Liam walked to the door. He paused and looked at Jacques over his shoulder. He was still beautiful, but the desire he’d once felt for him was gone. Jacques had broken his heart, but it had mended nicely. He still loved him, but he was no longer in love with him, thank God. Being in love with Jacques had been the most painful thing he’d ever endured in his life.

  “Liam?” Jacques was still waiting for an answer. “How am I like Ramsay?”

  “You sacrificed everything for your unrelenting goal,” he told Jacques. “Even love.” He didn’t wait around for his reaction.

  * * * *

  Hunter’s eyes widened when he saw Scott walk into the dance studio. He let out a groan. How much worse could it get? His lesson was going really badly tonight, and now Scott was here to laugh at him. How much worse could this night get?

  “Pay attention,” the instructor, a middle-aged woman named Naomi, told him. “The waltz is a smooth dance. Remember, rise and fall, rise and fall. Okay, again, on the heel, on the ball, rise on the toe just to the end of the first beat … there … that’s it … hold your form. I’ll be right back.”

  “What are you doing here?” Hunter growled as Scott walked over to him. He had a big grin on his face.

  “I came to see how you’re doing … and from the looks of it … there’s no time to waste.”

  “Oh shut up,” Hunter muttered. “I hate this dancing stuff. I’m not any good at it. I have two left feet and…”

  “Okay, slow down,” Scott said. “Let me show you.”

  “What?” Hunter laughed. “Get real. Are you telling me you know how to do this stuff?”

  “I’ve cut a rug in my day.”

  “Cut a what?”

  “Never mind. Be the girl.”

  “You be the girl.”

  “I can’t show you, if you don’t let me lead.”

  Hunter sighed. “All right.

  “Remember the waltz is danced to music written in three-quarter meter with thirty measures per minute.”

  “Well excuse me, Mr. Ballroom Dancer.”

  Scott grinned and took Hunter by the hands. “Okay, move in closer. First step, heel, then ball of your foot like the teacher said. Move your head … move your head with the movement of your shoulder. That’s it,” he said as they danced around the floor.

  “Hey, this shit’s not bad,” Hunter said, laughing.

  “Okay, now you got to do that, except you’ve got to be a man.”

  Hunter stopped, then looked into Scott’s eyes. “Are you trying to tell me something, Scott?”

  Scott laughed and gave him a shove.

  The instructor was watching them suddenly. “Gentlemen,” she said. “Please, this is a respectable establishment.”

  “Well, we’re not respectable,” Scott told her, releasing Hunter. “He’s all yours. I think he may have a clue now. Is Amanda here?” Scott asked.

  “In the gym,” Hunter told him.

  “Gym? The ladies’ gym downstairs?”

  “Yes, when Amanda signed me up for lessons, she joined the gym. She was going on about being flabby.”

  “Oh good Lord,” Scott rolled his eyes. “I was going to ask her to have a coffee with me while we waited for you.”

  “Mr. Reese,” the instructor said. “Back to work now. You can socialize later.”

  “I have to socialize later,” Hunter mocked, letting her take his hands.

  Scott laughed, lifted a hand and went in search of Amanda.

  * * * *

  When Scott walked into the all-women’s gym, the receptionist gave him a curious look. Behind her were an array of women in all shapes and sizes on treadmills and exercise bikes. “Excuse me, sir,” she said in a haughty voice. “This is an all-women’s gym. Men are not allowed.”

  “Oh, calm yourself, woman,” Amanda suddenly appeared, walking across to the desk. “He’s mine. And we’re leaving.”

  “Lucky you,” one woman nearby chimed, wiping her face on her towel.

  “Let him stay,” another called out. “He certainly makes exercising a hell of a lot more interesting.” There was a chorus of agreement.

  Amanda laughed and took Scott’s arm.

  He gave the ladies a little salute and walked outside with Amanda. “Hey,” she kissed his cheek. “What are you doing here? I’m glad to see you.”

  “I got bored. I wanted to see if I could help Hunter with his dancing.”

  Amanda raised an eyebrow. “And did you?”

