It was not for dancing to Jane’s tired tune all night. Been there, done that, smacked that ass, he thought. Thank God he’d been smart enough not to invite her to the Salon later.

“As much fun as that sounds”—Jared injected just the right amount of regret into his tone—“I do have a job.”

Luckily, after another unsuccessful minute trying to garner his undivided attention, Jane spotted another eligible bachelor, this one a lawyer, and glided off in his direction.

Allowing Jared to return his full attention to the only mistress he’d never tire of—the hotel.

New people in and out every day. Challenges to overcome. Problems to solve.

Parties to plan. Jared lived for a good party.

This one was off to a good start. But it was the invitation-only event scheduled for later tonight that put a true smile on his lips.

Last year’s first Salon Games had been a carefully guarded secret. He’d chosen each of the ten participants personally, laid out the rules explicitly, then let it happen.

Everyone had left the next afternoon with a smile. And not one word of it had leaked. Amazing, considering the nature of the games.

But then, those who’d been there had wanted to be invited back.

Looking out over the ballroom, he picked out several of the guests invited to the Salon tonight. A few caught his eye, nodded, then went back to what they were doing. Men and women Jared had known for years, some for most of his life. People who shared the same interests.

People he trusted and who trusted him. There weren’t many he counted in that category.

As his gaze continued around the large room, he saw two new arrivals approach the arched entrance of the ballroom. Two women.

He watched as the maître d’ greeted them and showed them to a table close to the dance floor.

As host for the evening, Jared felt compelled to greet everyone at the party. He started toward the women’s table, speaking briefly to a few people along the way but never losing sight of his original target.

When he reached their table, he waited until they looked up at him before bowing his head.

“Ladies, welcome to Haven. My name is Jared. I hope your table’s satisfactory?”

Pale green and midnight black gazes locked onto him from behind feathered masks. Dressed in fairy costumes, complete with wings, the women had natural beauty that couldn’t be bought at a plastic surgeon’s office.

The brunette in blue was sleek and slim, delicate. Her exotically shaped eyes hinted at an Asian heritage, her mouth a wide bow.

But the redhead…Damn. Her green eyes flashed and held on his, wide and inquisitive, her hair a rich autumn red that fell in curls around her shoulders.

She stared at him for a moment, assessing. Then her smile broke free, a beautiful sight on full lips he’d bet had never been artificially enhanced.

“Thank you,” she said. “It seems the party’s in full swing. We were a little late arriving.”

Jared’s smile widened. “Well, I’m certainly glad you made it. Is this your first time at Haven? I believe I’d remember such beautiful women.”

“Yes, it’s our first time,” the blue fairy answered. “We’re just here for the night.”

“Then I hope you enjoy your evening,” Jared said. “And I’d appreciate if you would each save me a dance tonight.”

When he turned to the redhead, her smile had turned downright sultry. And his body tightened as if she’d stroked a hand over his cock.

“I’d like that dance.” Her voice held no trace of guile, no simpering fakery.

Jared’s heart started a slow, familiar rhythm as he held her gaze. Her smile widened as he straightened.

He liked that smile. It was sexy but uncomplicated. Completely natural.

So unlike the women he typically dated.

As he nodded again, ready to leave, a glint of color caught his eye and his gaze dropped past spectacular breasts to the pin at the bottom of the vee on her dress. The pin looked familiar somehow, pinged something in his brain, some memory. He’d ask about it. Later.

“I’ll be back to collect.” Jared signaled a waitress to their table and headed back to the door, trying to shake off the feeling he’d missed something.

“Jared, honey, this is a lovely party.”

Beatrice Golden sat on a barstool, a Manhattan in one hand, a delicate silk fan in the other. The fan matched the authentic Japanese kimono she wore.

“Hello, Nana. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

His seventy-five-year-old grandmother put her deceptively frail hand on his sleeve, bringing him closer. “The young woman you were just talking to, is she your date?”

He smiled ruefully. “No date, Nana. Not tonight. I’m working. Besides, there are too many beautiful women in the world to tie myself to just one.”

