waved her hand in dismissal. “You’ve met almost everyone, I think. Some of Jason’s associates, a few neighbors, friends… Tyler.”
Carlie went perfectly still for a heartbeat, then frowned at Brenda. “Tyler Ramsey at a costume party? I didn’t think your notorious brother-in-law would bother with something so—”
“Don’t make fun of my party, Carlie.”
“I wasn’t. I just thought fancy banquets were more his speed.” Carlie couldn’t imagine Tyler dressed in a costume. He always seemed so…suave. And he always had a very sophisticated, very elegant woman on his arm.
“Tyler came because Jason asked him, and he would never let his brother down. You know how close they are.” Brenda shook her head and added, “You know, you and Tyler actually have a few things in common.”
Carlie turned away. “You’re dreaming, Bren. We live in different worlds.”
“You just don’t understand Tyler. He had it pretty rough growing up, too.” Then she touched Carlie’s arm. “But at least Jason was always there for him.”
“My brother had his own life,” Carlie said. “And he was right, my problems were my own.”
“Jason would never turn Tyler away if he needed help.”
“Jason’s a terrific guy. But he and Tyler are nothing alike.”
“Not now, maybe, but they used to be,” Brenda said with a grin. “But then, Jason met me. I think Tyler will be the same. When he finds someone he cares about…”
Carlie narrowed her eyes and stiffened her shoulders. “That will be a little hard for him to do when his relationships rarely last long enough to get to know a woman.”
Brenda stared at Carlie, her eyebrows raised. “You seem to be keeping pretty close track of my young brother-in-law.”
“He’s not that young.” But Carlie flushed at being caught. “I mean, he’s a grown man. He must be in his early thirties…oh, never mind.”
“Tyler’s a good guy, Carlie. He may change dates a lot, but that’s because the women he usually hooks up with are only impressed by his status in the community and his expanding financial portfolio. Tyler thinks he wants a no-strings attachment, but he’s never satisfied with it.”
Carlie had a feeling it was Tyler’s looks and outrageous charm that really attracted women, but she kept her mouth shut. She certainly didn’t want Brenda to get the idea she had a crush on Tyler Ramsey.
Good grief. A crush! No, she didn’t. Certainly not.
Carlie was shaking her head at her errant thoughts, even as she said, “You don’t have to defend Tyler to me, Bren. What he does is no concern of mine.”
“Fine. Then if you’re done stalling, can we get back to the party now? I think it’s about to rain.”
Carlie glanced up at the dark sky and smelled the moisture thick in the air. “You go on, Bren. I think I’ll just wait a few more minutes.”
Brenda hesitated, then she nodded. “Don’t be too long.”
Too long? Carlie wondered if another hour or so would be too long. She truly didn’t relish the idea of going inside, not that anyone would recognize her. Dressed so differently, no one would see her as Carlie McDaniels, grade-school teacher and spinster extraordinaire. Her persona this evening was as far from her usual self as a woman could get. Even her hair and eyes were different, thanks to the wig that came with the costume, and the colored contacts she was wearing.
She was a coward, true, but it had been two long years since her divorce, and though that had been enough time for her to gain her independence and put some order to her life, it hadn’t been time enough to repair her confidence in herself as a woman. Brenda claimed Carlie was attractive and appealing. Carlie’s ex had made an entirely different claim.
Shivering, she forced her mind away from the disturbing memories, mustered her courage and started toward the door. She could make Brenda happy by mingling for an hour or so, then she could make her escape. The thought of her small, tidy, empty house seemed very nice all of a sudden.
TYLER RAMSEY HATED parties.
Looking around in mild amusement, he tried not to appear bored. Everything was the same—the ritual, the games. There were several women, alone and obviously on the hunt, who had been eyeing him since he’d entered. A Cleopatra, an elf, an Indian maiden—they all were playing their phoney roles to the hilt. They were drawn to his reputation, he knew. The funny part was, most of it wasn’t even true.
Turning away, he wondered why he’d allowed Brenda to talk him into coming. True, he’d been bored for a while, at loose ends with himself. He needed a spark; he needed someone who could make him laugh.
His brother laughed a lot these days.
Not that Tyler wanted to settle down. He hadn’t met a woman yet with whom he could consider spending the rest of his life. Jason was lucky to have found Brenda; she was the best. But women like her were rare. Glancing around the room again, Tyler realized just what a find Brenda was. The house was filled with females, but none of them held his attention. They were all…the same. Laughing, flirting, drinking. They stood poised to best advantage, their gestures predictable.
He’d been told more than once now how dashing he looked in his pirate costume. Everyone knew it was him. He wasn’t wearing makeup as some of the other guests did. His only concession was an eye patch, worn rakishly over his left eye. A billowing white shirt that he found extremely comfortable, and tight black trousers completed the costume. His belt—wide, with a huge brass buckle—held a scabbard, with a sword resting inside it. His black boots came to his knees.
He sat in a chair, observing the crowd dispassionately. Immediately, a blond Valkyrie, brass breastplate shining in the glow of party lights, came to perch on his knee, and gave him a sly smile. He recognized that smile. It belonged to his ex-companion, Valerie. It was a smile that signaled her intent, and he used to respond to it appropriately. All he felt now was irritation. She leaned close, and he forced a polite expression to his features. They’d shared something brief, and by her insistence, with no strings attached. The outcome had been predictable.
She’d wanted a man who knew the score, who could afford the best, who moved in certain circles—her circles. She liked his sports car, his professional connections, and sex. In that order.
And he’d needed someone to help him fill his time, to give him something to think about other than his legal cases and the fact that his personal life was basically…empty. But it was over.
He knew it. Why didn’t she?
“Don’t you recognize me, Tyler?”
There was no place to put his hands, so he rested one on her back, the other on her naked thigh. “Of course. You’re a beautiful Norse goddess.” His legendary innate charm surfaced through his impatience.
Valerie chuckled throatily. “You make a very believable pirate. Have you made any plans to plunder the party and steal away with female captives?”
He didn’t feel like playing, so he conjured the lie
