It was about two weeks later on a Saturday when Matt and Olivia were staying at the Kane mansion for the weekend, that Olivia had a bright idea.
"I know!" she exclaimed, snapping her fingers in delight. "Why don't you come with us to the club tonight, Sarah?"
"Me?" Candy stared at Olivia in surprise. She knew that Olivia and Matt had been planning to party with some of their friends that evening, and had already picked out a selection of books that she would read to prevent her thoughts from dwelling on Matt and his fiancée.
"Yes! It would be wonderful for Sarah to go out with people her age, just for a change, don't you think, Melinda?" Olivia appealed to her future mother-in-law.
"I think that would be very nice," Melinda replied, smiling warmly. "Sarah, dear, you should go with them."
"But – but – Josh -" Candy began.
"Josh will be asleep by the time you leave, and he usually doesn't wake during the night," Melinda pointed out. "Besides, Rich and I will be here anyway. You really do need some time off, dear. You have hardly taken any time off since you came here."
"Come on, Sarah, you'll enjoy it, I'm sure," Olivia said eagerly. Candy looked doubtfully at the beautiful brunette, wondering why she was so keen to have her with them like a fifth wheel. Olivia had hardly ever solicited her company till now, so her sudden friendliness made Candy wary.
"I don't think so," she demurred. "I'm not really a party person, and anyway, I won't even know anybody there."
"You'll know us." Matt spoke for the first time. "So I don't see what the problem is." His brilliant blue eyes gleamed challengingly as he looked at her.
The problem is you and Olivia, Candy told him silently. Or more accurately, seeing the two of you together.
"Then it's settled!" Olivia said brightly. "Be ready by 8, Sarah, and be sure to wear something nice!"
Candy stared at her closet that evening, wondering what she should wear. She had finished bathing and feeding Joshua and had read him a story till he fell asleep. Now, she had fifteen minutes to get ready for her evening out with Matt and his fiancée. Though she was dreading that part of it, she could not deny that she was excited to be spending time with Matt again. She remembered the last time she had been alone with him in the library and blushed. Of course, there would be no such opportunities tonight but still the thought of just being around him, seeing his beloved face, hearing his sexy voice, were enough to make some part of her look forward to the evening ahead.
She pulled out one of the dresses she had bought a few days back when she and Melinda had been out shopping. Melinda had been very insistent that she indulge herself in some very un-nannylike outfits, and this dress was one of them. Candy slipped it on, aware that she had very little time. It was a sheer, shimmery dress in pale peach with a cleavage just low enough to show the mysterious cleft between her breasts, and a hemline that ended several inches above her knees. It had been so long since she had worn anything sexy, she realized, more than three years, to be precise. The woman in the mirror looking back at her now seemed almost a stranger to her. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, Candy mused as she did her face. She made up her eyes to achieve a smoky look, proceeding to apply sheer gloss on her lips before clipping on a pair of dangling earrings. As a final touch she spritzed on Matt's favorite perfume, unconsciously falling back into her habits of the past when she and Matt had been together.
She had just slipped on a pair of stilettos and was giving her hair a final brush when she heard Olivia calling. "Sarah! Are you ready?"
"Coming!" she called back, picking up her clutch and hurrying downstairs. Matt and Olivia were waiting in the foyer, obviously ready to go. Olivia wore a tiny, skin-tight red number that left nothing to the imagination, but what took Candy's breath away was the sight of Matt dressed fully in black. The shirt emphasized his broad shoulders and powerful physique, the few buttons he had left open giving a tantalizing glimpse of his smooth chest. He looked so gorgeous! Candy thought, her mouth growing dry at the sight of him.
Matt watched her as she descended the stairs, his azure eyes scanning every detail of her face and dress. Olivia's lips twisted downwards slightly when she saw Candy, but she pasted on a bright, artificial smile on her face.
"Sarah – you really clean up well! Why, no one would even know you're the nanny, right, Matt?" She wrapped her arm possessively around Matt's waist as she spoke, drawing his attention back to her.
"You look very nice, Ms. Kent," Matt drawled, looping his arm over his fiancée's shoulders. "Shall we go?"
Candy followed them quietly to Matt's black Lexus, valiantly trying to ignore the green-eyed imps whispering in her mind as she watched Olivia snuggle close to Matt. Matt politely opened the back door for her and she slid inside, preparing herself mentally for an evening of misery.
Mercifully, the drive to the club was short but by the time they reached there, Candy's nerves were already frayed. Olivia had flirted non-stop with Matt the entire time, her hand resting on his thigh as he drove. She saw Matt glance at her from time to time in the rear-view mirror, but he said nothing to her, preferring instead to indulge his beautiful fiancée.
The club was crowded, bodies gyrating to the pulsing music on the packed dance floor.
"Hey!" A big-built man about their age made his way through the crowd towards them. "There you are!"
"Dylan!" Olivia exclaimed as he gave her a friendly hug.
"Come along, we snagged a table – the others are already there." He led them to a table where two men and a woman were seated.
"Hey, Matt, Olivia!" A chorus of greetings welcomed them.
Candy hung back a little, feeling suddenly diffident, but Olivia grabbed her arm and propelled her forward.
"Everyone, this is Sarah – Josh's little nanny. We thought it would be nice for her to get away from baby-sitting, just for a change. The poor thing doesn't usually get much fun."
Matt looked about to say something but closed his mouth again as the others greeted Candy. He sat down, looking a little grim.
