Gia stopped and eyed him. Then huffed. “Don’t try to get out of the fact that you kept me waiting up here for almost fifteen minutes while you sat in that limo. These shoes might look great, but they are killers on my feet.”
She moved her leg to show him her six inch heels, and her dress opened, the long thigh-high slit revealed a shapely bare leg. Damn!
“You seem . . . distracted. If you’ve changed your mind about going, just let me know.”
Roger smiled. She was right, the event definitely wasn’t where he wanted to be with her. “I’m not usually wrong, but I was this time.”
“About what?” she asked.
He placed a hand on the curve of her back as they walked to the limo. “Your color is definitely green.”
“Thank you,” she replied softly.
The ride to Gold Crown Plaza was filled with small talk. He’d rather have ridden in silence. He wanted to learn something real about her, but then again, he had alternate ways to obtain that information. And it would probably be more accurate.
Once inside, he made sure to stay close to Gia as there were several onlookers he wanted to keep away from Gia. Their reputations were well known. They wouldn’t appreciate Gia for who she was. They’d see one thing, a hot sexy piece of ass, and nothing more.
Thinking like this was unusual for him. Not that he normally dated dumb women, but they were easier. Wine, dine, and bed. Deep conversations were never required, or desired. Gia probably wasn’t joking about changing out of that dress.
“I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” Lena greeted them. Then her eyes widened. “You’re the woman from the other day.”
“I am,” Gia smiled. “Thank you again for the ride home. It was so much easier.”
“Are you kidding me? If I hadn’t had a doctor’s appointment to check on this little one, I’d have gone along with you.” Lena rubbed her well-rounded belly. “I’m wondering if three is the magic number.”
Brice joined them and added, “I’m thinking it’s four.”
Lena gave him a playful elbow to the ribs. “Let me have this one before you start thinking about the next. What do you think?” Lena asked Gia.
Gia laughed. “I’m an only child, and I don’t have any children.”
Lena snickered. “Oh, then you’ll have six for sure. I don’t think we ever formally introduced ourselves the other day. I’m Lena, and this is my husband Brice.”
“So nice to meet you both. I’m Gia Gravel.”
Lena peered at Roger and said, “I thought you said you weren’t coming?”
“I changed my mind,” he replied.
Lena gave him a wink and said, “I can see why. But I didn’t realize you two knew each other. I feel foolish now about insisting my driver give you a lift home.”
“Not at all. I really appreciated it,” Gia replied. She looked at him, and he knew she was going along as planned. “Drenched rat isn’t my best look,” Gia added, chuckling softly.
“I hope that little mishap didn’t interfere in any lunch plans you two may have had.”
Roger didn’t want Gia answering this. It was the perfect time for him to interject. “Actually, Gia wasn’t there to see me. She was there to drop off her résumé.” Placing a hand on Gia’s back, he added, “Until now, I don’t believe you even knew I was friends with the Hendersons, did you?”
Gia shook her head. “No, I didn’t. Maybe I shouldn’t apply then.”
Brice chimed in, “We won’t hold it against you.”
Roger noticed Lena give Brice an elbow to the ribs. “You don’t want to scare her away.”
“You mean from working for us?” Brice asked.
Lena rolled her eyes. “Really? How is it these two men run successful businesses?”
Roger and Brice asked in unison, “What does that mean?”