15. Feeling Him Out
FEELING HIM OUT
“There you are,” Selena Mills said, coming up next to him at the bar.
He thought Gabriela was pulling his leg about her family.
She pulled it all right. Yanked him almost across the seat into her lap.
She wasn’t off either.
He’d been introduced to many as a work colleague. He’d talked to Hudson and Carson, and a few other medical professionals that he’d met at the hospital.
But it was Gabriela’s family who seemed to be the closest trying to feel him out.
Like her mother who stood next to him now. He still held onto his blood type though.
“I’m here,” he said. “Can I get you a drink?”
“White wine,” Selena said to the bartender.
The bar was open, but he threw a twenty on for a tip and grabbed his beer.
“It’s a nice event,” he said. “The food is great.”
There were canapes stationed around the room for guests to walk over and fill plates. He liked that better than a sit-down meal.
It also allowed you to see all the items on display for auction.
Mainly artwork, vases, bowls, glasswork. All handmade from artisans throughout Massachusetts.
Many of those artists were here in the room, mingling and discussing their work.
He’d already talked to Laine Connors-Mills, who Carson had introduced as his wife, and had a painting and a vase up. The vase caught his eye and he wondered why.
It wasn’t something he’d ever noticed before, but it made him think his mother would appreciate it.
He’d be seeing her in a few days for Thanksgiving, but he doubted she’d want to take it home on the plane with her.
“Eli always puts on a wonderful event. One year this was held at The Retreat, and though it was lovely, it’s a different atmosphere. We’ve learned that letting the men go into the casino, gamble and maybe win, had them bidding higher.”
“That’s sly.”
“Those of us on the committee can be that way.” Selena took a sip of her wine, her eyes darting around looking for Gabriela, who had left his side about ten minutes ago.
He wasn’t sure why he thought she’d stay next to him the whole time.
It wasn’t as if this was a formal date.
They were friends. Friends who brought the other to events so they weren’t solo.
The object was to introduce him to more people here.
Some of those people were single women she hadn’t introduced him to, but they made their way closer just the same.
He had no interest in any of them and normally sought Gabriela out until most got the hint.
“I’ve been warned,” he said.
His eyes landed on Gabriela. She lifted her glass at him and laughed.
Damn it. It was like she did this on purpose to see if he could survive it since he’d joked he’d be fine.
No, he joked he was mildly terrified.
Too bad that wasn’t so much of a joke.
“I’m sure my daughter gave you an earful,” Selena said.
“She’s a great person. She’s made my transition here much smoother.”
“She’s good that way.”
“Mom,” Garrett said, coming over. “What are you doing?”
“Just talking to Luca. I was going to ask what he thinks of our island.”
“Sure, you were,” Garrett said. “Go bug someone else.”
He watched Selena move away laughing. “She was fine,” he said.
“I’m sure she was, but I wanted to talk to you alone.”
Just great. He didn’t ask Gabriela how her brother would be.
“About what?”
“My sister.”
“We are friends,” he said.
Might as well repeat what had been said to everyone else.
It wasn’t a lie. Even if there was part of him that struggled to look at her that way.
The way her hip cocked to the side in that dress that was made just for her.
Her toned smooth shoulder that he was dying to run his knuckles over.
Or her ass that he found himself looking at way too much in the gym.
He wondered if she knew that she was just tugging him along in some game to see how long it took before he cracked.
What had he told his mother? That he was stronger.
That he couldn’t break.
He wasn’t so sure now, but at least it was in a different form.
“So she is saying.”
“Do you think it’s more? I can assure you it’s not.”
Garrett grinned at him, then looked at Gabriela who was standing with Justine and wiggling her eyebrows.
“I’m not so sure of that, so maybe just keep your eyes open.”
Garrett walked away after that, leaving him alone.
Which lasted for ten seconds before Gabriela made her return to his side.
“I thought you were supposed to shield me. You’re failing.”
“Ahh, who is bugging you? I’ll go get in their face.”
“You saw it. Your mom, then your brother.”
“I love getting in Garrett’s face, but he wasn’t here long enough to bug you. More like he left you confused. I’d rather not know what that was about. We’ll switch to my mom. What did she want?”
“She still doesn’t know my blood type. Not through lack of trying though. She’s made her way to my side several times and is always called away. This time your brother pushed her along.”
“Everyone is being friendly. Is it really that bad?”
“No. It’s nice. I’ve talked to a few other doctors, met some more. Met a lot of parents in your family with kids. I think I spent more time doing that.”
Which never bothered him. It was nice to know who was who and everyone was good about it.
No one came off like they were going to ask him a million questions on if it was normal for their child to eat bugs, or want to wear the same outfit five days in a row.
Those questions... he could handle them and had been for years.
Guess he found it easier to socialize with children than adults.
It was hard to retrain his brain, but he felt he was hanging in there well enough.
“Then you’re having more fun than me.”
“Really? Because it looks to me you’re smiling every time I glance over.”
She fit her arm through his and tugged him out of the room and toward the hallway. He wasn’t sure where they were going, but that was fine with him.
“I am smiling because it’s better than screaming.”
That didn’t sound good. “What am I missing?”
“Oh, just the normal comments about wanting to know if we are really friends or not. What your background is. The best was this might be the most normal man they’ve seen with me in years.”
His mind was spinning with all the information but landed on the last one.
“If they think I’m normal, then I’m already winning.”
She shoved his arm again. That playful move that made him want to do it back.
No, it made him want to grab her, yank her close, have his mouth slant over hers and kiss her the way he hadn’t kissed a woman in years.
“I said the same thing.”
“Did you?” he murmured, putting his drink to his lips. Anything to get his mind off her lips.
Those unpainted ones that were plump and looked very kissable.
“Yep, I did. Thanks for coming with me tonight. It’s been entertaining for sure.”
“Glad to help.”
Her head angled. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I am. It’s been good. I think it’s just been nice getting out with people again. I feel I’m starting over in more than one way.”
“It’s just like riding a bike. You’re doing great.”
“Thanks.”
He hadn’t realized how much he needed to hear that.
“Sounds like the auction is going to start,” she said when there was talking over a microphone. “Time for you to go to the casino.”
“I can watch and see how things go,” he said.
“Don’t do it for me.”
“Are you bidding on anything?”
“Nah. Nothing really caught my eye. I have in the past, but it’s not required. You’d be surprised how few of my cousins do. It’s not about us as much as being here for everyone else.”
“You and your family’s presence brings in the money?” he asked. Now he got it.
There had to be over two hundred people moving around. Some doctors he’d been introduced to who worked out of Boston. Maybe only a quarter of the people here were those that lived on the island, or so he thought.
“That’s it,” she said. “Which means I can go into the casino with you. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
He was starting to think he already was.