  “He may be beyond hope.”

  She punched his arm. “Don’t say that. You up for a dinner party next week?”

  “Where?”

  “Jacques’. We’re invited.”

  “Oh. Yeah, maybe,” he said, looking around. “Should we go to the coffee shop? What time does Hunter get sprung?”

  She shook her head. “A half hour or so. I could use a…” She stopped. “Scott.”

  “Yeah?” He looked at her.

  “I believe there’s someone across the street who knows you.”

  “Where?” He squinted. It was already dark.

  The figure walked across the street and stopped in front of them. “Hello Scott,” he said.

  Scott studied him curiously. He wasn’t tall, nor particularly good-looking. He was definitely biracial. “Do I know you?”

  “Not really,” he cocked his head. “We have a mutual friend. Hello, Miss Martindale.”

  Amanda said hello, then looked at Scott for explanation.

  “A mutual friend?”

  “More than a friend really, a lover.”

  Scott narrowed his eyes. “I don’t understand.”

  “Ciel. Ciel Durand. I believe you were involved with him.”

  Amanda placed a hand on Scott’s arm. He stiffened. “Look, I don’t know who in fuck you are, but…”

  “My name is Gary.” He began to back away. “I’m the man of Ciel’s dreams. Ciel and I don’t want you coming around any more. You understand?”

  Scott took a step. Amanda pulled him back. “Don’t, Scott, it’s not worth it.” He was gone.

  “Ciel didn’t waste much time,” Scott sneered.

  “Do you honestly think Ciel is involved with … with him? Come on, give Ciel some credit. That guy Gary is a little weasel. Anyone can see that … and not Ciel’s type at all.”

  “How did he know about me then?” He looked into Amanda’s eyes.

  “I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “I really don’t know.”

  * * * *

  Hunter lay stretched out on the bed. Scott was slumped in a chair by the door. “Is she ever going to be ready?” Scott mused, glancing over at Hunter.

  He shrugged, rubbing his calf. “She’s all hyped up about this dinner at Jacques’.”

  “She’s all hyped up about Liam Dunn.”

  Hunter glanced over at him and grinned. “Do I detect a note of jealousy Scott?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just not like Amanda to go gaga over some man, that’s all. Your leg hurt?”

  “Yeah. It’s all this dancing shit. And I have bad knees.”

  “I remember … those thugs.”

  Hunter nodded.

  “How’s it going … the dancing? When I saw you last week, it looked pretty hopeless.”

  “The dance instructor is a Nazi. I don’t know why I have to learn all these dances. I’m not going to dance half of them.”

  “You will if you go to one of those fund-raisers. I remember when I went one year with Amanda. What a howl.” Scott sat up and slapped his knee. “Can you imagine the reaction when Amanda walked in with me on her arm? I was not more than twenty and black. The women were either terrified of me or wanted into my pants.”

  Hunter grinned and shook his head. “Why did she do it?”

  “She did it to shock, to defy. I don’t know. I guess because she could. She loves to fuck with convention. She’s Amanda, and I guess that’s why we’re all so drawn to her.”

  Hunter nodded silently. “So, do you think Amanda is falling in love?”

  “Nah,” Scott replied. “That would take a miracle.”

  “So how are things with the therapist?”

  “It sucks, but it’s moving ahead. She says I’m about to make a breakthrough, whatever the hell that is.”

  “That’s good. And Ciel?”

  “I haven’t talked to him in over a month. The strangest thing happened to me last week when Amanda and I were waiting for you at the dance place.”

  “What?”

  “Some creepy guy—really ugly—he comes over to me, calls Amanda and me by name, and tells me he’s Ciel’s lover.”

  “No shit. Did you believe him?”

  “Not at first, but then how did he know who we were? I’d never met him before.”

  “Why in hell would he just come out and tell you that? And what was he doing there, outside the studio?”

  “Don’t know. It was like he was waiting for me. He tells me that he and Ciel—I mean, get this—he and Ciel don’t want me coming around.”

