The Sweetheart Hoax (16 page)

“Phil,” she called. “You two look wonderful. Margot, I just love your dress.”

“Thank you, Judy. You look beautiful,” the girl said, clutching her wrap and the small black purse she carried.

“I’ve got the family sitting at the head table. Why don’t you drop your things and Phil can get you a drink?”

“Can I get you anything, Mom?” Phil asked.

“I’d love a glass of wine, honey, if you don’t mind. I’ve just got to fuss with the centerpiece one more time before everyone gets here.”

“You and Sheryl really outdid yourselves. Everything looks great.”

She smiled up at her son. “Thanks, honey. You two enjoy yourselves. You make sure you introduce Margot around. I got lots of questions about your pretty girlfriend after last night’s game.”

She slipped away and made a mental note to ask the DJ to play lots of slow songs. She wanted to see her son and his girl on the dance floor later.

***

“You didn’t tell your mom we’re not dating?” Margot asked.

Phil glanced around the
room,
from the decorated six foot tables to the bar in back corner of the room. He’d barely looked at her since she’d come down the stairs feeling awkward in the strapless dress and three inch platform pumps Kate had picked out for her to wear. She’d nearly stumbled when she’d seen Phil in the foyer wearing a suit as dark as his mood.

“No. I should have, but I didn’t want to make her feel any worse about what she’d done.”

If his mom thought they were still dating, there was no way they’d get out of sharing the bed that night. She’d barely been able to look at the bed after their afternoon spent watching the horses and their uncomfortable outing to the Dairy Barn.

They walked to the table where Margot left her purse and wrap and made their way to the bar. Phil introduced her to the man serving drinks before ordering a beer and two glasses of white wine. The room began to fill with people of all ages. Margot grabbed the wine glass like a lifeline and took a hearty gulp. She followed him around the room, from one set of folks to another. He’d introduce her, talk about the old times with his friends and acquaintances, and ignore her completely. Not once did he touch her or look her in the eye. When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she excused herself, got another glass of wine from the bar, and sat down at their empty table where she could rest her feet and watch him from a distance.

Did he have to be the most handsome man in the room? With his height, she couldn’t help but stare. Why wouldn’t he look at her? Why did she get the feeling in his stony expression that she’d somehow made him mad? She felt relieved when Devon’s wife Sheryl took the seat next to her and huffed out a loud breath.

“Lord have mercy, I’m tired. And this party’s just getting started.”

“Everything looks wonderful. You and Judy did a great job decorating.”

Sheryl looked around. “It does look nice, if I do say so myself.” She poured a glass of water from the table’s pitcher and took a long sip. “Bo won’t even notice, though. He hates to be the center of attention.”

Margot spied Devon in a large group of men. All eyes were on him as he told some story with his hands flailing and his dimples shining. “Devon sure doesn’t take after his dad in that regard.”

Sheryl snorted. “Hell no, he doesn’t. Wait ‘til the music starts and he hits the dance floor.”

Margot sat up straight when she saw Phil approach Julianne and her husband by the bar. “What do you know about Phil and Julianne?”

“They were hot and heavy in high school. Everybody thought they’d end up getting married, including Phil.” She slipped off one of her shoes and rubbed her foot. “Shocked the whole town when Julianne broke up with him and not a month later started dating Stan. His mom about had a heart attack.” Sheryl glanced over to the bar where the three of them stood talking. “Judy swears that’s why Phil didn’t come home after college and, truth be told, I think she’s held a grudge ever since.” She let out a sigh and rested her head on her palm. “Phil would have been miserable here. The two of you are a much better match than he and Julianne.”

Margot couldn’t let Sheryl’s comment go without probing. “Why do you say that?”

“I don’t know how to say it exactly, but she was too prissy for him. She was always telling him what to do and how to do it. He dodged the bullet with that one if you ask me.”

Margot couldn’t help but feel better at Sheryl’s analysis of her and Phil. She agreed that she and Phil would make a perfect couple. If only he thought so, too.

***

Phil spied Margot sitting at the table with Sheryl and heaved a sigh of relief. He’d been heading in her direction, guilt ridden for having her sit alone in a crowded room, when Sheryl had saved him and sat down next to her. He felt like he was being torn in two. Half of him wanted to back her into the coat closet and fuck her brains out while the other half couldn’t look at her for fear of not being able to tear his eyes away. He’d almost passed out when she’d walked down the stairs at his mother’s house, her shapely calves showcased in three inch pumps and a cinnamon colored dress that hung just above her fabulous knees. The woman even had sexy knees.

She didn’t have any better sense than to wear a sleeveless dress in October in Cash. With her hair pulled up and her neck exposed, he understood what if meant to yearn. He’d wanted to take a nip at the nape of her neck like the mating stallion and mount her on the stairs. Damn Devon and his offer to help.

“Huh?” Phil said when he realized Julianne had asked him a question and he’d been too enthralled with Margot to hear.

“When are you going back home?”

“Oh, tomorrow. Margot’s got an exam to study for and I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Margot’s a college student?” Julianne asked with a touch of horror in her voice.

Phil’s hackles were up in an instant. “She put herself through school. She’s got to pass her licensing exam, and then she’s a nurse.”

Julianne must have detected the pride in his voice. His parents had paid for every bit of his education. He didn’t know how far he would have gotten if he’d had to do it on his own.

“I’m happy for you, Phil. She seems like a lovely girl.”

“She’s twenty-five, Julianne. I’d hardly call her a girl.” Yet hadn’t he considered her a girl the whole time she’d worked for him? Hadn’t he thought her too young?

“There you are,” Devon said, interrupting Stan and pulling Phil out from the grips of his condemning ex. “So how’d it go this afternoon?”

