I can never talk
to Jack about the way I feel, he's too quick to defend him.
As we take our seats, I spot Nikki walking up with her
husband Jonathan and another man. I shake my head at her, realizing immediately
why she wanted to change seats so much. This is a set-up.
"Jonathan, you remember Lex, of course," she says
as they reach us. Jonathan, a good-looking if slightly pudgy older man, and I
kiss on the cheek. "And William, this is my friend Alexa Stratton. Lex,
this is William Easting."
"Lovely to meet you," I tell him, offering him my
hand.
"Likewise," he says, with that glint in his eye
that tells me that he finds me attractive. It's mutual, if completely theoretical.
I can't deny that he's conventionally handsome, with light brown hair and an
easy smile, but I have absolutely no interest in getting involved with him.
"Why don't you sit next to her, and I'll sit
here," Nikki suggests. I have to restrain myself from rolling my eyes at
her naked matchmaking.
"Ray, good to see you again," William says, and
walks over to my father instead of taking his seat. Jonathan follows, and the
three of them talk on the other side of the table.
"Wharton graduate, family money, in energy," Nikki
whispers hurriedly to me as we sit.
"I didn't ask you to fix me up with anyone," I
hiss back.
"You're welcome!" she replies infuriatingly.
Chapter Twenty
The four courses pass quickly. William is a good
conversationalist, and Jack brightens any social gathering just by being his
ridiculous self. Bree has snuck a couple glasses of wine and has a cute flush
to her cheeks, though Carter has been mostly silent. I don't think galas are
his scene. Nikki is having an absolute ball, though I notice Jonathan's hand on
her arm, discouraging her from having a seventh vodka soda.
As the dessert, a delicate raspberry chocolate mousse, is
served, the string quartet vanishes, replaced by a jazz band with at least
fifteen instrumentalists. I take a couple bites, but I'm pretty much stuffed
already. I hand the rest over to Jack, who quickly inhales it. He's always been
a reliable garbage disposal, consuming any food I can't.
I turn my chair to watch the couples, and can't help tapping
my foot to the swing music. "You dance?" William asks.
"A little."
"Where'd you learn?"
I grin. "From a retired dance teacher in Paris.
You?"
"Required class at my boarding school," he
answers, extending his hand to me. I pause, and then put my hand in his. I do
love to dance.
He leads me out into the middle of the floor, and then with
a flick of his wrist, he pulls me into him. He has excellent form, his left arm
strong but relaxed, and his right hand guiding me at the small of my back.
"Where'd you stay while you were in Paris? The Four
Seasons?"
"No," I smile. "My accommodations were a bit
more rustic."
"I'd love to take you there sometime. Maybe in the new
year."
I raise my eyebrows. "That's rather forward of
you."
"I know what I like."
"Well, I'm afraid I'm going to be a little busy with
school."
"School?"
"I never finished college," I admit, blushing a
little. I know he has at least two degrees.
"What's the point?" he asks with a shrug.
"The point?" I repeat, astounded.
"You're a beautiful woman, and a Stratton, I can't
imagine you need to earn your way."
"It's not about needing...it's about wanting. "
"I didn't mean to offend. It's just that I've always
looked forward to providing someone like you a life of luxury, like Jonathan
does for Nikki."
"Someone like me? You barely know me."
"Like I said, I know what I like. But I won't press it.
So how's the big deal going?" he asks, gamely changing the subject.
"Big deal?" I ask.
"Burke Shipping's Mexican deal."
"Oh, right," I say with a smile, as though I know
what he's talking about. I don't, but I do want to know more. "My dad's
been telling me about it, but I've just been really distracted," I lie.
"It would make me nervous, but I guess that's why your
father's the best. Nerves of
to Jack about the way I feel, he's too quick to defend him.
As we take our seats, I spot Nikki walking up with her
husband Jonathan and another man. I shake my head at her, realizing immediately
why she wanted to change seats so much. This is a set-up.
"Jonathan, you remember Lex, of course," she says
as they reach us. Jonathan, a good-looking if slightly pudgy older man, and I
kiss on the cheek. "And William, this is my friend Alexa Stratton. Lex,
this is William Easting."
"Lovely to meet you," I tell him, offering him my
hand.
"Likewise," he says, with that glint in his eye
that tells me that he finds me attractive. It's mutual, if completely theoretical.
I can't deny that he's conventionally handsome, with light brown hair and an
easy smile, but I have absolutely no interest in getting involved with him.
"Why don't you sit next to her, and I'll sit
here," Nikki suggests. I have to restrain myself from rolling my eyes at
her naked matchmaking.
"Ray, good to see you again," William says, and
walks over to my father instead of taking his seat. Jonathan follows, and the
three of them talk on the other side of the table.
"Wharton graduate, family money, in energy," Nikki
whispers hurriedly to me as we sit.
"I didn't ask you to fix me up with anyone," I
hiss back.
"You're welcome!" she replies infuriatingly.
Chapter Twenty
The four courses pass quickly. William is a good
conversationalist, and Jack brightens any social gathering just by being his
ridiculous self. Bree has snuck a couple glasses of wine and has a cute flush
to her cheeks, though Carter has been mostly silent. I don't think galas are
his scene. Nikki is having an absolute ball, though I notice Jonathan's hand on
her arm, discouraging her from having a seventh vodka soda.
As the dessert, a delicate raspberry chocolate mousse, is
served, the string quartet vanishes, replaced by a jazz band with at least
fifteen instrumentalists. I take a couple bites, but I'm pretty much stuffed
already. I hand the rest over to Jack, who quickly inhales it. He's always been
a reliable garbage disposal, consuming any food I can't.
I turn my chair to watch the couples, and can't help tapping
my foot to the swing music. "You dance?" William asks.
"A little."
"Where'd you learn?"
I grin. "From a retired dance teacher in Paris.
You?"
"Required class at my boarding school," he
answers, extending his hand to me. I pause, and then put my hand in his. I do
love to dance.
He leads me out into the middle of the floor, and then with
a flick of his wrist, he pulls me into him. He has excellent form, his left arm
strong but relaxed, and his right hand guiding me at the small of my back.
"Where'd you stay while you were in Paris? The Four
Seasons?"
"No," I smile. "My accommodations were a bit
more rustic."
"I'd love to take you there sometime. Maybe in the new
year."
I raise my eyebrows. "That's rather forward of
you."
"I know what I like."
"Well, I'm afraid I'm going to be a little busy with
school."
"School?"
"I never finished college," I admit, blushing a
little. I know he has at least two degrees.
"What's the point?" he asks with a shrug.
"The point?" I repeat, astounded.
"You're a beautiful woman, and a Stratton, I can't
imagine you need to earn your way."
"It's not about needing...it's about wanting. "
"I didn't mean to offend. It's just that I've always
looked forward to providing someone like you a life of luxury, like Jonathan
does for Nikki."
"Someone like me? You barely know me."
"Like I said, I know what I like. But I won't press it.
So how's the big deal going?" he asks, gamely changing the subject.
"Big deal?" I ask.
"Burke Shipping's Mexican deal."
"Oh, right," I say with a smile, as though I know
what he's talking about. I don't, but I do want to know more. "My dad's
been telling me about it, but I've just been really distracted," I lie.
"It would make me nervous, but I guess that's why your
father's the best. Nerves of
Similar Books
