Page 3 of Playmaker

I tried to slide the hem down, moving my hands discreetly under the table. That only made the fabric press against my breasts, and it was already tight enough there. Buying one-piece garments was brutal when your boobs were the size of mine.

I glanced around the table, finding more than one set of eyes on my bustline.Shit.I was trying to make a good impression. I’d been working for Anderson, Krys and Chan for five years after qualifying, and this was the first charity event the law firm had invited me to. I didn’t want it to be the last. Invitations to events like this were a step on the path to my goal of making partner. But being conspicuous for the wrong reasons was a problem.

For the office, I had a wardrobe of neutral, loose-fitting suits that were businesslike and functional and didn’t draw attention to my body. When I was working I didn’t need anybody talking to my boobs. But for events like this, a brown suit wasn’t going to cut it.

The speaker was still talking at the front of the room. I shrugged my shoulders, making the dress marginally less binding about my bustline. While I was sitting down, no one would see how the dress was sliding around my hips.

And wrinkling. Was it supposed to do that? It didn’t look great. But it was one of those designer labels, so it was supposed to be good quality. At least it was green. Lots of colors didn’t look good with bright red hair and freckles, but green was a safe color.

Next time, even if the consignment shop didn’t have much privacy for changing, I was trying the damned thing on before buying it. And next time I’d make a note to get a dress before the last minute.

People were applauding, so I turned forward again, clapping my hands together quietly and hoping at long last this was over. I didn’t know anyone at the table, and I wasn’t good at small talk.

We’d all been introduced to the man and woman across from me, John Deeker, and his wife. He was a hockey player for the Toronto Blaze. There were hockey players sprinkled among all the tables. They were the bait, bringing in the wealthy donors who would pay money to the charity in order to rub shoulders with the athletes.

Darcy was going to be very disappointed that the one at my table was married. None of the players were out, as far as I knew, so it wasn’t like I was going to give my roommate’s phone number to any of them, but he’d been pretty excited when he heard about this dinner. There was a player at the next table I could tell Darcy about—he was the only non-Caucasian on the team as far as I knew. He had an odd nickname…

“Please enjoy dancing with the band, conversing with your neighbors, and don’t forget the silent auction along the north wall. Thank you for your generosity in supporting our world-class children’s hospital.”

Finally!

I stood, murmuring polite nothings to the couple who’d been seated beside me. We’d made painful conversation on the weather and how the local baseball team was doing. I stepped back, checking for the partners of my firm. I wanted them to know I was here, doing the polite, so I could make my escape.

Before that though, the silent auction. I had plans.

Once I was away from the table, I smiled vaguely at people I passed. There were a few other associates from the firm, but no one I knew well. I said hello to a woman I’d been at an ethics seminar with last month.

“Nice to see you, Callie. Are you enjoying yourself?”

An honest no was obviously not the proper response. “Very interesting. You?”

“We were sitting at a table with Ducky, and he’s such a fun young man.”

Ducky? What kind of name was that? “We had John Deeker and his wife at our table.”

“She’s lovely—she did a lot of the work for this event.”

I made note. If I bumped into her again, I’d comment on that. “Everything has gone very smoothly.”

“It has. And it’s so fun to meet the hockey players. Are you a hockey fan?”

Inwardly, I shuddered. “No, but my roommate is. I’ve promised to tell him about them.”

She leaned forward. “Talk to Cooper. If anyone could make you a hockey fan, that man could.”

That was doubtful. On the other hand, if he could help me become partner, I’d follow him around like a puppy. But I’d keep that thought to myself. “Did you meet him?”

She sighed. “No, not yet. He’s much too popular.”

“Well, good luck.”

“Thank you. And that’s such a…striking dress, Callie.”

The hair on the back of my neck rose. I hadn’t been trying for striking. “How kind of you to say. I think I’d have done better to emulate you. That’s a lovely outfit.”

It was, but since it was pink, it wasn’t anything I’d have even considered. But it fit better with this group than what I was wearing. I made a mental noteagainto prep earlier. It would be good to have a few event-worthy outfits ready if I was going to get these invitations now.

She said goodbye to join her husband, and I wished her luck on her Cooper hunt. I finally made it to the silent auction items, quickly scanning through the options. I believed in the charity, but normally I did my giving directly and got a tax receipt for the full value of my donation. These things, where one was required to pull out the personal benefit from any money given, if it was even worth trying to claim, felt like a wasted opportunity. And a headache for your accountant.

---