Homewrecker Incorporated (25 page)

I usually waited until right before bed, but I needed to see my mother's face at little early that birthday. I sat in my chair and slid the panels of the locket open. 

"I love you, Mom," I whispered as I stared at the tiny photo.

❖

My phone buzzed again. I picked it up thinking it was Grey texting again, but it continued to vibrate in my hand with Jessica's name flashing on the screen.

"Hey, Jessica," I said attempting to sound cheerful.

"Auntie Claudia!" Izzy yelled, followed by an adorable performance of Happy Birthday.

"That was great, Izzy. Thank you so much!"

"Okay, bye. I love you, here's Mommy," she said, followed by some muffled rustling.

"Happy birthday," Jessica said finally.

"Thanks, Jess."

"How are you doing?"

"Good, I was just about to head home," I said honestly. I was starting to feel better.

"Izzy has been begging to come see you. Maybe we could stop by Sunday so she can give you your gift. She made it and she's extremely proud."

I smiled, thinking about my niece. My last visit was so brief I barely got to see her.

"I have to be somewhere Sunday evening, but it would be fine if you came early."

"Great, we should be there around nine," Jessica said.

"So, how have you been?" I asked. We'd talked for a while after our trip to the cemetery, mostly reminiscing about Mom and all of our antics from when we were little. It'd become something of a tradition over the years. We just talked about the happy times, careful to avoid the heavy shit.

"I've been okay," she replied. I could tell there was more she wanted to say.

"Just okay? Is something else going on?" I asked with concern.

"Yes. I know it's your birthday, and it's the worst time to ask you this, but can you please call Dad? He's sick."

I didn't say anything for what seemed like forever. Nor did she.

"There are things he needs to say to you, things you need to know about him, about Mom."

A tear slipped down my cheek. "Jessica, I...I just can't talk to him. I know you don't understand. You may think I'm unreasonable, but I just can't. Whatever I need to know, you can tell me."

"Claudia, they aren't my secrets to tell. Just think about talking to him before it's too late."

"Fine, I'll think about it but don't hold your breath," I said, surprising myself.

"I guess that's a start. Thanks, Claudia. I love you."

"I love you, too."

Grace walked in just as I slipped the phone into my bag and stood to head out for the night. "Hey, I thought you were hanging with your new friend all day today." I said, waggling my eyebrows at her.

"Come on, you know I can't let your birthday go by without taking you out for a celebratory drink!" She hooked her arm in mine. "So let's go upstairs and get changed. Bridget and Lydia are meeting us there."

❖

Grace suggested we keep it low-key because we were just having drinks and dinner at one of our favorite pubs, which was pretty casual. Neither of us were up for a late night of the club scene or the inevitable hangover that would follow.

I'd slipped into a printed sundress with a little black shrug just in case it got cool in the evening. Grace chose a cute romper with a light jacket.

We were able to hail a cab right as we stepped out of the building. It was a nice evening, and still pretty early, so we probably could have walked to the restaurant, but we'd both opted for heels, which weren't exactly conducive to a long early evening stroll on the city sidewalks. Although with the pungent smell in the cab, I might have been willing to deal with sore feet instead.

"No way, my treat." Grace slapped my hand when I opened my wallet to pay the driver. "It's your birthday."

She didn't have to tell me twice. I escaped out into the fresh air and waited for Grace to join me.

"The place seems pretty dead for Friday night," I said as we approached the door.

"Good." She held the first door open for me. "It will make for a nice quiet night."

I pushed through the second door and approached the hostess stand.

"Just two of you?" the young, chubby cheeked girl asked, flashing an excited smile. Someone clearly loved their job.

"No, we're meeting some friends. They should be here already," Grace said from behind me.

"Oh, yep, they're already seated," she said cheerfully, leading us around the corner to the main dining area. I looked back at the stand as we walked away, noticing she didn't grab menus or place settings for us.

"Surprise!"

