Return to You

way that made the thick blonde highlights stand out. When they
went shopping, Olivia had chosen a two-piece outfit reminiscent of
what a harem girl would wear. The long gauzy skirt sat low on her
hips and tangled in her long legs as she walked. She wore a choker,
dozens of bracelets on her arms, and rings on her fingers as well
as her toes. The top was a single band that covered her breasts,
leaving her midriff bare and her belly button ring glittering.
    Lainie wondered what Everett would say if she got a
piercing.
    "So." Olivia smiled but it was tight and forced.
"Are you guys enjoying your evening?"
    Eve sighed and slipped her hand in Treat's. Treat
grinned at Olivia. "It certainly is an entertaining party, isn't
it?"
    "I'm definitely engrossed by the sideshow." Olivia
glared at Michael.
    "I'm sure Michael is just talking business to
Sophie," Lainie lied.
    "Yeah. Monkey business," Olivia said under her
breath. She shot back the contents in her wine glass. "Treat, want
to cut a rug?"
    "Love to." He exchanged a look with Eve before he
led Olivia to the dance floor.
    She and Eve exchanged their own look before watching
Treat lead Olivia around the floor.
    Good thing she hadn't ordered fireworks for the
evening. Elaine glanced at Everett, who was trying to break in on
Michael and Sophie's tete-a-tete. Fireworks would have been
redundant.
     
     
    Parker cut through the crowd with singleness of
purpose, barely acknowledging the comments directed to him on the
way. He had Michael to deal with.
    The rage he felt at Michael was surprising. He
glanced at the tight expression on his daughter's face and felt a
wave of black fury flow through him. He wanted to drag Michael
outside and beat sense into him.
    Maybe he'd been wrong. Maybe he shouldn't have
forced Olivia and Michael together again. It seemed like they'd
been doing well. Guilt and uncertainty—two emotions he wasn't well
acquainted with—fueled his anger.
    His face devoid of expression, he stopped in front
of Michael and cleared his throat. Michael managed to tear his gaze
from Sophie's face.
    Sophie looked up and smiled with
catlike cunning. "Everett. Enchantee de
vous voire ." She stepped away from Michael
long enough to kiss the air on either side of Parker's cheeks
before cuddling next to him again. Michael didn't look put out by
her clinginess in the least. In fact, he pulled her
closer.
    "Sophie. Michael." Everything he was holding back
from showing on his face came through in his voice.
    And Michael heard it. "Great party, Parker. Elaine
outdid herself."
    "You should be sure to mention that to her." He
turned to Sophie. "I hear your performance was unparalleled. There
are some people from the media who would love to talk to you."
    "Reporters?" Her blue eyes lit up. "Where?"
    Parker felt grim satisfaction. He knew exactly what
her weakness was and felt no compulsion in exploiting it. The
clueless woman unwittingly put herself in the wrong person's path.
"Why don't you get a glass of champagne and I'll have Elaine send
them over to you."
    "I adore champagne." She batted her false
eyelashes at Michael. "Coming, mon
chou ?"
    "I need to talk to Michael." Parker smoothly removed
her hand from Michael's arm and steered her toward a waiter with a
tray of drinks. "Since he's leaving Parker Pictures at the
completion of this film there are details we need to discuss."
    She pouted and batted her eyes. "You didn't tell me
that."
    Michael raked back his hair. "Guess it never came
up."
    "Then I'll leave you men to it." She slanted her
eyes at Michael from over her shoulder. "Find me when you're
done."
    Parker resisted the urge to retch at her sugary
command. By the look on Michael's face, he was in the same
boat.
    "Are there really reporters here tonight?" Michael
watched her slither away.
    "Yes." He just declined to mention
the man was from the Marin Independent
Journal .
    Michael faced him. The stiffness of his jaw and
clenched fists made it apparent he was expecting a fight. "So
what's this about?"
    "You really don't know?"
    Michael's eyes darted to where Olivia was dancing
with a sharply dressed man with a ponytail. "I can probably hazard
a guess. Though I can't imagine why you'd care."
    "She's my daughter."
    "Fine way to show your filial affection. Force her
to face the one man she's hated for years." He glanced at Parker.
"Make that two men."
    "Enough." He'd had all he was going to take. "I've
always had Olivia's best interests at heart—"
    Michael