By Private Invitation Read online

  “You’re right, Nana,” Jared soothed. “Mia’s death was a tragedy.” As is my parents’ marriage. “But believe me, when the right woman shows up, I’ll know it.”

  He felt a twinge of guilt at the outright lie. He didn’t believe in soul mates, much less everlasting love, but the smile on his grandmother’s face was worth the white lie. “But I won’t find her because some piece of rock tells me. Besides, I like my life as it is, uncomplicated by fairy tales of true love.”

  His grandmother sighed. “I just want you and your brother to be happy.”

  Jared hated to see his normally vibrant grandmother so defeated, especially at a party. “We are happy. Look at everything we’ve accomplished.” He waved a hand around the room. “Tyler and I put Philadelphia on every pleasure-seeker’s map with Haven. The spa is world-famous, the restaurant is five-star, and you know we give the best parties.”

  And what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

  Her lips curved in a small smile.

  “Come on, Nana,” he cajoled. “I’m only twenty-nine. I’ve got plenty of time to find the right woman and get chained for life.” He suppressed a slight shudder. “When I meet her, I’ll know.”

  That made her expression brighten. “Yes, Jared. You will. Your fall from love god to love slave will make my day. Go on, now.” She waved a hand laced with blue veins at him then reached for her drink. “I know you’re busy. I’m going to sit here and soak in the sights. Just be open to possibilities, sweetheart.”

  If she only knew… “I live for possibilities, Nana.”

  Over his grandmother’s head, he nodded to the bartender, who nodded back. Fred Carvell, a retired, twenty-year police veteran, wouldn’t let anyone hassle Beatrice. She’d refused his earlier offer of a table, saying she liked the constant ebb and flow of atmosphere at the bar.

  He had a lot in common with his grandmother.

  “Yes, you certainly do.” Beatrice patted him on the arm, and he was sure she’d read his mind rather than replied to his last statement. “I’ll see you later, dear.”

  “I’ll be back. Don’t go dancing with any strange men.”

  He swept into a low bow that never failed to make her laugh, then meandered through the crowd, stopping to greet a few friends before he made his way to the guest register, stopping next to his brother.

  “Hey, Jed.” Tyler didn’t look up. “How’s Nana?”

  “She’s fine. She’s enjoying the party.” Jared threw a mocking glance at his brother. “Are you going to glue yourself to this spot for the rest of the night or are you going to try to have a good time?”

  Tyler actually deigned to look at him for a brief second, and Jared saw a glimmer of humor in his eyes. “I plan to make the rounds in a few minutes. We’re still waiting for a few stragglers.”

  “You know we actually pay people to man this station, right?”

  Tyler gave him his big-brother look, designed to intimidate. At one time, that look would’ve pissed off Jared. Now, Jared was merely unimpressed. He waited, one eyebrow raised.

  Tyler returned his gaze to the touchscreen set into the stand. “I’m waiting for Mom and Dad. I figured one of us should actually show some decent manners and invite them.”

  Every muscle in Jared’s body tightened. “God damn it. Why the hell did you invite him? Mom, sure, but that bas—”

  “Be a big boy and try to behave.”

  Jared gritted his teeth even as he smiled at an arriving couple. “I thought we agreed. The old man tried to run our lives for too long. We don’t need him. We didn’t need his money to build this hotel and we certainly don’t need his phony attempts to bond, now that we’re grown.”

  Tyler shook his head, another wry smile on his lips. “You know, you’re a lot like him. Now, don’t get all ticked off.” Tyler raised his hands as if to ward off a blow, which made him look idiotic because he stood six-three and was still built like the linebacker he’d been in high school. “But you are. You’re both stubborn to the core and too intelligent for your own good. Be an adult for two hours tonight and let the old man believe you’re happy to see him for a change. At least pretend and make our mother happy.”

  Jared grimaced at the thought of playing nice with his father but, even though he hated to admit it, Tyler had a point. It would make his mother happy. And she needed all the happiness she could get.

  Still, he didn’t have to make it easy for his father.

