The following day Amy met Brian for lunch. The thing she worried most about was him noticing her four bodyguards sitting at the table beside them. After the conversation started, she then worried about one of the bodyguards taking Brian’s head off. He was being his most obnoxious self. Amy was trying to figure out why they were friends, and why she loved him so much.
After placing their order, he began, “Are you out of your mind? Marcus Lincoln will chew you up and spit you out. He’s way out of your league and there’s something fishy about him. If this is about a story, you’ve gone too far this time. You may find yourself with a lead anchor around your foot, or buried in a cement foundation. That guy has ties with overseas’ governments and possibly terrorism.”
Amy was becoming alarmed. The wolves were sitting next to them and heard every word. They would convey those words back to Marcus. It would be Brian with a lead anchor or worse, as an evening meal.
“Ah Brian, it’s worse than you think. I’m in love.”
That finally stopped his tirade. “You’ve got to be kidding me? You haven’t known him that long.”
“It doesn’t matter, what you say won’t make a difference. I’m attending a charity banquet with him tonight and the press will find out about me. Marcus has two extra tickets and wants you and Lori to come as his guests.”
Brian switched gears when he heard the resolve in her voice. “Lori would die and the first thing she will say is… what will I wear?”
“It’s taken care of, if you want to call her. I can pick her up and take her shopping. A tux is on hold and you can get fitted as soon as we leave here. Will you call Lori and ask?”
Brian and Lori lived on a policeman’s budget. Amy understood lack of funds and had a feeling it wouldn’t take much to enjoy Marcus’ money if she could spend it on friends.
Brian called his wife and Amy could hear Lori’s excitement over the phone even sitting across the table. She knew the only way to get Brian off her back was to get Lori on her side. Marcus would have Lori twisted around his finger in no time and Lori would relieve some of Brian’s fears.
The conversation changed after that.
“So what’s he like? He’s like a billionaire or something. I can’t believe you would go out with someone with money.”
“I hope you’re not saying that’s the reason I love him. Your wife will never forgive you if I tear up your tickets.”
Brian laughed. “No that’s not what I meant and you know it. You wouldn’t fall in love with him for his money, but you are so into your career. How will he feel about that?”
“I’ll still be able to write, but I think the writing I do will change. I thought I might give fiction a shot. Urban fantasy is very big right now. I thought I’d give vampires and werewolves a try.”
Amy thought Brian would choke on his food. “You’ve got to be kidding me; you would write that junk?”
“That ‘junk’ as you call it sells really well and also, I read that junk. I’m not sure exactly what I’ll write and plan to take a while to decide. I’ll never stop writing, so I need to find a subject that holds my interest.”
“You could still travel and what’s to stop you from continuing your career?”
“Marcus has a large family and I want to be around to help. He travels often and I want to go with him when possible.”
“I guess you are in love. Even me, your best friend couldn’t get you to come to dinner if you were on a big story. Now you plan on following this guy around like a lovesick puppy.”
Amy laughed, she wasn’t upset. Marcus had enough “puppies” around and she couldn’t argue about her lovesickness.
They finished their meal and she gave Brian the location of the tuxedo store. She told him the limo would pick them up at eight. Brain raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything. Amy was on her way to pick Lori up for some girl shopping and she decided that if Lori got something new, she would indulge herself too. Marcus had seen all her undergarments and it would be nice to get something beyond sexy and pay him back for pawing her underwear drawer.
She and Lori had a blast. It was hard for Lori to miss the bodyguards. Amy explained Marcus wanted her protected in case of kidnapping for ransom. Lori was a cop’s wife and it made perfect sense to her. It did not inhibit their shopping. Two women arriving in a limo and walking in with four large gorgeous men got them a lot of attention. Amy found the perfect black dress. Lori found something in red that looked fabulous, but she was upset over the price.
“I’ve taken your husband away from home plenty of times. You deserve this and I owe it to you. Besides, Marcus has more money than he can use and he wants me to enjoy it. Now let’s hurry and go get our hair and nails done.”
After climbing into the back of the limo, Lori asked, “So give me the low down on the gorgeous hunk of a man you’re dating. I want all the details.”
Amy blushed.
“That great huh?” Lori said.
Amy looked at the bodyguards. They were grinning. Amy’s face turned even redder. “We will need to have this discussion when Marcus doesn’t have eyes and ears tuned into what we’re saying.”
