Page 17 of Tame the Player

“Sorry, Jeremy. It’s been a long week. What were you saying?”

He smiles wide and nods his head. “I get it. I’m sure dealing with the jock is exhausting.”

Instantly, I come to Holden’s defense. “No, that’s not what I meant. Holden is nice and a hard worker. I just meant it’s exhausting with the change in my schedule, Cole’s schedule, and everything else.”

Jeremy doesn’t respond; he just purses his lips and continues driving. The rest of the ride is in silence, and I’m actually thankful when we walk into the dinner party to deal with some of the awkwardness.

Jeremy stops and talks to a few people, and Iwait for him to introduce me. After the third person stops and my date has continued to ignore me, I get irritated. When another man comes to talk to Jeremy, I stick my hand out. “Hello, I’m Catherine Maples.”

The man is congenial, but I can hear Jeremy huff next to me. I give him a look that saysWhat’s your problem?before continuing the conversation.

When we finally make it to our seats for dinner, Jeremy excuses himself almost immediately.

I’m shocked as I sit here, looking around the room where I don’t know anyone. I mean, it’s Whiskey Run, so chances are I’ve seen most of these people before, but I’ve not talked to them. I straighten my back and look around the room. Jeremy is gone so long, mingling with other people that I’m about to get up and walk out when the speaker announces for everyone to sit down and that dinner is being served.

Jeremy sits next to me, and I lean toward him. “What’s going on?”

He’s confused by my question, but before I can explain it to him, the other people at our table sit down.

Conversation continues, and Jeremy turns to the woman sitting on the other side of him.Shocked by the way he’s ignoring me, I stare down, debating what I should do, until the man next to me nudges me with his arm. “Hello. I’m Clark.”

He’s holding his hand out, and I shake it. “I’m Catherine.”

“I don’t recognize you from any of the locations, and I would remember you.”

I point to Jeremy. “I’m here with Jeremy.”Even if he’s not acting like it, I think silently.

Clark looks at Jeremy and then back at me with a nod. If knowing I’m here with another man cautions him, he doesn’t let on because he spends the remainder of the dinner talking to me. Any time there is a break in the conversation, I look at Jeremy, but he’s paying me no mind. I’m not sure why he asked me to come if he planned to ignore me all night long.

After dinner, I’m ready to call it a night, even if that means I need to call an Uber, but the speaker walks out onto the stage while dessert is being served. Darn it, if I get up now, everyone will know I’m leaving.

I sit and listen as they announce the quarterly winners, and I clap when everyone around me claps. There’s a few speeches, and just when I thinkthe night is about to end, they announce that the dance floor has opened up.

I lean toward Jeremy. “Are you ready to go?”

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t be rude, Catherine. I’ll be ready to go in fifteen minutes.”

He turns back to the woman next to him, and I start to fume. This is crazy.

I get up to leave, and Clark puts his hand on mine. “Dance with me.”

“No, really, I was just about to leave. Thank you for talking to me during dinner, it was nice to meet you.”

He doesn’t take no for an answer and pulls me onto the dance floor. He’s been a perfect gentleman all evening, and he did save me from having no one to talk to during dinner. “Fine. Once dance and then I really must go.”

He spins me on the dance floor, and by the end of the song, I’m laughing and smiling. Clark is a wonderful dancer, and it’s the most fun I’ve had all night.

As he twirls me back into his arms, he leans into me, pressing his hard manhood into my hip. “Come home with me.”

I put both hands on his chest and push. “No, I’m here on a date.”

His voice is calm, but he’s strong, and he doesn’t let me go. “Your date has ignored you all night long. Come home with me… I know how to treat a woman. I’ll have you screaming my name before the night is over.”

I stomp my heel into the top of his foot, and when he bellows in pain, the people around all stare at us. I push away from him and try to keep my shit together. I hate to make a scene because it will be all over town by morning. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m a horrible dancer. Now I must go.”

I stomp over to the table. “Jeremy, I’m leaving.”

I grab my purse, and fuming, I walk toward the front door. I don’t stop when I get outside, I just keep walking. Hell, I’ll walk home if I have to. I’m almost out of the parking lot when Jeremy comes running up behind me. “Catherine, where are you going? Hold on and I’ll get the car.”

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