“Oh look, there’s Paul.” She grinned and waved at my enemy who raised his glass in our direction. I’d expected that he’d be here because he’d said so that morning when I wanted to introduce him to the sidewalk. “Be nice. Don’t even think of having another tantrum in front of him again,” she muttered under her breath at me.
“Fine,” I said, raising my glass and mentally wishing for direct knowledge of the dark arts so I could curse him into a toad. Wait, he already was a toad; would have to be something different…a cockroach maybe?
“What are you thinking about?”
“How much I despise certain insects,” I said, taking a drink of wine.
She rolled her eyes. “Really?”
“Umm hmm. Not kidding. Cockroaches are just vile things, slinking around into places they definitely do not belong.”
She laughed at me. “You’re adorable when you’re jealous.” She narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer. “But if you embarrass me in front of him again like you did that morning getting coffee, I will hurt you, Blackstone. And there will be lots of excruciating pain involved.” She looked down below my waist.
I laughed back and only because it was funny and I didn’t doubt her threat for a moment, and the fact that The Cockroach was watching us from across the way. “I’ll be a perfect gentleman…just as long as he keeps his pincers to himself.”
She rolled her eyes at me again and I noticed how blue they looked paired against her dress tonight.
After dinner, I got the pleasure of being introduced to the very female, and very gracious Alex Craven from the Victoria and Albert. I sent up a prayer of thanks to my mum that I never sent Ms. Craven the toxic text from ‘Ethan w/ the big knife’ and figured Mum had to have been looking out for me that day. I never take my luck for granted.
It didn’t take long for Brynne to be whisked away by patrons who wanted a blow by blow of the conserving of Lady Percival. I resigned myself to that eventuality and headed off to get another drink. I sensed eyes on me and turned around to find Strawberry Blonde honing in fast. Shit. I knew this would happen.
“Hello, Ethan. It’s so nice to see you here tonight. I was just asking Ivan about you the other day.”
“Is that so?” I nodded at her, desperately wishing I remembered her name. “Drink…um…?” I looked down, feeling like an ass**le and wanting to be anywhere else at this moment.
“Priscilla.”
Well, I got the first letter right. I snapped my fingers and pointed at the ceiling. “Right—Priscilla, can I get you a drink? I’m just about to head back up to the Victorian Gallery.” Please say no.
“Yes! I’d love a Cosmo.” She gushed, her eyes lighting up as she perceived some interest on my part. She gave me a thorough looking over and I found it more than uncomfortable. This was something I’d put up with for years from women. I’d done it for the sex of course. I mean, who will shag you if you don’t at least let them admire and pretend to be flattered by their attentions? But really, I didn’t like it, and it had been nothing more than a game for me. Before Brynne much of what I’d been doing had been games. I’d been a dog.
“And what did Ivan say about me?”
“He said you were very busy with your job and the Olympics…and your new girlfriend.”
“Ahhh…well he told you the truth at least,” I said, looking for a way out of the room without being cruel, “I do have a girlfriend.” And I need to get away from you like right-the-hell-now!
“I saw her earlier at dinner. She’s a young little thing isn’t she?” Priscilla stepped closer and put her hand on my arm, her voice laced with enough toxin to sting.
“She’s not that young.” I gulped a mouthful of vodka and prayed for some act of God to get me the f**k out of this uncomfortable situation when in walked The Cockroach with Brynne at his side.
There’s your act of God, ass**le.
“Baby.” I detached myself from Priscilla and went toward Brynne. “I was just getting a drink and ran into…um…Priscilla…” Bloody hell if I didn’t know her last name either! This sucked, and I just didn’t have the skills to do this shit anymore, not that I’d ever had them, but this was awkward as f**k.
“Blackstone.” Paul Langley gave me an accusatory look. “Brynne was feeling a little lightheaded and needed to take a break.”
I took her hand and put my lips to it. “Are you all right?”
“I think I just need some water,” she said. “I just felt hot all of a sudden and weird.”
“Here, I want you to sit and I’ll get you some water.” But before I could move, there was good ole Langley pressing a crystal glass into her hands. I tried mental telepathy on him. You can leave us now, Langley.
It didn’t work.
“Thank you, Paul,” Brynne flashed him a grateful smile and started drinking.
“My pleasure, darling,” The Cockroach purred back at her.