Cinderella Busted (The Cinderella Romances #1) (16 page)

“What do you think you’re doing?” Rhett growled when he caught up with Garrett at the bar.

“Enjoying myself.”

Rhett glared, coming alongside. “You know what I mean. Why didn’t you tell me
she
would be here?”

At least, Garrett didn’t give him that blank stare he had tried back at the office. Rhett had guessed he was up to something even then.

“What do you care? When you threw Lily out of your house, you gave up any hold on her.” He calmly ordered a scotch rocks from the bartender.

“So you brought her here to taunt me?” Rhett demanded, incredulous.

“No, Rob brought her here. I had two extra tickets, since you said you weren’t going, and I gave them to Tammy.”

“I told you I didn’t know if I was going,” Rhett said belligerently and demanded his own scotch rocks when the bartender turned to him.

“What’re you so pissed off about? You’re here with Delia.”

Rhett fought the glare forming. Lily being here was totally Garrett’s fault, and damned if Rhett had been able to stop glancing over at her ever since he’d walked in and spotted her. Delia had noticed, much to his chagrin, and had no problem complaining about his wandering gaze.

“At least, she’s graduated to being just
she
instead of
the liar
.”

“It’s my business, Garrett,” he snapped.

“You’re right. Just like taking out that supermodel last weekend and bringing Delia tonight to prove your point.”

“I’m not proving any point.”

“Aren’t you? You want to be a jerk, you go right ahead, but don’t expect me to join you and treat Lily bad, too. I like her. She’s very nice. So is Tammy.” Garrett moved a few steps away from the bar to allow more patrons access. Rhett followed.

“Damn,” he suddenly growled. “They’ll let anybody into these charity events.”

Garrett followed his line of sight across the crowded ballroom. Aidan Cross had paused at the entrance. “Why does Cross still get to you after all these years? I don’t get it.”

“Just because you two have stayed good friends since college, doesn't mean I have to. Need I remind you, he’s stolen a half dozen BDC development deals right out from under our collective noses?”

“And we’ve stolen at least twice that many from him,” Garrett argued.

Rhett pointed an index finger like a pistol. “You just make sure he doesn’t steal the Cypress Key deal out from under us. I have plans for that gulf coast parcel.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Garrett sing-songed, “you still didn’t explain why you hate him so much.”

“And I’m not going to.”

“Heck, you two played on Princeton’s golf and lacrosse teams together,” Garrett persisted.

“Drop it.”

Garrett held his palms out. “Okay. Okay.”

“Let’s get back to your own double-cross deal tonight.”

“Aw geez, I already told you. I gave the two extra tickets to Tammy to give to whomever she wanted.”

“And you knew nothing about
her
coming,” Rhett sneered.

“You should be happy. Looks like Lily has found someone else to play with tonight, so you don’t have to worry about her pining away for you,” Garrett said, a little too smugly to suit Rhett, especially when his friend’s gaze strayed back across the room again.

Rhett turned and felt all his muscles tighten. At the far side of the ballroom, Aidan Cross had cornered Lily. He gulped back a snarl as Cross leaned in and whispered something in Lily’s ear. At least, it looked like that from here. She had a date with that grower from her nursery. What was she doing talking to that hound dog Cross—and looking all happy?

Rhett had to make a conscious effort to uncurl his fingers from the fist they’d made. He hated this whole gala scene tonight. He and Garrett were arguing, and the two of them never argued. And now he had to watch Cross making a move on Lily. He wanted to be anywhere but here, watching her smile up at that horn dog. How dare she? She should be miserable for lying to him.

Cinderella, my ass. She wanted my money, and I was ready to give everything to her
.

He stalked back to an impatient Delia. At least, she didn’t hide her motives. Delia was quite up front about them. She had money. She just wanted more money. He turned his chair slightly before he sat down, so it would be harder to see
her
.

“You and Garrett looked like you were arguing. What was that all about?” Delia asked and eased her breast suggestively against his arm.

Once upon a time, her move might have aroused him. Tonight, nothing. That thought alone set his teeth on edge. But the knowledge—hell, the certainty—that he could turn slightly to his right and cast a furtive glance in Lily’s direction and that doing so,
could
arouse him, made him want to roar his disgust.

What was wrong with him? He’d never even slept with the girl. Correction, the
liar
. Hell, he hadn’t slept with anybody in . . . too damn long.

Maybe that was his problem.

Maybe if he sampled some of Delia’s sensuous goods, he could wash all these foolish notions out of his brain. Taking out the supermodel hadn’t done the trick, so maybe a tumble with Delia would.

His headache immediately loosened a notch, and he felt better already. He now had a plan. He always worked better with a plan. Damned if he would stay here and watch Cross make time with Lily. Anybody, but him.

Leaning over, he whispered in Delia’s ear, “You ready to go? I’ll send the foundation a check.”

She leaned back to see his face. Anger briefly flashed in her eyes. “Go where?”

His eyes narrowed. “Your place.”

“Ready when you are, darling.”

Lily and Rob had headed for the adjacent dining ballroom to see where they were seated for dinner. Rob was stopped twice by old family friends, and the third time, the couple tugged him away to greet extended family, leaving Lily momentarily alone.

She’d seen Rhett stalk to the bar and corner Garrett—no doubt to berate him for allowing Lily to attend tonight—so she kept her eyes averted and waited for Rob to return.

“Dare I hope you’re alone tonight?” a deep masculine voice said, much too close to her ear.

She turned slightly and immediately saw Aidan Cross’s lethal smile. All for her.

“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Cross,” she said politely.

He brought a hand up to his chest. “You wound me deeply. I thought we got to be Aidan and Lily at Delia’s party.”

She grinned. “So we did.”

