Page 40 of The P Arrangement

My stomach growled, as if to prove my point.

“It’s two—two and a half hours? I can’t remember. But we don’t have to stay the whole time. And”—she smiled at me—“they are serving hors d’oeuvres. And if you’re still hungry when we leave, we can go find a real meal.”

“Oh, thank God.”

“I think food gives people something to do so we don’t all stand around, awkwardly trying to make conversation.”

“In that case, let’s go find someone with a tray.”

It was in the back of the room—because of course it was. That way, people had to walk past the other attendees to get to it and maybe strike up a conversation. The good thing was, there was a lot to choose from, so maybe we wouldn’t have to find food later.

I loaded up my plate while Delaney was still deciding on what she wanted. “I’m going to go snag a table before someone else gets it.”

“Okay.”

The table was standing level with no chairs. Probably another way to keep people mingling. Guests were less likely to stay in one place if they weren’t sitting.

I had just set my plate down when I heard, “St. James, you dick, is that you?”

Grinning, I turned around to see Theo Vanderpool, one of my old classmates from law school. “Hey, asshole,” I said as we clasped hands and bumped chests. “I didn’t think I’d run into you here.”

I’d been to various law conferences over the years, and I had never seen Theo at any of them, even the ones that were closer to his part of the country.

“What are you doing all the way out here?” I asked.

“I could ask the same of you.”

“Minnesota’s closer than Connecticut,” I pointed out even though neither was close.

He held out his arms. “Yeah, but it’s Vegas, baby. Work pays for my flight, my hotel, and I get to play the slots.”

Shaking my head, I laughed. “Don’t you own your own law firm?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, but it doesn’t come out of my personal pocket, so I think it’s worth it.” He crossed his arms and leaned on the table. “It’s gotta be the same for you.”

“Yeah. I’m on a panel of lawyers who started their own firms.”

“Hey, same. Saturday, right?”

I nodded. “We must be on the same one.”

Rather than someone giving a presentation about their experience, a panel gave the attorneys in the audience a chance to ask multiple people questions and get varying answers.

Scanning the room, he turned back to me. “So, work is going well, I’m assuming.” He softened his voice. “Is it true you got a divorce?”

Talking about my personal life with an old friend wasn’t off-limits, but I didn’t really want to discuss my divorce.

“Yeah,” was all I said, hoping he wouldn’t ask me any more questions about it.

Keeping his tone low, Theo said, “Since we’re two single guys in Vegas, maybe you and I can hit up some of the casinos together. But if not, I’ve already seen a couple of beautiful women here without wedding rings.” He leaned closer. “Over at the food table, there is a brunette in this red dress with slamming hips and an ass for days. I can already picture it—”

A cough sputtered from me. I had just taken a bite when I heard Theo obviously describing Delaney.

As if my friend had summoned her, she appeared at the table. “Hey,” she said, setting her plate down.

Theo swung her way, crossing one foot over the other while pasting a cocky smirk on his face. “Well, hello there.”

Delaney raised her brow with a look that said,Who is this guy?

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