“Lex! You’re here!” Ruby abandons her side and runs over, throwing her arms around my neck. She never lacks for an enthusiastic greeting.
“As if I would miss your pre-engagement-party party.” I met Amie’s gaze from over Ruby’s shoulder.
Her smile is tentative and uncertain. She’s in the middle of a conversation with one of my mother’s friends. Her attention returns to her when she leans in and whispers something to Amie.
I don’t have an opportunity to talk to Amie before we’re seated for dinner because I’m pulled into a conversation with my father over business matters, which is not unusual.
She’s seated directly across from me at dinner, beside Ruby, who keeps leaning over and whispering in her ear. Amie seems to be unable to make eye contact with me. I need to get five minutes alone with her, and not to get her naked—which I would definitely like to do—but so we can figure out a way to be near each other without it being incredibly awkward, or obvious that there’s something going on. Or there had been something going on. I’m concerned that Ruby is already suspicious with all the whispering.
“Amalie, I wanted to check in with you about your experience with the Mills New York hotel spa services,” my father asks.
Shit. I don’t think I ever followed up on that with my assistant, Ursula.
Amalie gives my dad her signature polite, inquisitive smile. “New York hotels?”
My dad glances at me, somewhat questioningly, and then addresses Amie again. “Lexington mentioned how much help you were in Bora Bora with revising the spa service menu. He even went so far as to give you credit for the best ideas.”
“Oh?” Amie’s eyes flare, and for the first time, she actually meets my gaze for a fleeting second in which the question What the fuck? hangs heavy. “I think Lexington is exaggerating. I just spent a few hours being pampered.”
“Don’t be so modest, Amalie. Your input at the sister hotels is the reason we’re up on ratings again, isn’t that right, Lex?”
I can feel Bane’s eyes on me as I fight not to fidget. “Amalie was incredibly helpful.”
Ruby props her chin on her fist as she addresses Amie. “I didn’t know you were helping Lex while you were in Bora Bora.”
Amie waves her hand around in the air dismissively. “Lex was just being kind, giving me something to do so I wasn’t bored. While he went to meetings and did all the important things I sampled spa services.”
“That was really sweet of you, Lex,” Ruby says, but she’s looking at Amie and there’s a whole hell of a lot of suspicion on her face. “And here I thought all you had time for was Hottie Hook-Up.”
Amie coughs and gives Ruby the eye. Who the hell is Hottie Hook-Up?
My dad glosses right over that comment, or maybe he misses it. “There’s no need to be modest about your assistance, Amalie. We’re very grateful for your input, isn’t that right, Lexington?”
“Yeah. Yes, definitely.” Shit. I am not keeping it together right now, and it doesn’t help that Amie looks anything but comfortable with this conversation.
My dad gives me an odd look. “Lexington suggested you might be interested in experiencing some of the same services here in the city, and he thought it would be lovely to include Ruby. I assumed Lexington had already extended the invitation, but then I realize maybe you’ve been busy, all things considering. You’re working for Williams Media now, aren’t you?”
I don’t even know how my dad would know this. Or maybe it’s just been part of the gossip circuit.
“I am.”
“I’ve heard it’s going well. Wasn’t Thurston’s wife singing Amalie’s praises, Mimi?” he asks my mom.
Mimi places a hand over his. “Yes, but I think you’re embarrassing the poor girl with all this attention.”
“Right, of course. My apologies. Well, the invitation still stands to take advantage of the New York hotel spa services. It would be wonderful to get your opinion on how they stack up against the services at the Bora Bora hotels. Lex, you can have Ursula organize that for Amalie and Ruby, whenever it fits their schedules.”
“I can do that.” Please let this conversation be over.
“Perfect. I think it would be advisable to organize a lunch or dinner afterward, and Amalie can brief you on her opinions while they’re fresh, you too, Ruby.”
Amie and I exchange a quick glance. She looks completely shell-shocked. I don’t know whether I should be offended or not, or what the root of that emotion is. Now I really need to get her alone so I can talk to her without all of these people around.
The opportunity doesn’t arise until the dishes are cleared and we have an intermission before coffee and dessert. Amie excuses herself to the bathroom as people disperse from the table. I use the opportunity to take the shortcut to the powder room I assume she’ll use.
“Oh!” She stumbles back, her palm covering her mouth when she steps into the bathroom and finds me already in there. I follow her into the hall, grab her wrist, and pull her down to the next door, which happens to be my childhood bedroom. The room has been redecorated, everything a subtle, cool gray with white and black accents.
I close the door and flip the lock for privacy, standing in front of it so she can’t continue to evade me.
“What’re you doing?” Amie backs away from me as if I’m a grenade missing the pin.
I stay where I am, hoping I can calm her. “I think we need to talk.”
“I don’t think we should be alone together right now.” She looks around. “Especially not with a—” She gestures to the king bed to the right.
“Worried you’re going to end up naked?”
Her mouth drops, and she props her fist on her hip. “No!” Her irritation is more entertaining than it should be.
“Good to know you have some self-control.” There’s no sarcasm, just bitterness. I’m angry at the way she ran off the last time I saw her, and the way she’s ignored me all night tonight.
She purses her lips, color rising in her cheeks. “Why would you tell your father I helped you with the spa menu?”
“Because you did.”
“I thought we were supposed to keep what happened in Bora Bora between us.”
“I didn’t tell him we fucked each other, Amie. I told him you were helpful with spa service suggestions.”
“Well I didn’t tell Ruby about all the spa service help I gave you, so it’s going to make her more suspicious than she already is.”
“Why is she suspicious in the first place?”
“Because I’m not good at lying to her. It’s not something I’ve had to do before and I don’t know how to handle it. We shouldn’t be in here together. I shouldn’t be alone with you.”
She makes a move for the door but I’m faster, I step in front of it. She closes her eyes and exhales a frustrated breath. When they open again, fear makes them fiery.
I don’t understand what would create that emotion in her. “Amie, I’m not going to hurt you.”
She drops her head and barks a laugh. “No. You’re just going to lock me in a room with you against my will.”
I lean against the door and cross my arms over my chest. “You spent two weeks locked in a room with me and I didn’t hear any complaints then. Actually, all I heard were a lot of moans.”