Played (11 page)

“I tried your cell phone, but you didn’t answer.”

“I didn’t get any missed calls,” she replied.

David shrugged. “It must have been one of those odd cell phone problems.”

Christina didn’t buy that for a second. David hadn’t called her. He’d wanted to do that demonstration on his own. Why? So he had a reason to examine the diamond again? Out of the corner of her eye she noted Sylvia’s curious gaze on her. Sylvia was obviously following their conversation and would no doubt report every word back to Alexis. Sylvia and Alexis worked quite closely together. They were both in their late forties and shared the same vision and determination for success. Sylvia often acted as Alexis’s eyes and ears throughout the company. Christina wished now that she’d kept her mouth shut, but it was too late to drop the question.

“I asked David to show the diamond,” Sylvia interjected. “A reporter from the
Sacramento Bee
arrived while you were at lunch, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to get additional press coverage. I didn’t realize that would be a problem. Alexis approved it, and David did an excellent job discussing how you both analyze a stone. It was fascinating. The reporter was thrilled to have a chance to look through the gem scope at what David was describing.”

Christina drew in a quick, sharp breath. She’d hoped that the gem scope hadn’t been part of the demonstration. Christina silently prayed that David hadn’t seen anything wrong with the diamond when he’d conducted his review. She told herself that he wasn’t as experienced as she was in looking at diamonds. He didn’t have as good an eye—at least, she didn’t think he did.

It was also possible that there was nothing wrong with the diamond. She would have liked to check it again, but to do so would have raised too many questions. She would wait until tomorrow to take another look. It would be expected then and not at all out of the ordinary.

“Is something wrong?” David asked quizzically.

“No, everything is fine,” she said, realizing Sylvia and David were both sending her speculative looks. The last thing she needed was to raise any more suspicion. She picked up her water glass and took a long drink as two waiters began to serve the salad. She was grateful for the distraction. Sylvia began conversing with the gentleman on the other side of her, and David excused himself, presumably to use the restroom.

“What was that all about?” J.T. asked quietly.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re pissed that David did that presentation without you. What’s the big deal?”

“There’s no deal. Forget I said anything.”

J.T. sent her a curious look. “You don’t trust him, do you?”

“I’m just surprised he’s here. He’s a part-time assistant. This party is only for the department specialists, potential buyers, and selected members of the press.”

“That sounds like professional jealousy.”

Maybe J.T. was right and she was a little jealous. David was moving ahead in the company far more quickly than she had. She certainly hadn’t been invited to Alexis’s house until she’d worked at Barclay’s for over two years.

“Do you think David saw something in the diamond that you didn’t?” J.T. asked. “Is that why you’re so nervous?”

“I’m not nervous.”

It wasn’t until he put his hand on her thigh that she realized she’d been tapping her foot against the floor in a restless beat. His warm hand burned through the silk of her dress, which did little to calm her nerves. She placed her hand over his and moved it off her leg. He smiled. “Sorry; did that bother you?”

“I think you’ll need that hand for your salad.”

“I’m right-handed.” He picked up his fork with his right hand while moving the left hand back to her leg. “I can do two things at once. And you seem to need someone to anchor this leg down. Why are you so jumpy, Christina?”

“Because I am, and I’d really prefer you keep your hands to yourself.” She took his hand and moved it off her leg again, unwilling to admit, even to herself, that she missed his warmth.

They didn’t speak again until they had finished their salads. David returned to his seat, engaging Sylvia in conversation. Then the waiters arrived with the next course, steak and lobster. It was a fancy meal for a fancy party. Christina certainly couldn’t complain about the food. She gazed down the long table, now wishing they’d been seated in the middle, where they could have listened in on more conversations. She almost felt more like the hired help than a guest.

She shook off the thought, knowing deep down that her feelings came from long years of being the odd girl out. It had been difficult growing up without a mother. She’d always felt different from the other kids, especially since her father had never been an ordinary dad. It had been easier when it was just the two of them. When they tried to mix in with the rest of the world, they didn’t quite fit. Even now, without her father in her life, she still struggled to feel a part of the group. It was her own insecurity, she reminded herself. Alexis and Jeremy had been perfect hosts, and she really couldn’t complain about anything.

