I hated these formal parties. I attended them usually at my 2 best friends insistence. Tonight was different though, I would do anything for Jackson and his daughters 21st birthday wasn't a chore that I had to force. I had watched Alexis grow up from a distance. Parker was the fun friend he could get along with someone regardless of their age. Me on the other hand I preferred to keep my distance and not grow too attached. But Jacky boys daughter was special, she always had been. Smart, funny and she grew into a beautiful, accomplished woman.

I was proud of the girl, well woman that she had become. She was carving herself a place in the fashion world and judging by the dress she wore tonight she'd have no problem. I mentally did a double look at her as she sauntered towards me after I arrived.

Gone was the little girl with pigtails and a messy face, instead in her place was a gorgeous grown woman. The dress she said she made tonight was black with a long slit up the side, it was inspired by 1920s flappers in cut and style.

I'm not sure if it was the way the dress hugged every curve of her slim body. Or the slit up the side that showed her long, tan leg ending near the top of her thigh or how her hair fell to her back in big soft dark curls. But she didn't look like a girl tonight.

She was a woman and a hot one at that. There was something different in her blue gaze when she looked at me tonight. There was a fire there I had never noticed. Like her blue was ablaze.

I shook my head at my wayward thoughts knowing that Jackson would skin me alive for thinking that way...in any way about his grown daughter.

I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and downed it one gulp, replacing it and then grabbing another. With any luck the champagne would block out Alexis' eyes out of my imagination.

I meandered around avoiding as many people as I could especially the gaggle of noisy geese Alexis called friends. They were giving me their best fuck me eyes but I turned and walked the other direction choosing to ignore them. I was immune to how those women saw me. And I heard the many nicknames that floated around me, Jackie and Parker. But most of the women I came across cared about one thing. My good looks was just icing on my money cake. These girls here were shallow and bottomless and would make great trophy wives someday. Just not to me. And while I wasn't one to judge their lifestyle it just wasn't part of mine.

I had had plenty of nameless, faceless one-night stands but tonight was about Alexis and her big day.

I needed something stronger than champagne and decided to go to Jackie boy's study where I knew he kept the expensive whiskey.

I took the opportunity to put Alexis' gift in her room then turned and I walked along the hall until I got to the door of Jackson's study, but as I reached for the handle of the slightly ajar door I heard a females voice.

Damn!

I figured I'd need to find some liquor elsewhere and I started to turn when I caught my name.

"Rhyne is here tonight" I knew as soon as she said my name it was Alexis King the birthday girl.

"He's your dads best friend Lex. Even if you found a way to get him alone and naked what would you tell your dad?"

"Who said I had to tell him anything? It's not like Rhyne is going to marry me. I just want him to take my virginity that's all."

Had I heard that right? Alexis was a virgin and one fantasizing about one night with me? My mind was reeling and I deeply regretted that the whiskey was on the other side of this door.

A part of me wanted to barge in and put an end to this little pow wow. She was Jackson daughter! Another part wanted to forget Lex had ever said those words.

But yet another part. The single, bachelor, dark, masculine part of myself wanted to hear her say it again.

My cock started to stir at the thought of a night with a woman as beautiful as Lex had become.

She was lean and fit. She had toned legs, a small waist, full breasts and a thick tight ass. And that was just her body. I groaned internally at the thought that maybe I had noticed a few times that Alexis was a full grown woman now and any man with eyeballs could see she was amazingly gorgeous.

Her mind was entirely hot as fuck. She could laugh with you one second and then be perfectly serious talking through subjects most young adults didn't care for. She was business savvy and creative.

Fuck.

I heard movement from the study and it jolted me back to reality. I beat feet to the bathroom just down the hall before the girls came out and caught me red handed.

I heard the two girls laughing as they walked by and I peeked out the door to see them heading back into the party. I exited the bathroom and entered the now empty study to pour myself a double of that expensive whiskey. It was gone in two drinks and I poured myself another.

Alexis King wanted me to take her virginity. What a thought. I had never thought of her that way, ever. I mean I noticed she had changed to a woman but she had always been Jackson's little girl. After her mom died  he poured his whole heart into raising her. Besides his medical career he focused on nothing else. He had sacrificed himself and his love life for Alexis.

And even though there was a little bit of me that was thrilled to hear a hot, young woman declare her want for me, I couldn't do that to Jackson. He helped me out on many occasions and you just didn't do that to your best friend, right?

"Long day at work bud?"

Startled, Parker stepped into the study eyeing my  second whiskey.
"Something like that. Yah." Parker studied my face and his gaze made me nervous but whatever he saw there he shrugged off. He had a way of making you buckle under his scrutiny, it was his secret power.

"Lex is blowing out her candles, come on."

I followed Parker back to the ballroom. I wasn't sure I could face her after hearing that her secret birthday wish was for me to take her virginity. I groaned, internally if I kept thinking about it I was going to be walking around in slacks with a hard on.

I rubbed my face...I needed another drink. I waved a waitress over and placed a hundred dollar bill on her tray.
"Find someone to get me a whiskey, and make it a double"

Parker rolled out a huge 3 tier cake covered in 21 sparkling candles. He had the lights dimmed to showcase the Tall, lit candles and huge cake. Lex's face lit up at the sight.

"Make a wish!" Came from several people in the crowd that gathered to watch.

She smiled wide and puckered her lips blowing out each candle. When the last one was extinguished she turned her eyes moving as if searching for someone, until she saw me. Her light eyes locked with my dark ones connecting us in that moment and then she gave a sexy smirk.

I hardened instantly at that look.

Someone called her name and she turned breaking the connection. I needed that drink and fast because her gaze had sent all my blood straight to my groin. And I was feeling a little dizzy. What was happening to me? I couldn't let one comment unravel my years of friendship with Jackson.

The waitress came back with my drink which I downed right away and I slid her another bill and asked for two more.

I found myself a corner to cower in the effects of the whiskey starting to impair me and I didn't want to do something I would regret. That's where Jackson found me with two whiskeys in my hand avoiding the hot gaze of Alexis King.