Kiss Is a Four-Letter Word (7 page)

"It's in the city. We usually hold it outdoors in the Hamptons, but I didn't feel like worrying about the weather this year, so we're having it at the Mandarin Oriental," Eli explained.

Sherry had no idea where that was. Simon interpreted her confused look correctly. "It's a hotel, near Central Park."

"Oh. Okay. So, you said formal. What do I wear?" Sherry felt the first little spark of nerves over this party of theirs. They usually held it in the Hamptons? Whoa.

"It's black tie. Do you have an evening gown?" Eli asked her.

Evening gown? Yeah, right. Sherry didn't think the apricot taffeta bridesmaid dress she wore to her girlfriend Linda's wedding counted. "No, no evening gown."

Eli pursed his lips. "Give me your address. We'll send you something."

"You can't just send me a dress. It would never fit. And no way am I letting you pick it out. Or pay for it." Sherry was appalled. Even if Eli was wearing a nice suit now, that didn't mean he had even the slightest clue of how to dress a woman. She thought of his ripped jean shorts and shuddered. She looked at them, wondering at the disappointed expressions on their faces.

"Look, I have a friend who designs stuff and she recently started making clothes. I'll just have her help me get something, okay?" Sherry knew Carrie would be happy to give her a hand.

"It's black tie. Very formal." Eli seemed worried.

Ooookay. Why so nervous all of a sudden?
Sherry wondered. Hmm. "Just who will be coming to this dinner party of yours?"

Simon bit his lip and turned away. Sherry could swear he was laughing. Eli just looked uncomfortable.

"I think there will be some celebrities," he finally said.

Sherry narrowed her eyes at him. "Just how 'rich and famous' are you two?" She used air quotes to convey how absurd it felt to even be asking the question.

Simon snorted as he turned back around. "I think our investment company is worth, what, about half a billion dollars?" He cocked his head at Eli, who nodded sheepishly.

Sherry felt the blood drain from her face. What?

"Don't worry! It's no big deal," Eli said, sending a disgusted look at Simon. "Really."

"No big deal? Are you kidding me?" Sherry felt faint. "Why don't I recognize you? Especially if you're in magazines?"

"Well, it's not like we're pop stars. We're just very, very good at making money," Eli explained.

Yeah, right. How the hell did someone even get started in that kind of business? Sherry shook her head. Was it really important?

"What?" Simon asked her.

"I just—" She took a deep breath. "I'm nowhere near rich. Why do you even want me to come to your dinner?"

Eli frowned. "We weren't always rich, either." Simon nudged him and Eli glared. "Fine. My dad had a lot of money, but I grew up with my mom. I didn't even know he was rich until after he died and the lawyers came looking for me."

"So let me get this straight. You grew up normal, then one day someone came knocking on your door and told you that you were the crown prince?" Sherry pointed at Eli.

"Yup. That's basically what happened," Simon said, laughing at Eli's cranky look.

"And you," Sherry pointed at Simon. "What? You just went along for the ride?"

"Well, we were both about to graduate with our MBA. So, yeah. I tagged along with Eli. Imagine our surprise when we walked into that first meeting and discovered Eli's long lost dad was a gazillionaire." He shook his head.

A faint memory tickled the back of her head. "Wait. I think I remember reading about something like that. What was it, five years ago? Six?"

"Six. It was kind of a shock." Eli sighed. "Anyway, none of that matters. Will you come to the dinner? There will be good music. And great food." He smiled at her and Sherry's heart flipped over. He was so damn pretty.

"Pretty please?" Simon added. His dark hair fell over his forehead and he pushed it back impatiently as he waited for her answer.

"Oh, what the hell. Sure, I'll come. Just tell me when and where." Sherry smiled, sensing her life was about to get a whole lot more exciting than she'd ever expected. Or complicated. Or something. She looked at their faces, identical happy looks lighting up their expressions, and had to smile. She'd make them pay with kisses if it got too hairy for her to handle.

