Page 56 of More Than Nothing
“Well, I know this town lacks classy restaurants but I thought we might find somewhere less backward. I like to be prepared.” Zena’s silver evening gown swept to mid-calf with a tasteful slit at the side. A diamanté clasp held it securely on one milky white collarbone. Her sleek blond hair lay ruler-straight. She’d already made several wearisome comments about the facilities at the Elite Lodge, the cleanliness of her room, and the smell inside the elevator on her way downstairs.
The evening stretched ahead, a polar trek to be navigated in sliders.
Roman broke it to Thea and Luke that Zena was his date when he picked them up on his way to the hotel. They were far from impressed. Milo whispered a “Seriously, Ro?” in his ear when Zena’s head was turned, and he wasn’t looking forward to Caitlyncornering him on his own. Safe to say his ex was far from a hit with his friends or his family. He felt foolish for not fully realizing it before. But then his head hadn’t exactly been in the game for a while there.
The lobby, tired and in need of a revamp like the rest of the hotel, led through to the bar area and spacious conference room where the dinner was taking place. Old-fashioned swags and tails dressed the windows, with some of the braiding hanging loose. The carpet, once a rich shade of blue, was now faded and patchy, suspicious stains drowned out in the main by a gaudy pattern. There hadn’t been money spent here for some time.
“Charlie, Charlie, Charlie—persons of interest have entered the building.” Caitlyn’s hiss came from somewhere behind him. Roman turned, calmly, casually, with a studied lack of interest.
Inside the main door, Elenie paused, her path blocked by a gaggle of newcomers. Perry ushered her onward with an impatient gesture. She shrugged a thin black jacket from her shoulders and Roman’s conscious thought process short-circuited and died. His ears buzzed. His mouth opened and moved but didn’t produce any words.
Unveiled, Elenie was a riot of sparkles. She wore a scarlet body-hugging, off-the-shoulder mini dress, so wantonly erotic the heat surged to his groin. He almost groaned. Edged with a wide band of lace, it dipped low across her chest, the swell of her breasts curving suggestively over the top of the neckline. The glittering material hugged her bottom, ending obscenely high on her thighs. Black high heels drew his eyes down her slim, bare legs. In all, it was just the wrong side of tasteful but Elenie carried it off.
Her hair was loose, curling gently above her shoulders, with one side pulled back and held above her ear with a jeweled clip. Roman swallowed as he soaked her in.
“Who’s the hooker?” Zena’s voice held amusement as she followed his gaze.
He couldn’t answer.
“Well, I think we can guess who chose the dress,” Milo murmured.
“Someone get the girl a cardigan.” Thea was part-horrified, part-awestruck.
Roman dragged his eyes away and ignored the contemplative look Zena shot in his direction.
“Do we know this couple?” she pressed again.
“She works in town,” said Caitlyn. “And her boyfriend’s a bit of a creep.”
Roman’s mouth clamped into a tight line. He caught the sympathetic glance Luke threw his way as his brother-in-law steered Zena toward their table.
Goddammit, this is going to be a long night.
“How are we playing this?” Thea asked quietly in Roman’s ear. “I’m scared I’m going to mess up.”
“Just keep it as natural as possible. He knows she’s been out with Caitlyn, but it’s best if he doesn’t realize she’s met you and Luke as well.”
“He’s an egotistical douchebag with the sensitivity of a slug so I doubt he’ll pick up on any subtle undercurrents.” Caitlyn’s head bobbed between them. She pulled a sour face before sailing onward like a pint-size torpedo.
“Jesus, this is painful.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’ll get the drinks in,” said Milo. “It might help.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Roman growled.
“If I see you looking like you’re gonna kill him—or even her,” Thea watched Zena pass her shrug to Luke as if he was there to serve her, “maybe I could get Cait to go into fake labor or something.”
“Probably still wouldn’t stop me,” Roman muttered grimly, as he stalked toward the bar.
Chapter 27
Elenie
Elenie resisted the urge to tug at the hem of her dress. She felt ridiculous, out of place, her pulse skipping wildly in her throat. Craig pushed a glass of wine she didn’t want into her hand and the conference room gradually filled up with people. His head whipped from side to side as he tried to spot anyone worthy of conversation. She wasn’t even a footnote on the list.
“Well, well, well.” Amused and gleeful in equal measures, Craig chuckled and Elenie’s heart dropped like a stone.
She turned slowly to find Roman a few paces away, Milo by his side. Both had their hands full with a selection of drinks from the bar. Both wore careful expressions of indifference. Despite willing her game face to hold fast, all the feeling went from Elenie’s fingers and she fumbled her wineglass. It dropped to the carpet, snapping at the stem and showering lukewarm liquid over her feet.