"Hi, everyone." Candy smiled hesitantly, hiding her nervousness as the others greeted her. She slipped into an empty seat next to Dylan, gritting her teeth as Olivia slid onto Matt's lap and hooked an arm around his neck.
"What would you like to drink?" Dylan asked her amiably. He seemed a nice enough guy, Candy thought, smiling tentatively at him.
"Um…a glass of wine, perhaps?"
"Classy, I like that." He looked at the man seated on the other side of Candy. "C'mon, Guy, it's our turn to get the drinks."
They went off, returning a few minutes later with everyone's drinks.
"Here you go." Guy handed Candy a glass of wine.
"Thank you."
"So, you're a nanny, hmm?" Guy asked, leaning a little closer so that he could make himself heard above the pulsing music.
"Yes, I take care of Joshua for the Kanes," Candy smiled, thinking of her little boy. Then she saw his eyes flick down to her cleavage and tried subtly to adjust her neckline.
"Sweet." Dylan's hand came to rest casually on her knee, squeezing it lightly. "I wouldn't mind you being my nanny any time."
"Uh…" Candy squirmed, not comfortable with any man other than Matt touching her. She took Dylan's hand to remove it from her knee, but he merely clasped hers in his big one. Candy glanced around as she unobtrusively tried to extricate her hand from his grasp. Her gaze landed on Matt. He looked furious, she thought in dismay, his eyes focused on her hand in Dylan's. Quickly she freed herself, her heart thumping wildly.
"Matt, darling?" Olivia turned his face towards her. Matt gave Candy one last look that was equal parts anger and contempt and then turned to his girlfriend.
"Baby," he said, sliding his hand around her neck and drawing her face to his for a kiss. Candy watched, unable to tear her eyes away as Matt deepened the kiss, his arms wrapping tightly around Olivia's body.
"Get a room, you two!" laughed Guy as Olivia moaned and pressed herself against Matt's lean, hard body. Candy's heart twisted in misery and jealousy at the sight of her former lover kissing another woman so passionately. Matt raised his head at last and looked at Candy with glittering eyes.
If his intention was to punish her then he had definitely succeeded, Candy thought miserably, lowering her eyes.
"Come on, let's go dance!" Joe and Beth, the couple seated opposite them, stood up and headed for the dance floor. A few minutes later, Olivia slid off of Matt's lap and looked invitingly at him.
"Come on, darling, I want to dance too." Matt hesitated, looking at Candy dwarfed between the two big men, a frown on his handsome face. "Baby, come ON." Olivia ran her hands up his chest, pressing her body to his and after a brief pause, Matt let her lead him away. Candy watched in mute agony as they began swaying on the crowded dance floor, bodies pressed intimately together.
"Refill?" Dylan asked, looking at her empty glass. Candy nodded. ANYTHING to banish the image of Matt with his hands on Olivia's waist, dancing so close it was more like a mating ritual than a dance, she thought fiercely. If alcohol was the answer, so be it. She sipped her drink absently, her mind still on Matt.
"Let's dance, baby." Dylan tugged her to her feet before she could reply. She felt the room spin as she stood but before she could figure out why, Dylan had led her to the floor, pulling her closer to him than she would have liked. His big hands settled on her waist, holding her as they danced. Candy looked around automatically for Matt, but he was nowhere to be seen on the packed floor. Dylan pulled her closer still till she was pressed up against his huge frame.
"Loosen up, sugar," he urged, his hands moving down to cup her ass.
Candy jerked back from the unwelcome contact, trying put some distance between herself and the man, but she bumped up against another hard body. She twisted her head back and saw Guy leering down at her.
"Hey, baby, I wanna dance with you too." He pushed up against her back till she was sandwiched between the two big men.
"Uh…I don't…I…" Candy felt the room dip and sway alarmingly around her. Both men ground their sweaty bodies against her slim frame, making nausea churn in her stomach, but for some reason her limbs did not seem to be obeying her. Gathering all her strength, she made an effort to push Dylan away and free herself, but all she could manage was a feeble shove at his chest that did not even budge him.
"I like her like this," Guy's hands were on her hips, holding her upright as he thrust his erection obscenely into her.
"Yeah." Dylan pushed at her from the front, making her shudder in revulsion. "But we better hurry before she gets completely wasted." He caught Candy's wrist and pulled her away from the crowded floor. Guy followed, shepherding her through the throng. Candy tried to resist but her vision was getting blurry now and she could barely move her legs. "Matt! Help me! Matt!" she called out to him but whether it was in her mind or whether she actually spoke the words she couldn't tell.
The two men half-carried, half-dragged her with them till they were away from the crowd. They pushed her through a small door that led into a deserted alley and shut the door quickly behind them.
"Wh-what are you – you -" Her tongue felt as though it had swollen up to twice its size, making it difficult for her to form words. Dylan pushed her up against the wall, holding her upright.
"We're going to make you regret you ever crossed Olivia," he said, hands tightening like vises on her arms. "But you're lucky you're a sexy little thing and Guy and I like you, so we're going to do it the fun way."
Candy opened her mouth to scream, but all that came out was a feeble cry.
"Stay awake, little nanny," Guy urged as Dylan pressed closer to her. She could feel his erection throbbing against her thigh but her arms and legs refused to move. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she fought the fog swirling in her mind. She needed to get away, needed to escape somehow before these two –
The door crashed open and Matt burst out into the alleyway. He barely paused a fraction of a second to take in the scene before leaping on Dylan with a roar. He dragged him off of Candy, turning him around. Candy simply slumped to the ground, her legs unable to support her. She barely saw Matt's fist crashing into the other man's jaw before she passed out.