39. Tanner
39
TANNER
I watch her from where I stand at the bar across the room. She is talking animatedly with Huxley’s wife, Lucy, Valerie Van Cleef, and Beth, The First Lady. All four women have broad smiles, acting like they have known each other for years and are hatching a plan.
“So you hard-launched your relationship with the neighbor, then?” Huxley asks me, passing me a glass of whiskey, which better be my own; otherwise, he will wear it.
“Hard-launched?” I ask, taking a sip, tasting last year’s whiskey release. Smiling, I feel the smoothness of my hard work glide down my throat.
“You bring her out, on your arm, to an event where there are media, a red carpet, the who’s who of this town. They have never seen a woman on your arm before. It will be all over the gossip pages tomorrow. I can see the headline now. America’s most sought-after billionaire bachelor finally meets his match ,” Huxley mocks, watching me carefully over the rim of his glass .
“Is that what you call it these days?” I murmur, ignoring his statement, my eyes still glued to the woman across the room. My woman. He is right. It will be all over the news, both gossip and business. I am sure my PR agency will be fielding a few calls throughout the next few days. It is unusual for me to be seen with a woman. I keep my private life low-key, usually just coming to these things on my own or with Connor.
“She is nice. Beautiful. Smart. What the hell does she see in you?” President Rothschild says, grabbing my attention as he butts into our conversation. Best friends with my son, Harrison is newly president and doing a damn good job of it too.
“Mr. President.” I give his hand a shake. It is nice to see him, even if it is always fleeting.
“Nice to see you looking so happy for a change, Tanner.” He looks at me with the same smirk both Connor and Huxley do. Assholes .
“I’m always happy,” I say sarcastically with a grin.
“Don’t tease my father. It is about time he found someone, and Victoria is a perfect match for his grumpy ass.” Connor comes over, slapping the president on the back, which has his secret service stepping forward. Harrison waves them off.
“I met her earlier, a smart woman. Fits in with the girls already. I am sure Beth will want to catch up with her again soon,” Harrison says before someone whispers in his ear, and he nods. “Might come out to Whispers soon. I will call you.” Then he’s shaking my hand again. As soon as he comes, he goes, many more hands to shake tonight, as we are here to raise money for his sister’s literacy foundation.
“He is like Batman; I only ever see him at night these days,” Connor says, taking a sip of whiskey.
“Did you just call the president Batman?” Victoria asks, smiling as she slides into my side and my arm wraps around her on instinct. Connor watches us closely, and his grin widens.
“Yeah. You should hear what I used to call him in college,” my son says, and she laughs.
“Oh, I am sure I don’t want to know.”
My smile is wide as I watch my son and my girl chatting like old friends. She has done that all night. Talked to everyone, been present in all conversations, networked, smiled for every camera, made new connections. She fits right in like she’s been to a hundred of these events.
“Saw you talking with the girls earlier?” I ask her quietly as Connor and Huxley chat among themselves.
“I was telling them all about my plans for Marie’s Place. They were really interested to learn about it. Apparently, they know a lot of single, struggling moms from the literacy program, and they think that maybe the Rothschild Foundation could look at funding families to have a vacation break a few times a year at Marie’s,” she says excitedly, and my chest swells with pride.
“Sounds like you have had a great night.” Pulling her close, I kiss her on her forehead, then hear a camera click nearby.
“So there are a lot of cameras on us tonight?” she whispers, looking up at me .
“Hmm. I guess it is an oddity,” I tell her and watch her brow furrow.
“Oddity? What is?” she asks.
“That I am here with a woman.” I take a sip of my whiskey as I let that sink in.
“Who do you normally bring to these things?”
“Connor.”
“Really? Why not dates?” she asks, still looking surprised.
“Because I never found anyone I desired having on my arm until now. Someone I don’t want to be without.” The honesty of my words hits us both as we look at each other, her eyes sparkling as they stay locked on mine.
“Excuse me, Mr. Whiteman.” A young woman with a clipboard appears, breaking our moment.
“Yes?” I look at her while I squeeze Victoria’s waist, keeping her close.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I am part of the event crew, and I am here to tell you that the item you donated for auction has been won. The sum of seventy-five thousand dollars was reached by the president himself,” she says with a grin, and I smile and nod. I knew Harrison would bid on my whiskey. He has started a collection.
“Oh, you donated something? I didn’t know that.” Victoria looks at me with a large smile, and I hear more cameras click.
“Mr. Whiteman always does; we are so grateful for all his support,” the young woman, who is obviously working for the Rothschilds, says.
“Well, what did you donate?” Victoria asks me.
“The first bottle of our next release. It’s a limited edition. Only a few thousand bottles will be made, so it will be exclusive.”
Her eyes widen, and I can tell she has more questions.
“I will email you the details tomorrow. I just wanted to let you know,” the young woman says before she leaves us to it.
“Seventy-five thousand for a bottle of whiskey? What makes it so special?” Victoria asks me once we are alone again.
“It’s a new brand, one that Connor and Lacy came up with. We are not releasing it to the public, only keeping it for exclusive order only,” I murmur, taking another sip of whiskey, not believing I let them talk me into it.
“That’s exciting. What did you call it?”
I can’t help but smile and shake my head.
“Next Door. A whiskey to be enjoyed with your neighbor,” I tell her, and her face stills before her smile gets even wider and she laughs. It is contagious, and I start to laugh as well, so much so, the people around us start looking over. I spot Connor eyeing us from nearby, clearly wanting to know what is going on too.
“Are you telling me that I have been an inspiration to your brand, Tanner?” Victoria teases, her eyes glistening.
“Oh, you inspire me every day, baby girl.” Holding her close, I press a light kiss to her painted lips.
“I might have to try this release. Since I am what inspired it and all,” she hums, looking up at me, and I like that idea. I like it a lot.
“I have a test bottle at my penthouse in New York. We can try it tonight.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she says, her fingers smoothing my suit lapel as the look in her eyes turns blazing. I know we have the same thing in mind, and with that, I check the time, seeing a few people starting to leave.
“We should go,” I say to her, and she nods eagerly.
“Are you two trying to get on the front page of Society News here or something?” Connor asks, looking at us like we are fascinating and insane all rolled into one.
“Better my smile than my resting bitch face that I am most likely to have,” Victoria quips. “I need to go and grab my bag. Give me a moment.” Stepping away, she moves through the crowd, many people stopping and talking with her. Her presence is magnetic, and in that dress, I am surprised I was able to last this long before getting her out of here.
“I have never seen you laugh like that, Dad. Not out in public, anyway.” Connor looks at me, surprised. I have never thought about it before, but he is right. I generally don’t enjoy these events. I prefer to be at the distillery than in the city. But tonight, I have had fun. I enjoy being in the company of my friends, and that will never change, but having Victoria with me just made it all the better.
“She brings out the best in me,” I tell him honestly, still watching her.
“She certainly does,” Connor confirms with a smile, taking me in like he is seeing me for the first time.
It is all her. She does this to me.