“You look stunning tonight, but then you looked stunning at Delia’s, too.”

Was he flirting?

“Thank you. You’re very kind.”

“Kind has nothing to do with it. I know a beautiful woman when I see one. I couldn’t help but notice you’re not here with Rhett tonight. Did your escape attempt at Delia’s turn out badly?”

Lily gasped. “How did—”

He chuckled. “You looked so forlorn that night I followed you out to the garden. By the time I caught up, Rhett had you in tow and he looked none too happy.”

“Mr. Cross, that’s really none of your business.” The last thing she wanted was to rehash her relationship with Rhett tonight, especially with him here and dancing attendance on Delia.

“You’re absolutely right, and I’ll apologize if I can go back to being Aidan.”

Oh my, that lethal smile of his! He could woo grandmas out of their pensions.

“You don’t need to apologize, Aidan. I just don’t want to discuss Rhett.”

“Fair enough. You never answered me though. Can I hold out hope you’re here without a date this evening? I’d love to take you out after the charity auction tonight for a drink. Or two.”

Okay,
that
was flirting!

Lily suddenly felt very nervous. Aidan Cross was way out of her league and had dated even more women than Rhett, according to Garrett.

“No, I’m here with Rob Shaw, my good friend.”

Now why had she added that?

Aidan’s eyes lit up. Even she could see his interest.

Oh be honest, Lily. You’re hoping Rhett is watching a handsome man—his friend, no less—flirting with you, and you intend to make this last a while if you can
.

“You’re all through with Rhett Buchanan though, right?” Aidan prodded.

“I already told you, it’s—”

“—none of my business. I get it.” He held up a placating hand. “I’m only asking because I don’t want to horn in on Rhett’s territory. Like I told you at Delia’s, he and I are sort of friends.”

She tilted her head. “How does one be
sort of
friends?”

He relaxed. “We went to college together, competed against each other in most things, and played on the golf and lacrosse teams together.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “We were sort of the odd couple. I came from old money. Rhett came from no money. I had the best golf clubs, and Rhett played with garage-sale golf clubs.”

“Oh.”

“I saw you get all misty-eyed,” he chided. “Don’t feel sorry for him. He was the only guy on the golf team who could beat me. Hell, Rhett could have gotten his PGA card right out of college, but he was dead set on making his fortune the hard way.”

“What about you?” Lily asked. “Could you have gone on the tour?”

He shrugged. “I loved golf more than Rhett, but my father had other
better
plans for me. When you come from old money, Lily, you don’t have to earn it like Rhett. You only have to work to hang onto it. It’s a family responsibility for the generations that come after you.”

“You don’t sound very happy about that.”

“I’ve got no complaints. I have homes here and in Antigua and Hawaii and condos in New York and Telluride.” He spread his palms wide as though his life were an open book.

The poor guy didn’t look happy about all those homes and did look like he might have a complaint or two about his life.

“Wow, is that misty-eyed look for
me
this time?” he teased, then grew solemn. “I can see now why Rhett was taken with you, Lily Foster. You’re an easy person to talk to, and you make others feel comfortable.”

She smiled at the compliment and was about to answer him when she caught movement to her left and saw Rhett leading Delia right toward the spot where she stood with Aidan.

“Why don’t you and I sneak off someplace quiet and get to know each other better, Lily,” Aidan said suddenly, and loudly, right as Delia and Rhett swept past.

Rhett’s step hesitated one brief second. Lily thought she heard a growl, but she couldn’t be sure. She
was
sure however, of the smug look Delia tossed back at Lily right before Rhett led her from the ballroom.

“Why did you do that?” Lily cried at Aidan.

“Do what?” he asked, all innocence, his blue eyes wide. “Ask you to go out with me?”

“You said it very loud and right when Rhett walked by.”

“So, that’s the way of it,” he said softly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She couldn’t meet his eyes.

“Oh, I think you do. Does this mean you won’t have a drink with me?”

“You don’t really want to go out with me,” she said petulantly.

“And why not?” he prodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement when she finally glanced up.

“Because I don’t sleep around. So there.” What did she care what Aidan Cross thought? He was too dangerous for her anyway. Better she set him straight.

“Never?”

She could hear the amusement in his voice and inwardly groaned. She just stared back and didn’t answer.

“I know that look,” he said and tilted her face back with a finger when she tried to look away. “That’s the
I-have-to-be-in-love-first
look.”

She gasped and turned fully away. Good Lord, what had she done? He’d probably go right back to Rhett, and the two of them would have a good laugh.

Aidan scooted around in front of her to block her retreat. “Does Rhett know that?”

She hesitated, then gave up and nodded her agreement. At least, she thought she’d made it clear to Rhett. Better if she just went along and didn’t make a big deal with explanations.

“Wow, and he’s still hanging around?” Aidan wanted to know.

That caught her full attention. “He’s
not
hanging around. In case you didn’t notice, he was here with Delia tonight.”

“And you’re here with Rob Whoever,” he pointed out. “You’re wrong about Rhett, Lily.”

She frowned.

“Didn’t you see him just now? Anytime he gets that red under the collar when another man talks to you, he’s definitely still hanging around.”

“Really?”

She felt a stab of hope and hated it. Better for her if things remained hopeless. How could she love a man who wouldn’t give her a chance to explain?

“Really,” Aidan insisted. “This is just a shock for me, that’s all.”

“A shock for
you
?”

“After all that trouble Rhett had in college, I never figured he’d let himself truly care about anyone again.”

“What trouble?” She couldn’t seem to stop with the questions.

“Nothing I want to rehash. Let’s just say Rhett got himself hurt and badly. So he finished college
a capella
you might say, sans any other girlfriends, and chased after every starlet and supermodel that crossed his path once he made his fortune.”