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We find a secluded corner away from the activity and I lean my back against the wall while Tennyson investigates what’s beneath an empty table nearby.
“You’re doing great,” she says. “I almost forget it’s not real.”
Me too. I still feel Gabriel’s handprint etched in tingles on my lower back, the spot he’s kept his hand since we walked back in here. “Thank you for coming. I don’t think I could’ve done this without you.”
“I’ve met some interesting people.” She leans in. “I told them I was in the amenities trade.”
I laugh.
“Hello, Erin,” Gabriel says, joining our seclusion. “I hope you’re having a good time.”
“The best,” she says. “Your hors d'oeuvres are top notch.”
He smiles. God, he’s so gorgeous when he smiles.
“Well, I have connections, if you’d like to take some home,” Gabriel says with such charm it makes my body melt.
“Don’t tempt me,” she replies.
“I’m bored,” Tennyson says.
To my surprise, Gabriel laughs at his honesty. The action causes a startling transformation to his face, removing the stone mask and revealing a very appealing side of him in its place. A side that is human. A side under different circumstances, I might want to explore.
“We should go soon,” I say to Gabriel, wanting to run away from this unwelcome attraction over a laugh. “This is a long day for him.”
Gabriel’s eyes meet mine and sear right through me as if he knows what I was thinking.
“I’ve got an idea,” he says, looking down at Tennyson. “I have a movie room. Want to watch a quick movie while your mom and I finish up?”
“Yes,” Tenny exclaims.
“I’m up for a movie,” Erin says. “I’ll stay with him while you two do your thing.”
“I need my cape,” Tennyson says.
Gabriel smiles, again causing a strange reaction in me. “Yes, you do. Let’s go get it.”
He and Tennyson walk to the center of the room where his cape is draped across the back of a chair at a round table adorned with fresh flowers in reds and pinks.
“You have to admit,” Erin says, “that was nice of him. He could’ve ignored the fact Tenny is bored.”
“I know,” I say, confused.
When they return, he leads us out of the ballroom and makes a call to alert his staff to get things ready. Tenny can barely contain his excitement, bouncing down the stairs that lead to a room filled with five rows of oversized leather recliners and a projection screen on one wall.
A smiling woman, with a dark bob, stands by a popcorn machine.
“This is Leah,” he introduces us. “She’ll take care of you.”
“Have fun, sweetie.” I give him a kiss. “I’ll be back soon.”
“No rush,” Erin says, reclining with a smile.
Gabriel leads me out and back toward the party.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
His dark eyes flit down to me and he shrugs it off, sliding his hands in his pockets.
