Eye Candy (City Chicks) by Tera Lynn Childs Page B

Oooh, my fingers curled around a paper-wrapped square. A mango tropical Starburst. Fumbling with the waxy paper, I unwrapped the treat and slipped it between my lips. But even mango sugar couldn't dispel my concerns.
    "Relax, Chicken Little. I can do adult."
    And he managed to say it with a straight face.
    I stepped into my flip flops and headed for the door. As I passed in front of Phelps, he pinched my backside.
    Before I could turn to argue, he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me out into the hall.
    "Just getting it out of my system."
    As I lowered my bathing suit-clad body into the bubbling water of Jawbreaker's hot tub, I felt one step closer to heaven. Even in the humid August air, the enveloping heat felt blissful.
    Unfortunately, Phelps and I were not the only guests Ferrero had invited into the bubble tub.
    I sat wedged between Geoffrey Hildebrandt, retired men's accessories designer at Fendi, and Brant something-or-other, one of Jawbreaker's Southampton neighbors.
    Geoff, whom I had met at several cocktail mixers, was gayer than the whole gang on that gay makeover show put together. He was a sweet man with an eye for leather goods and handsome young men.
    Brant, on the other hand, was one of those old money, lacrosse-playing, sailing types. He was too tan, too smiley, and too blonde. He also happened to be too handsy. Before I could even settle into the bench seat, his hand slipped beneath my swimsuit-clad ass and wiggled. Rather than draw attention to his appalling-but-not-unexpected behavior, I smiled sweetly.
    "Such a tight squeeze in here," I said as I gouged a set of crescents into the flesh of his palm. "Good thing I'm surrounded by such polite gentlemen."
    My subtlety had no effect. Brant openly drooled over my breasts, thrust into deceptively lush cleavage by a simple black Anne Cole suit with a silver buckle across the chest.
    Removing his hand from my bottom, I forcibly placed it in his lap before grabbing an inch of tender flesh on his inner thigh and pinching with all my heart.
    No one else even noticed his silent scream.
    "Ah-hem, excuse me," he sputtered as he climbed out onto the teak deck. "Just remembered, um, have to get, er, something in my room."
    He turned and ran for the house. I could see the darkening smudge of a delightfully placed bruise forming.
    "Hurry back, Brant," I called after his retreating form.
    Relaxing into the now ample space, I spread my arms along the edge and surveyed the rest of the tub. Phelps, directly across from me between a pair of exec's wives, winked.
    And I was in such a state of bliss I couldn't even scowl.
    "I hope there's room for us in there."
    I cringed at the high-pitched squeal. My bliss shattered. Without looking, I knew Kelly stood behind me on the deck, sporting some teeny bikini as concealing as a trio of Necco Wafers, with Gavin in tow.
    What was up with my run of luck this past week? All my fortune had fled to Palm Beach for the winter.
    Maybe if I kept my eyes closed tightly enough, it would all go away.
    "Always room for two more," Phelps boomed.
    I briefly pondered the penalty for homicide of an infuriating hire-a-date. Surely with my family connections and money I could get off with probation. And there are extenuating circumstances.
    Mental Post-it: put criminal attorney on retainer.
    Someone grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me forcibly through the water. As Phelps turned me and plunked me on his lap, he said, "Lyd and I can share."
    Grrr , I growled.
    Only Phelps heard me.
    "Thought you wouldn't want to cause a scene," he whispered. "Besides, now you can schmooze the boss."
    I turned, scowling, and found Ferrero sitting to my right. Maybe Phelps was a little more business savvy than I—or Fiona—gave him credit for.
    Kelly and Gavin made their way into the spots Brant and I had occupied. I was right, Kelly wore a barely-there, cherry red bikini I had seen in the last Victoria's Secret catalog. Gavin handed her down, following in his matching