Chapter Four

"What the hell was I thinking?" Sherry muttered as Carrie adjusted the sleek lines of her gown.

"Hold still. I want to make sure this is the perfect length," Carrie said around the pins in her mouth.

"It's perfect," Sherry assured her. The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of sewing and fabric selection and shoe shopping. Sherry owed Carrie big time. "I’ll never be able to pay you back for making this dress. "

Sherry smoothed a hand down the soft crimson fabric. It had a single spaghetti strap over her left shoulder then gathered at the right side of her waist just above her hip. There was a peekaboo hole where the fabric gathered. From there it fell in sumptuous lines down to her shoes. The dress had a single slit that went all the way up to the top of her thigh on the same side as the gather.

Carrie spit out the pins and smiled as she stood up. "No need. You're going to the premier summer charity event, wearing a gown I designed. All you have to do to pay me back is tell them that you're wearing a Haake design and I'll be happy. I never thought I'd branch out from interior design into clothing. Who knew?"

Sherry smiled absently at her sister-in-law. The thought of walking into the Mandarin Ballroom made her want to throw up. She wasn't sure if it was because she was going to see Eli and Simon again or because of how many celebrities and wealthy society people that would be there. She knew nothing about that world. Nothing. Her heart fluttered nervously.

"I still can't believe Eli and Simon are who they are. They just seemed like regular guys." Sherry bit her lip. "Are you sure this dress will be okay?"

"Honey, you look stunning. The sight of you in this dress is going to make Eli and Simon fall over their own feet." She adjusted it one more time, then stepped back. "Guess I didn't need these pins after all. It fits you perfectly. And those shoes are amazing." Carrie smiled as she stuck the pins back into the small cushion in her sewing box.

Sherry looked down, careful not to muss her hair. The shoes were sparkling silver sandals, matching the silver rhinestones that gathered the dress at one side of her waist. She touched her fingers to her ears where she wore her mother's diamond earrings.

"The diamond drops are perfect. They add just enough dangle. And wearing your hair like that? Beautiful," Carrie assured her.

Sherry smiled and ran a hand over her temple. She'd pulled her curly hair back in front and let it drop in a wavy mass down her back. "I hope so. I'm so nervous." She laughed, shaky.

"No need. You look amazing." Carrie stood up gracefully and Sherry thought yet again that her sister-in-law looked amazingly good for having had a kid not that long ago. She hoped that someday she'd look as good after having children. She took a deep breath and forced herself to ask the question she'd wanted to ask for years.

"Carrie?"

"Hmm?"

"What's it like, living with two men? I mean, really? I know it all seems fun and amusing when it's just dating, but you and my brother and Eric are committed to each other. You have a baby," Sherry asked, thinking of her nephew Jake, Carrie's son.

Carrie closed the lid of her sewing basket and stood up. "Well, I don't know how to describe it. It's just like any other relationship, I guess. Except there's twice as much room for misunderstanding." Carrie frowned. "Sometimes, when we don't make an effort to talk things out, the arguments can get pretty bad." She brightened. "On the other hand, making up is so much fun."

Sherry laughed. "Seriously? Zeke and Eric don't have any problem sharing you?" She tried to picture her brother Zeke like that and just couldn't. She wondered if he ever got jealous of Eric.

Carrie looked at Sherry speculatively and leaned against the dining room table. "Well, no. Zeke and Eric are just as involved with each other as they are with me, you know," she explained gently.

Sherry blushed and looked away. She knew that. She remembered walking in on her brother and his lover when she was just a teenager. She'd had a crush on Eric, and seeing the three of them kissing had been a shock. "I know. I know that, I just— I guess I don't know how it can really work out in real life."

"Did Simon and Eli give you any indication that they want that?"

Sherry shook her head. "No, not yet. I mean, I've seen them kiss each other, but I'm wondering if they do it more because they think I like it than because they actually want to kiss. I'm not explaining it right." She sighed, frustrated with trying to explain something she didn't really understand herself.

