FOURTEEN
“DO YOU WANT TO SIT down?” asked Luke as the architect he’d just introduced Claire to excused himself.
“More than air,” she said. “But I’m afraid if I do, I’ll never be able to convince my feet to stand in these shoes again.”
“You could have worn flats. I like you in flats, all small and manageable.” He stepped out of her reach, grinning because he knew the comment would yank her chain. Instead of the playful swat he expected, she pulled herself up to her full height, throwing her shoulders back to show off her fucking fantastic tits. The fabric of her dress, almost a golden version of the auburn of her hair, hugged her gorgeous curves including the rounded swell of her stomach that held his child. With her hair pulled back in a twist that made his fingers itch to take it down and her smoky eyes flashing a glorious green, she was a fucking goddess.
“Please,” she said thrusting out her hip. “Have you seen this dress? This dress needs these shoes.” She stuck out her foot in its jewel encrusted sandal.
“You’re beautiful, Claire,” he said, his mouth gone a little dry.
“She certainly is,” said a voice behind him.
He watched Claire’s expression shift from playful flirting to guarded politeness and knew before he turned around it was Ed Samson. He hadn’t expected to find Gretchen on Samson’s arm. What was with these two? The first time they’d seen them together had been strange, but to find both of them here at his opening arm in arm, it was weird. He supposed his PR person could have sent either one of them an invitation, but he honestly wouldn’t put it past Samson to crash. Gretchen would simply follow the money. He made a mental note to find out more, later.
“What a surprise,” said Luke, holding out his hand.
Samson shook it, but his gaze stayed on Claire. By now, he had to know he hadn’t gotten the Norfolk contract, and given the nastiness from the 609 West opening, he didn’t like the attention the other man was paying to Claire. He shifted protectively so he stayed between her and Samson.
“You’re glowing, Claire,” he said, sounding surprisingly respectful.
“Thank you.” He could tell by Claire’s tight smile that she felt wary, too.
Samson stepped back, and Luke relaxed enough to turn his attention to Gretchen. She was as perfect and polished as ever in a short strapless dress that held her tits out like a buffet. It was the expression on her face that diminished her looks. She watched Claire with a combination of envy and determination. She glanced down at Claire’s left hand and an unpleasant smile spread across her face. By the shift in Claire’s expression, she’d seen the look too, and it pissed him off. Claire knew he wanted to marry her, but women like Gretchen were always going to assume he was with her for the baby.
“Gretchen,” he said, letting some of the ice he felt slip into his voice. “You’re looking well.”
“This old thing,” she said, running her hands over the dress and turning her body in a way that showed it off to it best advantage. “You’ve seen this before. It was one of you favorites, if I remember right. In fact,” she practically purred. “It was lucky my seamstress was able to mend it.”
He knew her words were intended to make Claire uncomfortable and cause problems between them. The only way Gretchen would wear the same dress to an event was if she couldn’t sink her claws into a man rich enough to buy her a new one. Samson had more than enough money to do that.
Although if the way he was looking at Gretchen was any indication, she’d have to do something pretty acrobatic with that amazing body of hers to distract him from what she’d just said. Samson turned his attention from Gretchen to Claire, and Luke could have sworn he saw something nasty slide through the other man’s eyes. It was enough to make him move to stand behind her, wrapping her in his arms. Gretchen’s eyes narrowed, but when he looked back at Samson whatever he’d thought he saw was gone, replaced by a bland, friendly expression.
It was like the normally aggressive man was working extra hard to say and do exactly what was expected of him. Maybe he didn’t know about Matthews getting the Norfolk job, and he was trying to make a good impression. He’d never cared what kind of impression he made before.
Claire’s body softened against Luke’s in a way that let him know whatever she was thinking about the exchange with Gretchen, she was glad he was here. The feeling of the woman he loved, warm and soft in his arms, was enough to distract him from thoughts of Samson.
“Claire,” said Gretchen, with mock sweetness. “You do look lovely. So maternal. I wonder, could you show me where the powder room is? You did work on this building, didn’t you?” Claire stiffened in his arms, but he knew before she said a word, she’d take Gretchen. The other woman had challenged her, and Claire never backed down from a challenge.
“There’s one at the back of the lobby and of course, in the restaurant,” said Luke, tightening his grip on Claire.
“Oh,” said Gretchen. “I’d hoped Claire could show me. I thought she might want to. I thought I’d heard that was one of those unpleasant side effects of being pregnant.” She dropped her voice for the last part, sounding almost conspiratorial.
“It’s okay,” said Claire, stepping out of his arms.
He didn’t want her going anywhere with Gretchen, but the only way he could think to stop her was to tell her she couldn’t. He knew no matter how good his intentions, she wouldn’t thank him for that. There was something he could do before he sent her off with the shark.
“Hurry back to me,” he said loud enough for the others to hear. With a finger under her chin, he tipped her face up and brushed his lips over hers, putting all the love he felt into the kiss.
“YOU’RE NOT WHAT I expected,” said Gretchen, painting her lips in the restroom mirror. “When Luke and I were together in New York, I pictured someone…” She paused to give Claire and appraising look. “Different. And you’re an electrician? A tradeswoman, how Flashdance.”
“I’m an electrical contractor as well as a general contractor. Like Ed Samson, but,” she said, making sure to meet Gretchen’s gaze. “With higher standards.”
She saw Gretchen’s eyes narrow, and it made her feel like a bitch, but honestly, the woman was a viper.When Luke and I were togetherimplying something that Claire knew hadn’t happened.
“I’m sure this must have come as a surprise.” She motioned with her lipstick brush to Claire’s stomach. “Or maybe not? Pity, I don’t see a ring. I would have thought if he was serious, he would have married you by now. Before you started to show. He’s usually such a decisive man. I wonder what’s holding him back.”
She could tell her. It would be easy to tell her Luke already asked her to marry him. That he’d given her the ring. She could wipe the smug smile off the stupid bitch’s face. But she didn’t want to tell Gretchen she’d said no. It felt like a betrayal, like it would desecrate something important between Luke and her. Gretchen wasn’t worth it, but he was.
