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“You know better,” I retorted.
I hadn’t asked my father for anything, and I wouldn’t.
He hooded his eyes, looking weary. “I thought so.” He sighed. “You don’t take anything you don’t feel you’ve earned.”
I pinned him with a stare. “You taught me that.”
Taking a sip of my drink, I glanced over at Easton, noting that she was slowly making her way down the wall, taking in the paintings.
“I’m not your teacher anymore.” My father spoke in a low voice. “I’m your father. A father who happens to believe you’re one of the good ones.”
At that I shot my eyes back to him.
He’d always been hard on me, which gave his rare compliments more of an impact.
“I’m proud of you,” he told me, “and I would be proud to see you win this. I can get his endorsement if you want.”
I inhaled a deep breath and shook my head gently. “You’ve never made anything easy on me. Don’t start now.”
And I set down my glass and walked away, leaving him to get back to his wife.
I didn’t know what I was doing – as usual lately – and I didn’t have a plan, but I knew where I wanted to be. And if I knew one goddamn thing about myself, it was that I wanted what I wanted, and right now I wanted to see her look at me.
Coming up behind her, I saw her holding a glass of champagne with her other arm folded over her chest.
I couldn’t resist teasing her as I came to stand next to her. “Thinking of starting a fire?”
She twisted her head and met my eyes. Dark makeup accentuated her eyes, and I could see her shocked look through her gold metal mask before she regained her composure.
Letting her lips curl, she rolled her eyes. “I’m trying not to be so naughty these days.”
Hallelujah. The idea of her getting naughty with anyone but me didn’t sit well.
“Good.” I nodded once. “I thought you said you weren’t coming.”
She shrugged, turning back to the abstract painting. “I didn’t think I was. I knew I would see you, after all.”
So she’d considered avoiding the ball because of me.
“So what changed your mind?” I pressed.
A stern expression crossed her face as she spoke in a low voice. “I decided I was tired of reining in my life because of men.”
And then a little smile peeked out as she took a sip of her champagne.
I let my eyes fall down her body, where the straps of the long dress across her back only made her skin looked even more supple and glowing.
Her hair was in loose curls with half of it pulled up into pins and the rest hanging down, framing her face.
Her lips were red, her skin tan, and her scent exotic.
And I felt my desire steadily growing, as did my need to lead her away to somewhere dark and quiet.
“I saw your interview,” she said, meeting my eyes again. “I thought it was wonderful.”
I nodded, not really caring to talk about the interview.
She continued. “I don’t know if you still feel like you have something to prove, Tyler, but I can tell you, even if I had never met you, I would vote for you.”
In that moment, as I looked down at her, my lungs emptied.
I’d been told by friends and wives of friends, employees and colleagues, that I had their vote when election time arrived about a year from now, but I hadn’t realized hers was the only one I’d wanted.
She actually thought I was worth a damn.
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I stared at the Stricher in front of us. “The first moment I saw you” – I inched closer to her – “scowling at that Degas like it was shit on canvas…” I looked at her. “I wanted you more than I’d ever wanted anything.”
The moment I’d set eyes on her, I had to have her.
A thoughtful expression appeared on her face. “A lot’s changed.”
“Nothing has changed,” I shot back.
She turned to me and then looked around at something behind me. “Are you with Tessa McAuliffe tonight?” she prodded, and I glanced back to see Tessa in a beige evening gown happily schmoozing in the crowd.
I hadn’t arrived with Tessa, nor did I plan to leave with her, but we’d had lunch before the interview last week and had spoken this evening.
“Some relationships need to be maintained,” I pointed out. “Even though they’re only professional.”
“She needs you,” Easton bit out. “You don’t need her.”
I reached out, grazing her cheek with my thumb. “I always loved it when you got angry,” I mused, start to feel whole again.
She hesitated, letting me touch her, but then tilted her face away, breaking the connection.
“You must be proud of Christian.” She changed the subject. “Transferring into AP History and also qualifying for advanced placement in Biology.”
I dropped my hand, suddenly needing more air. “Yes.” I sighed. “I’m taking him and some of his friends to an LSU game next Saturday to celebrate.”
“He seems happy.” She shot me a taunting smirk. “I think he’s starting to like you.”
I snorted. “I don’t know,” I grumbled under my breath. “Is one of the warning signs an aptitude for blackmailing me?” I asked. “Somehow he’s weaseled a birthday bash at JAX Brewery out of me if he gets straight As this semester.”
She breathed out a smile, shaking her head.
“Hello, Ms. Bradbury,” Jay chirped, coming up next to me, and I inwardly groaned.
