Page 59 of Duke's Daring Bookworm
“Let’s get a drink,” I said to Lily after we spent some time greeting guests, suffering through my grandpa’s speech, and my own short acknowledgment. I pulled her along after me, desperate to put off all the well-wishers and money-grabbing vultures that were soon to descend on us. I held her hand tight as we wove through the crowd to the bar.
“Whiskey,” I said to the bartender when we walked up. Ilooked at Lily as she ordered. She looked a bit overwhelmed at it all, but still seemed to have fun.
“Can you make a cherry martini, please?” She asked. So polite. I felt guilty that I hadn’t been. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that there was probably a set drink menu tonight and anything outside of basic drinks and the menu wasn’t going to be possible.
“I’m sure I can find what I need and make one special just for you,” the man behind the counter said as he winked at her. I didn’t like the flare of jealousy I felt at his words. I put my arm around Lily and pulled her in close in a barbaric move of possession. She didn’t resist, but instead, leaned her head against my shoulder while we waited for our drinks.
“Thank you,” she said when the bartender handed her the drink. A glare from me kept him from saying anything more than “you’re welcome.”
“He was nice,” she said when we stepped away from the bar.
“No, he was flirting with you.” A little growl slipped into my words, and I cleared my throat to try again. She looked at me, startled, and then back over to the damn bar. I pulled her in close to me and turned us so she could only see me.
“He was just being nice, Duke. Men don’t go around flirting with me.” She patted my chest like she had to placate me, but she didn’t take her eyes off me.
I snorted. She was clueless.
“I’m willing to bet plenty of men flirt with you.” She licked her lips, and I wanted to close the small distance between us and kiss her. She would taste like cherry martinis like she did that first time.
“I would know if I were being flirted with.” She cocked her head like I was a fool.
I knew for a fact she was completely oblivious to it. Hell, I did it all the time, and she never had a fucking clue. I didn’t fight it, though, or my urge to kiss her as I leaned in and gently pressed my lips against hers. I was right—she tasted like that first time.
When I pulled away, I could see the vultures circling. Three of the old crones on the board of directors approached us, stealing my peace, likely to try to sway me about the layoffs.
Lily must have felt me stiffen because she looked at me curiously and then looked around cautiously, like she had to prepare for an attack.
“Looks like I don’t get to keep you for myself,” she said when she saw the group waiting to talk to me. “I’m going to get off these gorgeous but dangerously high heels. Find me when you’re done.”
She kissed my cheek and excused herself. I wanted to ignore my responsibilities and follow her, maybe push her into one of the many dark corners the decorator had created.
“Mr. Pennington,” one of the decrepit board members said when he approached. His old, croaky voice barely carried to me in the bustle of the gala around us. “I have some things I would like to discuss with you.”
Every person who came to talk to me had a list of demands, as if I could simply wave my hands and make it happen. The worst was a demand to cut an entire department that handled complaints for one of our subsidiaries with no proposal on who exactly would handle those complaints.
One face blurred into the next, demands coming from each until I put a stop to it and excused myself. I sought Lily’s vibrant red hair and deep purple dress in the crowd,hoping to join her in whatever space she found to hide.
“So, who is that piece of ass you’ve been with all night?” A familiar voice sounded from behind me, disrupting the peace I’d carved out for myself. He always did that, from the moment I was born.
“Dad,” I said in a voice that I hope conveyed the cool distance I wanted between us.
“Don’t say it like that. God, you’re impossible.” He slumped against the high-top table next to us and picked up a random drink, downing it in one go.
“What are you doing here?”
“It’s a Pennington family party and I’m family, aren’t I?” he slurred. Booze wafted off him in waves so strong he may as well have swum in it.
“You aren’t a Pennington. Haven’t you been banned from the premises?” I stood straight and squared off to him like the Marines taught me. Lord knows he never taught me anything but how to drink and blow through money like it was water.
“That expired.” So gramps did have an official restraining order against him at some point. I’d have to get with the lawyers and see if we could renew it.
I didn’t acknowledge his words and simply continued to stare him down. He would get to the point or leave soon enough.
“Listen, I need some help. I have a business proposal?—”
“No.”
He leaned in close to me as if he had some secret to tell. Whatever his ‘proposal,’ I wanted nothing to do with it.
