C1 The Party

It began on a cold January night. A chromium Cadillac swung into the Miami Beach EDITION hotel. The doorman, a negro dressed in impeccable white and gold, opened the door, lifting his peak cap.

A tall, athletic man slid out of the car. In his early thirties, he was very attractive with a square-shaped face, high cheekbones, aggressive jaw, Grecian nose, a chin with a deep cleft, and stormy dark eyes. Immaculately dressed in a lightweight dinner jacket, his tie handmade by Drake's, he wore a diamond-studded wristwatch and a gold signet ring.

"Evening, sir!" the doorman said, his voice loaded with respect.

"Evening! Please take care of my wheels, will you?" the man replied, flashing a smile before moving away. He entered the hotel, moved through the lobby, and strode into a vast ballroom, his blue eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the place.

The room was filled with guests in ties and long shimmering evening gowns. Where's Lauren? he thought. His handsome face lit up when he spotted the hostess, a sexy woman in a red evening dress engrossed in a discussion with guests.

Cautiously, he moved towards her. As if by an unknown force, she looked up, excused herself, and walked towards him.

"Hello, Darius," the woman said, offering her hand. The man smiled and took it.

"Hello, Lauren, and happy birthday to you!" Darius said, smiling at Lauren. His voice was deep and husky. He stared hard at her.

She was one of the most sensually attractive women few men could resist. Interestingly, her beauty and sensuality made no impact on Darius. Their relationship was like that of a brother and sister. He dragged Lauren to a corner of the room and looked intently at her.

"You look eatable, Lauren!"

"Yeah! That I know! So where's my present?" she asked, flashing him her best seductive smile.

"You'll get it in due time! Is she here?" Darius asked impatiently.

"Yes and no," Lauren answered.

"Yes and no? What's that supposed to mean?" Darius retorted, the warmth in his eyes replaced with something hard and cold.

"Pipe down, cowboy!" Lauren said, noting the quick flash of anger in his eyes. "She's here. I saw her tonight. But with this crowd, she could be anywhere."

"You know the main reason I'm here is because of her. Our agreement was for you to help me keep an eye on her till I got here! You promised me you would hook us up tonight. I thought you had my back."

"You can say whatever you like, but I am certain she's here. She's just hiding somewhere. Perhaps from the men. Almost every man in Miami wants to get into the pants of Eva Montreal."

"I'm different from every other man in Miami, and I care about her," Darius replied indignantly.

"Don't flatter yourself!" she replied. "Think of her husband too. The man might be lurking around somewhere here. You don't want to mess with him."

"Have you seen him tonight?" Darius asked nonchalantly.

"No! But Vince Montreal is a creep who follows his wife everywhere! He never lets her out of his sight."

"That's his business," he replied. "Please answer me; do you know where I can find her?"

Lauren turned her full attention to the guests. Where is Eva? she thought. Where could she have gone? Darius was a perfect old friend and a businessman who had kept himself away from women for too long. She had been amazed when he called and said he desperately needed a woman. It shocked her more when he said he found the right woman, and her name was Eva Montreal. Why Eva of all the women in Miami? Eva Montreal! A married woman with wild sexual exploits. That was the woman Darius was interested in. Every attempt to turn his mind away from Eva fell on deaf ears. Only heavens know what he had seen in her. He begged her to help him find a way to hook them up, and she did just that. Luckily, he called during her birthday planning, and to satisfy him, she included Eva Montreal on the guest list. Now, the woman was nowhere to be found.

"I think I would have to look for her myself!" Darius said, noting the uncertainty on Lauren's face.

"I am so sorry, Darius, but I am sure she's here! Just linger a little while, please?" she said, noting the pain in his eyes. She gave him a small smile and moved on to attend to other guests.

Darius grimaced and drew in a long slow breath. He went over to the bar, got on a stool, and asked for scotch and crushed ice. He sipped the drink, his keen eyes on the guests, searching, his mind busy with thoughts. He knew he would be lovesick if he didn't see her that night. He had waited too long and could wait no more. He had to see her!

After a long stretch of patient waiting and a desperate need for a smoke, he stood up and went out to the patio to cool off. The night was cold and chilly. He shivered slightly as he brought out a pack of Marlboro cigarettes. He lit one and felt the tightness inside him loosen up. He had not stayed there for a full minute when he heard movements behind him. The faint smell of perfume told him it was a woman. Startled, he swung around and saw a feminine figure move past him to the other side of the patio. She was dressed in a white evening gown. Nobody needed to tell him this was the woman he had been looking for. Eva! Her name was like a heavy blow to his heart. She was of average height, but she looked taller because of her slim, well-built body. She had long tapering legs, full breasts, and stable hips. Her hair, black as a raven's wing, reached to her shoulder and framed her face with wild, sensual beauty. It sent a hundred-watt current through Darius's body. She rested her hands on the railing, her head tilted back as she stared up at the moonlight.

Unhurriedly, he wandered over to her and paused by her side.

"Why are you out here all alone, beautiful? To enjoy the cool breeze of the night?" he said, letting the words slide easily from his mouth.

"And you are?" she asked, still looking at the moonlight.

"I’m Darius. Darius Martin Kane," he answered.

"I think I've heard of you," she said. "You are that real estate millionaire who recently bought that house in downtown Miami. Am I correct?"

"Yep! I never knew news traveled so fast," Darius replied drily.

"What do you want with me?" she asked.

She didn't even turn to look at him, which gave him a chance to study her better. She was not only beautiful; this woman exuded a magnetic sensuality that moved him.

"Let's say I have been searching for you for a while now," Darius said, staring at the firm lines of her throat, her lips glistening red, and her smoky violet eyes. He could see the puckered hardness of her full breasts, and he felt blood rush into his face.

She turned her head and looked at him coldly. Then she smiled—a cunning little smile.