other signs. Their suits for example, didn’t come off a designer rack - but her dress had.
Her eyes rarely left them as she made her way towards the couple. They were sipping champagne, oblivious to everything around them.
Stacey was but a few steps away when a bodyguard stepped directly in front of her.
"May I help you?" he asked in a stoic voice.
"I was hoping to speak with James," she replied.
"He’s busy at the moment," the man replied.
"Do you know who I am?" she asked.
"I’m sure he knows who you are," James said stepping around Simon. The woman was gone. James had a slightly annoyed look on his face.
"I wanted to say hello," Stacey said.
The body guard stepped back and now there was no one between her and James. She glanced around furtively to see where the woman had gone. She was nowhere in sight.
"I haven't heard from you since the last dinner," Stacey said. “What has it been, three months? I called a few times.”
"I've been busy," he replied.
"I didn't realize you had a date for this event."
"I came alone," he said.
"Oh. You didn't have to."
Of course, she saw him when he’d arrived. He was alone.
"Actually," he said. "I don't mind going dateless. You get to meet some interesting people."
He was talking to her but his eyes had wandered off. Stacey followed his gaze. It was that woman. She was talking to Sir Donald Galleon, a noted deep sea expedition diver. There was no flirting this time, just a serious conversation. Sir Donald on the other hand looked as if he could barely contain himself.
“Excuse me for a minute,” James said.
Stacey watched as he moved off in the direction he was gazing. She watched as James shook hands with the diver. The three seemed to chat for a while then Galleon left. James and the woman disappeared to another shadowy alcove in the gallery. They shared a brief kiss before James whispered in her ear. She smacked him lightly, almost playfully on the chest then they shared another kiss.
When Stacey saw them together again, James was introducing her to his cousin, the King of England and his wife. Rumors were, the two did not talk, but that did not seem to be the case as they smiled and seemed to be having easy conversation.
“You two have to come for dinner,” the King said.
“Why give the press an opportunity to write nonsense about us?” James said.
“I’m sure once they see you with this beauty they will have better rumors to write.”
“We’ll think about it,” James said. “After all, we’re enjoying this period of privacy.”
“Yes, I noticed you arrived alone.”
“It was nice seeing you two,” James said. “And congratulations on the third little prince.”
Stacey caught the woman just as she entered the posh wash room.
“Hi,” Stacey said.
“Hello.”
“I’m Stacey Adams,” the woman extended her hand.
“I know,” Willow said taking her hand.
Stacey was using her married name.
“I noticed you were with James earlier,” Stacey said. “Are -.”
“None of your business,” Willow said before Stacey could finish.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” Willow said. “If you have questions about James, ask him, not me.”
Stacey was completely taken aback by the response. The woman had summed her up in one quick glance and worse, she hadn’t even supplied a name. Stacey watched as the woman applied lip gloss, smiled at her deviously then left the restroom. Stacey was furious.
Maybe it was the jealously that Willow had seen in Stacey’s eyes or maybe it was because of their ruse of meeting like strangers at a party, but as soon as he got in the house that night, she wanted him.
She met him at the door. She went into his arms immediately. Her mouth glided down his neck as she pushed off his dinner jacket. She pushed him against a wall and pushed up against him.
He was surprised and loved her attitude. He turned so she was against the wall and pressed his lean muscular body into her, kissing her neck as she reached for the zipper of his pants. His hands pushed the designer dress up. She felt a tug at her briefs. She heard and felt them ripped away from her. He lifted her slightly. Willow moaned as she felt him enter her body. She adjusted herself so she could wrap her legs around him. She ripped at his shirt, wanting to feel him naked under her arms.
James could feel the outlines of her garter belt and he loved it. He loved that she still wanted him as