In his peripheral vision, he could see Jordy bringing his hand to his face, as though to cover a smile.
“Gemma?” Alana echoed, falling haplessly into Rowan’s trap despite the simmering anger he could practically smell wafting off her.
“Sorry,” he breezed, “I forget not everyone knows Gemma Bancroft—the woman in the Swarovski dress? The chair of the fundraising committee for the Children’s Aid Society?” Rowan wasn’t above name-dropping in the noble pursuit of taking this harridan down a peg. “She always could wear a dress well, of course, though woe betide the poor nanny who tried towrestle her into one when we were knee-high to a grasshopper together.”
Alana’s tone went frosty. “Am I supposed to be cowed?”
You’re alreadyacow, Rowan thought. “Frankly I don’t expect a homophobe to have the sense to be, so no.”
At his elbow, Jordy rumbled quietly, “Rowan.”
Alana narrowed her eyes. “Do you have any idea who I am?”
Rowan gave her a sharp smile. “A self-important little peacock who doesn’t notice when a gentleman has indicated his polite disinterest in her pursuit?”
This time he caught Jordy’s laugh, muffled and brief though it was. “Rowan, come on.” He moved his hand from Rowan’s and wrapped an arm around his waist instead. “I think I see someone with cake.”
Belatedly, Rowan remembered Jordy wouldn’t enjoy drawing undue attention, no matter how much Rowan would enjoy publicly eviscerating this woman. “I’m sure it’s got nothing on yours,” he said, allowing himself to be turned away. He wouldn’t grope Jordy’s arse in public without his permission, but he did make a show of looking at it appreciatively where Alana could see him. “But I do have a sweet tooth.”
Jordy made it another two steps before he glanced over, his expression wry. “I should probably be grateful you didn’t go for her throat right away.”
It was like he knew Rowan already. “Sometimes it’s nice to gut them subtly instead,” Rowan offered. “For variety’s sake.”
Jordy snorted. “You think that was subtle? I can’t believe Gem invites you out in public.”
“Oi! I can be charming. To the right clientele, anyway.” That made Rowan sound like a prostitute, but well, both of them were essentially selling themselves for charity this evening. It was just that Rowan only had one particular intended diner and Jordy was sort of a buffet.
“I don’t doubt it.”
Grinning, Rowan wrapped his arm around Jordy’s ridiculous bicep. It did indeed appear that the time had come for the venue to serve dessert. That meant things were winding down. And the evening had gone surprisingly well. Maybe he ought to push his luck just a little.
He eyed one of the trays as a server passed by. “So, remember when I said I have a sweet tooth?”
“Thirty seconds ago?”
Rowan stuck his tongue out at him. Mature? No. Called-for? Maybe. A convenient distraction from the way the thought of asking Jordy out for a post-fake-date real date made his heart race? Absolutely. “I wasn’t lying, but I don’t much fancy coconut flakes. Terrible, chewy texture. Like eating semisweet soggy cardboard. However, since we’ve fulfilled our obligation to the betterment of child welfare… I do know a café down the street that’s open late, and they have an excellent cupcake selection. We could make our excuses.” Damn, he should’ve stopped walking and watched Jordy’s face while he asked. Then he’d have some idea of his reaction. “Before I get you into trouble with any other superfans.”
They stopped walking, and Rowan made himself look into Jordy’s eyes—his very pretty blue eyes, which were currently crinkled in the corners with amusement. “I could’ve handled Alana.”
Was he going to answer the question, or no? “Yes,” Rowan said, trying to be patient, “but I’m not a public figure, so I can be rude to people without repercussions. Do you want to go grab coffee and cupcakes? Preferably before Gem can sic someone else on us?”
“Aren’t we a bit overdressed?”
“In this part of town?” Rowan scoffed.
Jordy huffed in amusement. “I take your point. Did you bring a coat?”
“No. Lord, I know the look is unparalleled, but I’m already roasting to death in the jacket. I’d have conveniently left it on the subway if I didn’t know Gem would fillet me alive.” The jacket had belonged to her unlamented dead ex-husband, whom she wasn’t sentimental about, but she did appreciate fashion.
“Then I think we can sneak out.” He glanced to the side, and Rowan followed his gaze across the room to where Gem was holding court near her dinner table. “If we hurry.”
If this went anywhere, Rowan would owe Gem areallyexpensive bottle of wine. “In that case, what are we waiting for?”
Under no circumstances would Rowan call the nightpleasant. It was hot and sticky, and the breeze did little to make the air less oppressive. But he had a very large handsome companion who made sweating his bollocks off in a suit seem like a small price to pay.
Besides, the café really wasn’t that far, and they had the air-conditioning cranked.
At this time of night there were only a handful of cupcakes left. Rowan looked forlornly at the case with its pathetic offerings and made sad eyes at the teenager behind the counter, who was looking back and forth between him and Jordy with wide eyes.
