“We’d best split up now and look out for Caine.”
Without waiting for a reply, Sam slipped away, eager to put some much-needed space between her and Ryan in order to get her treacherous thoughts under control.
Now was not the time to indulge in dangerous memories, and certainly not the feel of his hands exploring every curve of her body, or the too sexy for his own good voice that reminded her of the sweet, seductive words he’d whispered in her ears while he’d moved within her.
A passing waiter walked by, holding a tray, and Sam grabbed a glass of wine and practically gulped down its contents, set it back and grabbed another, ignoring the raised eyebrow of the waiter.
With the warmth of the alcohol spreading pleasantly through her stomach, she finally risked a glance over her shoulder and quickly wished she hadn’t.
Ryan still stood where she’d left him, hands thrust deep into his pockets, as he watched her with an intensity that set another burn that had nothing to do with the alcohol, racing through her.
She cursed inwardly, wondering if he’d noticed her desperate drinking, and turned away, cradling the glass of wine as she pretended to take an interest in the people around, though every cell in her body was aware of his presence.
“Sameera!” A high pitched voice called out in delight. “What are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t make it?”
Jolted out of her wayward thoughts, Sam barely had time to turn around before she was enveloped in a warm hug, a familiar scent of hideously expensive perfume filled her nostrils.
Sam smiled and pulled back to gaze fondly at the willowy woman.
“Something unexpected came up.” She replied, hooking an arm through her friend’s, relieved to have a distraction from the brooding presence behind. “You look stunning as usual, Katie.”
The blonde smiled and patted her hand with a fond smile. “As do you, dear. I’m glad you finally decided to come to see my work.”
Sam felt a stab of guilt at the words. Her smile wavered, and she couldn’t quite meet Katie’s eyes as she murmured. “Yeah, me too.”
Just then, a voice announced the start of the exhibition and the guests began filing into the main room, spreading out to study and admire the artwork that hung from plain, white walls.
“C’ mon, you need to see my latest work,” Katie announced and began steering them towards one end of the room. “I think it’s my best one yet, modesty aside, and I’m really hoping others can see it too.”
Mindful of the man she’d come with, Sam looked towards the reception desk, but Ryan had already moved away. Her eyes scanned the crowd, looking for him, but failed to spot him.
Feeling a bit of resistance from Sam, Katie stopped and gave her a puzzled look. “Are you looking for someone?”
Sam flushed and shook her head. “I thought I saw someone familiar.”
The answer seemed to satisfy Katie and they continued moving until she stopped in front of a large canvas.
“Here we are!” Chest puffed up with pride, she swept her hand in a flourish. “What do you think?”
Sam tilted her head sideways and studied the piece of art, wondering what it was she was supposed to be looking at exactly. Flustered, she bid for time, and sipped at the wine, while she tried to come up with something...anything. To her, it seemed like a toddler had been given a brush and watercolors, then set loose on the canvas, creating a riot of every color imaginable.
A couple stopped by the painting, and from their expressions, they seemed to like it. She caught words like ‘unusual’ and ‘thought-provoking’ and she stared at the painting, wondering if there was something wrong with her eyes.
Fortunately, Katie had become distracted by some patrons who were also busy admiring the painting, and Sam heaved a sigh of relief at being spared the agony of telling another untruth.
“It’s hideous, isn’t it?” A deep, amused voice murmured beside her.
Startled, she turned her head, taking in the tall, good looking man dressed in a crisp black suit, who was studying the painting, hands thrust in pants pockets, an amused smile playing on his lips.
Sensing her scrutiny, he glanced at her, the smile widening. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Katie the truth if you don’t.”
“It’s not hideous,” Sam sprang to her friend’s defense. It didn’t matter what she thought but damned if she would openly admit that to a stranger. “I think the painting is meant to depict the chaos that is real life.”
“Fascinating thought.” The man murmured. His gaze swept her from head to toe, and Sam couldn’t help feeling he’d taken in her full measure in that one look.
He looked at the painting once more. “I must commend you, then.”
Sam stared at him in confusion. “What for?”
“Your loyalty to your friend, regardless of your true opinion of that mess.” He gestured towards the painting. “Very commendable.”
She bristled at the patronizing tone, her next words delivered in a curt tone. “I’m not sure I like what you’re implying. I expressed my opinion of the painting, and unless you can somehow prove I thought otherwise, it remains the truth.”
Without giving him a chance to say anything else, she murmured an excuse and made to walk away.
“Wait.” He caught up with her easily, this time, the smile was replaced by a contrite look. “I’m sorry, I meant no offense. I didn’t mean to imply you were not being honest in your opinion, and if it came across that way, then please, accept my sincere apology.”
Appeased, Sam nodded and turned to face him again. “I apologize as well, for jumping to conclusions.”
How ironic that she’d just accused a certain someone of being guilty of this very sin.
Speaking of, where had Ryan disappeared to? Curious, she glanced around the now crowded room again, but as before, there was still no sign of him. A flash of irritation sparked in her as she wondered how he expected her to let him know when she finally managed to speak to Caine if he couldn’t be bothered to stay where she could see him?
“How about we start again?” The stranger caught her attention again, and she looked at him to find him watching her. Noting he had her attention again, he held out his hand and introduced himself.
Sam’s eyebrows rose in surprise at his name.
****
“I haven’t seen you around here before today, is this your first time?”
