"You're going to meet the larger donors tonight, and the police and fire department heads, although I assume you know them already?” He saw her nod. “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling are the hosts. They own the winery and the Grand River Hotel. They've been supporters of my family since my grandfather's time in office.”
"All right, got it. Charm him, chat up his wife."
"You don't have to charm anyone. Just be yourself."
She snorted. “That is myself. I’m charming. Relax, boss. This is going to be fun.” She punched a button on his dashboard, and loud music filled the car.
"Would you mind?" He turned it back to talk radio.
"Yes, I mind. We have to get in the mood."
"Get in the mood?" He raised his eyebrows.
"I’ve never been to a fancy dinner like this, and I haven’t eaten all day to save room. Plus, I spent a lot of time sewing this dress." She held up her fingers and wiggled them. "I've got pin pricks all over."
"You really made the dress?"
"Of course, I made the dress."
He looked at her with new appreciation. "Nice work,"he said gruffly.
"You like it?"
He paused, considering. It was outrageous, bordering on scandalous, and vastly different from anything they would see tonight. And, yes, he liked it. He loved it, actually. It was the epitome of Amber. “Yes, I like it," he said simply, and smiled at her.
She grinned bright enough to light up the car. “Thanks.” Theo felt himself staring, an unexpected warmth surging through him.
Lights glowed softly as Theo pulled into the driveway of a beautifully restored mansion on Canandaigua Lake. He tossed the keys to the valet and went around to help Amber out of the car, strangely excited to walk in with her on his arm.
Generally, he disliked these events, although he attended them regularly. They came with the position, fundraising and networking, getting to know the most powerful and influential people in the city, but he tolerated them more than anything.
Theo held out his arm to Amber, leading her in. Elegant couples in pure black and white filled the ballroom, creating a stunning picture as they stood in the entry. As eyes turned toward them curiously, Theo felt a slight tremor in Amber’s fingers that made him glance down. He was so used to the attention and the media that he sometimes forgot how overwhelming it could be. A fierce, protective urge took him by surprise, and he closed his hand over hers, squeezing gently. Her little stubborn chin came up, and the crowd swallowed them.
“Hello Amber, Theo,” Charlotte said a while later. Theo looked down and did a double take.
“Charlotte?” he asked, as if he didn’t know his childhood friend. Because he didn’t. The woman standing in front of him with Neal at her side wasn’t the shy, retiring woman he had grown up with. Charlotte had undergone her own transformation. Her black silk dress hugged her body like a second skin,and her hair fell softly around her face. Had he ever seen her wear her hair down like that? He stared in surprise while her face flushed prettily. “You look...” words failed him.
“She looks stunning,” Amber said firmly. She looped her arm through Charlotte’s and gave them a wave. “We’re going to get a drink.”
“I was going to say lovely,” Theo said thoughtfully as they walked away. The back of Charlotte’s dress was another surprise. It was cut down to a deep V in the back, exposing miles of her bare skin. He blinked. It was true. She did look lovely. Charlotte had always possessed a soft, fuzzy, cozy attractiveness, but tonight it appeared as though all the blurry edges had sharpened, and she had come into clear focus. The effect was profound. Theo grinned, inordinately pleased that his friend had tried something new.
“Who knew she was hiding that body under those grandma suits,” Neal said under his breath.
“Take it easy, Neal. Isn’t she the same age as your daughters?” Theo asked. Neal had two daughters with his ex-wife, both only a few years younger than Charlotte.
“Ah, but she’s not my daughter,” Neal said. “At least she’s got a dress on. Your new assistant is wearing lingerie,” he snickered.
“She made it herself,” Theo said shortly. He was in no mood for Neal. He searched the crowd for honey-colored hair.
“I know it was a terrible idea to bring her,” Neal was saying. “She looks like a stripper in that, and now she’s got Charlotte looking like one too.”
Cold fury filled Theo and his fist clenched around the champagne glass in his hand, almost tight enough to shatter it. “Keep your observations to yourself. They’re not welcome,” he said icily.
Neal looked up, surprise on his face. “I’m not sayinganything that anybody else here isn’t thinking, and you know it. She’s got a reputation for sleeping with most of the Northfield police and fire departments, and now it looks like you’re next. I told you that first night she was a disaster waiting to happen. It’s your career that’s at stake, Theo, not hers. Women like her are a dime a dozen.” He tossed back his glass of dark amber liquid. “Don’t kill the messenger,” he said stiffly before walking away.
Almost immediately another couple took Neal’s place and Theo found himself in a steady crowd of people while fury ate at his insides.
Neal had been a close family friend since Theo could remember. There wasn’t a time when he had visited his father in the mayor’s office and Neal hadn’t been there. Family dinners, even some vacations, were all entwined with memories of Neal Barclay and his then wife and daughters.
