Even though Ash told himself he wouldn't make himself readily available for Sasha, he was more tuned into her. Anything to avoid Kallie’s line of sight. He didn’t want to be looking over at her if she saw him, and he certainly didn’t want to be alone at a damn party if she found him. How stupid would that look? Her gallivanting for her next target and him moping in a damn corner?
Ash sipped on his drink as Sasha continued to rattle off about herself. So self-involved. So brainless.
“You know, I was thinking about my birthday presents,” Sasha said.
“What would the woman who has everything in the world get for her birthday?” Ash asked.
He watched her hand slide down his chest and he knew exactly what that meant. Her hand trailed along the hem of his shorts, her fake nails dancing along his Adonis belt. He threw the rest of his drink back and held the glass out for her. Signaling he wanted more. She leaned into him. Pressed her fake tits against him. Then she plucked the glass from his hand and turned to let him look at the view. She sashayed her hips a little deeper, trying to make curves out of straight lines.
He wasn’t remotely interested in Sasha for the night. Or ever. But at least if she was around, he didn’t have to worry about Kallie.
And the scotch Sasha kept pouring him wasn’t half bad either.
Chapter 5
Kallie
Kallie saw them. She saw that woman hanging all over Ash. The woman from the restaurant that day after walking through Central Park. It made her physically sick, watching the disgusting display. How Sasha went and fetched Ash drinks. How her hands trailed down his chest. How her fingers danced along the hem of his shorts. She might as well have stripped herself down and tattooed his name on her body. Kallie didn’t fit in with the crowd around her. That much she knew. But had she known Jeremy and Eris were dragging her to that stupid birthday party, she would have never attended.
Kallie needed some fresh air.
So she stepped out onto the porch.
The ocean breeze flowed through her hair as she leaned against the railing. She sipped on her fruity drink and watched the waves roll in. Her back was to the party and her eyes were cast to the darkened horizon. Her mind flew back to the yacht trip on the island. Where they sailed until the horizon was no longer present and lost themselves in the coral reef and the snorkeling. How they made love underneath stars exactly like the ones she was staring at. Times had been easier back then. Kallie laughed at herself cynically.
Back then.
The island was only three weeks ago.
“Looks like you could use some company.”
She panned her gaze over to see where that voice was coming from. In her mind, someone was talking to her. But the voice was commanding. Very unlike the people she was surrounded by. All the women were giggling, and all of the men looked like prepubescent surfer boys who hadn’t come into their own yet. But the boy who approached her didn’t look like all of the other guys. Still younger but had a tan to his skin. A strength to his body that boasted of his youth and what he could lift in the gym. His shoulders were broad and his eyes were kind, hidden behind a pair of thinly rimmed glasses.
“I’m Stanley,” he said.
“Kallie.”
Her eyes danced along his figure. Even with the dark-brown hair and the kind eyes, he couldn’t have been out of college yet. Which was good for Kallie. She wasn’t drawn to younger men nor could this man possibly have any sort of a fortune. He was too young. If she talked with him, no one could accuse her of trying to snake her way into his life. Into his wallet. He was a college kid probably here on his parents’ dime, partying it up with the rich and famous and trying to pitch his latest start-up.
“What brings you to the party?” Stanley asked.
“A friend of mine and her man-friend dragged me out,” Kallie said.
“Man-friend, huh?” he asked with a chuckle.
“It’s really the only term I’ve got for him.”
“Then it’s an apt enough term if it’s the only one.”
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“It’s the party of the year. Everyone comes to the Hamptons for it. Are you a friend of Sasha’s?”
“Hardly,” she said flatly.
“Ah, then it’s nice to find another like mind.”
“You don’t like Sasha?” she asked.