AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A hint of a smile lit his eyes. “I’d have to agree.” He flicked a look around. “Have we caught you all alone again?”
“No, I’m with my apprentice. He’s in the bathroom.”
“Her very taken apprentice,” Kaleb cut in.
Trace hummed. “I see.” He planted his feet. “So, what are we talking about?”
“Triads,” replied Kaleb, making Trace’s brows wing up.
“I was asking nosy questions,” I admitted. “And internally sighing in disappointment on hearing that you two aren’t into guy-on-guy action.”
A velvety chuckle billowed out of Trace. “I must say, we’re not used to receiving disappointment from women.”
I smiled. “Oh, I’d imagine not.” They sure knew how to pleasure a girl and leave her wanting more.
“Briar, there you are,” said Alondra, wandering over with a wide smile. A smile that was not in the least bit authentic. It held a hard edge that was as cutting as glass.
Andtherecame an end to my flirt-fun with two gorgeous men. She sure knew how to suck the joy out of a moment. Just the sight of her was enough to make my hormones moodily toss their pom poms on the floor.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Her brow puckered slightly. “Whatever happened to your date?”
“He’s answering a call of nature,” I replied. “Trace and Kaleb are keeping me company while I wait for him.”
Her attention settled on Kaleb. Feminine appreciation flashed in her eyes. She gave him her practiced, sultry, lopsided smile that effortlessly reeled men in.
My jaw tightened. He wasn’t mine, no, but I didn’t like her thinking that he could be hers. I really didn’t like that she might succeed in makinghim hers, even if only temporarily—she rarely kept her toys around for long.
Stroking her slim throat, she took a step closer to him. “Trace didn’t properly introduce us when you arrived. Which was very, very rude of him.”
Kaleb cocked his head. “You’re Briar’s mom, right?”
I almost barked a laugh as her jaw all but hit the floor. I was used to being recognized—and even referred to—as merely the daughter of Alondra Vickers and Ansel Leighton. As if this defined me. As if my being a person in my own right was a secondary matter.
Not even my being successful as a costume designer had changed what people saw when they looked at me—the daughter of famous actors. I’d grown accustomed to it over the years, so it wasn’t something that grated on me.
Alondra, however, had never been on the receiving end of something like that. She was recognized all the time for the many roles she’d played. She was referred to as a lot of things—a starlet, a legend, a sex symbol, but never quite simply someone’smom.As if her success meant nothing to her conversationalistand their interest lay squarely with me as opposed to her. Her expression was priceless.
“Yes,” she eventually replied, the sultry quality to her smile withering away. She turned to Trace, dismissing Kaleb. “I had hoped that you and I could talk.”
It wasn’t a request. It was a pressing suggestion that carried a note of expectancy. Well, mendidtend to give Alondra her way.
But … Trace didn’t graciously nod and agree to follow her wherever she wished to go. Nor did he seem to welcome her presence. Or evennotwelcome it. Instead, he came across as utterly indifferent. Which positively cheered me.
Trace gave her a bored look. “About what?”
“It’s a private matter,” she replied.
Hmm, I could guess what she wanted to discuss with him.
“Later, perhaps. I’m enjoying the ball. You should do the same.” Trace splayed his hand on the small of my back. “Let’s go. You promised me a dance.”
Very much understanding the feel of needing to ‘escape’ Alondra’s company, I took pity on him and let him lead me to the dance floor. There, he held me close as we swayed to the slow number the quartet were playing. His eyes never left mine, his focus so intense it felt almost palpable.
“She won’t be distracted this easily,” I warned him. “Alondra persists until she gets what she wants.”
He let out an annoyed sigh. “Yes, I’ve noticed in the past that she’s very determined.”
“It’s true that she pursued you hard at one time, then?” I asked, finding it rather remarkable that I hadn’t snarled. It wasn’t good that I felt a little possessive where he and Kaleb were concerned, but I couldn’t help it.
