Chapter 4 #2
When they pulled up to the museum’s front entrance, the place was all decked out with lights, a red carpet, and red-vested valets.
Several photographers waited for a chance to capture Tampa’s own and visiting elite.
The mayor, governor, and several celebrities who lived in the area were expected to attend, along with prominent business owners and other well-known local residents.
Ian got out of his car, leaving his door open for the young man waiting to move it to a parking area, took his claim ticket, and rounded the car.
Another valet had helped Angie from the vehicle, so Ian took her hand and pulled her into his side.
A few photographers called his name, and he paused for half a second while they took his and Angie’s picture for the society pages.
Although he hated the attention, he’d learned early on that if he gave the vultures what they wanted for a brief moment, they didn’t hound him later.
He and his brother had a very successful and reputable business in Trident Security and an even more successful club in The Covenant.
As a result, they’d earned frequent invitations to elite functions, although very few people outside of the private sex club knew the Sawyer brothers and their cousin owned it.
Even fewer people knew about their relationship with Charles “Chuck” Sawyer, a billionaire from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Their dad had worked his way from a small real estate business to a corporate empire, owning hotels, resorts, malls, apartment complexes, and more throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Chuck and his wife, Marie, a plastic surgeon, had taken pains to ensure their children were raised with morals and a strong work ethic.
They tried their best to keep them out of the public spotlight, which came with their father’s money, and the boys had to earn everything they were ever given.
When they reached their teens, they all had to either get a job or volunteer at a non-profit organization of their choice.
Chuck Sawyer had set up trust funds for each of his sons, provided they either served four years in the military or earned a four-year college degree.
Full access to their funds didn’t kick in until they reached the age of thirty.
Ian had chosen the Navy long before his senior year, as had their brother Nick, who at twenty-five was thirteen years younger than Ian.
Devon, two years Ian’s junior, originally chose college, but left after one semester when their other brother, John, died of alcohol poisoning.
He’d skipped a day of school in his senior year of high school and went on a morning bender in their home.
When their father found him at noon, he was cold and blue, having aspirated on his own vomit.
No one had suspected the teen had spiraled downward into the void of alcoholism.
Devon never returned to school and joined Ian in the Navy in some sort of subconscious effort to take over John’s career plans. Although Ian hadn’t agreed with the reasoning behind Devon’s enlistment, in the end, it’d turned out to be the best thing for him.
Escorting Angie up the carpeted outdoor steps and into the museum, Ian couldn’t help the mixture of pride and jealousy striking him when he noticed other men and some women admiring and lusting after her.
He held on to her hand a little tighter, unwilling to allow one of the sharks to move in and steal her away from him.
Looking down at the beautiful woman next to him, he knew he hadn’t exaggerated earlier—she was stunning.
The black-and-gold dress fit her like a glove.
When she’d turned around earlier to let him put her wrap over her shoulders, he’d taken one look at her toned, bare back and shoulders and had felt his cock jerk with desire.
With the open back of the dress, it was apparent she wasn’t wearing a bra.
He’d been seconds away from canceling their plans and dragging her into her bedroom when she’d turned back around to look at him again.
Somehow, he found the strength to give her his arm instead of falling victim to his lust.
His thoughts ventured back to the night before when he’d walked her to her door.
With Angie’s wide-eyed and O-shaped mouth expression, he knew she hadn’t meant to voice her question about him kissing her aloud, but he was glad she did.
When it came to women, Ian didn’t like having to guess what they were thinking, feeling, or wanting.
His former fiancée, Kaliope Levine, walked out on him ten years ago after telling him she was tired of him not being romantic, of not being able to read her moods or anticipate what she wanted, among other things.
Now he wanted everything spelled out with any woman he dated.
He was never letting another woman get that close to him again, but while he was dating someone, he wanted no misunderstandings between them.
He wasn’t a mind-reader. It was one of the reasons he loved the lifestyle he was in.
Openness and honesty were a big part of it, and it suited him just fine.
After Ian took Angie’s wrap and gave it to the coat check, he added the claim stub to the valet one inside his coat pocket.
