A Werewolf in Manhattan (Wild About You #1)(21)
Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson

“No, but I’l do it. We have to be smart about … we just have to be smart.”

“Yes, we do. Emma, I wish—”

“Don’t say another word, Aidan. You’l only make things worse. Let’s go in.” She started toward the entrance of the bar.

With a sigh he fol owed her. She was right. He needed to shut the hel up before he said something they’d both regret.

Chapter 16

“Emma, it’s me, Sylvia. From the book signing.”

Emma peered through the eyeholes of the ugliest plastic werewolf mask in the world. “Hey, Sylvia! I never would have recognized you.”

“I know! Isn’t this a great mask?”

“It’s scary, al right.” The werewolf’s lips were pul ed back in a snarl worthy of the creepiest horror movie.

“I improvised the rest. I think it works, don’t you?” Sylvia gestured to her baggy gray sweat suit and fuzzy gray slippers.

“Absolutely.” Emma took another gulp of her wine.

“Want to hear me howl?”

“Uh, Well, I—”

“Owwwoooooo!”

“Nice howl.” Emma drank more wine.

“This is the best party. I’ve been groped twice.”

“Groped? By whom?”

“I don’t know! That’s the fun part of a masked bal , you know. This isn’t exactly a bal , but we’re al in disguise, so it’s the same idea. A little pinch here, a little nudge there. It’s al in good fun.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” This was Emma’s idea of hel . She liked to look into people’s faces when she talked to them. That was how she gauged reactions to the conversation. Everyone here, with the exception of Aidan and the waiters, had dressed up as a werewolf. Emma stood in a sea of fur, trying to get her bearings.

The crowd mil ed around her, jostling her sometimes, stopping to chat other times.

She’d initiated a few exchanges herself by commenting on the costumes.

The Werewolves and Wine Club members had been nice enough. Many of them had made a point of coming over to say how much they enjoyed her books. A few had brought copies from home for her to sign, which she did happily. These were hard-core fans, and she knew they talked her up at bookstores and on the Internet.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that they didn’t real y need her here. She’d created the world, but they’d made it their own, and now she was extraneous. They didn’t mind her being here, but they viewed her as essential y an outsider. If she’d been one of them, she would have come in costume.

Throughout the evening, she’d studied the people in attendance, in case one of them turned out to be Theo. She’d seen him only briefly in the bookstore, but she remembered he was tal , Wellover six feet, and lanky. She’d kept track of one guy who fit that description, but when he approached her, his voice had sounded nothing like Theo’s. She was sure she’d recognize that voice again if she heard it.

Aidan had stayed within sight, and she found comfort in watching him interact with the costumed guests. He knew how to work a room, and she suspected he was working this one to make sure Theo didn’t slip in unnoticed. She wondered what Aidan would do if Theo did show up. Would he take him outside and put the fear of God into him with a little physical intimidation? She didn’t doubt it. As much as she’d protested that she didn’t need or want a bodyguard for this trip, she was grateful to have Aidan at this party, sifting through the crowd. He drank only mineral water, and she appreciated that, too.

He was working on her behalf. Sure, he was working for his family, too, but he’d said her safety was his primary concern, and he was an honorable man. She believed him.

She also wanted him with a fierce longing that no amount of wine could mute. No doubt, other women in the room wanted him, too. He looked like a GQ model with his hand-tailored suit and his white silk shirt open at the neck. Emma smiled as she thought of Sylvia, who wouldn’t be above pinching Aidan’s butt as she glided by.

The noise level grew, and Emma cast a surreptitious glance at her watch. Twenty minutes to go before Barry would arrive to save them. Yet once he did, they would go straight back to the hotel and separate for the night. At least here she could admire Aidan from afar.

As if he sensed her gaze on him, his head came up, and he looked straight at her.

She smiled and hoisted her glass in his direction, toasting his party skil s. He smiled back at her, but then someone demanded his attention and he turned away again.