My hand shot to my heart as the whole room yelled in unison.

"You bitch," I said sarcastically to Grace as she pulled me into a hug.

"I know, I know, but I couldn't resist," she said in my ear.

"What'd you do? Have them close the place down just for us?" I said, moving back.

She just shrugged one shoulder nonchalantly as if it was no big deal.

Before I could chastise her for spending that kind of money, Lydia and Bridget pulled me into a tight hug.

"Happy fucking birthday!" Lydia said, clearly having gotten her party started a little early. She tilted her head to the side, eyes wide in a "look over there" expression.

When I did, an unexpected swarm of butterflies appeared in my stomach. Grey beamed at me from across the room where he was standing with Joshua Slade. My stomach, butterflies and all, dropped to the floor. Why the hell was he there? My eyes darted around the room in search of Bridget, or a place to hide. I caught sight of her coming out of the bathroom. She must have seen the panic on my face. 

"It's okay," she mouthed, looking toward Grey before giving me a thumbs-up, which was a bit corny, but reassuring. I let out a breath. She must have let Joshua bring Grey along.

With the panic gone, I looked back to Grey. His eyebrows were tight as he watched me. Though his presence made me a bit nervous, I grinned at him so hard I must have looked like a complete idiot but God, however fucked up it was, I'd missed him. I wanted to go over and throw my arms around him and feel his around me. Luckily, another pair of masculine arms pulled me out of the trance that was Grey.

"Happy birthday, Claudia," John, the doorman from our building, gave me a warm hug. I chanced a glance at Grey when John released me. His jaw was tight as he glared at John. John's wife, who I'd met at the building Christmas party, wrapped her arms around John's waist from behind and the tension in Grey's face disappeared. I gave him a quick smile and then turned back to Grace.

"I can't believe you did all this," I said, waving my hands around at all the decorations.

"John and Gina did most of the work," Grace replied, smiling at the couple.

"Thank you both." I gave Gina a quick hug. 

"You're welcome, Claudia. It was our pleasure," Gina said.

"Auntie Claudia!" Izzy yelled, running through the small crowd. I scooped her up into my arms and squeezed her tight.

"I'm so glad you're here, pumpkin." I kissed her cheek. "Hi Jess, hi Shawn, I'm so glad you're here." I fought hard not to look at Grey. The last thing I needed was for him to talk to Jessica.

My sister watched me nervously. I put Izzy down and pulled my sister into a hug. "I suppose you asked to come over Sunday to throw me off the scent of this little party?"

"Grace made me," she replied as I went on to hug Shawn. 

I wondered if Grace really thought the party through, and if Bridget consulted her about our surprise guests, considering we were working a job at home. My sister and Shawn didn't know what kind of work we really did and I wanted to keep it that way.

"Happy birthday, Claudia. This is really great," he said, looking around the restaurant.

"Yeah, my friends are the best."

"We can't stay very long, need to get this one home to bed at a decent time," Jessica said, hoisting Izzy up on her hip.

"But I'm not tired!" Izzy humphed, her little eyebrows pinching together.

"I know you're not, but you will be pretty soon. We can stay and have fun for a bit as long as you're good." Jessica put her back down. I was glad to hear they weren't staying long. Izzy shot off between Lydia and Grace who were standing nearby. 

Jessica and Shawn followed. They'd never been the kind of parents who let Izzy run around unsupervised, no matter how many other adults were around. Considering it looked as if it was an open bar across from the main dining area, leaving early was a wise choice.

"I can't believe the sexy twin is here!" Lydia whispered loudly in my ear as she sidled up next to me.

"Jesus, Lydia!" I hissed. "You mind keeping it down; my family's here."

The DJ started playing songs from the eighties. I knew that was all Grace. She loved that decade. "Sorry, I'm just wondering how he ended up here? Who invited him?"

"I'm guessing it was Joshua over there next to him," I said, keeping my eyes on Grey.