At the question, Ryan reluctantly dragged his attention away from the annoying woman standing at the other end of the room. He forced a polite smile at the pretty brunette seated on a bar stool beside him, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
He curled long fingers around the stem of his wine glass and took a sip of champagne, while he collected his scattered thoughts, before finally replying.
“Yes.”
A flash of disappointment crossed her face when he failed to elaborate further, but then she quickly replaced it with a soft, sultry smile.
“In that case, I’d be happy to show you around, if you’re willing.”
The brunette, she’d introduced herself as Audrey, smiled and leaned closer and propped both elbows on the polished surface of the bar. The action pushed her cleavage together under the yellow silk blouse. His gaze flicked down for a moment then slid away to focus instead, on her face.
Full lips, straight nose, high cheekbones and deep green eyes that sparkled with an interest he would have to be blind not to notice, and a body that had curves in all the right places, he knew he would a fool to turn down the blatant invitation she’d just issued.
Too bad, because he was all kinds of a fool. Unbidden, he glanced once more towards the other end of the room, and his eyes narrowed as he watched Sam engage in an animated conversation with some dude in a suit. Even from this distance, he could tell, just by the man’s body language, just what filthy nonsense was going through his mind; the way he leaned in close as he listened to whatever Sam was saying, was a sure indicator. And Sam…
His fingers gripped the stem of the glass so hard, his knuckles whitened. Damn woman, she was supposed to be on the lookout for Caine, not standing next to that...fool, gabbing away at heaven knew what and looking so damn adorable while doing so.
“Excuse me,” he set down his glass, spared Audrey a glance long enough to see the nonplussed expression on her face and stood, eating up the distance in long strides, gaze fixed on his target even as he navigated through a roomful of people gazing at weird shapes on canvas that somebody called art.
He knew two-year-olds, who could produce the same results, and much cheaper too.
As he approached the two oblivious miscreants, he was just in time to overhear Sam say something that set his teeth on edge, bile rising in his throat at the eagerness that laced her tone.
“Of course, I’d be more than happy to have lunch with you.”
Yeah. Over his dead body.
The poor fool noticed him first, a puzzled frown coming over features that were not too bad if a little too bloody good looking as he noticed Ryan. Ryan made sure to hold his gaze steady, eyes flashing a silent warning, as he deliberately placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder.
She started, surprised and whirled around to face him, a pleased smile still lingering on soft, plump lips, which quickly faded as soon as she saw him standing there.
His jaw clenched.
Without bothering the acknowledge the source of his ire, he dropped his hand, tightening the fingers into fists.
“A word, please.” He forced the words out through gritted teeth, temper already dangerously frayed. Deliberately ignoring g the man currently watching the exchange between them, he jerked his head towards the bar and moved towards a less crowded spot, away from prying eyes and ears.
He waited, arms crossed over his chest, displeasure oozing from every pore as Sam took her sweet time making excuses, before coming towards him, brown eyes alight with suppressed irritation.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She hissed the moment she was within earshot, not giving him a chance to spark first. “I thought we agreed to split up?”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Annoyed at her reprimand, he threw the question back to her.
She shot him an indignant look. “I’m following the plan, and you’re busy trying to ruin everything before we even get a chance.”
“And did the plan somehow include standing around, making eyes at him?” He stabbed a finger towards the man in question.
“Making eyes?” She gaped at him, then her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You think I’m flirting with that guy?”
Ryan clamped his mouth shut, realizing that to answer truthfully, would be akin to driving his own foot up his ass. Instead, he went the safe route.
“Have you spotted Caine yet?” He asked, swallowing down the strange feeling in his chest at the thought of Sam flirting with someone else, more right after she’d literally run away when he’d made the comment about going on his knees.
Not that he blamed her, not after the scene in her office this morning. He winced just thinking about the accusations he’d hurled at her.
Christ! It was a wonder she was even still helping him at all after he’d acted like a bastard.
Speaking of which, he made a mental note to follow up on the missing email as soon as this thing with Caine was settled.
“No,” Sam’s answer brought him back into focus. She still glared at him in distrust, not buying the change of subject for a minute. “And you still haven’t answered my question.”
He feigned ignorance. “What question was that?”
Her eyes flashed and she muttered a curse in Hindi, taking a step towards him, chin held high.
“You’re treading on thin ice, Ryan Silverton. I’m this close to knocking some damn sense in your fool head, even if I have to do some damage to that pretty face of yours.”
She whirled around and stalked away, back towards the spot where her admirer stood. Torn between frustration and inexplicable elation at the fact she’d called him a pretty boy, he stood, watching as she reached the guy, leaned close to say something.
To Ryan’s surprise, the man raised his head and looked in his direction, their gazes clashing as Sam continued to talk.
A slight smile crossed the man’s features and he nodded as though in agreement. He slipped a hand under Sam’s elbow and Ryan’s surprise grew as the two began heading back towards him.
What in the actual hell? He watched the two make their way, a small voice whispered in his mind, noting how perfect they looked together, and Ryan’s felt a tightness in his chest.
“James,” Sam turned to the man as soon as they reached him. “I’d like to introduce my colleague, Ryan Silverton.”
“Ryan, this is James Prescott Caine, chief operating officer of Caine Group.”
Want to read ahead? Find Playing Dirty on Radish and Inkitt. My username is ihartcupquakes (Links on my profile page).