“Well, well, well,” came the all-too-familiar, deliciously rich and intimate voice of Vin D’Angelo. Stopping her dead in her tracks.
Vin was the exception. The only thing that could burst her bubble.
“So, the prodigal daughter returns to River Cross. And goddamn, aren’t you a sight to behold, Jewel Catalano?”
Her head whipped around. Her heart launched into her throat so that she couldn’t speak. Whereas seeing Rogen after all this time had left Jewel emotionally charged and drowning in desire, seeing the devilishly handsome Vin ignited an inferno, not solely related to lust. Though that did play a major part.
Like Rogen, he was a mesmeric force with which to be reckoned.
And one look at him catapulted Jewel into a past where love and hate walked hand in hand.
* * *
Vin stood midway down one of the grand staircases, hands shoved into the slant pockets of his tailored tux.
Jewel glared up at him.
With fire and fury in her eyes.
A powerful combination. An erotic one that complemented her drop-dead gorgeous appearance. He unabashedly absorbed every inch of luscious female, decked to the nines in a stunning gown that did everything to show off her sensational body—and make him insanely hard. In an instant.
Not necessarily a good thing.
Lust mixed with the bittersweet taste of wanting something he knew he could never have. The only woman he’d ever burned to possess. The one who belonged, heart and soul, to his best friend.
Her body, on the other hand …
Well, he actually had possessed that for a time. Too fleeting a span of time, but long and scorchingly hot enough for it to be ingrained in his brain. Entrenched within him.
And seeing her now … It did things to him. Made him think of all the ways he’d once pleasured her.
But … uh-huh.
He mentally shook his head.
No need to have those thoughts.
She was the one female considered off-limits when it came to his and Rogen’s penchant for satisfying a woman at the same time. They’d never even discussed it; neither had dared to suggest it. Sharing Jewel was an unspoken no-no. A completely forbidden notion.
Even if it would be the ultimate threesome for the two men.
But aside from the inherent complications related to entangled feelings and relationships, Rogen didn’t really know what had gone on between Vin and Jewel after he’d left for Trinity. No one knew, that Vin was aware of. Perhaps Bayli and Scarlet. As far as everyone in River Cross was concerned, she’d been Rogen’s. Only Rogen’s.
All of this sparked Vin’s own fury.
But he tamped down the edgy sensation and, instead, shot for nonchalance. He wouldn’t let Jewel see how deeply, how quickly, she had affected him after all this time. He had to play this cool.
So he gave her a slow grin and continued to admire the view. She looked a bit dazed at the sight of him, a bit off-kilter as those plump, glossy lips of hers parted and she inhaled sharply.
Glad to know he wasn’t the only one suffering the side effects of an unexpected reunion.
Forcing a neutral tone so desire and long-buried emotions didn’t betray him, he said, “Look who’s all grown-up.”
And absolutely breathtaking.
Jewel crossed the marbled entryway to the first step. She started a gradual, sexy ascent toward him, her hips swaying provocatively, the flash of bare legs driving him wild.
Vin added, “Very nice, Jewel.” His gaze fixated on her ample chest, rising and falling with her agitation, or excitement. Maybe both? The fact that she evoked his excitement and need so vehemently made him just frustrated enough to goad, “You’ve finally filled out in all the right places.”