Chapter Six
Dade
Alessandra MacLean was appropriately annoyed at being away from her infant.
Smith MacLean was solicitous of his wife.
Bethany Maitland proved herself brilliant in all things discussed.
Walter Maitland was as charming as I would’ve expected.
Gordon Forbes had the best sense of humor of any dentist I’d ever met.
Lucille Forbes was a junkyard dog with a bone who wouldn’t let go.
And I was the bone.
The woman relentlessly went after me at every opportunity possible. She completely dismissed Horatio, even though he sat between the two of us. She peppered me with questions, picking apart every word I said.
Finally, during dessert, Alessandra pivoted to Lucille. “For God’s sake, woman, let the young man enjoy his meal. I’m certain there’s got to be some politician here who’s about to be embroiled in a scandal. Or a businessperson you can take down for dirty dealings.”
I held my breath.
Lucille fixed her gaze on the other woman. “How are Smith’s businesses these days? How’s Club Kink doing?”
“Running a nice profit.” Smith speared his crème br?lée with his fork. “You should come by sometime, Lucille. I’m certain you’ve got a latex suit in the back of your closet. You’ll fit right in.”
Lucille sputtered, Bethany cleared her throat, and Horatio covered his mouth with his cloth napkin.
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. I’d heard of Club Kink, of course. Vancouver’s premier BDSM club. I just hadn’t realized Smith owned it.
Alessandra grabbed my hand under the table.
I leaned close.
“You’re welcome anytime.” Her breath tickled my cheek. “And bring Horatio—he needs to lighten up.”
I was ninety-nine percent certain she was joking. I laughed.
Horatio glanced over at me.
Oops. He thinks you’re laughing at him. Or worse, Lucille.
Said woman rose abruptly. “I want to dance.”
Gordon offered a placid smile to the group and rose.
Even as he did, Lucille was already threading her way through the crowd.
“I would apologize for my wife, but that would be wasted breath.” He grinned. “I love it when she’s feisty. So, as sorry as I am for her behavior, I also thank you.”
He trailed behind her.
For a moment, we all held our collective breaths.
Then Alessandra laughed. A real belly laugh.
Smith looped his arm around her and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Brilliant, my darling.”
She released my hand so she could grip Smith’s jaw with both her hands. “Take me home, Smith.”
His eyes widened. “Are you saying?”
Another laugh. “I’m saying I’m feeling horny for pretty much the first time since the baby was born.” She glanced around the table. “Rough birth. I’ve been…tired.”
Bethany nodded. “I was that way after my first. And I very much remember the night we, uh…”
Walter grinned. “So do I. Go and enjoy yourselves.” He winked. “That latex comment was brilliant.”
As Smith and Alessandra rose, I chanced a glance at Horatio.
He met my gaze. And offered the most-dazzling smile. “Okay, that was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
Relief washed over me.
Walter raised his hand slightly. “That’s on me. I knew I had to invite Lucille, and I figured better to have her at our table.”
“You were right, dear.” Bethany met my gaze before shifting her attention to Horatio. “We didn’t give her any cannon fodder.”
“True.” Horatio inclined his head. “And our friends are, uh, going to be very happy.”
He might’ve blushed a bit, but with the lighting, I couldn’t quite tell.
“I think we’ll get going. No sense being here when she comes back.”
As he rose, I snagged his arm. “But you promised me a dance.”
He glanced over at his Number Two who gave him the thumbs up, while Walter beamed.
Apparently I’d either passed some test or they were playing along.
All night, I’d tried to get a read on Horatio’s friends.
Alessandra had been the one who’d most expressed her pleasure at seeing Horatio hook up.
The others had been more circumspect while Lucille had been… well, not hostile. Just…nosy.
“Of course, my dear, one dance.”
The smile he offered dazzled. I tried to find the underlying meaning, but soon he had me in his arms on the dance floor.
Only then did I realize I was out of my depth.
Sure, I’d taken dance lessons as a kid. At one point I wanted to be a Broadway star, and my mother, dear woman, indulged that fantasy.
