He had the address for the conference centre already programmed into his GPS unit—sexy, just like his car, with a masculine British accent and slick turning directions appearing like magic on his dashboard.
Money wasn’t new or impressive to Jess. She worked with a lot of successful business people. And yet this was on another level. Quiet, understated. Ruthlessly modern.
Evan wasn’t how she’d pictured a small-town businessman, although she was quickly learning her assumptions about who lived in small towns were way off-base. Wardham and its citizens were surprising her at every turn.
When they arrived, he pulled into the valet parking circle. She let herself wait until he came around to her side and helped her out of the car. “This is fun,” she whispered to him after he handed his keys over to the guy on duty. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“My pleasure,” he rumbled.
Yes, she set him up to say that. No, she wasn’t sorry, because thiswasfun. And it kept being so as they headed inside and she bumped into a few people she knew, made introductions.
The whole time, Evan’s hand was warm and big and solid in the small of her back. His gaze drifted her way often enough to be clear—to her and anyone who might be watching—that his attention was on her.
That he was transfixed by her.
He played that role so well, she could believe it if she let herself.
“I don’t see Brent anywhere,” she murmured. “He may not be here yet.” In her head, she added the more direct instruction,you don’t need to stare at me like you want me naked until he’s around—but okay, keep doing it anyway.
Evan didn’t hear her inner thoughts. His gaze prickled her skin anyway as they rode the escalator up to the second floor, as they crossed the central hallway to the ballroom. And by the time they stepped inside—still no sign of her ex—Jess found herself a little overwhelmed, and she needed a break.
Just a minute to compose herself and remember that Evan wasn’t actually her date. That he was pretending, and that was for the best.
“I need to use the ladies’ room,” she said. “Would you mind getting us some drinks?”
“Of course. Wine?”
She nodded. “White, please.”
* * *
Evan steppedinto the line at the bar, then did a slow turn, getting the lay of the land. He had learned over the years that there was a lot of reward in carefully doing recon. People watching, but with a purpose. Checking out the dynamics of the room. Were people talking about the official topic of the event? Was business being conducted, were secrets being shared? Even in a room where he didn’t know anyone, he could pick out who were the community leaders, who were the titans of enterprise. Who was on edge, who needed a deal.
He could smell desperation a mile away.
He’d gotten rich on that ability.
Tonight wasn’t about business, but he couldn’t turn it off even if he wanted to. And he never wanted to.
He also couldn’t turn off his awareness of being checked out—not that he wanted to. He stopped his slow pivot when he caught the curious and interested gaze of the man ahead of him in line. Tall, blond, lean muscles. Definitely Evan’s type.
But tonight he was all Jess’s, so he put on his mask and gave the man a brusque nod. The man turned pink, like he was embarrassed to have been caught with his cock out. Maybe he was in the closet. Buddy was going to have to work on his chill factor if he wanted to get anywhere with anyone, but that wasn’t Evan’s problem.
Except the pink cheeks were kind of cute.
For a split second, he considered leaning in and murmuring something to mollify the stranger. Or making up a business reason to exchange cards, but then a second bartender arrived and the line surged forward.
“I’ll have a gin and tonic,” the stranger said.
“Two glasses of white,” Evan said at the same time, to the other bartender.
“Sauvignon Blanc or the Pinot Grigio?”
Evan flicked his gaze over both bottles. He grinned. “The Go West Sauvignon Blanc, please.”
“Popular choice,” the bartender remarked.
“They had good grapes that year.” They had good grapes every year, thanks to his brother Ty’s hard work.
