I unhitched myself from the wall. What had gotten into this woman? No way in hell had she not spilled that drink on me on purpose. No one could be that clumsy. I’d half expected her to ask for my number so she could “return” the shirt after she took it for dry cleaning.
‘You want to convince me that this isn’t a coincidence?’
She stared at me. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘You followed me in here.’
She blinked, stepping away from the door. ‘You think very highly of yourself, don’t you?’
‘Okay, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.’
‘Why, thank you. I didn’t know I needed it. I’m so eternally grateful.’ Her voice was full of irony.
‘What are you doing here, then?’ I asked.
‘It’s a secluded room. I wanted some time to myself. Why are you hiding in here?’
I exhaled sharply as I took in her body language. She seemed different than before. Sad.
Don’t even go there, Dom.
She was a fucking beautiful woman, but that was beside the point.
‘Who said I’m hiding?’ Though I was. The event was beginning to get crowded, and on the way from the bathroom to the ballroom, I’d been hit on by four women.
‘Well, I am,’ she said. She’d been full of fire before. And although now she tried to give me shit, too, something was different about her. I was certain of it.
‘Why?’ I asked.
She raised her hands and dropped them again in resignation. ‘My ex-fiancé and the best friend he cheated on me with are attending the event tonight. When I saw their names on the guest list, I thought I could face them. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. I hoped that drinking some champagne would help. But even that didn’t work out in my favor, since I poured it all over you. They cornered me before I had the chance to grab another glass.’
That completely took the wind out of my sails. There was no way in hell this woman was lying. No one could come up with this story on the spot.
She glanced away, and I realized she was tearing up.
‘Fuck,’ I exclaimed. ‘You really didn’t do that on purpose?’
‘No.’ Her voice shook. She dabbed at her eyes.
‘I apologize for being a total asshole to you.’ I replayed the whole scene in my mind. ‘Damn.’
She looked up at me again, a wide smile on her face. ‘Well, this is quite a way to meet someone. I’m usually running my mouth, but I think this is a first, even for me. I didn’t even introduce myself before telling you my life story.’ She stretched out a hand. ‘Reese Maxwell.’
I shook her hand. ‘I’m Dominic Waldorf.’
She gasped. ‘Oh, that’s why you look familiar. From Waldorf Fashion, right?’
‘Yes.’
‘You’ve gotten some press lately. I can see why you thought I might have tried to latch on to you.’
I laughed without humor.
She looked at the door and then back. ‘That’s why you’re hiding in here? You don’t like women throwing themselves at you?’
I stared at her.
‘You’re not in the mood to joke. Got it. I’m sorry. When I’m out of sorts, I tend to quickly change between sad and extremely happy and making a fool of myself and being inappropriate. I think you’re getting to see all sides of me tonight.’ She sighed and stared up at the ceiling. ‘God, why didn’t I show up here with a hot date? That would take Malcolm off my back for sure.’
Is this woman for real?
‘Reese, I think you need this room more than I do.’
She laughed. ‘Oh God, yes, I do. I think I might never come out of it.’
I frowned. ‘I can get you a cab, or I can have my driver drop you off wherever you want. He’s nearby.’
‘Hmmm… no matter how out of sorts I am, I definitely wouldn’t get in a stranger’s car.’
‘Hardly a stranger,’ I said, my tone harsher than I intended. ‘The whole country knows me and my story. Anyway, I’m going back out there.’
Her eyes clouded for a moment. ‘I’ll be out in a few minutes too.”
I nodded, heading to the door and opening it, then looked at her over my shoulder. ‘You have even worse luck than I do. I couldn’t even imagine running into my ex here. Reese, give them hell.’
She laughed just as I closed the door.
I went into the ballroom quickly. Heading to the table, I took two glasses of champagne from a tray, putting one at Reese’s spot.
As more guests arrived, a guy stopped dead in his tracks at the table. He didn’t even attempt to sit down, so I figured he wasn’t assigned here.
‘You’re Dominic Waldorf, aren’t you?’ the guy asked. ‘Man, I’ve been meaning to meet you for years. I can’t believe I’m finally lucky enough to run into you.’
‘That’s me,’ I confirmed.
‘Look, I want to pitch you something.’
I flashed my PR smile. I was told it was more of a grimace, but it would have to do.
‘I don’t conduct business at charity events,’ I said. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to catch up with someone.’ I got up from my chair, looking to the left and then to the right. Where to escape to? Ah yes, the bar.
As I waited for my drink, I looked at the hostess, Monika De Monet, searching for a sign that they were beginning the event soon.
She caught my eye and walked right over to me. ‘Mr. Waldorf, what a pleasure to have you here.’
‘Always happy to contribute to noble causes.’ I might not like the process, but I liked knowing the money would be used for a good purpose. ‘When are you starting the show and taking donations?’
‘Oh, not for another two hours. I want to spoil you all a bit first,’ she said with a wink. Fuck me. ‘Experience has taught me that people are more generous when they’re fed and happy.’
She was right. I just didn’t like the prospect of spending hours here.
Over her shoulder, I noticed Reese. That woman was truly a work of art. Her curves were stunning. She went straight to our table. She didn’t even get to sit down before a couple walked up to her.
‘I’ll catch up with you later,’ I told the host, grabbing the glass of whiskey I’d ordered.
I headed to the table and was only a few steps away when I caught wind of the conversation.
‘Really,’ the guy said with a sneer, ‘you’re going to do what exactly?’
