But over the years, Neal had changed. His divorce and then Theo’s father’s and mother’s deaths had hardened him to a point that Theo didn’t recognize him anymore.
His gaze was drawn to Amber throughout the night, watching how she interacted with people easily. She was charming, always the center in a group of people, always smiling and laughing in genuine delight. Men and women alike were drawn to her. She was a mix of genuine warmth and wicked humor that was hard to resist. Lord knew he was failing.
He thought about their lunch earlier in the week and how she had refused to talk about her life before working for him. Was it embarrassment? He knew she hadn’t finished college, but what had she done after, and why was she so evasive?
It irritated him that he wanted to know. She was his assistant, and he had never been overly involved with Kelsey. Yet, he couldn’t stop himself from wondering what her life had been like in the years since he first met her.
She had been so small inthe backseat of Grant’s patrol car, her gown torn and tears streaking her cheeks with a look on her face that dared anyone to feel sorry for her. He had admired her courage then, just as he did now, and he remembered thinking that the world was going to feel the impact of all that determination one day.
She was the same woman now, yet the layers she’d wrapped herself in intrigued him. She was smart and a hard worker, yet she showed up late to work. She was witty and funny, and fearless, and yet her work history was abysmal. She was a contradiction he couldn’t figure out. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to, he thought irritably.
A while later, Theo looked up from the couple he was talking to when he heard her voice. Amber was holding court, unsurprisingly, on the balcony. Johnny stood next to her, dressed in a tux, grinning down at her. His hand rested familiarly on the small of her back. Theo put his drink down and headed toward her.
"I was hoping you'd be here," Pippa said, stopping him with a hand on his elbow. She was elegant and lovely in a strapless black ball gown, her dark hair glossy against the silk.
“You’re looking well tonight,” he said, trying to hide his impatience. His eyes went back to the balcony, but Amber wasn’t there anymore. Theo’s gaze scanned the crowd for a scrap of a white dress.
Where had she gone? And with who?
"You look handsome yourself," she said. “I was hoping you would call me this week."
Theo looked at her blankly. "It was a busy week. Excuse me,” he said. “There’s something I have to take care of.”
He was just going to make sure she was okay, as he would any friend or employee.
He followed a long hallway and stuck his head in the firstroom, a salon; it was empty. The next room was an empty sitting room. The third door down the hallway was mostly closed. Behind it, he heard a familiar peal of laughter and his stomach clenched. He knew that laughter; his ears had been tuned into it all night.
"Open your mouth wider.” A low, husky man’s voice. Theo stiffened.
Amber's smoky laughter followed. "I can't take anymore."
"You can take it. Open your mouth.”
She moaned. “The juices make it too slippery.”
Theo's eyes nearly crossed with rage. He jerked the door open and stared. Amber sat on the couch in front of a wall of books, her head tilted back, with Johnny in front of her. His back was to the door, one hand on his hips, the other near Amber’s cheek.
Theo's heart thudded to a complete stop and dropped to his feet.
"What the fuck is going on here?" he demanded.
Amber peeked around Johnny, who turned more slowly. He seemed to assess the situation with a knowing smirk on his lips. Both of them fully clothed.
Amber looked up, teasing laughter in her golden eyes. “Come in, Theo. Oysters on the half shell. Want to try?" she asked. “I’ve never had one before.” She took a sip of champagne and sighed. “I could get used to this life.”
"No, thank you," Theo said stiffly. His heart was still thundering in his ears. "Are you ready to go, Amber?"
She took another delicate sip of champagne and stood. “Have you met John Rossi?” she asked politely.
Theo nodded at Johnny, who grinned knowingly at Theo.
“I guess we’reblowingthis popcorn joint," she said cheerfully. She hugged Johnny goodbye. "Wait, before we leave, we didn't get to see the lake," she said as they left the room. “Comewith me.” She took his hand and tugged him through the French doors leading to a balcony overlooking the lake.
Suddenly, she bent over laughing, holding her stomach.
“What are you laughing about?” He asked irritably, even though he knew.
“Oh, boss,” she wheezed. “You should have seen your face.”
