Page 26 of Single Malt
“Thank you.”
She sounded more grudging than appreciative, but it was a weird situation, and I wasn’t about to be insulted by her tone. When she left, I leaned against a big, unmarked box and sighed.
“Good job, asshole,” I muttered to myself.
I liked to have fun, and some of the things I liked to do were on the dangerous side – though definitely not as many now as when I’d been younger – but I always tried to be smart about whatever I was doing. While not exactly dangerous, this had definitelynotbeen smart.
I’d always kept things fun and casual with women, and while there had been some women I’d enjoyed being with enough to casually date, none of them had ever gotten under my skin like this one did. I couldn’t even say exactly why she was different, only that I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
About five minutes after Freedom had left, I stepped out of the supply closet and headed for the front of the building. I’d already brought in everything and set it out for the bartenders, which meant I didn’t actually have anything else to do until the exhibit began.
Technically, I didn’t even need to be there, but I’d accepted the invitation when Freedom had extended it last week. At the time, I’d told myself that it would be a perfect place to network with people connected to Stanford but not employed there.
I’d lied.
I didn’t look for Freedom as I made my way outside to my truck, but not because I didn’t want to see her. The last thing I wanted to do was get people gossiping about us. I knew enough women in male-dominated fields to know how much damage something like this could do to her reputation and her career.
A surge of guilt made my gut churn. I never should have put her at risk like this. As I drove back to my hotel, I seriously debated whether or not I should even come back, but I thought it’d look more suspicious if I stayed away. With that in mind, I decided I’d just make a point of pretending that I didn’t know what Freedom looked like when she came.
I had a bad feeling that’d be easier said than done.
The New Year Eve’s party had been a black-tie event. While I assumed several people who’d attended that would also be coming to the exhibit – especially the invitation-only part – the rest of the event would allow students and guests, many of whom I guessed probably wouldn’t be quite as dressed up. I’d had no idea how to find a happy medium between the two, so I’d called my brother Carson and asked him for help.
When in doubt, go to the fashion designer sibling with the degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
The VIP part of the exhibit was just beginning when I pulled into the parking lot, and I recognized a few of the people heading toward the entrance. Some of the men were wearing tuxes, but others were in suits like mine, high quality but not quite as formal.
As I showed my ID to the security guard, I smiled and greeted some of the people I knew, slipping into my professional persona, the one with the charming grin and the firm handshakes. I hoped this would help me be able to convincingly interact with Freedom the same way. I didn’t want to have to stay away from her all night, especially since it might make me look like an asshole avoiding the person who’d put all this together.
Plus, I just didn’t want to stay away from her, even if being near her was a bad idea.
I waited twenty minutes before letting my gaze scan the room for Freedom. I spotted her almost immediately as if I was drawn to her. Like a magnetic pull or something. Then the few people between us moved, and I was able to see what she was wearing.
A jolt of lust hit me, a visceral reaction that almost knocked the wind out of me. Something else was there too, but I pushed that away. This wasn’t the time or place for analysis.
I could, however, take a minute to appreciate the shimmery dark gray dress she wore. I had no idea what that kind of dress was called, but I didn’t need a name to know that she looked amazing, and I wasn’t the only one in the room who noticed.
I was halfway to her before I realized what I was doing and had to check my expression. I couldn’t do what I wanted to do. I wanted to claim her, make sure every other man in the room knew that she was taken. But aside from the fact that this was the middle of a business function, I had no right to claim her. We’d had sex a couple times. That was all.
Movement at her side drew my attention away from her, and I thought it was a good idea to focus on that rather than her. I couldn’t afford to appear to be too interested, not without risking someone thinking that either Freedom or I had given the other special treatment regarding Shannon’s being served at an event she’d planned.
The movement came from a young woman next to her. The girl was about average height and slender, delicate. Cornsilk blonde hair, light green eyes, she looked too young to be in college, but the resemblance to Freedom gave me an idea of who the stranger was.
“Hello.” I smiled at both of them. “Ms. Mercier, things seem to be going well.”
“Good evening.” Her voice was icy enough to surprise me. She looked at the girl next to her. “This is the man who supplied the whiskey for tonight’s event.”
This is the man?
I really hoped I didn’t look like I’d just been punched in the stomach because that was how I felt.
This is the man.
She hadn’t even said my name. Not my first name. Not Mr. McCrae. I’d used her last name to keep things professional, but she hadn’t even given me that same courtesy.
Before my reeling brain could put together a response, Freedom spoke again, “Aline, we really should get those pictures.”
And the two of them walked away.