Thank goodness for Flex, who’d been charming and attentive all evening. Clay had looked surprised, then skeptical, but Flex had ignored him, holding her hand, whispering in her ear, tickling the back of her knee beneath the table until she giggled.
When the waiter brought dessert, a light Grand Marnier soufflé accompanied by bottles of ’76 Dom Perignon, he kept her glass filled and she downed the champagne until she was dizzy.
“Take it easy,” Flex whispered. “You’re doing great. I never thought I’d say this, but I think he’s really jealous.”
“You’re crazy. Look at the girl he’s with. She’s gorgeous. Why would he care about me?”
“I’m telling you, I’ve known Clay for years, and I’ve never seen him like this. Here, I’ll show you what I mean.”
Before she could move, Flex bent down and kissed her. Just a soft, quick kiss. Not enough to draw attention, but enough to make Clay’s eyes darken. Ellie saw it and her heart leaped. Until he turned to the beautiful brunette and kissed her full on the mouth.
Flex chuckled softly. “What’d I tell you?”
“I’m leaving,” Ellie said.
Flex tightened his hold on her arm, keeping her firmly in her chair. “No, you aren’t. We’re going to see this through. Something’s going on here, and I’m going to help you find out what it is.”
Ellie sighed.Why the hell not? She took a deep breath, a drink of champagne, and smiled up at Flex, the most seductive smile she could manage.
Flex squeezed her hand and flashed her a grin.
“Everybody having fun?” Avery asked.
Shep Singleton lifted his glass. “To our host, Avery Whitfield, for a marvelous evening.”
“To winning the gold in Seoul,” Avery countered, “and to my son, Clay, who makes me so proud.”
Clay’s scowl faded at his father’s praise, and everyone drank heartily. Glasses were refilled, and by the end of the meal almost everyone was drunk.
“I say it’s time we head to Le Palace,” Avery said. “Time to work off some of these calories. Wouldn’t want you all to break training any worse than you already have!”
Ellie managed not to roll her eyes. They all left in taxis, Ellie trying to convince Flex to let her go back to the hotel, Flex staunchly refusing.
“We’re seeing this thing through.” He laughed. “I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.”
“I can tell you how it’ll turn out. Clay will take Ms. Marchbanks back to the hotel and screw her all night. I’ll go home alone. And you...? Well, I don’t know exactly what you’ll do.”
“Probably the same as you. I’m thinking about getting serious with someone.”
“No!”
“Yes.”
“Who is she? Do I know her?”
“Nobody knows her. We met at the Tucson show early this year. We’ve been seeing each other off and on ever since. Her name’s Carrie Schweitzer. She’s not a rider. She was there with a friend.”
“Flex, that’s wonderful.”
“I’m thinking of flying her over for Seoul.”
“That’s great. I really wish you the best.”
“I know you do, Ellie. That’s one of the things I like about you. You want the best for everyone. Even Clay.”
“I want the worst for Clay.” She glanced down, her gaze catching a spring poking through the cab’s worn seat. The taxi driver honked his horn, shook his fist out the window, and cursed at another driver.
“You don’t want the worst for Clay,” Flex said. “I bet if you thought he’d be happy with that model, you’d be glad for him.”
