Styles of Seduction

Almost reluctantly, she stepped to the side to allow Kyle and Nelson entrance.

He cleared his throat. “Hello, Zoe. It’s good to see you. It’s been a while.”

“It’s nice to see you as well, Kyle.”

She was polite, but the look in her eyes was remote. Things had been chilly between them since Zoe had left RHD five years ago. She had obviously been avoiding him since then, although he did not fully understand why.

“I see the years haven’t removed that chip on your shoulder.”

“Or made you any less arrogant,” she retorted.

Nelson was watching them both. After a moment, he offered Zoe his hand. “I’m Nelson Hamilton. Kyle is my very rude cousin.”

Shaking his hand, she awarded him a warm smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Kyle suddenly felt an emptiness. There was a time when he’d felt that Zoe’s smiles were reserved only for him. He stole a peek at her. She had turned her warmth up a notch and was beaming as she talked with Nelson. She did not spare him a glance.

“How long will you be staying in New York?” she asked Nelson.

“I actually live here now.”

“The Big Apple is a great place to call home.”

Nelson smiled at her. “I completely agree.”

Kyle looked from one to the other. They were engaging in a full conversation and completely ignoring him. “How have you been?” he interjected.

Zoe glanced over at him as if she had just noticed he was standing there. “I’m great,” she said coolly. “Couldn’t be better.”

She turned her attention back to Nelson. “I’m sure you know that there’s a lot to do in New York....”

Did she just dismiss me? Kyle wondered when she turned her attention back to his cousin.

Kyle shook his head in disbelief. But he wasn’t sure whether it was disbelief over her actions or the jealousy that he couldn’t deny he was feeling as he watched Zoe Sinclair paying attention to someone else.

* * *

Part of Zoe’s view was blocked by a muscled chest and brawny forearms beneath a black knit shirt, but she was determined to ignore his chocolate-brown eyes and the way sexiness oozed from his every pore.

The first time she’d met Kyle, he had made such an impression on her that Zoe had instantly responded with the eagerness of a teenage girl. However, that connection had short-circuited after the way he’d toyed with her heart.

“It’s really nice to finally meet you, Nelson,” she managed while making a determined effort to ignore the internal heat wave she felt. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Bailey. She talks about you all of the time.”

He chuckled. “All good things, I hope.”

Zoe smiled. “Bailey’s said nothing but good things about you. By the way, I’m also a huge fan of your mother’s designs. She’s incredible.”

Nelson broke into a grin. “She’s indeed gifted.”

Kyle nodded in agreement, but his eyes never left Zoe’s face.

His intense gaze unnerved her, but she was not going to give Kyle the satisfaction of knowing he could still affect her in any way. She wanted him to see that he really did not exist in her world.

“So I hear you are very talented, as well,” Nelson said.

“Fashion design is what I was born to do,” she said. “I love it.”

“What do you do for fun or when you are not in creative mode?”

“I rest,” she said with a short chuckle. “Or my roommate and I check out new movies or we see a play on Broadway.”

Kyle’s eyes were sharp and assessing, but Zoe continued to ignore his presence.

“Perhaps you won’t mind showing me around sometime,” Nelson said smoothly.

“Sure,” Zoe said.

She stole a peek at Kyle. His gaze glittered with anger. The tension between them was drawn so tight that Zoe half expected the lights to go out.

She tapped her foot softly on the floor, silently willing the elevator to the lobby. Zoe did not want to spend another minute with the man who had once crushed her heart without a care. Although she had grown what Zoe considered a New Yorker’s hard shell, she was still affected by the hurt Kyle had inflicted upon her.

She glanced over at Nelson. She shouldn’t have flirted with him like that, but Zoe wanted to see if it would bother Kyle.

Apparently it did.

“RHD is hosting a party on Wednesday,” Kyle said, cutting through the heavy silence. “Why don’t you come, Zoe? I know my parents would love to see you. Jerry’s invited, as well.”

“Only if you consider coming to Guava’s cocktail party,” Zoe said with a polite smile. “It’s actually a couple of hours earlier than your event. Roberta mentioned it when we booked ours. And don’t forget to bring your cousin,” she couldn’t help adding.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I’ll need to check my schedule,” he told her. “If I can make it, I’ll definitely be there.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Nelson interjected. “My schedule’s clear.”

She awarded him another smile. “Good. I’ll be looking for you.”

Zoe was pleased at the sullen expression on Kyle’s face. It served him right after the way that he’d treated her.

Feeling his gaze on her, she pulled out her iPhone and scanned through her emails.

It won’t be long before we reach the lobby. I just want to get out of here. I can’t handle being this close to him.

After what seemed like an eternity in the elevator, the doors opened.

Zoe stepped out first, thrilled to be out of the confined space. Clearly Kyle still had the ability to make her weak at the knees, and the last thing she wanted to do was fall at his feet.

“It was nice seeing you both,” she said coolly before walking briskly away.

She was angry with herself for inviting Kyle to the cocktail party, and for flirting with Nelson to make him jealous. She had often accused Jerry of being childish when it came to Kyle, but Zoe couldn’t deny that she’d behaved in much the same way. It was just...wrong.