  “Fine. I’ll be nice to Mom and Dad tonight if you ask one woman to dance with you.”

  Tyler laughed, but it had a hollow sound to it. “Sure, why not. But I get to pick her, and you have to dance with Mom.”

  Jared smiled. “Agreed.” He knew he’d gotten the easier end of the bargain. Tyler hadn’t come close to a woman since his fiancée’s death from cancer eighteen months ago.

  “Enjoy yourself tonight, Ty. It’s the start of a new year. Maybe this will be the year Nana’s dream comes true and she can marry off one of us. Not me, of course. But maybe I’ll get lucky tonight.”

  “What? With the brunette you seated a few minutes ago?”

  Jared’s gaze locked onto his brother, whose attention appeared to be glued to the screen. He wasn’t buying the act.

  “Actually, I don’t have my eye on the brunette. Why don’t you ask her to dance? You could fulfill your part of the bargain.”

  Tyler grinned and looked out at the lobby. “Yeah. And so can you.” He nodded toward the entrance.

  “Hello, Tyler. Jared.” Glen Golden strode toward them, a hearty smile on his still-handsome face, his white hair gleaming. “How are you both tonight?”

  Their mother, Helena, walked beside him, her slim hand tucked into her husband’s elbow.

  To the world, they looked like the perfect couple. His mother’s ash-blonde hair was perfectly styled, her evening gown a designer original. His father’s tuxedo was Italian and handmade and the lines around his blue eyes only added to his air of stately appeal.

  But Jared knew it was all a farce.

  Suppressing a groan, Jared forced a smile to welcome his parents, sliding one more glance at his green fairy.

  It was still early.

  Two

  “Did you see that man’s smile?”

  Annabelle couldn’t help but stare at Jared as he spoke to an older couple by the entrance. “He has a body to rival a Michelangelo. And that face. I’ve never seen anything so perfect.”

  Handsome didn’t come close. He looked like a young Paul Newman, with lean, chiseled features, wavy blond hair cut short to control the curl, and blue eyes that looked like reflections of a fall sky.

  She sighed. “Too bad he was just being polite. Probably has women falling all over him. What would he want—Ouch! Hey, you kicked me.” She bent down to rub at her ankle, then glared at Kate.

  “I’ll do a lot more than that if you don’t stop putting yourself down.” Kate huffed. “Didn’t you get a good look at your reflection before we left? I specifically made that dress to enhance your attributes. And the man definitely noticed. Of course he wants you. You’re beautiful. The goons in college never looked beyond the glasses and the braid.” Kate’s nose wrinkled. “Of course, that braid was kind of goofy.”

  Annabelle tried to look indignant, but thinking about college still made her cringe. “Okay, so I looked like Princess Leia on a bad-hair day. All I wanted was to get my degree and get out. Guys were a distraction I couldn’t afford.”

  Her granddad had first suggested college overseas, where she might not be so easily recognized. But she’d insisted on Gettysburg because the program had what she wanted. And she’d be close to him.

  Besides, she’d grown and her appearance had changed so much in the three years since the pictures the tabloid scum had taken of her, no one at college would make the connection between Graceanna Belle O’Malley and Annabelle Elder. No one could make her life a living hell by exposing her secrets.

  A waitress interrupted Annabelle’s thoughts by placing two glasses and an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne on their table. After making sure they didn’t need anything else, she left.

  Annabelle took a sip of the champagne, rubbing her nose at the unaccustomed bubbles. She’d traveled all over England and Europe, bits of Africa and the Far East, but until tonight, she’d never imbibed to excess, never flirted with a gorgeous man, and never…jumped off a cliff.

  She sighed. Well, she was going to fix at least two of those. “Tonight, I’m going to live a little.”

  Near the end of his life, her granddad had harped on her lack of extracurricular activities.

  “Get a life, Annie, my belle,” he’d bellow at her. “You can’t spend your days wasting away in this musty shop. Go out, find a man, live a little.”

