4
Lourde
The party was in full swing by the time I arrived. Women wore their latest designs fresh off the catwalk and paraded around the home, dancing and grinding against the men who allowed them. And they all let them. The house belonged to actress, Jennifer Jones. Hunter’s aunt knew her, and that’s how he scored an invitation. I didn’t dare mention I had Jen’s cell number, Hunter jealousy would reach a new level, had I said that. Over the years, Jen, with her philanthropy work, had hosted the annual Diamond charity ball, and we’d enjoyed dinner a handful of times when she was on the East Coast rather than her hometown of Los Feliz.
In the living area, a band played jazz fusion. It had me swaying and loosening up as I continued to meander throughout the expansive home, soaking in the laid-back atmosphere and hypnotic music. Polished concrete floors with wallpapered walls and angular ceilings led out to the pool, where I spotted Pepper and Jake.
Taking a glass of champagne that was offered to me by the waiter, I set off toward Pepper and Jake. Shimmying past laughing, carefree partygoers, I took a large gulp, hoping it would make me loosen up and unwind. Day one of the summer… give it time, Lourde.
“Lourde!” Pepper wrapped her arms around me, then stepped back.
“Wowsers, you look ravishing,” she said, staring at the slit of my dress.
“Why, thank you.” I smiled. “Think Hunter will agree?”
“Heck, yes.” Jake grinned, throwing me a wink.
I laughed.
“Eyes on the prize, Jakey boy.” Pepper grabbed his chin and tilted it toward her, then sat back down on his lap.
I knew she was joking. Pepper wasn’t the type to get jealous. She and Jake were more solid than a Manhattan prenup. “Only eyes for you, baby,” he purred, wrapping his hands around her ass and planting kisses up her neck.
Pepper giggled.
“Get a room!” I blew out, wishing Hunter was that affectionate with me.
Pepper side-glanced at me and winked. “So, have you caught up with him?”
“Who, Hunter?” I slid down next to them on the sunken outdoor lounge.
“I’ve gone from the front to the back of the home and can’t find Hunter or Grace and the others.”
“They were upstairs a while back,” Jake said. “Some people from the party have also moved on down to the beach.”
I peered over the glass balcony toward the endless sand, where bodies appeared like moving shadows in the distance. The dark gray-black ocean crashed and roared under the amber moonlight. The harmonic wave of a saxophone sounded against the ocean, and the sweet sound mixed with the champagne had my body humming.
“Another champagne, miss?”
“Please.” The waiter handed me the tall glass of bubbles, then one for Pepper.
“Headache’s gone?” Pulling me from the abyss, I turned toward Pepper.
Smiling, then taking a large sip, I said, “I’m a new girl.”
“Amazing.” Pepper grinned.
“How amazing is this summer going to be?” Jake pulled Pepper in for a kiss.
The two of them were too cute, but tonight I wasn’t about to be the third wheel. I stood up, smoothing down the satin of my dress.
“Can’t wait.” I smiled at the two lovebirds, slightly resentful I didn’t have that kind of relationship with Hunter. “I’ll catch up with you guys soon, just going to find Hunter.”
Clutching my champagne, I headed to the top floor via the external spiral staircase.
Whoa.What a view. East Hampton was home to some gorgeous homes, but Jennifer Jones’ house was something else. Hopefully, I'd bump into her soon. From up here, views stretched all the way toward the lighthouse and across the sandy dunes to Montauk.
“Hey.” A smooth voice made me turn around.
Hunter’s friend appeared decidedly intoxicated with bloodshot eyes. “Sebastian! Have you seen Hunter?”
He laughed before mumbling something I couldn’t quite make out.
“You look like a tall glass of whiskey.” He stepped in closer, his eyes dragging down my body. God, he smelled like a brewery. The last thing I needed was for Hunter to witness Sebastian hitting on me. He’d undoubtedly split his face open and ruin the summer for the rest of us.
I stepped back. “Hey, thanks. I’m just looking for Hunter. Have you seen him?”
He pointed down toward the beach. “They went down there.”
That would explain why I couldn’t find Grace and Dane, either. They must have started their own party on the dunes.
“You deserve so much better than him.” He breathed out, placing his hand on my bare shoulder.
“Hey, do you need me to call you an Uber?” I asked, patting his hand away with his wayward drunken comment.
“Always the perfect one, Lourde. Have you ever once colored outside the lines?”
I blinked, trying to register his seemingly coherent question. “What lines?”