Frustrated by her inability to stop thinking of Olivia, Jaime dressed up, settled in her car and drove off. When she arrived at the gala, she was immediately inundated and swept away by people making almost unbearable small talk, though the live band playing in the background allowed her to drown out most voices to a mere murmur.
This definitely was one reason she hated attending such events.
A person could get lost in the spacious ballroom, where artistic arrangements of deep purple calla lilies cascaded down tables draped in shimmering silver linens. The crystal chandeliers overhead cast a soft glow, highlighting the dramatic elegance of the scene. Most guests wore tuxedos and gowns, echoing Old Hollywood glamour, with sparkling sequins and flowing fabrics.
Jaime, donning what passed for her formal armor—a floor-length black silk dress, simple yet elegant, with a daring back—was in the middle of talking to Councilman Meyer when she saw her.
For a moment, she felt dragged back five years ago to the Alumni event where she’d first spied Olivia. Much like then, the room fell away, her focus narrowing on the stunning woman in front of her.
Clad in deep-purple silk that hugged her curves and shimmered in the chandelier light, Olivia looked stunning—exquisite, even. But knowing the sweet scent of her skin, her responsiveness to Jaime’s touch, it made the sight all the more devastating. God, she needed to stop, considering the heat twisting in her stomach didn’t belong at such an event.
Jaime had been so focused on Olivia that she’d blurred out the surrounding people, at least until a familiar, handsome man grasped Olivia’s elbow and leaned close to whispersomething to her.
Olivia nodded, smiling at him.
Jaime frowned; not only did the sight douse the heat she’d just wanted to extinguish, but her stomach clenched, a mix of frustration and something she didn’t care to name churning within her. Her breath hitched, each inhale felt heavier than the last.
“Am I boring you, Judge Lachlan?” Meyer asked.
“Excuse me?” Jaime focused on the Councilman.
“You seem miles away, and then you frowned as if you’d just heard the most offensive thing.”
More like seen.
Jaime suppressed a grimace. It was nothing to her whom Olivia chose to date, though she questioned her taste, given Judge Johnson was an irritating know-it-all. “No, no. I apologize, but I seem to be coming down with quite a terrible headache.”
“Oh, no. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. Let us continue our conversation another time, yes?”
“Of course. I hope you’ll feel better soon, Judge Lachlan,” he said and left.
Jaime’s gaze once more drifted to Olivia as she laughed, the sound a silver bell cutting through the low hum of conversations. A pang of discomfort shot through her as she watched Johnson lean closer, his hand brushing against Olivia’s bare arm. It shouldn’t matter whom Olivia spoke to, but the sight left her thoughts spiraling—too messy, too loud.
Jaime spun around, the taste of champagne souring on her tongue as she headed toward the restroom.
She needed a moment of pause so she could stay another half hour, move along the outskirts, accept her award and head home. Not ideal, but it would have to do.
Jaime stood in front of a mirror, her hands clenched on the cool porcelain sink with her head bowed and her eyes closed when thedoor creaked open. She straightened—it wouldn’t do for anyone to catch her so…out of sorts.
Glancing at the mirror, her breath caught when Olivia appeared behind her.
Neither said a word at first, just standing there, staring at each other until Olivia strode a couple of steps closer, her gaze taking in the expanse of Jaime’s back.
“That’s some dress.” Olivia’s voice rang rough, reminding Jaime of the raspy sounds that had spilled from her lips at the hotel.
Jaime’s hands tightened. She turned around. “Won’t yourdatemiss you if you spend all your time chatting in the ladies room?” She quirked one eyebrow.
Olivia’s brows furrowed. “My date?”
“I suppose he is forgettable.”
Olivia only held her gaze, her eyes widening after a moment. “You don’t mean Jack, do you?”
Jaime’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t know you were on a first name basis with Judge Johnson.”
“We go way back.” Mirth danced in Olivia’s eyes, and Jaime longed to wipe it away.
