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LILY TOOK A SIP OF champagne at brunch the next morning, eyeing the guests still milling about her parents’ deluxe penthouse suite. Another couple glasses of the stuff might actually dull the pain inside of her. Make her stomach churn in an entirely different way. She’d never felt more humiliated in her life than when Brock had run out of her bedroom last night. Not that she’d expected to marry the guy or something. She knew from the moment he’d approached her at the bar that he was nothing but trouble. The type of man up for a good time, not searching for his soul mate.
But after she’d realized he was friends with Morgan’s brother, she thought he’d at least treat her with some semblance of respect. That they’d have a night of fun and then part ways in the morning.
She blushed just remembering the way she’d screamed as he’d gone down on her. He was so aggressive, attractive, and purely male that he’d made her want things she’d never even felt before. The men she dated didn’t do that sort of thing. They were polite and respectful. But there was something naughty about being with Brock that made her crave more. More living with reckless abandon and breaking free from her perfectly posed life.
As it turned out, she was nothing more than a notch on his bedpost. The man couldn’t even be bothered to spend a few hours together. He’d barely pulled out of her before he left her splayed across her bed and practically ran from the room.
It might have been easier to brush the entire night off as a drunken mistake if he hadn’t made her feel so amazing. If he hadn’t insisted he wanted to have her all night long. She’d never been with a man like Brock before, who knew exactly how to pleasure her. To make her drop her inhibitions and feel things she never had in the past. Give herself completely to a man and discover herself in the process.
Yes, he’d been demanding and aggressive, but he’d made sure she was okay. Kissed her and made sure she was comfortable. He may have insisted that she yield to him, but he’d sent her soaring. He’d commanded her body so thoroughly last night, she felt ruined for any other man. Nothing could compare to the way he’d touched her, tasted her, and drove her to higher states of ecstasy than she ever imagined.
And for heaven’s sake—even their argument in the bar was the type of thing she never did. She never let a man get her all riled up like that. If someone was bothering her, she’d coolly excuse herself and be on her merry way.
Why hadn’t she been able to do that with Brock?
A waiter brought over a fresh glass of champagne, and she schooled her expression, placing her empty glass on the silver tray he was carrying. Back to playing the part of the perfect daughter to her parents’ guests. Ignoring the turmoil rolling through her each moment. The only upside to the disastrous way things had ended with Brock last night was knowing she’d never have to see the womanizing prick again. Morgan and her brother Jake had different circles of friends. Last night had been the first time in ages that she’d even seen Morgan’s brother. There was little-to-no chance of seeing Jake again anytime soon, and likewise, a slim-to-none shot of seeing Brock. She certainly never would set foot in that bar again.
Lily strode across the room to the balcony doors, away from most of the other guests, and surveyed the room. As usual, her parents had outdone themselves this morning. Buffet tables draped with white tablecloths were stationed at one end of the vast living room, with multiple chefs preparing omelets for their guests. Waiters canvassed the area, offering caviar, mimosas, and champagne. It seemed a little over-the-top for a brunch meant to celebrate the upcoming arrival of a baby, but her parents did love entertaining. Not to mention impressing their friends.
Personally, Lily would’ve been fine with a few of her closest friends and some cute little baby clothes if she were to ever be in that position, happily married with a baby on the way, but her parents would of course insist on nothing but the best of everything for her, too. Not that she was anywhere close to living the life her sister had. Maybe she didn’t even need that sort of thing. None of the men she’d ever dated had made her think they’d end up happily-ever-after.
She didn’t fit in here. She didn’t fit in anywhere. Not really.
“Mom and Dad really overdid it this time,” her sister Hannah commented, mirroring Lily’s thoughts as she walked up beside her. Hannah looked perfectly adorable this morning in a cream sleeveless maternity dress, complete with a sash and bow right atop her baby bump. Her strawberry blonde hair hung straight down, and she had that “rosy glow” you always heard about pregnant women getting.
“You can say that again. I’m excited to be an aunt and all, but most people have a baby shower, not a weekend full of events. I feel like it’s your wedding weekend all over again.”
“Don’t remind me,” Hannah groaned, taking a sip of her nonalcoholic sparkling juice. “I mean, I love Mom and Dad, but a lot of the time it’s more about them than us, you know?”
“I’ve never noticed that,” Lily replied dryly.
Her sister playfully elbowed her. “Don’t tease the pregnant woman. And how could you forget about all the events just leading up to the wedding weekend? We had the engagement party, the formal tea for the ladies, the golf tournament for one hundred of Dad’s closest friends, the bridal shower...,” she continued, trailing off with laughter.
“Of course I remember. If I ever decide to get married, I’m absolutely going to elope after witnessing that.”
“I totally would if I could do it again,” Hannah commented. “It was way too much—even for them. I for one am dying to sit down right now though. You think it’d be rude for me to relax for a few minutes and not mingle with the guests?”
“Sweetie, you’re eight months pregnant,” Lily laughed. “You can do whatever you want. Lie down on the middle of the floor if you need to. Everyone else can walk around you.”
Hannah laughed, nearly spilling her sparkling drink.
“If anyone dare complains,” Lily continued, “they can answer to me. Mom and Dad included.”
“In that case, the sofa over there is calling my name. Care to join me?”
“Maybe in a few minutes. I need to call Morgan. She texted me about some problem at her school and said to call her. It looks like the brunch is finally winding down, so I’m going to sneak out for a few minutes.”