  Bill Elder had died suddenly a year ago, in his sleep, exactly the way he’d wanted to go. He’d lived life to the fullest and one day he was just gone—leaving her orphaned for the second time in her life.

  Which probably explained the ill-advised affair with Gary. Damn, if only she’d figured that out five months ago. Would’ve saved her that scene in his office when she’d tossed the filing cabinet at him.

  She hadn’t meant to hit him. Not really. She’d only meant to express her displeasure. Except her aim had been a little better than she’d expected. Years of manhandling antique furniture in the shop had given her strong arms.

  The metal box had sailed through the air and the edge had glanced off Gary’s narrow shoulder, knocking him to the ground. His eyes wide, he’d scrambled away on the floor, like a crab. The wuss.

  His secretary had calmly pulled down her dress, patted him on the head like the dog he was, and walked right past Annabelle.

  “Nice throw, Annie,” Carla had drawled as she slinked out the door.

  Annabelle had wished she could make as elegant an exit but she’d worked up a good mad by then. That bastard had never gone down on her like that. He’d claimed not to like it.

  But there he’d been, with his head between Carla’s thighs. Acting like he loved it. Hell, he hadn’t even looked like that when they’d had sex. It’d been more like porn sex—lots of noise and motion but no substance.

  She should’ve known the bastard was cheating on her but she’d been so busy with the shop and…Okay, if she were truthful, she’d admit she just hadn’t cared enough to wonder why he’d break off dates on short notice with lame excuses.

  “Would you like to dance?”

  Annabelle blinked out of her thoughts to see a blond man dressed as a pregnant nun standing by their table, smiling at her. He had a drink in one hand and a whip in the other, handsome in a bland, vanilla-milkshake sort of way. Not that vanilla milkshakes were bad. Until now, they’d been her favorite. But that was before. Tonight, she’d decided it would be banana splits all the way.

  Jared appeared behind the nun, towering over him. “Sorry, Bill, but the green fairy promised this one to me.”

  Her gaze met Jared’s, and lust drenched her from head to toe at the sensuality smoldering in his eyes.

  No one had ever looked at her like that.

  When he extended his hand, she took it without a second thought.

  Vaguely, she heard Kate turn down the nun as Jared drew her onto the dance floor. Then a slow, dreamy jazz standard shut out the rest of the noise of the large crowd.

  “I didn’t mean to be rude.” Jared’s warm whisper caressed her ear as he eased her against his lean body. “But I couldn’t stand the thought of you in another man’s arms. I hope you can forgive me.”

  A laugh escaped her before she could catch it. “That’s a wonderful line. Did you make it up on the spot or have you used that one before?”

  Jared blinked, just once, as Annabelle bit back a groan. She couldn’t believe she’d said that. She’d been raised to speak her mind but that…She definitely was no good at flirting, and she was too long out of the loop.

  Jared’s face split in a huge grin. “Actually, I just made it up. But you’re right. It’s a line. It also happens to be true.”

  She took a deep breath, thankful he hadn’t abandoned her on the dance floor. “I can’t believe I actually said that. Please let me add that I’m glad you asked. I’d hoped to see you again.”

  Jared’s fingers tightened around hers. “And why wouldn’t I ask? You’re the most beautiful woman here.”

  She laughed again, unable to help herself. She knew it was another line, but really, what did it hurt? She was determined to have a good time tonight and Jared seemed determined to give her one. “And you are the most proficient dancer I’ve ever had the pleasure of partnering. Did you take lessons?”

  “No, my grandmother taught me.” He held her a little closer, the warm material of his pants leg brushing against the inside of her bare thigh, making her want to clasp both thighs around it. “She believed any young man who could dance had a leg up on the riffraff who never took the time to learn.”

  “Your grandmother sounds like a great lady.”

  Jared winked at her. “She’s one of a kind. So, I didn’t get your name earlier.”

  “It’s…Belle.” She didn’t want to lie, nor did she want to reveal more just yet. This was a night for fantasy, after all. “What do you do at the hotel, Jared?”

  “I facilitate various activities, like tonight’s party. And you?”

