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“Thank you, Mr.Oscar,” I replied.
“Please, it’s Zion,” he told me.
I blushed from his appreciative gleam and nodded.He didn’t mention the club or the fact that Garrett had brought one of the servers with him as his date.I was grateful, but then I doubted anyone who recognized me would say anything, for fear of Garrett’s reaction.
“Ah, I thought I knew the beauty on Garrett’s arm,” Gunther Ford’s deep voice boomed as he and an attractive woman took their seats to the right of Lydia.
“Audrey, dear,” he said to the woman, “this is Fawn Parker.Fawn, this is my wife, Audrey.”
She seemed nicer than the other women I’d met tonight.Although her smile told me she knew I was a server.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fawn,” she said as she sat down.
The rock on her hand caught the light and twinkled.I was almost positive Leo had said Gunther Ford owned a large horse racing ranch, almost as big as Garrett’s.
“You too,” I replied.
I did not know the man on the other side of Lydia.He hadn’t spoken, and Garrett hadn’t acknowledged him.Neither had he acknowledged Lydia.The awkwardness of that fact wasn’t going unnoticed by the others at the table.
“You’ve done an excellent job once again, Lydia,” Audrey said, smiling warmly at the woman.
My gaze flickered to Lydia.
She seemed pleased as she looked across the table at Garrett.“Thank you, but as always, I couldn’t have done any of this without Garrett.”
The way she said his name made me tense.The familiarity and affection in her tone caused my stomach to feel funny.She was the friend of his who had organized this function.Why hadn’t he told me that?Had he left out that detail for a reason?
“Everything Garrett touches turns to gold,” Gunther Ford said jovially.“Unfortunately for me, that includes thoroughbreds.”
The other men chuckled at the table.
“As long as a Hughes horse is in the race, you’re fucked, Gunther,” Zion informed him before taking another drink.
A woman appeared at the empty seat beside him at that moment, and he immediately stood up and pulled out the chair for her.
“Greta, you know everyone,” Zion said to the striking brunette.Then, he turned to me.“Oh, yes, you haven’t met the beauty on Garrett’s arm tonight,” he said.“Fawn, this is Greta.Greta, Fawn.”His hand did a slight wave between us with his basic introduction.
She wasn’t wearing a ring on her left hand, and Zion didn’t appear to want to elaborate on who she was other than his date.
The men began to talk about the Kentucky Derby coming up next week, and I felt Lydia’s gaze on me more than once.Garrett hadn’t spoken to her or even looked her way.His hand left my leg when the first course was served.Feeling as if everyone was watching me, waiting for me to mess up or embarrass myself, I lost my appetite.
“Will you be attending the derby with Garrett again this year, Lydia?”Audrey asked.
The small amount of salad I’d managed to swallow felt like it was now lodged in my throat.I stilled, unsure if it was safe to attempt to take another bite.I reached for my flute, and my hand brushed against it clumsily, causing it to tilt.
Garrett’s hand shot out and steadied it before the drink spilled all over the table.I forced myself to take a breath as my heart raced in my chest.I knew they’d all witnessed this, and it seemed like all eyes were on me—but I didn’t dare to look up and check.
My face heated, and I wanted to bolt from the room.Go back to the security of my camper.Take off these ridiculous clothes that I didn’t belong in and put on my cutoff sweats.
“We haven’t—” Lydia began, but was cut off.
“Fawn will be attending with me this year.”Garrett’s words were spoken casually, but there was a warning laced in them.
The table was silent for a moment.
“Have you ever attended the derby before, Fawn?”Zion asked in a kind voice.As if trying to ease the table’s sudden uncertainty.
I looked up from my glass to meet his eyes.“No,” I replied with a shake of my head.“This will be a first.”That I have even heard about my attending it.I left that out though.
