Flo gave Eloise a narrow-eyed look. Her friend threw up her hands.
“Fair and square, chéri. Gloriana’s purse is a den of iniquity, n’est-ce pas?”
“Whatever.” I fell onto a chair, truly blitzed. “I want my stuff back as soon as Aggie’s done the official count.” I crooked my finger at my favorite waiter, but he rushed off in the opposite direction.
“When do I open my presents?” Flo had clearly had enough of games. She didn’t take losing well.
“Everyone out on the patio. Achy wants to do his thing.” Aggie grimaced, but her look begged us not to complain.
“Sure, can’t wait.” I helped her herd the gang outside. “The Storm God’s gonna light up the sky. No rain, I hope.”
“No, I asked him to hold the waterworks.” Aggie smiled.
“Wow!” Flo grabbed my arm. “Look at that.” The lightning display was awesome. Thunder shook the building, and the lights flickered but never went out. For about fifteen minutes we saw a truly spectacular and colorful show in the night sky. The capper was the waterspout that narrowly missed the balcony.
“That was great, Aggie. Tell your boss he’s incredible.”
Aggie made a face. “Oh, I do. Nightly. It’s all part of my, um, job.” She gestured for us to go inside.
“Gifts now?” Flo started toward the loaded table.
“One more game, Flo.” Aggie grabbed Flo’s arm but released it when she got a death glare. “Come on, sweetie. That last one was fun, admit it.”
Flo picked up the picture I’d printed off the Internet. “Glory, this man looks a lot like my Ricardo. You aren’t secretly lusting for my man, are you?”
“No! Hell, no.” I stumbled up to her. I’d had two more margaritas during the light show. “It was for a joke at the bachelorette party. Does look sort of like him, doesn’t it? Of course Rich is way better looking than this guy.”
“Ladies, please. This is unseemly. This man is naked.” Sarah Mainwaring had arrived fashionably late. She practically tore it out of Flo’s hands and returned it to me facedown.
I stuck it in my purse and grabbed another margarita for each of us. “Flo, I’d sure never go after my best friend’s man, no matter how wonderful he is. You know that, right?”
“Of course.” She smiled at her mother-in-law. “No more games, Aggie. Time to open gifts. I can’t wait to see what you brought me, Mother Mainwaring.”
“We’ll see, won’t we?” Sarah looked ready for the queen’s garden party in a demure cornflower blue shirtwaist dress, panty hose and pumps, but the look in her eyes promised a surprise Flo wouldn’t like.
“Fine. Whatever the bride wants.” Aggie grabbed Flo and hauled her toward the laden table. “Time to open presents.”
Flo tore into her first gift and exclaimed over a black bra and panty set. Lacy came to stand beside me to watch, then glanced at the buffet table laden with Mexican food where the shifters from team four had congregated.
“I’m ready to eat. Great food, too bad you can’t enjoy it.”
“I’m enjoying the vamp treats. Aggie’s done a terrific job. Didn’t think she had it in her.” I saw Flo hold up the vintage bustier I’d promised her, and CiCi exclaimed over it. Trust my old friend to appreciate a fine piece.
Lacy nodded. “Nice present you gave her. Are we still closing the store Wednesday?”
“Sure, why not? I can do it once in a while. I want all of you to come to the bachelorette party. I promise it’ll be fun. Remember, come as your favorite seductress.”
“I know, I’ve been thinking about that. May have to borrow something from the shop to wear.” Lacy bit her lip.
“Fine. Whatever.” Ah, my waiter was back. I snagged another Blud-Lite and winked at him. Off he ran. Then I watched Flo open more presents. I glanced at my watch. This had to be my last drink. I hated to think about it, but I was going to have to head to the video shoot later. Showing up soused wouldn’t help me there.
Flo held up a long white cotton nightgown that would cover every inch of her. One guess who’d given her that. I jumped in front of Sarah before Flo could toss her off the balcony. What a party. I’d have to go some to top it. I hit speed dial.
“Hey, honey, how’d you like to dance naked for a bunch of drunk ladies?”Nineteen
“Gloriana? What the hell is the matter with you?”
Oops. What had I done? I looked at my phone like it had betrayed me. Nope, it had been my fumbling fingers that had hit Jerry’s number instead of Ray’s.
“Uh, hi, Jerry.” I laughed and walked away from the squeals and laughter as Flo held up a pair of crotchless panties from Lacy.
“Dance naked for drunken ladies?” Jerry’s voice dropped into a low and sexy growl. “I’m not much for dancing, but if it’s just you and me, I’m more than willing to give it a shot.”
My inner thermostat jumped a few hundred degrees. Whoa, but I’d underestimated my guy. I spotted a chair behind a tall plant.
