When strong hands came out to steady me, and a current of electricity shot through me, I looked up and locked onto coffee brown eyes that were sparkling with mischievousness. I couldn’t look away from that gaze even if I wanted to.
“You okay?” That deep voice washed over me and I had to bite my bottom lip.
“I-I’m fine.” I stepped back and out of Xavier’s arms.
His lips spread into a grin and that goddamn dimple came out to play. For the briefest of moments, my knees felt a little wobbly. But I quickly recovered.
“Thank you,” I stated.
“Lamont, Larsa,” Xavier nodded. “You two are looking good. How’re the kids?” He smiled at the couple.
I noticed Larsa’s eyes quickly dart over to me before they turned back to Xavier. Theirs wasn’t a conversation I wanted to stay around to hear.
“Enjoy your evening,” I said to the trio, and attempted for a second time to make my departure.
“You’re not leaving yet, right? I just got here,” Xavier said.
“Uh, no. I…there’s a few people I need to speak with. You enjoy your conversation with the Williamses.” I gestured to Lamont and Larsa and quickly departed. I could feel eyes on me as I walked away, but I didn’t dare turn around to see which one of the three was watching me. Sighing, I placed my clutch under my arm and decided to visit the bidding table. There were some participating non-profit organizations I could give donations. I figured if I hung out here for a while, I could avoid bumping into anyone else I was trying to avoid.
Chapter Six
Xavier
She looked damn good. The way that dress was hugging her ass had me placing my hands in my pockets to avoid “accidentally” reaching out and touching. I hadn’t expected to see Chanel at the gala that night. She usually didn’t attend these events, but of course, that was when she was living out-of-state. But it sure as hell was a pleasant surprise to have her bump into me. I could sense her discomfort standing around Lamont and Larsa. I wondered what that was about. I knew all three had known each other when they were younger. I couldn’t shake the sense that Chanel was trying to make what felt like an escape as she walked away. I turned, looking back at Lamont and Larsa, who wore sheepish looks.
“You had a hell of a season last year. Think you can do it again?” I asked, deciding not to pry into whatever that was.
“Oh, no doubt.” Lamont’s blank expression turned to one of a man who was completely sure of himself. Lamont and I weren’t close, but he’d done some promotional stuff for one of my restaurants in the city and hosted a few events at a club of mine. He was cool peoples from what I knew of him. We talked for a few about the upcoming season and how his team’s defense was looking.
We parted ways, and I sought out Jason who was wining and dining his clients like the professional bullshitter he was. I laughed as Tori stood by him, watching him do his thing, making faces every now and again that only I could see. Jay and I caught up after his clients had gone on their way. He asked me about my trip to D.C., from which I’d just returned only a few hours before. Elliott and Marjorie joined us after a while, and we all caught up before Jay and Tori departed. I went over to the silent auction table to see what organizations they were receiving donations. One, in particular, caught my eye.
“Women’s Shelter of Houston.” I looked up at Elliott, who tilted his head to Marjorie.
“The wife thought it needed to be added,” he said.
I found it interesting it was Marjorie who’d convinced him to include the women’s shelter. When they walked away, I picked up the pen on the clipboard and wrote in a number that was well above any of the other donations. They were auctioning off a couple of tickets for a four-day cruise from Galveston to Mexico. I had very little interest in the cruise and figured if I won the bid, I could give it to one of my employees or something.
I placed the clipboard back down on the table and looked out over the people who were mingling. I told myself I wasn’t looking for anyone in particular, but as soon as I caught a flash of that champagne-colored dress, I followed her every move. When I followed her line of sight, I saw she was looking at Elliott and Marjorie. Elliott had pulled Marjorie into him, his arm around her waist, and Marjorie wore an amused and loving expression as Elliott whispered something in her ear. It wasn’t an unordinary sight to me, but looking back at Chanel, I could see something didn’t sit well with her. After a few more moments of staring, she shook herself out of the trance and quickly turned, moving toward the back set of doors, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter on her way out.
I raised an eyebrow at her odd behavior. I felt something tugging me toward the exit I saw her go through. I knew that door led to an area behind the planetarium, but not in the direction of the parking lot where a car would be waiting. It took me a minute to finally make it to the door, as more than a few people stopped me to discuss something or other.
When I opened the door, her back was to me as she stood, staring up at the night sky. This felt eerily familiar. I couldn’t help the way my eyes trailed down her body. That dress was hitting all the right spots perfectly, showing off the smallness of her waist and the swell of her ass. The toned nature of her legs was put on display by the six-inch heels she wore.
“Chanel?” I called. When she turned, I could just make out sadness in her eyes. That same look she wore that night at my bar. “What are you doing out here?”
She shook her head. “He loves her,” she answered.
That surprised me. “Who? Lamont?” I asked, thinking back to her unease earlier in the evening.
She scoffed at that. “Him, too,” she answered, before shaking her head. “What are you doing out here?”
“Checking on you,” I retorted honestly.
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to. You looked, I don’t know. You didn’t look okay. You all right?”
“No. Not really, to be honest.”