“If that’s the case, you need to request female bodyguards. They would want to hear about it as much as I do. It’s not every woman that gets a great looking bazillionaire interested in her. Brian may be the love of my life, but a girl has got to have some fantasies.”
“You’ve had your fun. You’ll meet him tonight, but remember he’s my fantasy not yours. Try Brad Pitt or someone. You keep it up and I’ll tell Brian.”
Lori laughed but she continued embarrassing Amy while their hair and nails were done. Amy had always been best friends with Brian and when he married Lori that didn’t change. Lori made room for Amy without jealousy. Their friendship just seemed to work. Would it be possible for Amy to remain friends if she changed? She thought not. In ten years it would be obvious. These were the things Amy would have to give up. Even with the heartache it would cause, Amy could not see herself leaving Marcus. She would never understand how Victoria could give up the chance to be with him forever. Amy shook herself from her blue thoughts and enjoyed the time she had with Lori. Being teased about a man in her life was something new. Amy had lived for her job and men were seldom around for long. The connection she had with Marcus was visible even to Lori who confided that Brian was jealous.
When Amy scoffed, Lori explained that in Brian’s mind no one would ever be good enough for her because he loved her like a little sister. Amy could understand because she thought of Brian as a big brother.
Amy arrived back at Marcus’ house to begin getting ready. First, she had to kick him out of their room so she could bathe and get dressed to make a grand entrance. She covered her hair with a scarf and wouldn’t let him see what she’d had done to it.
Marcus smiled and said, “It’s not what you’re going to look like in the dress, it’s what you’re going to look like when I take it off of you.” With that he left the room.
Amy took her time and didn’t go downstairs until 7:30. She really needed Alba with her to calm her nerves. Amy had dressed up many times before, but never been on the arm of a man like Marcus. She was hoping she could hold her own as she made her way slowly down the grand stairway. Her fingers skimmed the fine wood, the texture making her feel as if she were back in the 1700’s. Marcus was waiting for her. Amy couldn’t help but stare at him in his tux. He was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.
He took her hand as she walked down the last step, pulled her close and kissed her. He smeared some of her lipstick but Amy was okay with that. She gently wiped it off his lips and then unable to help herself, kissed him again.
“We don’t need to go.” He whispered. His voice held the promise of sexual satisfaction.
“Yeah right, Lori will kill me and if we didn’t need to go I don’t think we would be here.” Amy’s words were low and whispery.
“You’re right, but a
ll I want to do is take that dress off of you.”
“You’ll get your chance later.”
“I plan on it.”
With that they went out and got into the limousine. It took about twenty minutes to reach Brian’s home and they arrived a few minutes early. Marcus used the time to destroy her lipstick again. He then had Amy stay in the limo while he went up to Brian’s apartment, leaving two of the bodyguards with her. The guards were sitting up front. The rest of the bodyguards had tickets to the event and were in place inside or would be outside keeping an eye on things.
In such a short amount of time Amy’s life had changed. She was thinking of a party that cost thousands of dollars to attend, body guards keeping her safe, and a gorgeous man at her side.
Marcus, Brian and Lori came downstairs. Lori was beautiful and Brian made quite a statement in his tux. No one compared to Marcus but Brian cleaned up nicely.
When they arrived, they were led down a red carpet. Marcus took Amy’s arm as flashbulbs went off everywhere. The media was in full swing.
“Who’s your lady? Give us a name?”
The shouts continued, but Marcus ignored them. The two of them walked in with Brian and Lori trailing behind.
The ballroom was breathtaking. Lights twinkled from the many chandeliers. Couples stood around talking and laughing. The women’s dresses were beautiful and Amy looked at Lori and saw enchantment on her face. Amy knew she must have that same look. The only difference being that Amy knew Marcus was the best-looking man in the room. The jewel clad ladies watched as he walked past.
The beginning of the evening was magnificent. Marcus introduced Amy to several of his friends and kept a tight hold on her. He was being possessive and Amy was fine with it. She didn’t think Marcus’ associates were used to him claiming a woman. She had read the news stories. He had a different woman (wolf) with him at almost every event he attended. He kissed Amy several times on the cheek and on her hair. The men looked at her with respect and surprise that Marcus was so obviously enthralled.
The women looked at her with everything from slight frowns to absolute loathing. Amy didn’t mind. Marcus was claiming her and she was claiming him. Living with wolves was bringing out the animal in her.