“I’m really glad you decided to go with me tonight, Nat.” He didn’t watch her as he drove, and she appreciated his focus on the road. “Now I won’t have a nervous breakdown while avoiding my matchmaking parents.”
She studied his handsome profile, confused. “You don’t need anyone matchmaking for you. Why aren’t you already shacked up with some ex-cheerleader type with more breasts than brains?” That seemed more his type. Not that she’d paid too much attention to his press, but word was the man had dated every Double-D sized model in the greater Augusta area.
He gave her chest a slight glance and grinned. “I happen to like my women brainy first, busty second.”
“Yeah, right.”
“But I’m touched you’re so concerned about my type.” He turned in to the gala’s lot and pulled the car up to the valet. After exiting, he crossed to her side of the car and had to make do with shutting the door after her since she’d let herself out. “Couldn’t wait for me to do the gentlemanly thing, could you?”
“We Wielders take care of ourselves.”
“The commanding type, hmm?”
“You got it.”
But he smiled instead of accepting her unspoken dare. A take-charge kind of man like Rex would surely balk at the idea of following a woman’s orders. Too bad, really, because there was something about him, besides his looks, that struck her as a man she’d like once she got to know him.
As she walked beside him inside, she felt frail. He had her by a few inches, making him a bit over six feet. He didn’t seem imposing, yet he carried himself with the broad shoulders of a man used to getting his way. Confidence and intelligence made the package of Rex Samson positively delicious—a sentiment many of the other women in attendance apparently carried.
As they walked through the crowd, more than one guest gave Rex a onceover. He smiled pleasantly at everyone, the consummate gentleman, yet she thought a few of his smiles were warmer than others. And not all had been aimed at women.
Bemused at the brief fantasy of Rex and a male lover doing all sorts of wonderful things together, it took her a second to realize they’d reached the bar.
“What’ll you have?” he asked.
“A rich red wine would be nice.”
“Two,” Rex said to the bartender, then paid before she could reach for her money.
They walked to an empty spot at the edge of the gathering and sipped their drinks, watching the crowd.
She lifted her glass in a mock toast. “Thanks.”
“No problem. And don’t worry. I won’t expect you to work it off later.”
“Big of you.” After a moment, she felt the need to remind him, “But this isn’t a real date. It’s a social function between two people who have to be here. We just happen to be together.”
“Sure thing, sugar.” He grinned, and damn if he didn’t have a dimple.
This was going to be a long night.
“You know everyone here, don’t you?” he asked.
“Most of them. At one time or another they’ve come through the building to see the mayor. That or they wanted something from the office.”
“Tom says you’re very, very good at your job.”
“I am.” Said without conceit, but pride.
He smiled. “I like confidence in a woman.”
“Really?”
“Why the surprise?”
She frowned, considering him. “I don’t know. Most of the people the mayor considers friends are older, with old fashioned beliefs. I grew up in the Northeast before my parents moved down here. There’s a big difference between the North and the South. Hell, down here, they still think the Civil War is ongoing. And I know for a fact many guys still consider a woman’s place barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen.”
“I’m down with in the kitchen. The rest is up to her.”
She shook her head, wondering how he made even vague insults amusing. “Very funny.”
“I thought so.”
They made small talk and met with various guests who stopped by for an introduction to Rex. Surprised by the number of people who wanted to talk to her as well, she hadn’t realized how much time had passed.
Rex tugged on her arm, his hand large, warm, and making her tingle. “Time for dinner, sugar. You ready to go in?”
She nodded, and as the large doors to the dining hall opened, she walked with him to their table.
Pleased when several couples she knew and liked sat with them, she relaxed for the first time that evening.
Derrick and his fiancée Sydney Fields sat next to them. Dylan, Derrick’s twin brother and Harper and Freddy’s lover, had brought Freddy with him. Harper, the lout, had managed to avoid the evening.
Sitting with the Warren twins made them a popular table as it was, and then Brian Goode joined them. The son of the respected but condescending Judge Brian Goode, Senior, Brian had turned out far different from his father. Though handsome and successful—like dear old dad—Brian also happened to be a nice guy. She liked his fiancée too. Faith Sumner seemed down-to-earth, not a spoiled bitch like some she could—
“Oh hell. Darcy Stanfield,” Rex said under his breath. In a louder voice, he added, “Good old Darcy. How nice to see you again.”
Next to him, Brian choked on his water.
Darcy came to stand behind Rex and placed a perfectly manicured hand on his shoulder. “Reginald. Brian.” She pointedly ignored Faith. “So nice to see you gentlemen.” She gave the Warrens a coquettish smile, then turned to Nat. “Why, hello. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Darcy,” Rex introduced, “this is Natalie Wielder, the city’s urban planner.”
Darcy blinked, then smiled widely. “Oh. I’ve heard of you. You’re a friend of the mayor’s son, Josh Jessup, aren’t you? Josh and I grew up together. He’s such a wonderful man.”
Then and there Nat knew the woman didn’t like her, was a vindictive twit, and didn’t have a single friend sitting at this table. “Nope. Wouldn’t call Josh a friend.”
“Oh? What would you call him, then?” Darcy asked with a calculating smile.
“I’d call him an asshole. To his face. So tell him if he wants another go at me to stop hiding behind your skirt and face me himself. Or should I write that down? You look confused.”
The woman gaped at Nat’s hostility, then turned on her heel and stormed away.
“Told you we should have brought garlic,” Faith whispered to Brian, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
The others laughed, even Nat. Then she turned to her date. “So…Reginald?”
Rex winced. “Don’t ask.”
“And aren’t your parents here? Why aren’t we sitting with them?” She enjoyed the misery on his face.
“Yeah, Reginald,” said Brian. “Why aren’t we?”
“Because I paid the party planner to sit me far away.” He winked at Nat. “I love ’em, but Momma plays hell with my love life.”
“What love life?” Brian chided.
“Well, if Nat’s altercation with Darcy doesn’t put me in immediate love, I don’t know what will,” Rex drawled, then winked at Nat.
The others started clapping. “To Nat,” Derrick toasted with a laugh. “And may I never find myself in Darcy’s place.”
Nat grabbed her wine and took a long drink. “I was right. This is going to be a long night.”
Chapter Four
Rex couldn’t help it. He thoroughly enjoyed himself. After her magnificent put-down aimed at Darcy’s fat head, Nat continued to entertain the table with her acerbic wit and spot-on accuracy when commenting on those around them.
She knew most of the guests in attendance and spoke honestly about what she knew. Nothing mean spirited, nothing false, but nothing sugar coated, either. The others sitting with them seemed to like her well enough. A good thing the men were all in relationships, because Rex had decided he wanted Nat as more than a sexual partner, but as a companion as well.