By the time he paid for their drinks, the gin and tonic guy was gone. Evan circled around the crowd, finding Jess close to the entrance to the ballroom, in conversation with a Black woman and a white man.
He caught her eye, and she waved him over. “Evan,” she said as he approached. “Do you know Kate and Luke?” She kept going, smoothly introducing him to the duo, who were both in leadership positions with the city’s fairgrounds. Luke wasn’t impressed, but Kate’s eyes lit up when Jess explained who Evan was.
“We’d love to do an event with Go West Winery,” she said.
“I think we send a team to your Food and Wine show.” He smiled. “It’s always a great show.”
He wasn’t sure about that, but it didn’t matter. Event management was a tough job, and a necessary set of allies to have in the wine business. And he knew Beth would kick him in the shin if he missed an opportunity to get an exclusive event partnership.
Not that he would. He had his card out at the same time as Kate pulled hers. They both chuckled.
Then Kate won him over completely by leaning in and whispering, “You just missed Jess playing hardball with Luke.”
Luke protested.
Jess grinned. “It’s true. But he was playing lowball with me, so it’s only fair. He knows what I’m worth, and what marketing experience I bring to the table. So yeah, I played hardball. The hardest.”
Evan made a low sound of approval. “As you should.”
“We’ll leave you two lovebirds alone,” Kate said, wiggling her fingers as they moved away. “And don’t worry, Jess,” she called out over her shoulder. “Luke will have the right offer in your inbox on Monday!”
His date giggled as she took the glass of white wine he handed her. “Wow, that was successful on multiple levels.” Her eyes danced as she leaned in. “Don’t look now, but my ex is behind you, six o’clock, and I’m pretty sure he just heard that.”
Evan held out his own glass. “Cheers.” They clinked, and then he took a long, slow taste.
And it was a good thing that he swallowed it before he turned around, because when he finally checked out Jess’s husband, it was none other than Mr. Gin and Tonic.
Evan’s throat tightened up.
“Shall we go in?” Jess asked, her voice still dancing like she was on cloud nine.
Fluid as ever, he nodded. He wouldn’t let on that he had any other reference for her husband—ex-husband, he reminded himself. And for every good reason.
However he chose to identify, Jess’s ex liked men.
And Evan had a sinking feeling she had no idea.
6
After they went in and found their table, Jess didn’t see Brent again until dessert was served and the mayor stood to acknowledge the community members and first responders being recognized for their exceptional acts of service.
When it was Brent’s turn to receive his award, he approached the dais swiftly and shook the mayor’s hand, took the obligatory photographs, but declined the opportunity to speak.
And then he was gone.
She didn’t see him again all evening, or at least for as long as they stayed. By ten, she’d shaken all the hands she could, done all the sweet talking she needed to, and frankly, she was done.
“You ready to get out of here?” Evan asked, reading her mind.
She nodded, and he slid his hand over the small of her back in that delicious, claiming way she was going to fantasize about later.
On the drive to her house, she convinced herself she would say goodbye—to Evan, his cologne, and the gorgeous car—in her laneway.
But as soon as he parked, he was out of the car and around to her side, opening her door for her.
And he took her hand and led her to the door.
It was, without a doubt, romantic. Or chivalrous. Which were the same thing, were they not? Also, there was nobody around for Evan to impress any longer.