“He’s a cutie-pie.”

Emma looked for the person who’d made that comment and found Sylvia standing beside her with her mask pushed to the top of her head. She held a plate of finger food in one hand and a glass of white wine in the other.

“He is that,” Emma agreed.

“Nice buns.”

“Intel igent, too.”

“He has intel igent buns? Does that make him a smart-ass?”

Emma laughed. “You’re too quick for me, Sylvia.”

“Nah, I’m just an old lady. But I’ve seen the way you look at him, and the way he looks at you. You two would make beautiful babies together.”

“Sorry to burst your bubble, Sylvia, but Aidan and I aren’t a couple.”

“Real y?” Sylvia glanced from Aidan to Emma. “You look like you are, always keeping track of each other. I thought you must be together. I was hearing wedding bel s.”

“Won’t be happening.”

“Then I guess I can tel you that I did a stealth-pinch move on him.”

Emma grinned. “I can pretty much guess what that is.”

“I’m sure you can. I sidle over, pretending I’m listening in on the conversation, and then— bam! —I pinch and leave. But I could barely do the stealth pinch on him. He has a very firm butt.”

“I know.”

“Oh, real y?” Sylvia widened her eyes as if shocked by the news. “How would you know that, missy?”

“I’l never tel .”

Sylvia set her plate down on a nearby table and waggled her finger at Emma.

“Men like that don’t come along every day. I should know. My Ned was one of a kind. We were married for fifty-two years. I’m stil mad at him for leaving me.”

“He left you?”

Sylvia shrugged. “He had to. He died.”

“Oh, Sylvia, I’m sorry. That must have been very hard.”

“It was. I felt real y punk for a couple of years. But life goes on. I picked up one of your books and after reading it, I said to myself, Sylvia, there are still men out there to pinch! So I’m back in the game.” She picked up her plate again. “I’m off to get more food. Thanks for keeping me young, Emma.”

In the general category of compliments, Emma thought that was an outstanding one. Maybe this party hadn’t been such a lost cause, after al . And she’d been able to Aidan-watch for a solid two hours.

About that time he walked over and stood beside her. “How are you holding up?”

“Not too bad. You?”

“I’ve been pinched a time or two.”

Emma smiled to herself. “I’m not surprised.” She studied the crowd. “I never did see him. I don’t think he came tonight.”

“He didn’t.”

“You sound very sure of that.”

Aidan set his glass of mineral water on the table next to them. “That’s because I am very sure of that. He didn’t show, which is good. Maybe he gave up after last night’s fiasco. He has a book, thanks to his friend Terry.”

“Maybe Nadia talked to him and convinced him to back off.”

“Maybe.”

Someone jostled Emma, and she grabbed her purse as it started to slide down her shoulder. “It’s real y crowded in here. The party hasn’t been as arduous as I expected, but I’m ready to leave.”

Aidan shot a look at his cuffs and checked his watch. “Barry should be down there in about five minutes.”

She couldn’t resist teasing him. “I saw how you did that maneuver. You like checking your limited-edition watch, don’t you?”

He glanced over at her and smiled. “It’s elegant. I appreciate elegance.”

Her good mood evaporated. “Like Nadia,” she said without thinking.

“I’l admit Nadia is elegant,” he said. “But so are you.”

“Me? I’m short and stubby.”

“Stubby? Hardly.”

“Maybe stubby is too harsh, and I guess I’m sort of cute, but nobody—and I mean nobody— has ever accused me of being elegant.”

He touched her cheek, his fingers very warm. “Then consider yourself accused.”

Although he removed his hand almost immediately, Emma felt the imprint of his fingers as they said their good-byes, retrieved their coats, and walked back down the stairs to the street, where Barry waited.

Elegant. He was just being nice, of course. They were close to the end of this adventure, so he could afford to be nice. In a few minutes, they’d go up to the penthouse and into their isolation units, or at least that’s the way she’d begun to think of their separate bedrooms.