“I admit I’ve always liked your horizontal moves.” I heard my husky laugh like an out-of-body experience. “Your dancing? Strip you down and who’d notice whether you had rhythm. Forget sharing. Blame that suggestion on this stuff I’ve been drinking.” I polished off my last, I swear it, margarita.
“Where are you? And why are you wasting a good buzz when I’m not there for the payoff?”
“I’m at Flo’s lingerie shower. Aggie’s supplied some blood with a kick. I’m kicking pretty good. Wish you were here.” I sighed.
“Let’s get back to the naked part.” Jerry’s chuckle made my thighs clench. “You’re there too. Naked, of course, and stretched out on my bed. Touch yourself. Do it now.”
“Phone sex? This guy has potential.” Alesa giggled. “What are you waiting for?”
“Mmm.” I sagged onto the chair and looked around. Coast was clear. I slid one hand between my legs. Too much fabric and no Jerry. “Not good enough. When are you coming home?” Refused to think about what would happen then.
“Not sure. When’s the bachelorette party with the dancing naked men?” Jerry’s voice hardened from sexy to serious. “And who the hell are these men if I’m not one of them? Which you’ve got to know I’m not.”
“You just killed my mood.” I sat up straight. “Wednesday night. I’ve got some shifters lined up who claim they can shake their butts. No big deal. Not really naked. It’s standard fare for bachelorette parties, Jer. A bride’s last chance to check out other guys. Don’t stress over it.” The laughter and cheers got louder in the next room. Must have been something really special.
“Won’t just be Florence checking out those men. I know you, Gloriana. You’ve always had an eye for a well-built man.”
“Don’t you know it, big guy,” I purred. “Come on home, and I’ll show you how I appreciate a Scottish warrior’s, um, build.” I slid my hand between my legs again and moaned.
“By God, Gloriana, I’d be in the air right now if I could.” Jerry sounded desperate. “Wednesday night. That’s as soon as I can manage it. Probably close to dawn. Save me Thursday night.”
“Hee, hee, hee. And if he and Rafe meet up then? Bloodbath. My favorite kind.” Alesa poked me in the stomach.
“Thursday?” My voice cracked. “That’s Rafe’s club opening, Jerry. He’s counting on our support. Nadia’s reserved a special table for us, Flo and Richard. CiCi’s in town, with Freddy and Derek. We could make a party out of it.” Safety in numbers. Witnesses. Whatever. As an extra added attraction, Ray there singing and dying to let Jerry know what I’d been up to while my Scot had been out of town. “We can have a private party of our own later.” If any of us survived. Or were in a partying mood.
“If we must. But it’ll be the private part I’ll look forward to.”
“Me too. See you Thursday, then, Jer. Can’t wait. Now I’ve got to go. Flo’s opening her presents.”
“Right. Wedding duties. I’ve arranged for Richard’s bachelor party on Friday night. Seems I’ll need a naked woman now for that.” Jerry laughed when I snorted. “It’s only fair. But I’m sure as hell not asking you to stand in for that. I keep my woman all to myself.”
I bit my tongue. Another possessive male. I loved and hated that about Jerry. I really shouldn’t have had that last margarita. The room was a blur, and I wanted to strip off and do nasty things to Rudolpho while I drained him dry. I was pretty sure it wasn’t my demonic urges calling the shots either.
“Glad to hear it. Finally, you admit you’ve got your own bad girl. So let’s par-tay.”
I swallowed and gripped the phone. Focus. “Stick to poker and cigars. I’ve heard Flo’s lethal when she’s jealous. Me too.” My fuzzy head flopped back, and I stared at the ceiling.
“No need to be jealous, Gloriana. I am and always will be yours. Thursday, after the opening, I’ll show you what a good boy I can be.” Jerry hung up.
My mind filled in the blanks. Mmm. Rudolpho made the mistake of coming too close. I squeezed his ass, then snagged another drink. What the hell? I was way past drunk as a skunk and had the damned video to look forward to. I figured I was probably a better actress sloshed anyway. And of course Rafe the great protector would go out there with me.
A damned shame that I was going to break up with him before Jerry got home. I tossed back the drink and wished it would knock me unconscious. This week looked to be the worst in my life. Alesa laughed hysterically, more than high herself and looking forward to every painful moment of it.
I staggered out to the gift area in time to see Flo hold up a pair of tiny panties that wouldn’t have fit me after the age of ten. I smiled and propped myself up against a wall. Couldn’t hate her. Loved her. She’d tell me to do whatever it took to keep Jerry and Rafe happy. Alesa was right there with her and flashed me with hellfire to prove it.