My bow tie feels too tight. My jacket too warm. Christ, even my pants feel snug around my cock. “No, not me,” I reply.
She leans into me a little more, and all her warmth rests invitingly a
t my side. “Well, even if you hate it, a tux looks good on you.”
The flare of lust in her eyes tempts me to change my mind about working this lead. I stop then, ignoring the partygoers around us, and I like how her eyes go wide in surprise when I take her chin. I drop my eyes level to hers and stare at her deeply. “I can think of something else that looks far better.”
“Oh, yeah, what’s that?” she rasps.
“You.”
Her lips part, cheeks flush before she quickly recovers. “You’re right. That would look much better.” By the way she scans over me, I imagine she’s deciding exactly how she’d take me out of this tux and place her body upon mine.
While I’m inclined to say, Fuck the event and let’s fuck instead, we’re not here for a party. I can’t forget my duty to Hadley and to her father. Gathering my thoughts, and ignoring my greedy dick, I glance back out and scan the crowd, looking for Congressman Westhaven.
Person after person, it’s all smiling faces around us. From the band at the back playing a Frank Sinatra classic to people slow dancing to the endless champagne glasses being handed out, I can’t find a single unhappy guest.
“There he is,” says Hadley, drawing my gaze. “Right over there.”
I follow where she’s looking and I find she’s right. The congressman is standing with his wife, whom I recognize from the photo Alex showed us earlier, and he’s also there with two other men. “Do you know who’s with him?”
Hadley squints her eyes. “Well, his wife, of course. The one to Westhaven’s left is a judge. I don’t know the one on the right.”
When Hadley looks at me again, I smile at her. “A judge and his wife ought to be enough to make him feel uncomfortable, don’t you think?” Which is why Alex proposed this event to approach the congressman. He couldn’t shut us out here without making a scene. “Are you ready to do this?” I ask her.
“I guess.” She gives a tight smile.
I reach for her chin, lifting it. “You’re ready for this. He’s at fault here, not you. Okay?”
“Okay,” she says, nerves in her voice.
Just for that alone, I could rip the congressman apart. Hadley shouldn’t have to deal with this. There are a lot of things I can put up with in this world, but hurting innocent people is not one of them.
Determined not to allow her nerves to build any more, I move us in the congressman’s direction. For a man in his middle forties, he’s fit and obviously athletic. His back is to us, but we catch the eye of his slender brunette wife. I watch closely as the congressman’s wife looks at Hadley, but there’s no recognition there. When she looks at me, her light brown eyes heat a little, and I wonder if they share an open relationship. Though when she quickly looks away and focuses on her husband, I realize they don’t.
I hear Westhaven say, “Yes, we must have dinner soon,” when I interrupt him and say, “Good evening, Congressman.”
Westhaven glances over his shoulder with a smile on his face. Then he looks at Hadley and his smile slowly begins to fade.
“Oh, yes that’s right,” I add calmly, “you know Senator Winters’s daughter, Hadley, don’t you?”
Westhaven’s dark brown eyes narrow on me before he puts a professional smile firmly in place. “Yes, we’ve met a few times through your father.” He offers his hand to Hadley. “How is the senator?”
Hadley shakes his hand, and I’m damn proud of her when she speaks without a nervous flutter in her voice. “He’s well, thank you. I’m sorry he couldn’t attend, but he’s due in Washington tomorrow. I’ll see his office makes a donation in his absence.”
The congressman drops Hadley’s hand like her flesh burned him. “That’s very kind, thank you.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, glancing at his wife. “Sarah, have you met Hadley Winters before?”
“No,” Sarah says with an honest smile, offering her hand to Hadley. “It’s my pleasure to meet you.”
Obviously bored with not being in the conversation any longer, the judge and the other man turn away, getting involved in another conversation. I stay focused on Hadley, noting the way she stares at the congressman’s wife’s hand. I understand her hesitation. The news that she had slept with a married man hadn’t sat well, even if she never said that aloud. Her pale skin told me the thought sickened her, and coming from parents who had a strong marriage, I understood why it bothered her.
Hadley’s fingers tighten around my arm as she returns Sarah’s handshake. “I hope you’re enjoying your evening, Sarah.”
“Oh, yes, it’s a lovely event,” Sarah replies whimsically. “This is a special foundation to me.” She turns to me and offers her hand, dark eyebrows drawn over her eyes. “Sorry, I’m afraid my husband forgot to introduce you.”
“Ryder Blackwood, ma’am.” I return her gentle handshake, not understanding why the congressman had to stray. Sarah’s a stunning woman with soulful eyes, and she obviously has a kind, tender heart. “It’s an honor, and you do an amazing thing for the children of this foundation.”
The sweet smile I receive back only makes my dislike for the man next to me grow. “How long have you two supported the charity?” she asks me.