But I’d always been the lead.
Horatio clutched me. “Just follow my lead.”
“I may step on your toes.”
That devastating grin again. “I’ll survive.”
For the most part, he was right. I only stepped on his toes twice and, very quickly, I adapted and fell under his spell as he guided me around the dance floor.
We weren’t the only same-sex couple. I spotted two gay couples, or perhaps just men dancing together—although they looked really into each other—and a lesbian couple. That was normal for my crowd, and then…
I tripped.
Horatio caught me, and righted me.
But we stopped dancing.
“What happened?” He appeared genuinely confused.
“That’s Elouise Hynes.”
Horatio blinked. Even in the dim light, those cat-green eyes shone. “The actor?”
“Yes. With her girlfriend, Kelci. Oh, wait, her fiancée?”
“What?”
I moved in closer, placing my mouth near Horatio’s ear. “She’s on the new season of Vigilante Justice.”
Horatio pulled back and met my gaze. “Well, that’s interesting. I don’t know Ms. Hynes, but I’m sure Walter could arrange—”
The music stopped.
Elouise and Kelci headed our way. Elouise’s long, blonde hair fell loose in waves around her face while her girlfriend, Kelci, wore a funky blue-and-purple bob wig.
“Dade.” Kelci’s gray eyes popped. “Oh, so lovely to see you.” She clutched Kelci. “This was the guy I was telling you about. The one who nailed his audition. Best in the pack, by far.” She tilted her head. “Have you heard back?”
“Uh…”
Horatio tugged me close. “Not yet, but he’s excited at even the prospect of being on your show.”
“Oh, he’ll get something. I just hope it’s the role he read for.” Elouise linked arms with Kelci. “He’d be a mid-season addition. The other guy broke his leg skiing. These things happen. He’s not important enough for us to hold production.”
Which would be one of the reasons I was so careful with my health. No more skateboarding for me. “You think I have a shot?”
She pulled her lower lip through her teeth. “Yeah, I really do.”
The music started up again.
Elouise grabbed my arm. “Dance with me.”
As she pulled me onto the floor, I caught Horatio bowing slightly and offering his hand to Kelci. She took it with a big smile, and they started to dance as well.
After my dance with Elouise, which I totally sweated through, I took a turn with Kelci. The makeup artist proved to be just as charming as her actor girlfriend.
I did another dance with Horatio, then spun Bethany around the floor.
My head spun as well. I felt like I’d had too much wine, even though I hadn’t had any.
Or just the headiness from the compliment Elouise paid me.
Even if I didn’t get the part, the Elouise Hynes noticed me.
Perhaps she might help me out in the future.
As I bowed to Bethany after our dance, Horatio came up behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Ready to go?”
“Oh, hell yes.” I glanced at Bethany. “Begging your pardon.”
She laughed. “I’d take off as well, but with Walter as the organizer, we have to stay until the end. We’ll see about the snow.”
“Snow?” I perked up.
“Been falling heavily for a couple of hours. We might make an announcement.”
Horatio cocked his head. “Well, that’ll clear the room.” He snagged my hand. “I’ve called the limo—let’s beat the crush of people.”
I gave Bethany an enthusiastic hug. “This was just a great night.”
Her eyes widened in evident surprise.
Way to play it cool, you idiot.
Horatio squeezed my hand.
I gazed up at him.
He offered a genuine smile. “Yes, Bethany, a wonderful evening.”
“Be safe. Oh, Lucille’s signalling me.”
Horatio and I groaned simultaneously as Bethany hurried off. “We won’t rank space in her column, Dade, I promise you. And you didn’t actually lie about your age.”
Somehow, that didn’t make me feel better. Still, when we stepped into the night, a blast of cold air and snow hit us. We darted to the limo as the same amiable woman held the door for us.
“Sorry,” I managed, before Horatio pushed me across the seat. I shivered.
He pulled me against him.
As his scent enveloped me, I worried less about the sweat and, instead, sank into the comfort his arms offered.