  Hunter wrinkled his nose. “That doesn’t make sense. Maybe you should call Ciel and…”

  “No. It’s better I don’t.” He looked at Hunter, then stood up. “You could give me a little sugar once in a while you know, Hunter. It’s really over.”

  Hunter slid off the bed. “I would if I believed it.”

  Scott rolled his eyes. “Let’s go and see if Amanda is ready. We’re going to be late for dinner, and if I remember right, Jacques likes punctuality.”

  * * * *

  Amanda had a hard time staying quiet in the back of the car. She sensed that her talking was getting to Hunter, and Scott seemed to be ignoring her. “So,” she announced sarcastically. “Let’s get naked.”

  Hunter looked at her. “What?”

  She laughed. “Scott thinks it’s a good idea, don’t you honey?” She nudged him.

  “Sure, whatever,” he said.

  “Are you all right?” she asked him.

  “Fine. Why?”

  “You seem out there.”

  “I was just thinking.”

  “I hope you’re okay with seeing Jacques.”

  “Why shouldn’t I be? He was always kind to me.”

  “Hunter?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “I like Jacques. No worries,” he said.

  “Do you think I look fat in this dress?” Amanda asked.

  Both young men looked at her. A stream of compliments flowed her way, and she grinned. “You guys are good for my ego.”

  She’d left her hair down tonight. It fell just a little past her shoulders. She opted for a simple, sleeveless linen dress in lavender, which fell just above the knees. The white high heels she wore pinched her feet a little, but she figured she wouldn’t be walking too much. She could always discretely slip them off under the table during the meal.

  Hunter and Scott walked on each side of her as they approached the door of Jacques’ big house. She took both their arms. “Can there be a luckier woman than me anywhere in the world?”

  “Yes. We could be straight,” Hunter mumbled.

  She smiled. “I wouldn’t trade either one of you. Ring the bell, love.”

  “This brings back memories,” Scott commented.

  “Not bad ones?” Amanda glanced at him.

  “Wipe that worry off your brow,” he said. “You’ll get permanent wrinkles. Not bad ones, no.”

  She nodded, her heart hammering in her chest as the door opened. It was that very uppity-looking butler. “Good evening. Please come in,” he said. “Mr. Larose and Mr. Dunn are expecting you in the sitting room.”

  It was a warm night, so there were no coats to take off. Amanda, Scott, and Hunter followed the butler down the hallway.

  Amanda didn’t realize how invigorating it would be to see Liam again. She let Jacques kiss her cheek, but her gaze traveled immediately to the tall Irishman. He stood back away and waited for Jacques to finish greeting the guests.

  When Liam stepped forward, he lowered his head a little to make direct eye contact, then smiled. “Good evening, Amanda. You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” she said. He looked beautiful as well. In fact, he looked good enough to eat in his deep purple tailored suit with the long jacket and open-necked pale mauve shirt. Jacques wore his trademark black suit with a dark green shirt and a tie.

  “I didn’t know it was formal,” Scott announced.

  “You look fantastic, Scott,” Jacques replied, ushering them all to seats in the sitting room. “Your jeans probably cost more than this suit.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Hunter,” Liam said. “I really like that shirt. Did you buy it locally?”

  Jacques added his praise as well.

  It was silvery grey with a faint paisley print in the background.

  “Amanda bought it,” Hunter said, taking a seat on the sofa beside Scott.

  “I bought it from a men’s boutique downtown called Raring,” Amanda replied. “Nice things there. A little too loud for your taste, Jacques, but Liam, you’d like it.”

  Liam laughed. “Guess I’m a little less uptight, eh Jacques?”

  “Apparently so,” he smiled. “It suits you, Hunter.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Drinks all around,” Liam announced. “What can I get you?” He walked over to the bar.

  “Tom Collins,” Amanda said.

  “Tom Collins for the lady. Hunter, Scott?”

  “I’ll take rum, if you got it,” Hunter said.

  “Of course.”

  “Just Diet Coke for me,” Scott said.

  Liam raised an eyebrow.

  Amanda reached over from where she was sitting in a big leather chair and patted Scott’s knee.