“I hope everything’s okay,” Hannah said, looking concerned.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. Yesterday she was setting up her classroom before the new school year starts. Maybe there’s a problem with that.”
Lily excused herself and stepped out onto the balcony for some privacy. Aside from a couple of quick texts, she hadn’t spoken to Morgan since leaving the bar last night. She knew Morgan would be dying for details, but the last thing she felt like doing was reliving every god-awful moment of Brock stripping her down, making her scream in ecstasy, and then walking right out of her bedroom.
Her face flamed as she recalled standing there in her silk robe while he hastily pulled on his clothes. Jesus. He’d still been half-hard and couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there. If she ever saw him again she’d probably die of embarrassment. Or castrate him right on the spot.
Arrogant ass.
Pulling her phone from her handbag, she pushed the speed-dial for Morgan’s number. She took another sip of champagne and gazed inside at the people still milling about as the phone rang. Hannah’s husband had joined her on the sofa, and other happy couples were sipping their champagne and mimosas, while a few of the older ladies were sitting down with coffee and tea. What would her family have thought if she’d shown up with Brock this morning? Not that he would ever agree to come to brunch at her parents’ house. He wouldn’t even stay the night in her bed. The idea of him mingling with her parents’ rich friends was amusing, though. He wasn’t the type of man that would take it from anyone.
“Lily, God, I’m having the worst morning,” said Morgan as way of greeting.
“Why? What happened?” Lily asked in surprise.
“A pipe burst in the ceiling above my classroom. Everything’s wet, and all the supplies I just bought are ruined. The entire place is a disaster!”
“Oh my God, that’s terrible. Is it just your room or the whole school?”
“A couple of classrooms,” she said with a sigh. “I just got everything set up yesterday. Why couldn’t this have happened at the beginning of summer? Or sometime in July? One week before school starts is just not cool.”
“Do you need help? The brunch is over. I can come by if you need an extra set of hands.”
“Jake’s over here now,” Morgan said. “I mean, sure, if you want, I could use all the help I can get. I have to move everything into a new classroom. And go out later to buy more supplies.”
“Won’t the school replace them?”
Lily could practically hear Morgan rolling her eyes over the phone. “This isn’t some fancy private school, Lily. The school pays the teachers a measly salary and that’s about it. A lot of the kids can barely afford lunch, let alone school supplies, so I bought some myself. Same as every other year. Not that that does me any good now.”
“All right, tell me what you need,” Lily said, shifting into planning mode. The sooner she had a project to keep her mind off Brock and her humiliating night, the better off she’d be. “I’ll pick some things up and come over to help.”
“God, you’d be a life saver. I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s the least I can do. Text me a list of everything you need replaced, and I’ll come by in an hour or two. This brunch is ending, so hopefully I can get out of here soon. My mother wasn’t too happy that I snuck out early yesterday, so I kind of feel obligated to stay until the bitter end.”
Morgan laughed. “Anytime you can get here would be a huge help. And if you can replace the supplies? Seriously, that would be amazing.” A door shut in the background. “All right, I just snuck out into the hallway while Jake is moving some boxes in my classroom,” Morgan said in a hushed tone. “Now spill! I want to hear every dirty detail about wherever you and Brock disappeared to last night.”
Lily groaned. “What makes you think I left with him?”
Morgan’s laughter shrieked over the phone. “Yeah right. You disappeared, then he disappeared. And you didn’t text me until this morning. That good of a night, huh? Now spill!”
Lily blew out a sigh. “Look, we both know Brock is sex-on-a-stick. But he’s also a complete jackass. He drove me home, we fooled around in my bedroom, and then he ran out of there like the place was on fire. The guy is a total asshole, and if I ever see him again, it’ll be too soon.”
“What? Are you serious? Define ‘fooled around.’”
“We had sex, Morgan. On my bed. And literally the second we were done, he ran out of my room.”
“What?” Morgan asked again in surprise. “I mean, Jake said that Brock is kind of a ladies’ man, but that he’s a decent guy.”
“Well, he’s not,” Lily snapped. “He got up, got dressed as fast as humanly possible, and walked out with barely a word goodbye. I have never been more humiliated in my entire life. I mean it’s not like I was planning to date the guy or something, but he could at least have treated me like a human being. Shown a shred of decency.”
“God, I’m sorry, Lily. I never would have encouraged you to dance with him last night if I knew he was such a total dick. Want me to talk to Jake about it? They’re friends, but I’m sure he’d punch his lights out if you wanted.”
“God, no!” Lily replied, flushing with embarrassment. “I don’t want Jake or anyone else talking about it. I just want to forget the entire night. Pretend it never happened. If I ever see that bastard again, it’d be too soon.”
“If you’re sure...,” Morgan said hesitantly. “I mean Jake and Brock are buddies, but he’d do it if I asked.”
“I’m positive. Oh, great. Now my mother is gesturing for me to come back inside,” Lily said, noticing her mother frantically waving at her through the glass balcony doors. “She probably has some new eligible bachelor for me to meet,” she added dryly.
“Well, they’re bound to be more of a gentleman than Brock.”
“Ha ha. That wouldn’t be hard. A homeless guy on the street probably has more tact than him.”
“I’ll tell him off the next time I see him. Well, if I ever see him.”
“Morgan,” Lily said with a groan.
“All right, all right. I’ll text you the list of supplies. That way you won’t keep mommy dearest waiting.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you soon.” She put her phone back into her purse and silently headed toward the balcony doors. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
