My Daring Seduction. Isabel Sharpe

exuberance always made her feel stiff and dull in comparison.

      “Say it isn’t so.” Joey came up for her hug. “We wanted you to be able to party with us.”

      “Absolutely.” Brooke’s turn, her hug was also affectionate, as was the kiss she planted on Lindsay’s cheek. A few months earlier Brooke had discovered John Winfield wasn’t her father by blood. The girls’ late mother, Daisy, apparently had something of a past, since the four girls had three fathers. One for Lindsay, who was given up for adoption. One for Brooke, who Daisy kept since she was marrying into the Winfield family while pregnant with her. Then the late John Winfield had fathered Joey and Katie.

      Lindsay sympathized with Brooke. Not only did she have to deal with a shock similar to Lindsay finding out last summer she was adopted—shock tempered with relief that the selfish parents who raised her weren’t related by blood—but the discovery meant Brooke wasn’t a true Winfield. Purely symbolic since she was raised to be one, but that detail and their shared physical characteristics—a widow’s peak hairline, wide mouths, high cheekbones and long narrow fingers obviously inherited from their mother’s side of the family—made Brooke more approachable.

      Lindsay handed her a tiara, annoyed at herself for not feeling comfortable enough to return the kiss. Her half sisters must consider her pretty cold. “Love the half-and-half costume, Brooke.”

      “Thanks.” She grinned and struck a pose. “I swing both ways.”

      Katie rolled her eyes. “We’ll hear that line all night. What’s the ’tini flavor this month? It looks red and de-e-licious.”

      “A Ruby Valentini. Vodka, pomegranate juice, Triple Sec and lemon.”

      “Ooh, sign me up for that action. You sure you can’t hang with us, Lindsay?”

      “You have to!” Brooke said. “Tell the members to get their drinks at the bar so you can relax.”

      “No, no. I can’t.” Lindsay shook her head emphatically. She loved the Martinis and Bikinis events but as the organizer and observer, needed to keep her distance. She always had something to do, somewhere to be, a duty to perform. Besides, drinking had landed her in so much trouble so many times she couldn’t equate it with fun anymore. “I don’t mind working.”

      “We’ll see about that.” Brooke winked at her sisters, who grinned slyly back. “Right now I’m up for checking out the costumes and the booze. Who’s with me?”

      The three women moved past Lindsay so she could continue welcoming guests. By eight-fifteen even the latecomers had arrived. She helped Margaret pass around trays loaded with Valentinis, which were being consumed in generous quantities.

      Miraculously, even though the rest of the bar had filled up nicely as well, the evening seemed to be going smoothly. Justin had entered that state of fierce concentration where he appeared to be making five drinks at once. He’d been the best hire she’d made except for Denver, who wasn’t sitting down on the job either, serving drinks, keeping the appetizers flowing from the kitchen—in short, filling in wherever he could be useful without any direction from her.

      Just before nine they intersected at the end of the bar, Denver’s arms loaded with dirty plates, her own carrying a tray of fresh drinks Justin had conjured in record time.

      “Surviving?” He looked at her the way he always did, like he was trying to see past the surface, dark eyes calm and thoughtful in spite of his hurried pace.

      “You bet.” She steadied the tray, unable to look away from him. “You?”

      “Fine. Seems like a good time all around.” He smiled and moved away. She let herself look after him for a few stolen seconds before she went to rejoin the party—and encountered her three smirking half sisters.

      “What?” She stopped cold, suddenly vulnerable and uncomfortable.

      “My, my. I haven’t seen that many sparks since the Fourth of July.” Joey took a sip of her drink and moved to Lindsay’s right.

      “Looked awfully warm in that part of the bar.” Katie moved to her left.

      “I’m sorry, what’s that puddle at your feet?” Brooke took the center position. “Could you by any chance be melting?”

      Busted. The blush came on full force and busted her even worse. “He’s my employee. Nothing more.”

      “Uh-huh.”

      “Right.”

      “Oh, sure.”

      “A damn good employee.” She stood her ground, pretty sure the battle was lost already. “One I don’t want to lose by doing any of the things you three are thinking.”

      “Oh, I don’t think quitting would be on his mind. It certainly wasn’t just now.” Joey nudged Brooke, who nudged Katie who nodded as if she’d received some important signal.

      Lindsay’s alarm bells started chiming. Her half sisters were lovely, well-bred women, all capable of deep mischief. Lindsay didn’t mind dishing it out, but like any control freak she didn’t like taking it. “Okay. What’s going on?”

      “Isn’t it nearly time for tonight’s Martini Dares?” Katie spoke way too casually.

      “Why I believe it is.” Joey took the tray from Lindsay. “I’ll deliver these. You’re needed front and center.”

      “You certainly are.” Brooke took Lindsay’s arm and led her over to the wooden box. “Do your stuff.”

      Lindsay took her place in front of the table facing the glittering, flashing-tiara-wearing revelers. Something wasn’t going to go according to plan tonight. Whatever the disruption, she hoped it was over soon and with minimal embarrassment.

      “Okay, ladies.” She waited for the alcohol-fueled chatter to respond to various “Shhs” circulating the room.

      “Happy Valentine’s Day and whatever else you’re celebrating in a loving or lusty way this month. We’ve reached that part of the evening where members of our group chosen by the nominating committee pick out a scroll from the sacred Dare Box. As always, we recite the rules first.” She pretended to unroll a parchment and held the invisible rules in front of her. “The members chosen for Martini Dares must be approved by a majority of the membership present. As you swore when you joined Martinis and Bikinis once you agree to pick a dare, there is no backing out. Period. Even quitting the group does not exempt you from your most serious obligation.”

      “Okay. Now.” She raised her arm high above her head. “Show of hands that you have heard and understood?”

      Hands shot in the air, including Tanya’s and Natalie’s, she was glad to see.

      “Then by the completely nonimportant authority vested in me by the Martinis and Bikinis organization, I announce that this month’s dares will be taken by Natalie….”

      She paused, to let the crowd react, and to wink at Natalie who had her hands clapped to her cheeks, laughing along with everyone else.

      Lindsay smiled. These women were such a bright spot in her life. “And second to pick her dare tonight is—”

      “Lindsay.” Three voices shouted her name as soon as she opened her mouth to call out Tanya’s.

      “What?” She whipped around to stare at Brooke, Joey and Katie.

      “Your turn tonight.” Brooke gestured to the box. “It’s time. Right ladies?”

      “I—” Lindsay’s response was drowned out by approximately thirty roars of Yes! “No, it’s not my turn.”

      “We say it is.” This from Katie accompanied by firm nods from Brooke and Joey.

      Lindsay forced herself to stay calm. “I’ve already pick—”

      “Overruled.