Carrie pursed her lips. "No. There's no way two guys would ever kiss each other just to please a woman, especially not at this stage. I mean, this is technically your first date, right?"

Sherry nodded.

"Then no. They're not just kissing each other to titillate you. Maybe they used you being there as a catalyst, but there's no way two straight guys would ever do that unless they were attracted to each other deep down. They may not be ready to admit it yet, but the feeling is there."

"Is there even room for me, then?" Sherry felt her heart clench at the thought of not getting to be part of Eli and Simon's life. She hadn't even been on a date with them yet, but already she felt like she knew them. She liked them both. They were kind and funny and intelligent. And really, really hot.

Carrie was shaking her head. "They asked you out. And from what you've told me, they seem just as drawn to you as they are to each other." She sighed. "But there's really no way to tell until you're in the water. Just jump in. Go for it. Take a risk." She smiled at Sherry. "If you don't try, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

****

Simon fidgeted with his cufflinks again, wondering if maybe he should switch to the plain silver ones. Eli's hand stilled his fingers just as he was about to take them off.

"Leave them. The diamonds look good on you," Eli said, his voice quiet. He let his fingers drop away. The sense of warmth Simon felt at Eli's touch lingered and his heart did a slow thump as he looked at his friend. He couldn't remember any other time Eli had mentioned his jewelry. It just wasn't something they remarked on to each other. Simon took a deep breath and reminded himself that Eli was his best friend. Had been his best friend for years. Eli was the guy who'd defended him when he got caught necking with that girl under the bleachers in high school. The guy who picked him up at the bar when he drank too much in college. The guy who looked amazing in a tux. Simon swallowed and stared at his friend, who was still standing way too close.

Eli wore a sleek black tux that emphasized the breadth of his strong shoulders. His hair was short as always, but for once he was clean-shaven, which was a pity. Simon laughed at himself as he realized he liked Eli unshaven better. What was he doing mooning over his best friend? Just because they'd kissed a few times— No. He wasn't going to do this anymore. The unspoken tension between him and Eli was bad enough, he didn't need to start winding it up in his own head on purpose now, too.

"Yeah, okay," he said aloud. Eli smiled at him and stepped back to look out the windows. They were in the Taipan suite this time. It wasn't the largest, but Simon liked it the best. The wall behind the bed was painted a rich ocher, in gorgeous contrast with the creamy bedding. His mind wandered, picturing Eli on that bed, naked. His libido added Sherry and he flushed as he imagined her naked limbs twined with Eli's, their skin sliding over one another. Jesus. He had to get a grip. The last two weeks had been torture. Every time he and Eli were together, which was often considering that they worked together all day, every day, Simon found his mind wandering into dangerous territory. He couldn't get the kisses out of his head. Kissing Sherry, kissing Eli, either one had the power to distract him. Arouse him. Shit.

"Simon?"

Simon blinked. "What?"

Eli's face was pink. He was staring at Simon's mouth. What the hell?

"It's time to go down." Eli shoved his hands in his pockets, ruining the line of his tux.

"Yeah, I know." Simon licked his lips, trying to bury the urge to grab Eli and kiss him senseless.

"For God's sake, will you stop that?" Eli asked, his voice exasperated.

"What? What'd I do?" Simon nervously licked his lips again.

"
That
. Stop licking your lips. I can't take it anymore," Eli said. He spun around, shoulders hunched.

Simon's body went hot, then cold. "Sorry," he muttered. He didn't try to pretend he didn't know what Eli was talking about.

"Sherry will be here any moment," Eli said, back still turned.

Simon glanced out the windows. The sun was setting over Central Park and the lights of the city sparkled like stars against the colorful sky. "We should go downstairs."

Eli spun around, his face tormented. Simon stepped forward instinctively before he caught himself. For a moment he'd forgotten they weren't doing that anymore. No more hugs, no more casual slaps on the back. Simon hated it. Ever since that last kiss at the rest stop, he and Eli had been dancing around each other, afraid to touch. "Eli—"