“Sylvia, I was wondering if you were the one responsible for getting the media here tonight,” J.T. asked, breaking the silence at their end of the table that had begun to grow uncomfortable.

Sylvia nodded, appearing pleased by the question. “Absolutely. That’s my job.”

J.T. leaned forward, flashing Sylvia his charming smile. The man should have a patent on it, Christina thought. It was lethal, and Sylvia was obviously not immune. A blush as red as her strawberry-blond hair colored her cheeks, and she sat up a bit straighter, making a subtle movement that thrust her well-endowed breasts toward J.T. Christina couldn’t believe the woman was flirting with him. She was married, for God’s sake. Although her husband wasn’t here tonight, so apparently that made a difference.

“You do it very well,” J.T. continued. “I was wondering what you know about Nicole Prescott. She seems like a fascinating woman.”

Sylvia shot a quick look down the length of the table to make sure she couldn’t be overheard, which wasn’t possible, since Nicole was seated next to Jeremy at the far end. Sylvia dropped her voice down a notch. “She’s beautiful, rich, and has had more men than anyone can count. She wields tremendous power on the society pages. She can make you a star or turn you into a social leper. Everyone is afraid of her poison pen, but it is just that poison that brings the readers back for more. Controversy always sells more papers.”

“She doesn’t seem to get along very well with Alexis,” J.T. continued. “I saw them arguing earlier tonight.”

Sylvia hesitated. Christina wasn’t surprised. Sylvia was used to guarding Alexis’s privacy, but she seemed torn between wanting to talk more to J.T. and revealing how much of an insider she really was. In the end J.T.’s encouraging smile won out.

“I don’t think Nicole will go after Alexis in print,” Sylvia said. “They are family, after all.”

“Family?” Christina questioned. “Really?”

“They’re cousins. I don’t think their parents got along well. I’m not sure exactly what caused the rift between them. Nicole loves to remind Alexis that she can destroy her in the press at any time,” Sylvia added. “Believe me, I have had to tread very carefully between the two of them over the past year. Fortunately, Alexis and Jeremy are so well-known for their philanthropy as well as Barclay’s success that it’s easy to get them good press. I think that for the most part Nicole and Alexis respect each other’s territory.” Sylvia paused as Jeremy rose to his feet and the chatter at the table quieted.

Jeremy cleared his throat, and his dark gaze roamed the table as he waited for the last lingering conversations to end. “I’d like to thank you all for coming,” he said. “Tomorrow Barclay’s will celebrate one of its most important auctions. I would like to thank Mr. Stefano Benedetti for entrusting us with his family’s valuable collection. We are very proud and honored to be of service to your family.” He raised his champagne glass in Stefano’s direction.

Stefano tipped his head in acknowledgment and lifted his own glass.

“To tomorrow’s success,” Jeremy continued. “
Salut.
”

“
Salut,
” the rest of the crowd echoed.

As Jeremy sat down, Nicole whispered something in his ear and then left the table. Alexis got up a few moments later. Christina wondered if it was a coincidence that the two women both needed to leave the table at the same time. David surprised her by excusing himself as well. The table was emptying quickly. She pushed back her chair. “Don’t eat my dessert,” she told J.T.

“I make no promises.”

As she left the dining room, she ran into a maid, who told her there was a restroom across the foyer and down the hall. Christina took her time getting there, curious to see more of Alexis’s beautiful rooms. Antiques were the order of the day. It was clear that Alexis’s passion for art extended to her house. But while the place was fabulous, rich and sophisticated, it didn’t feel at all like a home. Christina wondered where Alexis and Jeremy relaxed, read the newspaper, or shared meals, where they talked, laughed, made love. Perhaps the upstairs had a warmer feel. She would have liked to venture up the staircase, but she wasn’t that brave. She didn’t want to run into Alexis and have her boss accuse her of snooping.