  “I’m an antiques dealer.”

  “Really.” His brows raised in interest. “What kind?”

  “My shop specializes in early American and European furniture but my true passion is art.”

  “Is the pin one of your finds?”

  Mesmerized by his voice and those blue eyes, his question puzzled her for a moment, until she followed his gaze down to the pin on her dress.

  “Oh, no. Not mine. My grandfather acquired it several years ago. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Granddad couldn’t believe it was mixed in with a load of costume jewelry. The large stone is an orange citrine. The smaller ones are diamonds and sapphires. The intricacy of the metalwork shows a fine hand, we think European. I’ve occasionally tried to discover its maker but I haven’t been able to so far.”

  Jared tried not to stare but couldn’t help himself. It seemed like such a far-fetched idea but he couldn’t ignore the voice in his head telling him this was one of Aphrodite’s Tears, part of the set his grandmother had mentioned earlier. The pin and matching ring had been stolen so many years ago, he’d never seen anything but pictures. Still, this pin fit the description exactly.

  If it was…Holy shit. How much of a coincidence would that be?

  “I’m sorry.” Annabelle’s voice broke into his thoughts. “I must be boring you talking shop.”

  His gaze lifted to catch embarrassment staining what he could see of her cheeks beneath her mask. Her gaze slid away across the crowded dance floor.

  “You’re not boring me. In fact”—he surprised her by spinning her in a tight circle before drawing her close again—“I find it fascinating. Tell me more.”

  Belle’s eyes lit up as she smiled. Not a sexy smile, designed to seduce, but a grin of pleasure. She started talking about antiques, provenance and historical significance, words that held no meaning at the moment.

  Her bright eyes held his attention. He would gladly drown in that green gaze. Typically, women attracted him first with their looks. He was a man, after all. But he bored easily if there was nothing but air behind the beauty.

  This woman’s intelligence intensified her beauty.

  And she could be wearing his grandmother’s pin.

  No, it couldn’t be. His grandmother mentioning it earlier had just made him think it was. That’s all.

  “So where is this shop of yours?” he asked when she paused.

  Her gaze faltered for a second. He would have attributed it to the dance, but they weren’t doing more than a slow circle at the moment.

  “Outside the city.” She shrugged. “It’s not huge but we—I do a decent business. I travel a lot. Granddad and I were never in the same place more than a few months when I was growing up. I traveled the world with an antiques dealer and a tutor with a doctorate in history. It was an unorthodox upbringing.”

  He wondered what she meant by that. Unorthodox. “Sounds interesting.”

  She smiled, but it was perfunctory, as if she’d shut down her emotions. “It was. Unfortunately, my grandfather died a year ago.” She shook her head and her smile began to warm. “I’m sorry, I’ve monopolized the conversation. Tell me about you. And”—her eyes widened as she realized they’d just danced through three songs nonstop—“I don’t want to get you in trouble with your boss. Do you need to get back to work?”

  Jared quashed a smile, shooting a glance at the door to see if Tyler was sending lightning bolts his way. But his brother wasn’t at the entrance.

  “Actually, my boss must’ve stepped out.” He spotted his parents, sitting at a table in the corner, but Tyler wasn’t with them either. “There really isn’t much to tell. I’ve been with the hotel since it opened. I enjoy my job and the people I work with. And it has its perks.”

  He flashed her one of his most charming grins, and she laughed.

  “I bet.” Her teeth sank into her lower lip, making him want to do the same. “You must meet a lot of people in a job like this.”

  “Yes, I do. Though I’ve never met anyone like you.”

  He didn’t realize how true that was until he said the words. He frowned at the thought, and Belle dropped her gaze. She took a deep breath, drawing his attention again to the pin.

  Damn, what was he going to do about that? However, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with the woman.

  “Sorry to interrupt.” Tyler clapped him on the shoulder, startling him and causing Belle to step out of his arms. They had danced to the opposite side of the room. “I need you at the door for a few minutes, Jed.” Tyler lowered his voice. “And you have to honor our agreement.”

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