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“Drew knew about Fellows being your distributor,” Amelia said. “It slipped out when I was talking to him about how Derrick was doing.”
“You think Drew talked to Kate?” Jami asked. “He was always nicer than Derrick, but I didn’t think any of us were close to him.” She looked at Bristol who looked just as clueless as the rest of us.
“It’s possible,” Amelia said. “But I think it’s more likely that she talked to Derrick.”
I stared at Amelia, finally understanding what she was getting at.
Jami snickered as it clicked for her too. “You think your brother decided to help the woman who left him at the altar, an ex-employee who he fired – twice – and an author he didn’t want?”
“I think my brother wouldn’t want any woman to deal with Fellows.” Amelia’s voice was even despite the spark I saw in her eyes. “Derrick is an idiot and can be an asshole sometimes, but he’s not a monster.”
Jami held up her hands in surrender. “Sorry. I’m not the man’s biggest fan.”
“Considering he fired you twice, I’d be shocked if you had anything positive to say about him.” Amelia’s tone was dry. “I’m not blind to my brother’s faults and I definitely don’t blame the people he’s hurt for not being fond of him.”
Before any of us could get any deeper into that discussion, a pair of handsome men came over and asked Jami and Amelia if they wanted to dance. As I watched the four head to the dance floor, I couldn’t help but consider the conversation we’d just had.
Was it possible that Derrick had something to do with the loss of my first distributor and me getting an even better one? He had connections to both Fellows and Rand. And despite the times Derrick demonstrated asshole characteristics, Amelia was right that he’d never approve of any woman working with someone as seedy as Frank Fellows, especially when his sister was involved. Maybe that was the only reason he’d suggested us to Rand too. He didn’t want his sister to fail.
The problem was, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was all there was to it.
Was it possible that he’d gotten past enough of his anger to want to help me? Or was he just trying to make amends for pulling Bristol’s book deal and firing Jami and it had nothing to do with me?
I wasn’t sure how I felt about any of it, and I was in no shape to figure it out. My feelings for Derrick were still complex and confusing at best. Tonight wasn’t about that though. Tonight was to celebrate a professional achievement with my friends.
I drained the last of my drink and turned to Bristol. “Want another one?”
“I’m good,” she said, holding up her mostly full glass. “I’m a bit of a lightweight so it’s probably best if I just stick with this one.”
“It’s too bad Imani couldn’t join us,” I said.
“Yeah,” Bristol agreed. “Her wife is crazy busy all the time though so whenever they’re able to plan a vacation, it has to be a matter of life or death to get one of them to cancel.”
“What does her wife do?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone approaching, but I focused on Bristol’s answer to my question.
“She’s a surgeon,” Bristol said. Her eyes darted to the side, and she smiled. “I think someone wants to talk to you.”
I turned to find a tall, lean blond standing at the end of our table. His dark eyes were warm as he leaned down to speak over the music.
“Dance with me?” He made it a question and held out his hand.
I glanced at Bristol and prepared to turn him down so she wasn’t left here alone, but she shook her head and made a shooing motion, indicating that she thought I should go.
She mouthed the words,He’s hot.
She was right. The man was movie-star gorgeous and polite on top of it. Maybe, I thought suddenly, this was the answer to getting Derrick out of my head. I wasn’t ready to move on with a relationship or even a date, but I could dance with an attractive man.
I took his hand and let him lead me onto the dance floor. As we began to move, he rested his hand on my waist and stepped into my personal space. He kept enough distance to be respectful, but I could see the heat in his eyes as he looked at me. All I’d need to do would be to say the word and he’d take me somewhere private. Judging by the way he moved opposite me, he could make me feel good too.
But I didn’t think he could make me forget.
Because even as the two of us swayed and gyrated to the beat, all I could think of was that if I was dancing with Derrick, he’d have my body plastered to his. I’d feel his cock hard against my stomach. His hands would slide down my hips and around to my ass, squeezing it. He’d whisper the filthiest things to me, promises that I knew he could fulfill.
“I’m Paul.” The guy’s voice in my ear startled me and I jerked back.
I gave him an apologetic smile, though it was more for the fact that I’d been daydreaming about another man while dancing with him than it was for pulling away. That wasn’t fair to him. Before I could decide whether or not I wanted to keep dancing, someone said my name.