Page 5 of One Night Stand After Another
“How did you get champagne delivered to the ladies’ room?” She couldn’t help but laugh, probably with relief, because confessing it all to Lila hadn’t been that hard. She hadn’t even used her well-rehearsed two-minute speech.
“I have friends,” Lila said. “I’ll introduce you to them later. Now I wish I’d asked Jack for details, because his side of the story has got to be fascinating, and Zane certainly has some explaining to do, but you’re right, it probably isn’t going to happen tonight. I’ll get you two minutes with Jack for your apology, no problem. He deserves that, and so do you. But there are three hundred other people here who also need our attention.”
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t keep you—”
“I dragged you in here, remember? I needed a minute to breathe.” Lila held up one finger and sipped her champagne. “And drink. Damn, that’s good.”
Clara admired the minuscule bubbles in the pink champagne before she took a sip, too. Dry, full-bodied, fruity heaven exploded on her tongue. “So good—I needed that, thanks.”
Lila nodded. “Okay—here’s what I know. Jack and Zane made peace last year, and when you walked in tonight, Jack made a beeline for the kitchen. Zane is in the kitchen. Something’s going on. I know you came to talk to Jack, but I have a feeling you’re going to have to deal with Zane.” She grimaced. “Maybe take him somewhere private for the throat punch? I think some paparazzi sneaked in.”
Clara shook her head furiously, careful not to slosh her champagne. “I’m not taking Zane anywhere. I’m apologizing to Jack, and then I’m going for a short dip in your incredible chocolate fountain. After that, I’m going back to the hotel.” And crocheting. Maybe finishing the loopy shawl her blog followers had been begging to see. Then packing for her early flight and finally kicking off her dream plan—phase one of it, at least.
“Girl, you came here for closure! You aren’t laying anything to rest if you don’t talk to Zane.”
“He used me to get to Jack. I don’t owe him a single thing.”
“Hell no, but you want to move on. This is about you, right? You deserve an apology from Zane. Or at least the satisfaction of sticking up for yourself.”
Lila’s piercing gaze was clarifying and painful, astringent, drying up every excuse. In all the time she’d spent planning her apology, she hadn’t once thought Zane would enter the picture, but Lila had a point. “Fine, if Zane insists on talking to me—which I hope he doesn’t—I’ll make sure it’s private.”
As soon as the words left her lips, she shivered. Alone with Zane?Private. Even the thought gave her goose bumps.
Lila clinked her glass with Clara’s. “To new beginnings.”
God help me.
…
A blinding flash of white caught Zane’s eye, and he saw Lila standing in the hallway that led to the ladies’ room, with her phone in her hand. A woman in a red dress stood beside her. No, not just any woman. Recognition was instant and electrifying. Zane sucked a hard breath in, narrowly escaping choking on his own spit.
Clara’s hair was the same platinum shade, but it was straight and sleek around her face, not curly, as he remembered. He was too far away to see the violet crystal of her deep-blue eyes, but they still sparkled when she laughed. What on earth were she and Lila talking about?
Her red gown caressed curves that had matured since high school. He knew he didn’t deserve to be looking. But damn. Curves for days. Was she taller? His gaze slid to her feet…and those shoes did things to him.
He left his untouched drink on the bar, keeping to the sides of the room so he could move faster as he circled toward them. A small crowd blocked his way, and even as he smiled, nodded, and accepted compliments on the food, he kept his gaze on the women as they moved toward the dance floor.
Zane changed course to intercept them.
Suddenly, Lila looked up from her phone and beamed a bright smile at him. Or at least, he thought she did. Then he realized she was looking behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Jack, heedless of well-wishers as he plowed through the crowd, scooped his bride into his arms, and whirled her around.
God, they were so happy it was sickening. And he was jealous. Green and rotten with it. But instead of letting it eat at him, he accepted that—like always—Jack had something he wanted: his perfect match. At least now the bastard seemed to appreciate his good fortune.
Zane looked at Clara, bold in red, sleek, perfect. It was unlikely the connection between them still existed. She might not give him the time of day, but he had to try. Making amends was the right thing to do.
He moved toward Clara, who had stepped back to give the exuberant newlyweds some room. He could swear Jack flipped him off as they twirled past, but that was ridiculous. Suddenly, Jack halted, wrapped Lila in his arms and spun her straight at Zane, forcing him to catch her as Jack grabbed Clara and danced her away.
“What the hell?” Zane automatically readjusted his tight hold on Lila as the music calmed to a dreamy ballad. “You and Jack should be dancing to this one.” And he should be dancing with Clara, who was looking at Jack like she always had, like he was the sun and moon rolled into one, big, awesome package. And he shouldn’t be jealous, because that was ridiculous. He was dancing with Jack’swife.
“Jack and I can slow dance for the rest of our lives. I just heard a very interesting story in the ladies’ room.” Lila grabbed his chin and tugged until he met her fiery gaze. “Are you listening to me? Clara came here to talk to Jack, but I know that’s not why he invited her. Did you two cook something up? Because I’m invoking the girl code. That woman has had enough trouble from you two. You tell me what’s going on right now, or I swear I’ll boot your sorry ass out of your own restaurant.”
“You can’t do that.” His thoughts churned.
“I’m the bride. I do what I want.”
Lila was smart. She had inside information—and he needed it.
He talked fast.