He placed a possessive hand on the skin of her lower back above the edge of her dress and steered her in the right direction.
He let the warmth of his hand sink into her body and was thrilled to feel a shiver go through her.
As he led her toward the wing where the exhibit and gala were taking place, he stopped at a tuxedoed waiter holding a tray of champagne.
Taking one glass, he handed it to Angie before acquiring one for himself, never removing his other hand from her back.
They began walking again, and as they approached the entrance to the north wing, he heard a male voice call his name.
Scanning the people around him, he spotted Will striding toward them.
The man extended his hand, forcing Ian to remove the one on Angie’s back before returning it to its original spot after greeting his friend. Will looked curiously at Angie, and Ian introduced them. “Will, this is my date and Egghead’s new neighbor, Angelina Beckett. Angie, this is Will Anders.”
The two shook hands as Will gave Angie a quick head-to-toe inspection.
“I always knew you had good taste, Boss-man. Angie, it’s a pleasure to meet you, love.
Too bad I don’t swing your way because you are absolutely gorgeous.
I do have some lez friends who would be interested, though. Just say the word.”
If Ian didn’t know Will was gay and joking with her, he might have ripped the guy’s throat out. As it was, he was leaning toward removing the man’s tongue from his mouth.
Angie grinned at Will, obviously charmed and not at all embarrassed by what the man had implied. “It’s nice to meet you too, and thanks for the offer, but dating women isn’t my thing.” She changed the subject with ease. “Ian tells me you’re the assistant curator here. I envy you.”
“Angie’s an artist,” Ian explained. “Although I haven’t seen her work yet, except for a digital piece, I’m hoping she’ll show it to me someday.”
He watched the other man’s face light up even more. “Really, love? What’s your medium?”
“Mostly oils and graphite,” Angie replied, “but I sometimes fool around with clay and watercolors. I’ve sold a few paintings over the years through venues that feature amateur artists like me, but if it weren’t for my graphic design business, I would definitely be a starving artist.”
A man with a rosebud pinned to the lapel of his black tuxedo rushed up and informed Will he was needed at the front door.
Before he hurried away, Will said, “I would love to see your work, and if you ever want a personal tour of the museum, let me know. Ian—my cousin, Dev, Roxy, and Kayla are waiting for you near the bar to your left when you walk into the great room. They didn’t want to start looking around without you. I’ll see you both in a bit. Ciao.”
While the assistant curator took off in one direction, Ian guided Angie toward the exhibit's main room and immediately spotted the foursome. Since he wasn’t sure if she remembered his brother’s name, he introduced her again to Devon and then to his fiancée, Kristen, followed by Dr. Roxanne and Kayla London, who were good friends of Kristen and Will’s.
They were also new members of The Covenant, which, of course, he didn’t add.
The three women looked radiant in their evening wear, and his brother had donned his Hugo Boss tuxedo for the occasion.
Kristen was wearing a blue dress with a high waist, and her brunette hair was up, similar to Angie’s.
Her jewelry included the matching blue sapphire and diamond submissive collar and engagement ring, which Dev had a jeweler design for her.
Roxy’s thick auburn hair flowed down past her shoulders in soft waves, and she had forgone her usual Domme black for a beautiful red evening gown.
The dress had more than one man in the room lusting for the sexy siren, but Roxy only had eyes for her submissive wife.
A blue-eyed blonde, Kayla was the complete opposite of her spouse, with her shorter hourglass frame decked out in a dark gray gown with cap sleeves.
After everyone greeted them, Angie’s eyebrows furrowed in thought. “Kristen Anders. Why do I know that name?”
Before the woman could say anything, Kayla piped up first. “Kristen doesn’t like to brag, so I’ll do it for her. She’s a popular author of romance novels. Maybe you’ve read one of them.”
Ian wasn’t prepared for the response that statement got from Angie. She gasped, her eyes going wide in surprise. “Oh my gosh!”
Kayla grinned and elbowed Kristen’s arm. “See, I keep telling you you’re famous.”