‘Why are you even here? I thought you didn’t like these events,’ Reese said.
‘None of your business.’
‘This is not your table. Why don’t you go back to yours and leave me alone?’
‘Or what? You’ll cause a scene?” he asked.
His question made me wonder if that was what he was after. I stepped right up next to her. ‘Do we have a problem?’
Reese looked sideways at me. ‘Malcolm and Francesca were just leaving.’
‘Actually, we just arrived,’ the Malcolm dude said. He glanced at me and froze. I recognized that expression on his face—he realized who I was.
He tried to school his features, but his expression was hungry. ‘Dominic Waldorf. The man of the hour. I saw your name on the guest list but assumed you would send someone in your stead.’
Instead of telling him to fuck off, I glanced at Reese. She had a hardened expression.
I had no idea what possessed me to do it, but I put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to me. ‘Couldn’t leave my woman here alone tonight, could I?’
Reese’s eyes widened as she parted her lips.
The question she had was obvious: What the hell are you doing?
I turned to look at Malcolm and Francesca. ‘So, why don’t you two get the hell back to your table and leave my woman alone? She doesn’t need to deal with any more of your crap than she already has.’
‘Dominic,’ Reese said in a low voice.
‘What do you think, beautiful? You want to go outside to get some fresh air?’ I asked, looking at her. Fuck, she was even more attractive up close.
She licked her lips, and all my instincts demanded I lean forward and capture her mouth. ‘No. The food is going to be served soon. I think we should stay.’
‘You two are dating?’ Malcolm asked.
‘Yes, we are,’ I said, and Reese pressed herself into me.
‘So really, I have nothing more to say to you, Malcolm,’ she said with a smirk.
***
Reese
How was this happening? I had to be imagining all this.
When they accosted me again, my first thought was Why can’t I just flaunt a hot date? I had no idea what got into Dominic, but my God, seeing the expressions on their faces was worth it.
And being pressed against this wall of muscle that is Dominic Waldorf is no hardship either.
‘Well then, we’ll see the two of you around. We’ll have a lot of fun, especially next weekend,’ Francesca said.
Crap. I’d forgotten. The charity was organizing various events for fundraising, and the next one was a weekend trip outside the city.
Could this evening get any worse? Wait, don’t ask yourself that, Reese. As a general rule, things can always get worse.
Dominic pulled me even closer to him. I could smell his cologne, which reminded me of winter. It was fresh and crisp and 100 percent manly.
‘See you around. And by the way, man, maybe we can talk business sometime,’ Malcolm said.
It took me a few seconds to process his words. The nerve of him! I couldn’t believe it.
‘Or not,’ I retorted. ‘I’ve warned Dominic not to get involved with the likes of you.’
‘Come on, Reese. It’s unlike you to hold a grudge.’
‘I’ve changed,’ I replied icily.
‘You heard her. Now fuck off,’ Dominic said.
It felt good to have someone else tell him to fuck off. But I was pissed that Malcolm heeded Dominic’s words when he’d ignored my request.
The second they were out of earshot, I glanced at Dominic. ‘Want to step outside the room and talk a bit?’
He flashed me a smirk. ‘Right now? When they’re about to serve food?’
“Yes.”
‘Okay then. Let’s go.’
How was he suddenly in such a good mood? He’d seemed like a royal grump earlier. Then again, I had spilled a glass of champagne all over him.
Luckily, there was almost no one in the corridor as we headed to the coatroom. Once inside, he closed the door. I took in a deep breath, biting the inside of my cheek as I focused on him. I couldn’t get over how attractive he was.
‘What was that about?’ I asked.
“You inspired me when you said you wished you’d brought a date.” He shrugged. ‘Honestly, I can’t explain it. Just saw him being a jackass and went with it. Clearly he didn’t expect that.’
‘I didn’t either. Thank you. That certainly took them by surprise. I’ll just have to think of an excuse to ward them off from now on. The fundraising includes a weekend event too.’
He grunted. ‘Fuck. I forgot.’
Ah, there he was, back to his grumpy self. “Don’t worry, there’s no need to take this any further. I just didn’t want you to think I’d expect that.”
There, that’ll let him off the hook. He didn’t say anything.
‘Anyway,’ I continued, ‘Malcolm’s going to find something to rub in my face, I’m sure of it. So don’t worry about it. I appreciate your help.’
He stared at me, then said, ‘You don’t have to go back in. Or attend the weekend event.’
I shook my head, standing straighter. Is that a dimple in his left cheek? ‘No, I’m representing Maxwell Hotels, and I promised I’d attend. I don’t like to go back on my word.’
He narrowed his eyes and then opened them wider as if he were conversing with himself.
‘They’re going to raise even more money with the weekend event. It’s for a good cause,’ I added.
‘You’re seriously going to put up with facing that asshole for a good cause?’
I scoffed. ‘You’re one to talk. You clearly don’t want to be here either.’
‘It’s a minor inconvenience for me. It’s—’ He hesitated, staring at me for a beat. ‘—more than that for you.’
‘That is an understatement. Anyway, thanks again for earlier. It certainly was worth seeing that expression on both their faces.”
‘I won’t be attending the next events.’
Didn’t I just let him off the hook?
‘Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out. Should we go back to the table?’
He nodded. ‘If you’re ready.’
‘I am.’
He opened the door and gestured for me to walk in front of him. I got another whiff of his cologne as I walked past him.
Damn, the man was hot!
Pity I’d probably never see him again.