  “I’ll have a scotch,” Jacques told Liam.

  While Liam went about fixing the drinks, Jacques directed his attention to Scott. “You look wonderful,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”

  Scott nodded. “Yes it has. You look great too, Jacques. You haven’t changed.”

  He laughed. “Thank you, Scott. This is nice, dinner like this.”

  “Yes,” Amanda replied, glancing up at Liam as he walked over and handed her the drink. “We should have done this a long time ago.”

  “We’re having chicken for supper. I hope that’s to your taste,” Jacques announced.

  “Wonderful,” Amanda said.

  “Sounds good,” Hunter repeated.

  “So, Hunter,” Liam said, delivering the rest of the drinks to the guests. “How is your prep going?”

  “Oh, it’s going.”

  Scott began to laugh.

  Hunter punched him playfully.

  “What’s the problem?” Liam smiled.

  “Well, for a guy with Jamaican blood, the guy has no rhythm.”

  “I do too have rhythm.”

  “Yeah, in bed, maybe,” Scott replied dryly.

  Everyone laughed.

  Liam walked over and turned on the stereo. “Come on Amanda,” he said, holding out his hand. “Let’s show Hunter how it’s done.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “Dance with me.”

  All eyes turned to them as Liam reached down, took Amanda’s hand, and pulled her to her feet. “You remember the waltz, don’t you?”

  “Yes, yes, but…”

  “The Blue Danube. It was originally performed in 1867,” he said, pulling her into his arms before she really had a chance to protest. “Did you know there were words written to this waltz?”

  “No-o … I didn’t,” she said as his arms slipped around her.

  “Strauss wrote them himself originally for a boy’s choir.”

  He was moving her gracefully across the floor, his body so close, one hand holding hers, the other flat and gentle at the small of her back.

  “How do you know that?” She smiled up at him, almost forgetting that they weren’t completely alone in the room.

  “It’s my favorite waltz. It’s sentimental, I know.” He lowered his head near her cheek. She sucked in some breath as his soft hair caressed her skin. “I’m feeling rather vulnerable tonight, Amanda.”

  She swallowed.

  “The first verse goes … Danube so blue, so bright and blue, through vale and field you flow so calm, our Vienna greets you, your silver stream through all the lands you merry the heart with your beautiful shores.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “It sounds better in German.”

  The waltz sped up, and Amanda found herself practically carried around the floor in his strong arms. When the music ended, she was winded.

  Liam released her and gave her a little bow. “Thank you,” he said.

  “Wow, that was a workout.” She laughed.

  “We all need a good workout once in a while.” He grinned, then turned to Hunter. “What did you think?”

  “It was beautiful to watch,” Hunter said.

  Scott clapped his hands a few times. “Bravo.”

  Jacques stood up. “I think dinner is ready,” he said.

  Amanda detected a note of impatience in Jacques voice, but she didn’t comment on it.

  Liam offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

  Amanda smiled and nodded, and they all headed in the direction of the dining room.

  The dinner was delicious, the conversation very pleasant. They all lingered over drinks at the table until well after midnight.

  Liam was telling hilarious stories about the characters he knew back home in Ireland when he was a boy. Liam was a natural storyteller. He knew how to keep you hooked and drop the punch line in such a way as to have you splitting a gut.

  Amanda laughed so hard, the tears rolled down her face. She was sure her makeup was ruined, and eventually, as the night wore on, she didn’t care.

  When the conversation slowed down to a comfortable hum, Amanda decided it was probably time to leave. “Oh my,” she said. “It’s almost three in the morning. We should be leaving.” Amanda glanced at Hunter and Scott, who were deep in conversation about something. “Ready guys?”

  Scott nodded.

  “Yeah, it’s been great, man.” Hunter nodded at Jacques and then at Liam.

  “No need to rush,” Liam said.

  Jacques rose from his chair when he saw Amanda get to her feet. “It’s been a pleasant evening. Thank you so much for coming.”

  “Thanks for inviting us,” Amanda said, accepting Jacques’ kiss on the cheek.

 

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