Page 69 of Falling in Between
21
The pristine townhomes of the Upper East side roll past the window as the car creeps down Park Avenue. Elijah is the image of sin and seduction in his sleek Versace suit and sapphire-blue tie that matches my dress. While the suit alone is enough, the fact that his hair is swept into a stylish Pompadour makes him nothing short of sex bundled in a tailormadefabric.
Simon stops in front of an impressively large, white townhome complete with green awnings, lead windows, and a wrought iron stairwell that leads to the double, wooden entranceway where a doormanawaits.
A young valet hurries to get to thecar.
Smiling, I brush my hand over Elijah’s silk tie. “Don’t fuck with me in here,Elijah.”
“If you expected me not to fuck with you”—his eyes spark— “then you shouldn’t have worn thatdress.”
The door opens, and Elijah climbs out, offering me his hand. We ascend the steps, arm in arm, and I lean into his shoulder. “I mean it, don’t mess with me,” I say through a clenched smile, nodding politely at the gentleman who just walkedpast.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way but to mess with you, tiger lily.” He pats myhand.
When we step into the marble, three-story foyer, I have to fight to keep my jaw from dropping. The airy song of a violin floats down from a sweeping staircase. The frescos adorning the wall must have been stolen from the Louvre. This house looks more like a palace than someone’shome.
We head through an arched doorway and into another room with floor-to-ceiling windows where men in impressive suits and women in gorgeous dresses mingle, smiling,laughing.
“You’re joking with me, right. This is a business party, isn’tit?”
His gaze meets mine and he smirks. “No. Strictly for pleasure.” Elijah nods politely at a couple we pass on our way toward a wet bar in theback.
“Ijust…”
“You justwhat?”
“I don’t know. Didn’t expectthis.”
“What, for wealthy people to bedeviants.” His eyes flare with the word, and he chuckles, “Sweet, innocentDemi.”
With each woman we pass, I wonder how many have woken up in Elijah’s arms and are now staring at me with pity. Pity that comes with the knowledge of what tragedy awaits my poor, pathetic heart. Because I’m certain, try as they may, they’ve all fallen for him in one way or another. And this is exactly the kick in the gut I need to let him go. At least that’s what I tellmyself.
Once at the bar, Elijah orders our drinks and makes pleasantries with the people around him. As I’m taking inventory of my surroundings, I notice a blond man standing beside me. His arm is wrapped around a woman’s waist, but his eyes are trained on me. I smile awkwardly then turn away. A sudden twinge of uneasiness crawls around me, and I find myself stepping closer to Elijah. The bartender sets two wine glasses on the bar top, and Elijah takes them, handing meone.
“James?”
Elijah glances over my shoulder, and I notice the slightest tics to hisjaw.
The blond man steps into view, dragging the woman beside him. “This beautiful woman came withyou?”
“Shocking, I know.” Elijah chuckles, but there’s a certain restraint to it. Something that only adds to the anxious feeling winding through me like asnake.
The man takes my hand, and I recoil. “Ethan,” he says, placing a soft kiss my knuckles. “And this is my wife, Holly, who I’m certain would be more than interested in getting to know you a littlebetter.”
I feel Elijah tense beside me. I catch him fiddle with the knot of histie.
“Ch—” I feign a cough, fighting the heat burning my face, and then I realize, tonight, Icanbe Charlie. “I’mCharlie.”
Elijah gives me an approvingnod.
“I assume you’ll be staying for the festivities afterward?” Ethan looks to Elijah for an answer, which I find ratherrude.
“I’m not sureyet.”
“Well, I do hope you will.” Ethan’s eyes drag over me again, and Elijah places his arm around my waist, tugging me to hisside.
“It was good to see you, Ethan. Holly,” Elijah says dismissively before turning us around and heading toward a set of Frenchdoors.
