?"

"Carter Morgan," my eyes were riveted on the elegant watch. The way the natural light caught the diamonds and sent technicolor shades gleaming in every direction was mesmerizing.

"Let me see," Cate snatched the box from my hands. "Eva," Cate said my name in a whisper. "Do you know how much this must have cost? It's vintage. Probably the 40s. Tiffany was known for their art deco cocktail watches," she looked at me out of the corner of her eye. "Did something happen that you’re not telling me about? Did more happen in the coffee shop that day? Did you have a bathroom tryst with Carter Morgan?" Cate's eyes widened.

"Cate! No! I can't believe you just said that!" I could always count on Cate for her inappropriate comments.

"Well, you must have made some sort of impression for him to send this," Cate began to take the watch out of the box.

"Don't take it out!" I scrambled to get the box out of her hands. "I’m not keeping it."

"What? Are you kidding?"

"I can't keep it, Cate, I don't even know why he sent it. And I’m not keeping a gift like this from a man I’ve met exactly twice," I stroked the diamonds of the watch lovingly, realizing this would probably be the only time I held a vintage Tiffany anything in my hands.

"Yea, I guess not," Cate had the same dejected look in her eyes. "It is beautiful though." I closed the lid of the box and set it on the kitchen counter next to the lilies.

Later that evening Cate and I were getting ready for our night out at The Roxy. The club was now officially called Royale and had undergone an ultra-modern makeover, but most still called it by its former name. My thoughts had been consumed with Carter's gift all day. I had a feeling he wouldn't take my returning it very well.

I was just running a brush through my long, dark hair when Cate stepped up behind me. "I've got the perfect dress for you," she pushed an obscenely short silver dress into my hands.

"I don't think so. I’ll be pulling it down all night for fear of showing the goods to everyone in the room!"

"That's the point, Eva! If you want to get noticed, you've got to be a little more daring."

"Who says I want to get noticed?" I mumbled. Cate only smiled and shoved the dress into my arms. I pulled the slinky dress over my head and shimmied it down over my hips. I looked in the mirror with a sense of uncertainty.

"Oh, Eva… it's perfect," Cate pulled the hair back off of my shoulders to highlight the embellished halter straps. There was a sexy keyhole outlined in sequins at the bodice, making it impossible for me to wear a bra. The crinkled satin and chiffon hugged my curves and ended at mid-thigh. I turned to find the back was open. I smoothed my hands over the soft fabric and sighed. It was perfect. I still feared that I would be pulling the dress down all night, but to wear something so beautiful would be worth it.

"OK. I’ll wear it."

"Yay," Cate clapped her hands together. "Now to tackle that mess of hair on your head."

"What? What's wrong with my hair? I always wear it straight," I whined.

"Exactly, which is why we're going to give you some soft waves tonight." I sighed and slumped down into the chair in front of the vanity as Cate ran for her curling iron.

"I draw the line at lipstick. I’m not wearing it, Cate," I glared at her in the mirror once she'd returned.

"Lip gloss. At least lip gloss," Cate bargained.

"Fine," I smiled at her reflection.

Two hours later we'd just settled into a corner at the club. It was a swank space that walked the line between modern lounge and nightclub. The dance floor was large and packed with bodies, but there were small nooks with oversized chairs and couches tucked around the room. Sawyer had met us outside and we'd just ordered drinks.

"Let's dance, Eva," Cate attempted to haul me out on the floor by my elbow.

"Oh, no. I need a few drinks first." As if on cue the waitress arrived.

"Drinks are on the house tonight," she said with a smile.

"Really?" Sawyer's eyes brightened immediately

"According to who?" Cate looked at the waitress.

"Boss's orders," she shrugged. Vodka cranberry for Cate and I, and a draft beer for Sawyer. Cate introduced me to the vodka cranberry a few years ago and I quickly learned that they went down like juice and left me with a treacherous hangover the next morning, and sometimes with some blank spots in my memory of the night before.

"So what are you going to do about the watch?" Cate took a sip of her drink.

"I’m giving it back. I doubt he'll like it, but I’m not keeping it."

"Tell him I’ll keep it!" Cate giggled.

"What watch?" Sawyer narrowed his eyes. Cate jumped at the chance to fill him in on the gift that had arrived for me earlier this morning.

"I took the liberty of doing a little research on your behalf," Cate looked back at me. "It's worth a lot, Eva. Like, $12,000 conservatively." I choked on my vodka cranberry and my insides burned as the beverage sloshed around in my system. 

"$12,000?" Sawyer coughed.

"No, he wouldn't spend that much. No way," I shook my head.

"Yes, way. He's a billionaire, Eva. 12 grand isn't even a drop in the bucket for him. It does however raise the question of the meaning behind it. Still no ideas?"

"No," I shook my head, still confused by Carter Morgan and his extravagant gift.

After a few drinks it felt like my bloodstream was humming to life and Cate dragged me off the couch to dance. The dance floor was crowded and sweaty bodies were gyrating against each other from corner to corner. The thumping beats vibrated deep within my body and my hips moved along with the music. Sawyer wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his body flush with mine.

"You look beautiful tonight, Eva," he nuzzled into my ear. My cheeks flushed and I wrapped my arms around his neck and inhaled his spicy cologne. Just as the deejay was transitioning into the next song, a deep voice was at my shoulder demanding the next dance. My head jolted up in surprise to find Carter Morgan and his steely blue eyes boring a hole into me. Suddenly the drinks on the house made sense.

