Page 62 of Doc Showmance
She and Seth had this moment of giggling that made me feel twitchy to do something. I’m not sure what. I wanted to make it clear to Seth she was off-limits. She was mine. But starting a fight with the sheriff ranked as level-one stupid. Plus, I wasn’t the kind of guy who went to fighting first. So, I hard smiled.
Chimes played like we were at a play or symphony concert at intermission. My parents always used this form of communication at parties. It reminded me of all those “family dinners” that weren’t actually for family but about putting on a social face for some associate. Whenever it was just our family at home, we didn’t eat together. I couldn’t recall a single time we’d sat down as a family of four and actually had a meal. There’d be no point, from my parents’ perspective. No one to impress or entertain, no angle, and most definitely no patience to deal with their kids.
I squeezed Amber’s hand. “Time for the meal. Let’s go upstairs.”
Waitstaff at the entrance to the dining room showed people to their tables. I held back to be one of the last to get seated and get a sense for the size of the crowd. There had to be at least a hundred people here. Good thing Dad designed the house to have this entire floor set up as a party room.
“You’re pissed at Seth about something, aren’t you?” Amber whispered.
“Nope. Not picking a fight with the sheriff.”
“Youareangry. Why?”
“You need to ask?”
“Because I got mad at you for thinking he’d arrested me?” Her eyebrows shot into her hairline. “You think I want to hook up with him? He’s hot in a guy-who’s-way-older-than-me way, but experience has taught me that men of his age are a bad idea. They’re at the phase where they want permanence with a home, kids, and all the domestic shit.”
“He’s hot?” I forced a laugh, but it came off awkward as hell. Maybe because I had my teeth clenched.
“You need to drink more wine. Maybe you’ll get laid tonight and it’ll even you out. I hear Maya’s here.”
“You want me to hook up with my ex?”
“No. I actually don’t. But I’m not really sure what the hell’s going on between us other than—”
“Names, please.” The girl with the iPad handing out seating arrangements cringed. “Oh, you’re Ian Todd… You’re at the head table with your parents, sir. Ms. Hardin, let me show you to your table.”
Of course, my mom would pull this bullshit and separate us.
“No.” I didn’t let go of Amber’s hand. “We’re sitting together.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw the cameraman move in close.
The girl consulted her iPad and shook her head. “Looks like there’s not enough space for everyone at the head table. I’m sorry. I didn’t make the decision.”
My mom did.Scrutiny of the “head” table showed even Brock didn’t make the cut, but I recognized a CEO, the state attorney, and someone close to the president.
Amber stood on tiptoe to scrutinize the head table. “There’s a pretty girl up there. Kinda vanilla, but her outfit looks expensive. Let me guess. That’s Maya.” She had the audacity to giggle. Then cupped her hand to whisper to me, “The twins told me she wants you back. Seems you’ve got some sort of reputation as a sex god. Given the way all the women keep crotch scanning you and plying me for bedroom details, I do wonder.”
“This is a nightmare.” I stared at the ceiling and ran a hand through my hair. I whispered back, “No one other than you crotch scans me.”
A pretty Indian lady with heavy eyeliner walked by and… Seriously? Her eyes dropped to my dick.
Amber doubled over laughing. As she got her hilarity under control, she crotch scanned me on purpose, which got things twitching downstairs.
“Stop it, Amber. How much have you had to drink?”
“I’m finishing up my first glass.” She held it up. “Not even feeling a buzz yet.” An impish smile tweaked her lips before asking the iPad lady, “Where am I?”
The woman pointed to the farthest corner. The table was so far away from the main table that even I could barely see it from where we stood.
“It’s perfect.” She leaned close to me, which sent a wave of her perfume, or maybe it was simply the flowery smell of her shampoo up my nose. Regardless, I liked it and wanted to lean in for a heavier sniff. “Can I borrow your phone? I might want to watch the game. It’s Thanksgiving, you know. Bet I can get my tablemates who’re probably all the other loose ends to watch it with me.”
“No.”
She leaned in and kissed me. Wide open in public. Guaranteed my mother saw that. The annoying part was that I even cared what Mom thought.
“Please?”
“Amber…”