The car ride was quick and silent. Emma concluded that both of them were thinking about the night ahead and their vow not to have anything to do with each other. She forgot that they needed to give Barry instructions about picking her up for the flight to Denver in the morning.

Aidan, ever the efficient one, didn’t forget. “Emma’s flight leaves at ten twenty,” he said. “So if you’l pick her up at eight, that should give her enough time to clear security.”

“You’re not going to the airport with me?” Somehow she’d expected him to.

“If Theo didn’t show up tonight, I don’t think he’l cause a problem in the morning.

He’s nineteen. Typical y they aren’t morning people.”

“So we’re home free.”

“Looks like it. Now, I’l be happy to go to the airport with you if you want me to, but my flight back to New York doesn’t leave until one, so—”

“No, no. I’l go to the airport on my own. No worries.” She felt abandoned, which was stupid. She’d traveled alone for several years, and Aidan was undoubtedly right about Theo. If he hadn’t made a move at this point, he wasn’t likely to do so.

Aidan used his key to get them on the right elevator and then into the penthouse.

She’d thought of digging hers out to prove that she could get her own self into the room without having a man to do it, but the gesture seemed kind of sil y, so she didn’t bother.

Once they were inside the confines of the penthouse, she intended to fol ow the rules. But if she couldn’t have Aidan, she might need some chocolate cake to compensate.

“I’m going to my room,” she said, “but I’m in the mood for some dessert.”

He paused and looked at her.

“That’s not code for sex, Aidan. I’m talking about actual dessert.” She crossed to the phone sitting on a smal table in the living room. “I’m going to order up some of that chocolate cake I had for breakfast this morning. Do you want anything?”

Once again his expression revealed exactly what was going through his mind.

“I didn’t mean it that way. Go to bed, Aidan. We’l get through this.”

“Yeah.” Grimacing, he turned and headed toward his bedroom. “Just put the tip on the bil .”

“Thanks for everything!” she cal ed out to him. That was lame, but she didn’t think she’d see him again, and she was grateful for al that his wealth and status had provided this weekend. The sex had been good, too, but she wouldn’t say she was grateful. Only needy girls were grateful for sex. She was appreciative, though. She hoped he’d take her global statement as encompassing … Well, al of it.

“You’re welcome,” he said without turning around. Then he walked into his bedroom, closed the door, and turned the lock. There was no mistaking that sound, a definite metal ic click that meant he was locking her out.

What the hell? Did he think she would be so overcome with lust that she’d barge into his room, even after he’d made it clear they wouldn’t have sex tonight?

She abandoned her phone cal . Striding down the short hal way, she rapped on the door. “Aidan, that’s plain insulting!”

His reply was muffled by the door. “What is?”

“Locking your door, that’s what! I promise you that I’m not going to encroach on the territory you’ve clearly defined. Now if you want to suggest that I lock my door, that’s a different matter. I can’t speak for your self-control. But I damned sure can speak for mine, and you don’t need a freaking lock to keep me on my side of this door.”

By the end of the speech, she was breathing hard from indignation. Or mostly from indignation. She was also breathing hard because he was on the other side of that door, probably taking off his clothes, maybe putting on sweats and a T-shirt again, maybe not …

“You’re right.” His voice was very close to the door. A soft metal ic sound indicated that the door was no longer locked.

She stood by the door, contemplating whether she should suggest that maybe, if they both understood that this would be the very last time, they could indulge in a little more recreational sex. Just for tonight. Because after that, they’d never see each other again. Except for book signings, although she wondered whether he’d skip those. He probably would, al things considered.

“Go away, Emma.”

“How did you know I’m stil here?”

“I know.”

“Well, I’m leaving. But I just want to say that—”

“Don’t say it.”

She hated being interrupted in the middle of a thought. “What’s wrong with tel ing you I appreciate the time we’ve had together?”