“Fine,” Phil said.

“Fine? Bet you didn’t make it past the drive before she jumped you. Works every time.”

Phil shoved his brother in the shoulder and away from the masses. “I don’t need you butting your nose in my business, Dev.”

“Holy shit. You’re wound tighter than a drum. You still didn’t bang her?”

Phil dragged Devon outside, past the awning and into the darkened parking lot. “We’re not a couple,” Phil admitted. “I brought Margot home just to get mom off my back and to quell the gay rumors.”

Dev
shook his head in disgust. “That girl’s a sure thing. I think
I
could have fucked her after the breeding. What the hell are you waiting for?”

“She’s dating a friend and a client. I can’t go there with her.” No matter how much he wanted to. No matter how much the desire to was eating him alive.

“Who gives a fuck, Phil? Is your friend in Cash?
She’s here
,
you’re here
. You obviously like her. Hell, she’s smoking hot. I’d have mounted her before I ever hit the drive.”

Phil shoved Devon into a late model sedan. “Shut the fuck up, you little pervert.”

“I didn’t say I would have, just that I could have. I’m a married man. You say what you want, but that little filly is hot for you. How tight can she be with her boyfriend if she’s here with you? Go for it, man. Jesus, you’re the only one of us who can. Quit being a pussy and ride the girl.”

“You don’t understand.”

“You’re right, I don’t.”
Dev
shrugged and straightened his tie. “Maybe those gay rumors aren’t as off the mark as we thought.”

***

Margot felt hands on her shoulders and nearly died of delight when she realized Phil stood behind her.

“Let’s dance,” he said into her ear. He led her to the dance floor where couples swayed to the tune of a classic seventies ballad.

When Phil pulled her into his chest, Margot didn’t know if her lightheadedness was from the wine or the feel of Phil’s hand at her waist. If only he’d pull her closer and end the ache she’d felt since last night.

“You disappeared for a while,” she said to break the silence. Despite his invitation to dance, he still wasn’t looking her in the eye.

“
Dev
and I needed some air.”

“Oh.”

The music stopped and he let go of her and stepped back. “We’d better have a seat before dinner is served.”

She felt disappointed that he didn’t want to keep dancing as her favorite country song started playing over the loud speakers. “Okay.”

“Excuse me,”
Dev
said and reached his hand out for Margot. “How about a dance for your boyfriend’s little brother?”

Margot looked at Phil, who glared at Devon with narrowed eyes. “Um, I guess,” she said when Phil did nothing to stop them.

Devon whisked her into his arms and proceeded to lead her through an intricate series of dance steps that she struggled to follow. “Wow, Devon. You’re quite the dancer,” she said when he jerked her against his chest, and they swayed back and forth until the chorus started up and she knew he’d swing her back into action. She looked over his shoulder to see Phil standing at the edge of the dance floor, a scowl on his incredibly handsome face. He wasn’t looking at her, but seemed to look through her. She caught her breath as Devon whisked her in a circle for another round.

“I’m cutting in,” Phil announced. He pulled Margot from Devon’s embrace and locked his arm around her waist, nearly lifting her off her toes. She could have moaned in delight. “Get your own woman.” His hands came around her waist and she locked her arms around his neck. She’d never seen such a fierce look in his eyes. “You’re not helping convince Cash we’re a couple by dancing with my brother,” he said.

“You might actually have to look at me to convince people we’re together,” she shot back.

As soon as their eyes met, as soon as she saw his jaw tighten and his pupils enlarge, she understood. He dipped his head and nestled his lips against the nape of her neck. “How about this?” He trailed his lips up to her ear and nipped at her lobe. “This helping at all?”

Margot grabbed his head and brought it down to hers, pulling his bottom lip between her teeth. Without warning, without anything to predict his reaction other than a predatory look in his eyes, he dove in. His hands were on her hips, lifting her off her toes, aligning their bodies for maximum friction. She heard the catcalls and snickers, but couldn’t bring herself to care. Good Lord, the man could kiss. This wasn’t like the slow buildup at the stadium where she felt herself slipping into the lolling waves on a calm clear day. This was like riding the cresting waves of a storm, like getting pulled under by the current and caught in the riptide.

When she started to moan, he caught her lips and swallowed the sound. He pulled back, his chest rising up and down with the effort. “Damn it, Margot. I don’t want to take advantage of you like this.”

Take advantage, please, she wanted to say. Use me. Abuse me. Do whatever you want with me. Please, just don’t stop. “It’s for show, Phil.
You
’re not taking advantage.” She dug her fingers into his scalp and brought his mouth to hers. “Do you want people to think you’re gay?” she asked before devouring him.

***

The sound of silverware clinking on glass helped him regain a thin hold on sanity. One more
minute
, one more second, and he would have taken her on the parquet dance floor of his father’s retirement party. “That should do it,” he said through gritted teeth.

She stared up at him, her eyes huge and unfocused. This dinner couldn’t end fast enough. He was either going to immerse himself in a tub of ice water or have her later that night. He had a pretty good feeling which way the pendulum swung when she bit her bottom lip and smiled up at him like the cat
who
’d swallowed an entire forest full of canaries.

It took an excruciating three courses, countless toasts, and a sweet solo dance for his parents to end the night. That alone was worth sitting through the evening with the smell of Margot’s perfume enticing his over stimulated libido.
And Margot, the vixen.
She wiped crumbs from his
shirt front
with an erotic touch of her fingers. Her legs brushed his under the table, just enough to stir his juices. She licked the spoon while eating cheesecake as if stroking her tongue over him. He was going to have her tonight, damn the consequences, damn his parents in the next room, damn all common sense. He was too
far gone
to care.

Chapter 17