She placed her hand across her heart. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought Gary had mentioned a wife?”
Holly looked at Gary, and Gary and Ian both looked at me. I’m not sure why.
Ian was definitely uncomfortable. His skin even pinked a little. I tried to be unfazed by it. I was thankful I had googled him last night and already knew his marital status. Ian spoke to Holly, but his eyes were on me. I avoided looking directly into his deep dark optical pools.Unfortunately, that meant getting a good view of his five o’clock shadow that was begging to have some hands on it. Holy crap, where did that thought come from?Um hello, my brain said,we have firsthand experience. Remember how amazing it felt. My brain and I were having words later.
“No need to apologize. I’m divorced,” Ian hesitated to admit.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that,” Holly said, but she didn’t look sorry at all. Her smile was so wide it showcased all her capped teeth.
“It was for the best,” he said it so matter-of-factly, I couldn’t tell if he was upset by it or not. Not like I cared. Right?
Not only did I need a change of subject, but I needed him to quit looking at me. “Holly, Boss said you got some new pictures of your grandbabies.”
That did the trick. Holly jumped right up and went to retrieve the pictures in the living room. Boss gave me a strained look that said he knew what I was doing.
Ian turned his attention to Boss. “How many grandkids do you have?”
Boss’s face lit up like the Times Square’s Christmas tree. He was ever the proud grandpa. “Three.” He went on to brag, and rightly so, about his babies, Sara, Ethan Jr., and Camden.
Holly rejoined us, passed out the pictures, and bragged along with Gary. Camden was just starting to walk, Ethan was the star pupil in kindergarten, and Sara, the eight-year-old, played the piano, just to name a few of their many wonderful qualities. I oohed and ahhed at the adorable pictures, and fortunately the grandkids took us all the way through dinner.
As soon as dinner was over, I jumped up. “Please, let me clean up.”
“I’ve got it, honey.” Holly stood. “Why don’t you just relax?” Holly picked up one of the serving dishes.
I wasn’t taking no for an answer. I would be more relaxed at my annual gynecologist appointment than I would be sitting there with Ian. My limit for concealing had almost expired for the evening. I hoped the longer I was around Ian, the easier it would get to completely hide my true feelings around him.
While in the kitchen, Holly sidled up to me. “Wow is he handsome. Did he look like that when you knew him?”
“He’s a better dresser now, and he used to wear glasses, but he’s always looked nice.”
Nice was an understatement. He looked like he stepped out of the pages of GQ. Tonight, he was wearing designer jeans, a perfectly pressed shirt, and a canvas jacket that looked tailored to fit him. He was definitely eye candy, but like I said before, I missed the boring khakis and polos, and even the glasses. I had to quit thinking of the past. I didn’t know the man who was impeccably dressed. The man who was now my boss. The thought made me want to cry. Why did he have to be the new director?
“No wonder you were attracted to him.” Holly placed a plate in the dishwasher. “He seems nice, too.”
“Uh-huh.” He was nice—or at least he used to be—it was one of the reasons I fell for him. He could have made me feel like a real idiot when he tutored me, because, for some reason, calculus was difficult for me to understand. But he was patient and took the time to explain it until I got it, even if it took several times.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Holly took the plate from me I’d just rinsed off.
I came out of my memory. “Who, me? Of course.”
“You were awfully quiet at dinner.”
“That’s because that pasta dish was so amazing. I need the recipe.”
She laughed. “You’ve always been a terrible liar.”
“I’m just trying to adjust. But seriously, I want that recipe.”
She tapped my nose. “I’ll give you the recipe, but you know I’m here if you need to talk.”
“I know.” Too bad it couldn’t have worked out with their son. They would have been the best in-laws ever. And pictures of my cuties would be on their fridge too. If only Luke could have gotten his act together, he would have been the director. It was Boss’s hope to turn over his company to his son someday, but Luke, unfortunately, was the poster boy for substance abuse.
Holly and I put dessert together: strawberry shortcake. When itwas ready and plated, we each took two and brought them out to the dining room. Holly served Gary. That left me to serve Ian.
Ian touched my hand when I set down his dessert in front of him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I whispered. My hand tingled, and I felt a tad warm from the touch. I took a breath and reminded myself to conceal, not feel.
