Page 45 of Executive Decision
“We are here out of obligation to the charity. This isn’t a social call. Daddy just died. We’re supposed to be somber.”
I spotted Cal Markham approaching in a dashing navy-blue suit. The lantern lights made it hard to tell, but he wasn’t wearing black. His salt-and-pepper hair was freshly cut in a way that made me want to run my hands against it to feel it tickle my palm.Whydid I have that impulse? As I just told my sister. This wasn’t a social occasion. It was an obligation.
“I’m going to go say hi to Adelaide,” Dora left.
I stared at Cal as he sidled up to the bar.
As he moved aside and met my stare, I fussed with my drink and tried not to gawk.
“Daphne, how are you?” Cal asked. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Mum insisted someone from the family attend to support her board,” I said. “So, she sent me with Dora because she didn’t trust Dora.”
I nodded in Dora’s direction.
“Dora is growing up,” Cal said. “I remember when she was a baby who crawled around your dad’s office. How did we make it here?”
“You couldn’t possibly remember that,” I giggled.
“I did. I was on his staff out of my MBA, and she was a toddler,” Cal said. “I’m old, Daphne. I’m a sad old man.”
“Cal, you aren’tthatold.”
“Well, I’m old enough that when a pretty girl hits me in the ass—hard—with a goddamn tennis ball, it smarts for a bit.”
“I’m sorry about that. I just wanted to die, Cal.”
I stopped. Wait.Did he call me pretty again?
“It’s all good. I’m mostly giving you a hard time. How does it feel to be back out? Are you okay, Daph?”
“No,” I answered. “I’m holding it together for everyone’s sake, but I’m not great. I miss Dad like crazy. Honestly, the next person who calls me Mrs. Walker is gonna get a slapping.”
Cal nodded. “Yeah, I think they should stop doing that immediately. You’re Ms. Delphine. He doesn’t deserve to take your name away.”
I smiled. “Thanks for saying that. I feel as though it’s a perpetual punishment for his bad behavior.”
“You shouldn’t be punished for the sins of a dick like that.”
I snickered. “Should you speak like that in public, Mr. Mayor?”
“Everyone knows I wasn’t a well-bred member of this crowd. You cannot teach an old dog new tricks, right?”
“Well, you’ve got us all fooled.”
“Not at all, princess. You don’t have to pad my ego, Daphne Delphine.”
Princess. The last time he’d muttered that; he sent me into orbit.
“I’m not one of you. I get to be one of you for the evening, but when I go home, I’m still a lurker. I was lucky to learn the ropes from David, but I’m always an outsider.”
“Sometimes, that’s an asset,” I admitted.
“What do you mean?”
I didn’t finish. A short, round man in a poorly fitted tuxedo nearly ran into me. Cal pushed me aside, protecting me from the oblivious man. I shivered as he rubbed my back, his hand resting there too long. My eyes met his and he let me go as a boyish grin crossed his face.
“You alright?” Cal laughed. “I thought he would take you out.”
