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“People dressed up and showing off,” she repeated to herself. Was it really all a game, like Stuart said? If so, he had to be one of the winners. It was so obvious when you compared him to everyone else in the room.
“Isn’t this a pleasant surprise.”
Dr. Tischel came strolling out of the ballroom, with a smile as broad as the rest of him. “Twice in one day. Fortune must be smiling on me.”
“Hello, Dr. Tischel.”
“Karl, please.” Spreading his arms, he drew her into an unexpected hug. Pulling her close, he held on so tightly Patience had to angle her spine to prevent his hips from pressing against hers. Antiseptic and cologne assaulted her nostrils, making her grimace.
After a beat longer than necessary, she managed to extricate herself. “Is Mrs. Tischel here, too?”
“Last I heard she was in Salem with all the other witches.” He laughed at his joke.
Patience took a step backward. His eyes had that glassy sheen she knew too well. She looked to the check-in table, hoping the volunteer might help, but the woman had conveniently disappeared. And she could forget Stuart. He was probably so busy talking to the lovely Natalie he didn’t realize she was missing. Looked like she would have to deal with the situation the same way she’d solved problems her whole life. On her own.
She took another step backward. Distance was always the first solution. “Ana was looking better when I left her this afternoon.” A safe topic always helped, too.
“Ana? Oh, Ana.” He waved a sloppy hand through the air. “She’s a tough old bird. Are you here alone?”
Thank goodness, a way out of this conversation without causing a scene. “No, I’m here with Ana’s nephew, Stuart. In fact, he’s probably—”
“The one whose girlfriend dumped him?”
“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” she replied. Other than thinking that if true, the woman was a fool. “I should be getting back—”
The doctor grabbed her upper arm, preventing her from passing. “Let me buy you a drink.”
His hot, stale breath made her want to gag. “No.” Shoving the man with enough force that he tottered sideways, she broke free and hurried back into the ballroom.
A half dozen pairs of eyes turned in her direction. Of course. Pay attention now, after she no longer needed anyone’s assistance. Wasn’t that always the way? For crying out loud, but she was tired of being stared at. She looked down at her dress. Her scarf had been pushed aside during her scuffle with Dr. Tischel, revealing her ample cleavage for all the world to see. No wonder the good doctor had hit on her. She looked like a two-bit hooker.
“There you are.”
The crowd parted and there was Stuart threading his way through the guests, his eyes glittering with a different kind of brightness. One that suggested he was actually glad to see her. “I was wondering where you went. Is everything all right?”
He was looking her up and down, taking in the disheveled scarf and goodness knows what else. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” Patience didn’t want to talk about it. Her arm hurt from where Dr. Tischel had grabbed her, and she was starting to get a headache. “I’m not feeling well is all.”
He arched a brow. Why, she didn’t know. She was telling the truth. She didn’t feel well. “I’m—”
As if on cue, Dr. Tischel lurched by them, his shoulder striking her shoulder blade and pitching her forward. Stuart caught her by the arms before she crashed into him.
“We meet again,” the doctor said. A lewd smile unfurled across his face as his eyes locked onto her exposed neckline.
In a flash, Stuart was between them, blocking the doctor’s line of sight. “Maybe you should get some coffee,” he said, his tone making it clear he didn’t expect an argument. When the doctor had left, Stuart turned back to face Patience. “Are you all right?”
Everyone was looking at them. Patience could feel the stares on her skin, worse than before. A tiny sob escaped before she could stop it. “No,” she said.
“Come on.” A warm arm wrapped itself around her shoulder and guided her toward the door. “Let’s get some air.”
Stuart led her to an unused conference room down the hall. There weren’t any chairs, but it was private. “Was he the reason you wanted to leave?”
“I ran into him outside and he got a little grabby.”
“Jeez. What is it with old guys and young girls? Did he hurt you?”
“No. I’m fine.” Wrapping her arms around her body, she stared out the window at the traffic on Newbury Street. She hated that she let Dr. Tischel’s leering get to her. The old guy was no worse than any of the others. “I thought these people would be different.”
