Skinny Dipping (The Au Pairs 2)

Garrett disengaged from Mara's cleavage. "Perry!" he said, throwing out a hand. "Hey, AH. What are you doing with this bozo?" he joked.

Ryan shook Garrett's hand grimly. "Hi, Garrett. Mara."

"Hey," she said back. It was the most Ryan had said to her all week. Usually he'd just nod at her curtly if she bumped into him at the house.

Garrett stood up to kiss Allison on the cheek. "Sit down with us, c'mon."

Ryan raised his eyebrow to Allison, who shrugged and returned Garrett's smile. "Sure," she said, taking the seat next to Garrett.

Ryan was wearing a loose-fitting guayabera shirt and faded blue jeans, what he used to joke was "surfer black-tie." Garrett suddenly looked overdressed in his Dolce & Gabbana French-cuffed dress shirt and starchy dark denim jeans.

Mara disengaged herself from Garrett, but Ryan turned around and started talking only to Allison, who was giggling at something Garrett was whispering in her other ear. Garrett explained that he and Allison went to the same prep school back in New York, and soon, the three of them began talking about kids they knew in common.

"Did you hear about Fence Preston? He's about to blow up, for sure," Garrett was saying.

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"You're so much cuter," Allison said, poking Ryan in the nose affectionately.

Mara, who had no idea who or what a Fence Preston was, felt nervous and neglected. But Garrett made sure to refill her glass whenever it was half-empty, and she began downing drinks with a vengeance.

"Let's do shots," Garrett suggested.

"Sure," Mara agreed.

Garrett ordered a bottle of Goldschlager and poured the clear liquid with golden sparkles into four glasses.

"This stuff is gross," Allison said d

aintily, taking a small sip and making a face.

Ryan grimly knocked his back. Mara, wanting desperately to impress him, did the same with hers. "Let's do another!" Garrett howled, and the three of them pounded back a few more.

It was right about the time that all four shots hit Mara that the DJ played his nightly remix of Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer." Seventh Circle regulars like Garrett and Mara recognized it as the Seventh Circle anthem. It was the song that officially kicked off the evening and was guaranteed to get the celebrities dancing on the tables.

"I looooove this song!" Mara howled, singing along. "This is awesome!"

"Isn't this the best?" Chauncey Raven asked, leaning over to their banquette. The petite pop star was wearing a black bra underneath a tight white T-shirt, and a denim mini with the

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hems slashed so high that the white pockets peeked out from underneath. She was barefoot, with a sparkly toe ring. "C'mon, let's dance!" she said, climbing up on their table and pulling Mara up to join her.

Feeling dizzy and exhilarated, Mara followed the pop star's lead, and the two of them gyrated hips and threw their hair around in a dazzling imitation of a cheesy eighties music video.

"You too!" Chauncey said, noticing Allison sitting down.

Allison shook her head, a bemused expression on her face. "Oh no, thanks, I prefer to do my dancing on chairs."

"Oh, I forgot my drink!" Chauncey said, hopping off in search of her cocktail glass.

Alone on top of the table, Mara accidentally kicked the bottle of Goldschlager to the side, and Ryan Perry saved it from crashing to the floor at the last minute. Mara froze for a moment, feeling vulnerable and exposed. She noticed that Ryan was looking at her strangely. Maybe she should get off the table. She hesitated-- but then Garrett cheered at her.

"All right! Go, Mara!" he yelled, whooping it up. He was laughing and wolf whistling, and several other people in club turned to cheer as well. Inspired, she danced even more wildly. The banquette was soon bathed in the spotlight of photographers' flashbulbs.

"Over here!"

"Look this way, luv!"