Page 49 of The Boyfriend Swap

Lauren shook her head in sympathy. “Todd is the champion of passive-aggressive behavior. I find it’s pointless to apologize more than once. Eventually, or as soon as he realizes he won’t have sex again if he keeps up the silent treatment, he lets it go as if nothing happened.” With a knowing raise of her eyebrows, she said, “I have a feeling Perry will get over this once he tosses back a few more of those cocktails and wants to get frisky with his beautiful girlfriend.”

I kept my back as straight as possible to avoid giving into the shudder I was desperate to release at the thought of Perry getting frisky with me. “I’d better instruct the bartender to add an extra shot to all of his drinks then, eh?”

“Atta girl.” Lauren clinked her glass against mine and rejoined her husband.

I glanced at my watch, wondering if it was a good time to call Will when from behind me, I heard a deep voice say, “I’ve been trying to get your attention all day.”

I blew a stream of air through my lips and braced myself for impact before facing Aaron Davenport. In his early forties, Aaron was handsome with short chestnut-brown hair, light blue eyes, freckles, and a slim but fit build. He used his connections in the entertainment industry more than his good looks to get in the pants of beautiful, young, and ambitious aspiring actresses who were too inexperienced and naïve to doubt any of his promises. My knickers, however, might as well have been surgically attached to my body as far as Aaron was concerned, but so far, he hadn’t given up despite my continuous (but polite) refusal to “give it up.”

“Merry Christmas, Aaron,” I said with a bright smile before accepting his Hollywood-style two-cheek kiss. Although I’d be tempted to take a shower to wash his slime off my body, he was a client, and it was my job to put on a good show. Aaron was the owner of a voice-over company originally based solely in New York City. He’d met my father a decade earlier when he took over a small studio in LA and hired Bellows and Burke as outside counsel in the deal. B&B later assisted when Aaron acquired offices in Chicago and Minneapolis. His moral compass was questionable, but my dad and Stan didn’t care as long as he paid his bills.

Aaron darted his eyes the length of my body before eventually landing on my face. “What’s shaking, Jaws?” He’d nicknamed me after the famous fictitious shark after I handled time-sensitive contract negotiations on his behalf and ripped opposing counsel a new one.

“I’ve been meaning to call you, actually,” I said while trying to keep the crab puff I’d swallowed earlier from coming back up.

“Finally changed your mind about letting me take you out?” Aaron said, raising his thin eyebrows. “Harvey wouldn’t mind. I’m practically family anyway.”

“Which would make it virtually incest,” I protested while shaking my head in practiced amusement. Turning the conversation to a more business-appropriate topic, I asked, “Have you pondered expanding AD Voice Over into Canada next?” The latest issue ofBusiness Insiderincluded an article about the Great White North becoming a new hotspot in the industry, and I considered it part of my job to stay on top of trends in entertainment.

Aaron’s eyes twinkled. “You’re so sharp, Ms. Bellows,” he said, looking me over appreciatively again. “I’m considering Vancouver or Montreal for my next business venture. Care to help me choose? We can visit both in the name of ‘research.’” He winked at me.

“I’m sure Ashley wouldn’t appreciate me encroaching on her man.” Before he could argue, I added, “And I’m afraid my boyfriend wouldn’t be thrilled either. He already has a jealous streak.”

“He doesn’t seem very green-eyed to me.”

As a vision of Perry’s annoyingly penetrating eyes flashed before me, I replied, “He’s not. His peepers are blue like a pair of jeans after the first wash…wait, what are you getting at?”

Aaron gave me a lecherous grin and pointed to where Perry was standing only a few feet away, surrounded by women. “I think he might be okay with swinging.”

I grimaced. “Those are my relatives. And most of them were already in menopause when he was born.”

Aaron shrugged. “I’ve been observing you guys all day, and let’s just say he seems more interested in engaging in couch aerobics with them than more high-intensity activities with you.”

Knowing Aaron was “observing” us sent creepers up my back like the Boogey Man’s fingers, but I ignored the sensation. The fact he noticed Perry’s cold shoulder toward me was more upsetting. “We argued last night and he’s stubborn,” I said as casually as possible while trying to make eye contact with Perry. When he looked my way, I blinked at him three times as quickly as I could.

“Wow. You must have really bruised his ego. Itdoeshappen to everyone, you know. Even young guys like Perry.” He chortled obnoxiously.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied while contemplating the wisdom in calling Aaron out on how inappropriate it was to attack my boyfriend’s ability to achieve an erection. I was his legal counsel, not his sorority sister. But I had more vital things to ponder. For instance, why Perry refused to acknowledge my signal for help. I’d told him about Aaron after he woke up from his nap during our drive from the city. I said if I blinked at him three times in a row, it meant I needed to be rescued. Hoping Aaron would be too busy checking out my breasts to catch me in the act, I kept my stare on Perry, willing him to notice me. After what felt longer than the line for the ladies’ room at a bar on St. Patrick’s Day, he laughed and angled his head in my direction. While my face was in his line of vision, I blinked once, twice, three times and held my breath.

I knew he saw me—both times. I was already tempted to kick him where it hurt, and if he ignored me one more time, I’d have his balls on one of my mom’s Flora Danica china platters. Our eyes met, I blinked—hard—blinked again, and…dammit…he dissed me again—this time to dance with my Great Aunt Edna.

Enough was enough. With my fists clenched, I took a step backward and said, “Excuse me, Aaron. I have an urgent matter begging for my attention.” Before he could say anything, or possibly while he was saying it (I didn’t wait around to find out if he bothered), I hoofed it over to Perry and broke up his dance routine. “Apologies, Aunt Edna, but I need to borrow Perry for a minute.” Without awaiting a response from either of them, I grabbed ahold of Perry’s left hand and dragged him out of the room. When we were in the hallway, I checked left and right for nosy catering staff before opening the door of the service pantry, pushing Perry in, and then closing the door behind us. The combined smell of cedar and dust tickled my nostrils.

“What’s your problem?” Perry asked, his eyes shooting deadly bullets into mine while he shook out the hand I’d been holding. I hadn’t gripped it that hard—wimp.

“Myproblem?” Stepping closer to him, I repeated, “Myproblem? What’syourproblem?” I poked a finger into his chest.

Nearly tripping over a precariously located stepladder, Perry smirked at me. “No complaints here. I’m having a gay old time.”

I rolled my eyes. He probablywasgay and Robyn was acting as his beard. In fact, many of the actors I was attracted to were gay, like Matt Bomer. Not that I was attracted to Perry. “You were having such a wonderful time, you failed to rescue me.”

Cocking his head to the side, Perry said, “From what?”

I wasn’t buying the dumb act. “Aaron. I blinked at you three times. Make that nine times.”

Perry’s mouth dropped open. “Oh. I wondered why you were blinking so much. I thought you might be having a seizure.”

“And you were so concerned, you pretended not to notice? It’s a good thing you’re not a doctor or you’d have broken the Hippocratic Oath.”

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