As she approached the end of the hall, she heard voices coming from a nearby room. Pausing by the door, she tried to figure out who was talking. It sounded like David and perhaps Alexis, although the voices were somewhat hushed. Taking a quick look behind her to make sure she was alone, Christina crept closer to the half-open door, shocked to hear her name.

“You need to speak to Christina,” David said in a voice that sounded far too authoritative for a subordinate to use to his boss. “This could be a disaster.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Alexis said.

“There’s something else.”

“I can’t do this right now. I have to get back to my guests, David.”

“What’s going on?” J.T. whispered in Christina’s ear.

She jumped, startled to be caught eavesdropping. She’d thought she was alone in the hallway. At least it was J.T. She clapped a hand over his mouth and tipped her head toward the adjacent room. Unfortunately, it now appeared that Alexis and David had finished their conversation and were heading toward the door. Christina did not want to be caught listening.

Grabbing J.T.’s arm, she pulled him across the hall and opened the first door she could find. It was a coat closet. The voices were getting louder, so she shoved J.T. inside, following him in, and pulled the door almost all the way shut. She could hear Alexis and David talking as they walked down the hall.

“This can’t wait, Alexis. I’ve already been too patient. I should have said something earlier,” David said.

“I’ll take care of it,” Alexis said. “Trust me.”

Take care of what?
Christina wondered. What on earth was going on between David and Alexis, and what did it have to do with her?

“If you wanted to get me alone, all you had to do was ask,” J.T. murmured.

She suddenly became acutely aware that she was pressed up against J.T.’s chest. The closet was dark and smelled like leather, or maybe that was J.T. Her senses began to sing. Her breasts began to tingle. She licked her lips. “I didn’t want Alexis to catch me eavesdropping.”

“What did you find out?”

“They were talking about me. I didn’t hear enough to learn why I was the subject of their conversation, but it didn’t sound good.”

She could feel his gaze on her face, his hand on her waist, his legs tangling with hers. She needed to move, but her body quite simply did not want to go anywhere. The memory of his earlier kiss lingered in her mind. Had it really been as good as she remembered? Did she want to find out? “We should go,” she said.

“Yeah, we should,” he echoed, but his hands tightened on her waist as if he had no intention of ever letting her go.

She didn’t know who moved first. Maybe it was him. Maybe it was her. When their lips met, nothing else mattered. She put her arms around his neck, drawing his head down. She slid her tongue into his mouth, tasting the dessert he’d eaten earlier. Chocolate and J.T.—it was a heady mix. She felt dizzy, hot, needy, until a door slammed nearby, jolting her back to reality.

She pulled away, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her heart pounded against her chest.

“It’s okay,” J.T. murmured. He pressed his lips against her forehead.

She closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath and her sanity. What they were doing wasn’t okay; it was very, very wrong. She was making out in her boss’s closet with an FBI agent, a man who was more likely to become her worst enemy than her lover. What the hell was she thinking? She was completely out of her mind.

“Let me go,” she said.

“It was just a kiss.” He stroked her hair, no doubt meant to be a comforting gesture, but his hands anywhere on her only made her feel more tense.

Maybe it was just a kiss to him. He was a guy, after all. But to her it had felt like the start of something—a fact she did not intend to share with him. It was bad enough she was so attracted to him that she couldn’t think straight half the time. If he knew she was feeling anything more, he could try to use it to his advantage. She had to be careful. It wasn’t just a matter of risking her heart. She could be risking her father, her reputation, the life she’d so carefully built during the past few years.

She reached for the door handle.

“Wait. Make sure the coast is clear,” J.T. said.

She pushed the door open another inch. It was a good thing she hadn’t gone barreling out of the closet, because several people were walking down the hall. They paused just outside the closet door. Christina held her breath as panic raced through her once again. Were they coming to get their coats? How on earth could she explain the fact that she and J.T. were in there?

“It was a perfect evening, Jeremy,” Nicole said. “You must be so pleased and proud of yourself. Tomorrow you’ll be the talk of the town. I’ll make sure of that.”

“It was all Alexis’s doing,” Jeremy declared.