Page 68 of Courting Clemson

“Then what the hell are you talking about?”

“Clemson. Your girlfriend? She’s here with Landry.”

I shook my head while he spoke. “Maybe you saw someone that resembles her. She had a team obligation tonight.”

“I don’t think so, man. I’d bet my left nut it was her on his arm.” He looked around the room with jerky head movements. Left. Right. Left again. “Shit, I don’t know where they’re seated, but I swear it was her.”

Thinking he’d lost it at that point, I decided to just placate him instead of causing a scene disputing his claim. “Okay, man. I’ll keep my eye out for her.”

“I’m here for you, man. Okay? I got your back if you want to take him out. Whatever you want.” He gripped my shoulder and gave it a few pumps.

I stared after him as he darted away, getting lost in the crowd of milling guests. He had to be wrong. There’s no way she was here with the very man we’re supposed to court tonight for his business.

Right? There’s no way…because that would mean she lied to me.

Grabbing a drink off a waiter’s tray as he passed by, I threw my head back and downed whatever was in it. My nerves were skyrocketing thanks to Liam’s nonsense, and I had to cool down before running into Brian Landry and making an ass out of myself.

So, I decided to take my seat again and watch the crowd from a distance. The others had already taken their seats, and the only remaining empty spot was mine.

As I approached the table, I could make out Brian Landry—and, I assumed, his date—from behind. All I could see of her was luxurious hair flowing down her back, nearly to her waist. Soft curls gave her an old Hollywood feel and little jewels the same color as her dark green gown were intricately woven throughout the silky waves.

My heart was in my throat as I rounded the table to my chair. I could feel my pulse throbbing in my neck, and my palms were wet with perspiration. I snuck a swipe down my tuxedo slacks to dry them because I’d have to shake the man’s hand before I sat down.

The account he could offer us would change my career. I couldn’t look like a bumbling idiot just because his date looked like my girlfriend’s twin from behind.

The room still buzzed with people socializing, but when I laid eyes on the couple across the table, I could’ve sworn the whole place fell away. I made eye contact with him first, offering my hand in greeting.

“Mr. Landry, so great to finally meet you,” I said and thrust my hand toward him. “Luke Allen.”

He reached for the offered handshake and said hello. Immediately, because he had impeccable manners on top of model-good looks, he introduced the woman beside him.

“This is my date, Clemson Farsay,” he said, or at least I think he said, because when my eyes met hers, the buzzing in my ears grew as loud as a swarm of angry hornets.

Chapter Seventeen

Clemson

The moment our eyes locked, my stomach turned over, and I thought I’d lose the contents. How the hell could this be happening? Never in a thousand years would I have thought our paths would cross like this.

It didn’t even dawn on me that the two men I was “dating” were both inviting me to the same event that evening. Never crossed my mind. Not once. The holiday season was upon us. There were so many social events going on around the city every weekend. What were the odds that we’d end up at the same one?

Luke looked like his head was about to explode, and before I had to witness that happen, knowing damn well I was the cause of the wild look in his eyes, I excused myself to use the restroom.

From inside the bathroom stall, I dug through my little clutch for my cell phone. Grace picked up immediately, and I had to focus on my breathing to keep from having a full-on breakdown.

“You’re not going to believe what is happening right now,” I whisper-shouted into my phone. I bent at the waist while perched on the toilet to look under the stall dividers to see if I was in the room alone. No other visible feet, so I sat up tall and blotted my sweaty forehead with a wad of toilet paper.

“Okay. Calm down and tell me what’s going on,” my roommate instructed in that take-charge tone she adopted when I was melting down.

“Luke is here,” I hissed. “And not only is he here, but he is also sitting at the same table we are. The same table Brian and I are seated at.”

“Maybe he won’t recognize you,” she foolishly offered.

“Grace! Be serious. Brian introduced me to him by name, and the death glare he gave me in return made it very clear he was making all kinds of assumptions in his mind.”

“Pull him aside and explain it to him,” she said simply.

Nothing about this situation was simple.

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