and threw it at my hysterically laughing friend. “Goodnight popsicle!” Amused, I took off to my bedroom before she said anything more to embarrass me.
Throwing myself onto the bed, I flopped against the pillows and stared up at the ceiling, praying I wasn’t making a massive mistake by finally giving in to my feelings.
Chapter Three
WITH THE ARRIVAL of the weekend after a long working week, the girls and I cruised into Club Retro, a fashionable nightclub in the centre of Lonsdale Street. Its three levels and two bars crowded, and brimming with other young clubbers that were here for the same reason as us; to forget the pressures of their daily lives.
Hypnotically energetic music reverberated loudly around us, leaving our bodies humming and forcing us to shout. But then again we weren’t out at a noisy club to talk.
The moment we each collected our drinks, we manoeuvred our way onto the dance floor, struggling to find a space amongst the packed bodies. Revellers danced back to back, the thumping music their muse under the flickering strobe lights, blinding us as they lit up the darkened club.
Lethal cocktails became the fuel to an unlit match, reigniting the rescinding fire within. I let loose and danced like no one was watching. Except unbeknownst to me, or any of us, somebody already was.
∞
“Hmm, looking good there, Teddy. Just as good as the tight Lycra pants you wear jogging.” Licking my lips, I observed a luscious Teddy from the balcony above. The short, revealing outfit and the provocative moves made me want her more than ever before. “Such a pity you have company though.”
∞
Teddy
The wild night out had cost me severely in the way of a vicious hangover and painful blisters on the soles of both feet. “How about we do brunch? I could quite easily go for one of those salmon bagels and a ridiculously strong coffee from the Pocket Café around the corner; it would be fantastic about now.”
It seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling sorry for herself.
Poppy winced easing onto a stool at the island bench and nursed her pounding head between her hands. “Sounds like a plan. The fresh air might be nice too.”
“Sunglasses are a must,” Scarlett added in a hushed tone, her eyes squinting at the bright sun blazing in through the kitchen window above the apron-front farmhouse sink. “Why do we put ourselves through this?”
“And just think, we’re punishing ourselves all over again tonight at my mothers,” Dominique groggily murmured alongside her while downing a couple of painkillers with a glass of icy cold orange juice.
“Come on, let’s go eat, and refuel ready to kill our livers again later.” Sighing, I pushed away from the bench and hobbled back to my bedroom. Why did I suggest clubbing last night knowing we were partying again later? By the end of the weekend, an ice pack wouldn’t cut it; I’d have to soak my entire body in the pool to recover.
The house had become a hive of activity, and hidden somewhere under the piles of makeup and hair accessories was my dining table. According to Dom, it was everything we needed to beautify ourselves for her mother’s party. She had also kindly offered to style our hair; more like threatened us if we went to anyone but her. She was a hairdresser after all.
With Jessica Mauboy’s, Fallin’ playing softly from the speaker, I sat back, soaking up every minute of the pampering while my liver soaked up yet more champagne. Curious about the party, I asked, “Not that your mother ever needs an excuse, but what’s the reason behind this latest cocktail party?”
She snorted derisively. “No, you’re right there, she doesn’t. Tonights about dad’s law firm as he and Uncle Garrett have a new junior they want to introduce to everyone who matters, including Asher, Ari’s lawyer. You remember him, don’t you, Teddy?”
He was a hard man to forget; loud, brash, crass, - a possible roadblock in my plans. With any luck, he’d be too distracted trying to worm his way into someone’s skirt. One could only hope.
“Mum showed me a photo, and he’s rather cute.”
I frowned. “Asher’s cute?”
“Ew, no, Asher’s too old!” I laughed at her horrified expression as she twisted a narrow length of my hair around the straightener. “I was talking about the new associate.”
“Sorry, Dom, anyway, carry on.”
“What’s the new guy’s name?” Scarlett queried impatiently, “Dom, hello?”
Dominique blinked and stared blankly. “What?”
“A…name… please,” she repeated slowly. “And we want other details too. You know, what he looks like, age, star sign, etc.”
Rolling my eyes at my sister was a given. Unlike me, Scarlett was incredibly nosy, insisting on knowing everything, no matter how small the detail.
“Oh. Yeah, right. Damien Rivers his name, and has eyes the same colour as one too,” dreamily describing him while she had long curls of my hair wrapped around the steaming straightener. Not the ideal situation if I had plans to seduce Ari later. A bald head might be a significant turn-off. I let out a sigh of relief as a hot curl flowed down my neck.
I chuckled. “What a yucky brown like the Yarra?”
“Nooo, they’re a stunning blue, like the ocean on a bright day. His hair…it’s the colour of caramel, like the ones I enjoy sucking on.” Her lips twisted ruefully. “He has a chiselled jaw and face, and his body, from what I was able to tell by the cut of his suit, didn’t seem too shabby either. His smile,” she gushed, “made him, ah...dashing.”
Scarlett’s eyelids fluttered. “Dom’s in love.”
Switching from the straightener to hairpins, Dom let out a girlish giggle. “No, not love, just lust. Don’t confuse the two. And if I’m right, Teddy might not be the only one getting lucky tonight.”
I scoffed at the statement. “Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch, shall we?” Inwardly though, I hoped it to be true. “Getting our heads back above the waistline, isn’t this party a bit much and over the top for just one guy? Won’t he feel a tad overwhelmed?”
“Hopefully not. Mum felt this party would be the perfect introduction for Damien. Me personally, a simple dinner party would have sufficed. My mother, as we all know, refuses to settle for anything less. Any excuse for kicking up her heels really,” Dominique said grasping the small hand mirror beside me and waving it around the back of my head. “There, all done, Miss Teddy, do you approve?”
As always, she had outdone herself. Apart from the few loose strands falling gently around my face, she had swept my hair to one side, leaving masses of curls pinned neatly just above my nape. My neck left exposed, ready for Ari’s sweet lips, his hands, and…oh boy, I had better stop right there. Just envisaging his sexy arse body had the warmth igniting between my thighs.
“Earth to Teddy,” Dom murmured, waving a hand in front of my face. “Just now, that flush in your face was rather disconcerting.”
I pushed from the chair and looked anywhere except at the three sets of eyes laughing at me as the flush rose over my neck and face. “It’s lovely, Dom, thank you.”
“Thank you. Ari should hopefully love it just as much.”
Dominique’s charismatic smile flashed, tapping the top of the chair with the hairbrush. “Now, who’s next?”
Realising that was my cue to move, I sidestepped to another chair.
“Wear your eye