Sawyer raised an eyebrow at me and I nodded my head as Carter stepped in and wrapped his arms around my waist. He was dressed in a navy suit and looked impossibly sexy surrounded by guys in jeans and button down shirts. Carter's arms felt like hard steel that held my body tight to his and had my blood humming with energy. The air between us sparked and it felt like we were drawn to each other by pure sexual tension.

"I thought you were just friends, Evangeline. That guy had his hands all over you," Carter's deep voice resonated in my ear.

"We were dancing," I looked up into his eyes as his left hand skimmed up my hips and torso to land on the back of my neck. His fingers were tangled in my hair and it felt so possessive and intimate. He was driving me wild. Because the vodka cranberry had lowered my inhibitions, I pressed my body impossibly tighter to his and did what I had been dreaming of doing all week. I snaked one hand to the back of his neck and tangled it in his almost too long locks, and brought the other up to the scruff along his jaw. I ran my fingertips delicately along the sharp angle and then used my fingernails to scratch along his perpetual five o'clock shadow. He groaned in my ear and I felt his other hand leave the hollow of my waist and makes its way slowly over my bottom to my thigh. His fingers reached the hem of my dress and played just underneath it enticingly. My heart began to pound and my breathing became heavy. I had never been so turned on with just a few small touches. Carter Morgan’s fingertips shot fire into my body and his eyes clouded over with a dark lust that left me trembling.

We danced through the song as other bodies jostled against us, but it was as if we were in our own bubble. One arm wrapped around me and his fingertips sliding ever so slowly up my thigh, inching my dress up. I couldn't have been more surrounded by Carter in sight, scent and touch. His hands all over me, his body covering mine, his intoxicating fresh water scent surrounding me. Just as the song was ending Carter's fingertips crept to the inside of my thigh, dangerously close to places I ached for him to touch.

"Let's go," his throaty voice whispered in my ear as he grabbed my hand and began to pull me off the dance floor.

"I can't," I protested, but he continued to drag me between the bodies towards the door. "Carter, I can't leave. I came with Cate, I can't just leave her here." Carter finally turned and cocked his head to one side. A dangerous look passed through his eyes that made something deep within my stomach flutter.

"Fine, but this isn't over, Evangeline," his eyes clouded over with lust.

We weaved our way through the people and it was only then that I realized that he was still hanging onto my hand. I looked down at our fingers intertwined and my heart skipped a few beats. What was this? What was he doing to me? We reached the far corner of the club and saw Cate and Sawyer laughing around a fresh round of drinks. Carter's jaw tightened as he and Sawyer locked eyes. He tightened his grip on my hand before dropping it. I sat down on the couch next to Cate, and Carter sat down beside me.

"We ordered you another drink, Eva," Cate informed me with a glance at Carter. Just as I was reaching for my vodka cranberry Carter slid it out of my reach.

"I think Evangeline has had enough to drink tonight." My head whipped around to him. Carter ignored me and motioned a waitress over."Water, please."

"I’ll decide when I’ve had enough to drink, thank you." I reached for my drink again.

"Evangeline," Carter's eyes flashed with anger as he pushed my drink away further. I narrowed my eyes at him, my independent streak, no doubt powered by the alcohol in my system, flared to the surface.

"Actually, I'm not done," I reached for my drink and took a long sip as I locked eyes with him.

"You're being immature, Evangeline." I continued to stare at him as I finished off the rest of my drink. Just then the waitress returned with the water. "Another, please." I sat my glass down on the table in front of me.

"No, Miss Austin has reached her limit," Carter dismissed the waitress.

I gritted my teeth in anger. "What are you doing?" I glared at him.

"We're not doing this here," Carter grabbed my elbow and hauled me off of the couch. I yanked my elbow from his grip.

"You’re right, we need to talk. In private," I turned to glance back at Cate. "I’ll be fine." She nodded and Carter guided me to the exit with a firm grip on my hip.

"What's your deal, Carter?"

"To what are you referring?" Carter's eyes flashed in amusement.

"Buying drinks for us, telling me when I've had enough, and the watch!"

"Glad to hear you got it," Carter's hand tightened on my hip as he guided me down the sidewalk.

"I got it, alright. Does your girlfriend know you go around giving random girls expensive watches?" I planted my feet, forcing Carter to stop and talk to me face to face.

"Girlfriend?" Carter crossed his arms.

"The girl you were with at the party. I can't imagine she would take too well to the idea of you gifting jewelry to other women. Where is she at tonight? Does she know you're here?"

"Nikki and I aren't dating," the corner of Carter's mouth lifted in a small smirk.

"Well, I'm still not keeping the watch," I turned on my heel to leave.

"You don't like it?" Carter's eyes flashed hurt for a moment.

"It's not that," my voice softened. "It's beautiful Carter. Stunning. But why did you send it?"

"It reminded me of you. Delicate, beautiful, bright," his hand came up to rest on my cheek. My head swirled just as much from the alcohol in my system as from his words. I placed my hand at my forehead to shield my eyes from him for a moment, as if I couldn't see him, I could think clearly. Apparently he took the gesture to mean I was feeling sick.

"I knew you'd had enough to drink. You should have listened to me, Eva," Carter placed his hand on my arm to help support me.

"No, it's not that. I’m fine. I’m just confused, Carter." I searched his eyes for a moment. "The watch is too expensive. It's beautiful, but I can't keep it. I won't." His hand tightened on my arm.

"Well, I’m not taking it back," he said bluntly. I let out a sigh. For every ounce of sex he exuded, he was just as maddening. I didn't know whether I wanted to be in his presence as much as possible, or if I should run away and save myself the headache.