“Seriously?” I hissed, kicking him lightly in the shin.
He jerked, glancing down, then over at me with a startled expression. It quickly softened into one of faint, puzzled recognition. “Oh. Sorry. Didn’t see you there.”
Didn’t see me here.
I bit down a sharp retort, but before I could decide whether to say the words or dump my drink in his lap, Alex stood abruptly. “Gregory, let’s catch up for a minute, yeah?”
He clapped a hand on the poor man’s shoulder and practically hauled him away from the table. I blinked after them, utterly confused, and then realized Alex had just dumped me, Trent,and Dad.
Alex and Gregory disappeared toward the cigar lounge, and the moment the door shut behind them, I became acutely aware of the heat of the man beside me. The man radiated Texas like it was a lifestyle choice.
To make matters worse, my dad suddenly stood up too. “I’m going to see if Gregory’s father is around. He owes me five dollars and I aim to collect. You don’t mind keeping Charlotte company, do you, Trent?”
I noticed he hadn’t asked me ifIwas okay with being kept company, but it didn’t matter anyway because he was gone before Trent had even replied. So now I was officially being babysat by a man who found me so repulsive that he would run than kiss me, mistletoe be damned.
Fantastic.
For a few long seconds, Trent didn’t move or speak. Then he cleared his throat, glanced at me, and shook his head like he couldn’t quite figure out what to do with me. “I’ll, uh, I’ll just let you be.”
With that, he pushed back his chair and stood, walking away without another word. I sat at the empty table with heat creeping up my neck. Everyone had found someone to talk to, or to laugh with, or something else to do.
Everyone but me.
Overlooked. Again.
I pulled out my phone and texted for a driver. I wasn’t about to stick around while they did their important men things and just left me here. A dull ache had started up in my chest by the time I reached the club’s fancy foyer alone.
I’d been so excited to spend time with my dad and he hadn’t even lasted an hour. Fierce, hot disappointment cascaded over me, but I was pretending not to care when I heard Alex’s voice behind me.
Again.
“Char! Where are you going?”
I turned to find him striding toward me with that brotherly expression that saiddon’t make me run after you. Trentfollowed at his side, his face a blank stone mask, impossible to read.
“I have an event tonight,” I said breezily, tucking my phone into my clutch and lifting my chin. “This was fun, though. We shouldn’t do it again.”
Alex ignored the last part and raised an eyebrow. “Are you reading books to Girl Scouts again? Is that your event?”
“You’re hilarious.” I flipped him off without missing a beat.
A low laugh reached my ears and I frowned, because Alex wasn’t laughing. I stole a quick glance sideways and realized thatTrent Shepard,of all people, seemed to beamusedby me.
Shaking my head, I gave my brother a short wave and started backing away. “I should get going. See you around, Alex. Don’t do anything—oh, wait. You don’t do anything anymore, so no warnings are required. Enjoy puffing on each other’s cigars, gentlemen.”
He groaned. “Char, come on.”
I ignored him, pushing toward the door and then realizing Trent was already there, one large hand holding it open for me. For one heartbeat, our gazes met. His clear, cutting blue eyes caught the gold of the overhead light, and his stare would have pinned me in place if I hadn’t already been annoyed with him.
“Charlotte,” he said quietly, holding the door like it was second nature.
My throat was suddenly a little tight, but I nodded anyway. “Thanks.”
Stepping past him, I left the club and walked out into the sticky night heat, my heart tripping over itself for no good reason. I hurried to the waiting car, all the while pretending I didn’t feel electricity crackling through my nerve endings like a science experiment gone awry. My legs were shaky walking down the steps.
By the time the driver merged into the traffic, I’d taken several deep, cleansing breaths, trying to forget the masculine scent of him. I scrolled through my messages, attempting to ignore the tiny storm still whirling in my chest.
My father’s world always left me feeling like I was a little girl playing dress-up. It wasn’t me. On the bright side, his abandonment meant I could finally get back to my own world. I quickly tapped out a message and fired it off to Stella, my best friend.
