Free Under His Spell (The Miami Tycoon) by Kate Lambert Page A

quickly grabbed her bag and got out.
    “I’ll tell them,” she said, and closed the door. Maxwell drove off into the night.
    Erica felt like a sucker. She knew Maxwell was married. Why, why did she keep getting her hopes up? She knew that when it came down to it, she would never wreck a marriage. It was one of her cardinal rules, to never be the other woman. It was just so painful, the wanting of someone who did not, who could not, belong to her.
    Short of quitting her job and moving back to Orlando, Erica had no idea how to stop her growing attraction to Nicholas Maxwell.
    She was still thinking on the curb when Anthony and Jess pulled up in the Audi.
    “Hey, where’s Nick? Is everyone else already inside?” Jess asked.
    “Actually, Nick had to leave. He got some important call and said to tell you guys he’s sorry he couldn’t make it.” Erica swallowed and hid the bitter disappointment she felt.
    “Oh well. He’s always doing that! I guess they don’t let you be the boss if you don’t take super important calls on Friday nights. Lucky for us, we’re just unimportant worker bees. We get to have all the fun!” Jess wrapped one arm each around Anthony and Erica’s shoulders and led them to the door.
    Jess knew the bouncer, who let them through with a wink. Ryan, looking deeply frustrated with a pouty Jill on his arm, waved them over the the bar on the first-floor patio. They wove around the sparsely-populated salsa dance floor (it was still early, only around eight o’clock) and met the couple just as a round of mojitos appeared on the bar next to them.
    Ryan, courteous as always, passed out the glasses. “First round’s on me!” Jess sipped eagerly at hers. “Thanks Ryan, you’re a doll.”
    As Jess was thanking him, Jill unlinked herself from his arm. Her voice sounded strained. “Sorry guys, I’m not feeling that well. I’m gonna take a cab home and rest up. See you on Monday.”
    “Aw, how sad, Jill! And you made ten sales this week, bummer. We can celebrate next week. Feel better!” Jess chirped at Jill, as the latter trailed slowly towards the door. She seemed to be waiting for Ryan to follow her, but no such thing occurred. He looked at her stonily. She left without another word.
    Ryan, suddenly chastened, looked down. “Sorry guys. Another fight. Hope I’m not bringing down the party vibes.”
    “No worries, bud. Let’s all just go chill by the pool.” Anthony looked sympathetic as he guided Ryan to the patio.
    Sitting at a table by the pool, nursing a drink and looking worried, was none other than Ashley. Jessica, as always, was the first to speak. “Ashley? What are you doing here? We thought you were at dinner with your boyfriend!”
    “Well hello to you too, Jessie. I was. I decided to stop by here after and see the gang! Robert was tired, so he just went home. Anyway, how is everyone?”
    Jessica, always the first to answer, replied with false brightness.
“Oh, you know, just fine. Such a nice surprise to see you here!”
    “Thanks bub, Ryan, you’re looking a little down. You doing all right?” Ashley asked.
    Ryan tried, unsuccessfully, to smile. “Yeah. Jill just had to leave, she wasn’t feeling that great. Disappointing. Still, we should all try to have fun.”
    “Of course we should.” Ashley seemed to have understood that Jill’s attitude was due to situational rather than corporeal causes. She pulled Ryan to the seat next to her and leaned on his shoulder. “I’m sure Jill will be just fine,” she purred. “Hey, I’ve been wanting to go listen to the music on the second floor. That should cheer you up, huh, buddy? Let’s go.” She pulled him out of the chair she’d so recently pulled him into and soon they were out of view of the rest of the group.
    Jess and Erica shared a look. “That’s not going to end well,” Erica said to Jessica. “Lord, Ashley is on a mission,” Jess replied. “I’ve seen her around her boyfriend, Robert. He doesn’t look