He laughed at something Joshua said, but his eyes drifted back to mine for a moment. He was doing a pretty good job of not staring. I, on the other hand, needed to work on that or someone was going to notice.

"Then who invited him? He's pretty fucking hot, too?" Lydia continued, clearly on the prowl.

"That would be Bridget." I looked away from Grey long enough to spot her again. It wasn't hard; I just followed the line of Joshua's gaze.

"Shit, is every guy who works at that place hot? Did she invite more?" Lydia asked, scanning the room.

"I doubt it. He's the guy she went on a date with, or I guess maybe the guy she's dating now by the looks of it."

"Holy fuck! That's the guy? Way to go, Bridge." Lydia tossed back the rest of whatever drink she had in her hand. "At least the other one is single."

I loved Lydia, I really did, but as I watched her adjust her shirt to show more cleavage, I wanted to punch her in the throat. Of course, I would need to find a more diplomatic way to keep her from pouncing on Grey.

"Slow down there, killer. We're still on a job," I said, stepping in front of her to stop her from eye-fucking Grey.

Lydia stuck out her lip. "Fine, guess I'll have to find some company for the night elsewhere." She headed to the bar.

When Bridget finally went over to talk to Joshua, I smiled at Grey and motioned toward the bar with my eyes. We arrived at the same time.

"Vodka and soda," I said, smiling brightly. 

Grey chuckled beside me. "I'll have the same." He set his empty glass on the bar. "Happy birthday, Claudia. This is quite the party."

"It is, although they don't seem to have been very selective about the guest list," I said, nudging his arm.

"Ouch." He grabbed at his heart. "Old age is making you bitter."

Touché.

"You're such a smart-ass." I picked up my drink and took a healthy sip. "Seriously though, how did you end up here?"

I had a pretty good guess, but I was curious why Joshua would have brought him along to crash a party for someone he'd never even met. I'd seen him in passing around the office, but somehow we'd never been formally introduced.

"Your little redheaded friend invited Joshua, and I happened to be sitting next to him in the most boring convention imaginable when he got the e-mail. I told him I couldn't stand another minute of that shit and if he let me tag along, we could use the company jet to fly back. That was enough to persuade him since he's pretty shy around new people and wanted someone he knew with him, and the fact Bridget said it was okay after he insisted on asking her first," he said, laughing. "I think he's got it pretty bad for her."

"Why wouldn't he? Bridget is great." I said proudly.

"I'm sure she is if she'd earned the right of friendship with you," he said with a smirk.

"Stop making fun of me; it's my birthday."

"Did you like your gifts?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, I love them but if I'd known you were coming, I would have brought them to give back. It's too much."

"Please keep them, just a friendly token and an apology, nothing more."

"If you give gifts like that to all your friends, you must be pretty popular."

The vodka was clearly starting to kick in.

Grey leaned on the bar with is elbow. "You're more special than my average friend," he said, giving me a sexy half smile. His eyes were dark, lids hanging low as his gaze drifted to my mouth. 

I bit my lip. 

"God, don't do that."

"Do what?" I asked with a shrug.

"Bite your lip like that. It makes me want to do it, too."

The lightning of desire spread through my veins. God, I wanted to kiss him, bite him, lick him. I needed a fucking intervention. I was relapsing and Grey was my drug of choice.

"Hey, Claudia," Bridget said, walking up with Joshua in tow. "I don't think you've met Josh yet."

I was grateful for the reprieve before I lost my head and did something stupid again. I needed to slow down on the alcohol and drink some water.

"Happy birthday, Claudia." Joshua offered me a bottle of wine with a card attached. "I didn't want to show up empty-handed, and Bridget said you really like wine."

Seeing him up close and hearing him talk, I had to adjust my initial impression of him. He was more adorable than hot; there was an inherent sweetness about him I'd missed before. I could definitely see how well his temperament suited my fiery-haired friend.