As Swanson continued to preach, Gavin agreed with everything the guy had to say, adding his own two cents from what he’d learned in the Corps and seen at the gym. Shocker, but Swanson wasn’t such a loser after all. And he didn’t seem to be panting after Zoe, so Gavin didn’t have to hurt him. Another bonus.
“I’m so sorry, Gavin,” Zoe apologized as she breezed up to them. “Dr. Garrison would not leave me alone.”
“Want me to shove his head through a wall?” Gavin asked lightly. Meaning it.
She blinked. Swanson narrowed his eyes.
“Ah, no. He was actually badgering me, in a good way, about some training concerns. But I told him to talk to Mark.” She smiled at Swanson. “You’re welcome.”
“Yep. A real ballbuster.” He grunted and turned to leave. “Oh, Gavin, if you ever feel like a game of racquetball, let me know. I’d love to continue our conversation. You have a real head for exercise science, you know. Some great ideas in an area I’ve been pursuing with one of our CEOs. I’d like to talk to you again about it.”
“Thanks. Great. Yeah, I’m game for racquetball. Never played, but it can’t be hard to learn.” He held up his drink in salute as Swanson left, then turned to see Zoe staring at him. “What?”
“Did Mark just ask you out?”
“Shut up, Zoe.”
She laughed, wearing some clingy thing she called an A-line skirt and a silk blouse he wanted to peel off her shoulders, then lick his way down to her creamy center. Better than a Twinkie any day, and that was saying something.
“Gavin. Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to take me into the nearest closet and do me.”
“Oh? And where would that nearest closet be?” he teased. The Hotel Monaco was a pretty fancy place. The party had gourmet appetizers, high-end booze, and classy service. No question the medical group wanted to hold on to their people, as Zoe had told him on the way over. Nothing but the best for the doctors and staff at SMP Medical.
With Zoe running all over the place hobnobbing with folks, he’d had little to do but look pretty standing next to her. Then she’d gone off to talk to someone else, one of her bosses.
So except for his time with Swanson, Gavin had been bored stiff.
But Zoe had asked him to come. She’d made it seem like no big deal if he didn’t want to, but Gavin took it as a sign she wasn’t embarrassed to be seen with him. Sure, he was good looking. But she wanted him around her brainy friends and coworkers. She introduced him like he was God’s gift to fitness, respect in her voice, warmth in her gaze.
His stomach fluttered as he looked into her eyes. So fucking beautiful. And his.
The unworthy thoughts he continued to have came less of late. He thought he might finally be getting over the past. Even the lone nightmare he’d had last week hadn’t been so bad. Because Zoe erased the past, promising a future.
He hoped.
God, he hoped.
She continued to stare at him. Then she nodded and plucked a glass of champagne and a napkin from a tray going by. “Follow me. I was here earlier and found out where they’re keeping our coats. In a small closet in the back. But there’s a restroom near it that’s not too crowded.”
“Oh, sure.” Gavin followed her down the side hall toward the restrooms. Then she turned again. “Before that, let me show you something.”
With any luck, her etchings, he thought with amusement.
She turned once more, and he wondered where the hell they were going. This seemed like a section of more conference rooms, from the map he’d seen earlier. “Um, Zoe?”
“Almost there.” She headed for a door that looked slightly ajar. Then she opened it to reveal a large, dark room set with long tables and chairs. As he’d figured, a conference room.
She pulled him in with her, then shut the door behind them. Except for the faint light from the hallway under the door and the exit sign above it, he couldn’t see too much. But Zoe had been cast in a faint red light, and adjusting to the darkness, he could make her out no problem.
“O-kay.” Gavin glanced around. “So what did you want to show me?”
She sighed, then reached under her skirt and stepped out of her panties. “Do I need to spell it out for you?”
He stared, wide-eyed. “Um, no. Not at all.” Suddenly rock hard and ready, he took her drink with his and set them down on a nearby table, then came back to her and unzipped his pants.