Beatrice tsked and rapped his arm with her fan, her short gray hair swaying around her still-youthful features. “You are going to live to eat those words. I’ve had to give up on Tyler. For the moment. But I plan to see you fall. And soon. Then we’ll see who has the last laugh.” She sighed. “I just wish I had the pin or the ring to give you. The legend—”

“Nana,” he cut her off gently. “You’re going to live forever.” At six-two, Jared had to bend to kiss his tiny grandmother’s wrinkled cheek. “And the legend is just that, a story—”

“No, it’s not.” Beatrice’s voice held firm. “Since those jewels were stolen, our family has had horrible luck in love. Your parents have had such a rough time.” She sighed, shaking her head. “And Tyler’s fiancée. Her death was such a tragedy.”

“You’re right, Nana,” Jared soothed. “Mia’s death was a tragedy.” As is my parents’ marriage. “But believe me, when the right woman shows up, I’ll know it.”

He felt a twinge of guilt at the outright lie. He didn’t believe in soul mates, much less everlasting love, but the smile on his grandmother’s face was worth the white lie. “But I won’t find her because some piece of rock tells me. Besides, I like my life as it is, uncomplicated by fairy tales of true love.”

His grandmother sighed. “I just want you and your brother to be happy.”

Jared hated to see his normally vibrant grandmother so defeated, especially at a party. “We are happy. Look at everything we’ve accomplished.” He waved a hand around the room. “Tyler and I put Philadelphia on every pleasure-seeker’s map with Haven. The spa is world-famous, the restaurant is five-star, and you know we give the best parties.”

And what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

Her lips curved in a small smile.

“Come on, Nana,” he cajoled. “I’m only twenty-nine. I’ve got plenty of time to find the right woman and get chained for life.” He suppressed a slight shudder. “When I meet her, I’ll know.”

That made her expression brighten. “Yes, Jared. You will. Your fall from love god to love slave will make my day. Go on, now.” She waved a hand laced with blue veins at him then reached for her drink. “I know you’re busy. I’m going to sit here and soak in the sights. Just be open to possibilities, sweetheart.”

If she only knew… “I live for possibilities, Nana.”

Over his grandmother’s head, he nodded to the bartender, who nodded back. Fred Carvell, a retired, twenty-year police veteran, wouldn’t let anyone hassle Beatrice. She’d refused his earlier offer of a table, saying she liked the constant ebb and flow of atmosphere at the bar.

He had a lot in common with his grandmother.

“Yes, you certainly do.” Beatrice patted him on the arm, and he was sure she’d read his mind rather than replied to his last statement. “I’ll see you later, dear.”

“I’ll be back. Don’t go dancing with any strange men.”

He swept into a low bow that never failed to make her laugh, then meandered through the crowd, stopping to greet a few friends before he made his way to the guest register, stopping next to his brother.

“Hey, Jed.” Tyler didn’t look up. “How’s Nana?”

“She’s fine. She’s enjoying the party.” Jared threw a mocking glance at his brother. “Are you going to glue yourself to this spot for the rest of the night or are you going to try to have a good time?”

Tyler actually deigned to look at him for a brief second, and Jared saw a glimmer of humor in his eyes. “I plan to make the rounds in a few minutes. We’re still waiting for a few stragglers.”

“You know we actually pay people to man this station, right?”

Tyler gave him his big-brother look, designed to intimidate. At one time, that look would’ve pissed off Jared. Now, Jared was merely unimpressed. He waited, one eyebrow raised.

Tyler returned his gaze to the touchscreen set into the stand. “I’m waiting for Mom and Dad. I figured one of us should actually show some decent manners and invite them.”

Every muscle in Jared’s body tightened. “God damn it. Why the hell did you invite him? Mom, sure, but that bas—”

“Be a big boy and try to behave.”

Jared gritted his teeth even as he smiled at an arriving couple. “I thought we agreed. The old man tried to run our lives for too long. We don’t need him. We didn’t need his money to build this hotel and we certainly don’t need his phony attempts to bond, now that we’re grown.”

Tyler shook his head, another wry smile on his lips. “You know, you’re a lot like him. Now, don’t get all ticked off.” Tyler raised his hands as if to ward off a blow, which made him look idiotic because he stood six-three and was still built like the linebacker he’d been in high school. “But you are. You’re both stubborn to the core and too intelligent for your own good. Be an adult for two hours tonight and let the old man believe you’re happy to see him for a change. At least pretend and make our mother happy.”