Chapter Two
Jennifer’s gaze widenedand wandered around the room as she walked into the bar area of the country club.She bit her lip, and her tension elevated, making her feel slightly nauseated.She pressed a hand against her stomach and instantly started to regret coming.
Only recently, Devon and Tessa had become members of the exclusive club.They found it was a great way to meet clients.Devon and Tessa were very successful, and part of it was because of mingling at these gatherings.So fruitful, Jennifer was afraid Tessa would ask her to come to these get-togethers again in the future.
Jennifer swallowed, took a quick sip from the glass of wine she held in her hand, and tried to lower her anxiety, needing to make the best of the situation.She tried to think of excuses to get out of coming again but couldn’t come up with an explanation Tessa would believe.
Tessa and Devon were stopped several times.Devon was a lawyer, and Tessa worked in real estate, so they knew a lot of people around the city.
Madlyn and Jennifer walked slowly behind them, mainly ignoring each other, and stopped when the couple did.
Jennifer’s eyes widened as she caught glimpses of how large the crowd was.There had to have been a hundred people here, Jennifer thought nervously.She looked down at herself and grimaced.
Tessa was dressed for a business/social gathering, and Jennifer was dressed in the clothes she wore when she cleaned out kennels that day.She had tried to fix her hair into a clip and wiped the stains she’d received throughout the day from her clothes, but that was it.
It was early in the evening, but already several couples were on the dance floor to the right of the main double doors.
The room was dim, and the low-key conversations were mixed with soft music.From what Jennifer could see, it was a striking room.The walls were painted in muted shades of calming blues.The woodwork around the doors, windows, and along the half-wall paneling was beautiful and intricate.There were several fawn-colored leather seating arrangements with tables and chairs to the left, and a long maple bar surrounded by people in the back of the immense area.She’d only been to the club a few times and never at night—always a quick lunch with Tessa and never in that room.
Jennifer listened to Madlyn with half an ear.After the first few comments about getting laid and what Jennifer could do not to look so horrendous, she tuned her out.Jennifer’s gaze swept the room quickly before concentrating on Tessa and Devon.She was uncomfortable with the looks she got from some men and the appalled looks from some women.Jennifer pondered if they were wondering how someone like her got in.She breathed a slight sigh of relief when they found a tall table and stools to the side and away from the movement of the crowd.
Jennifer carefully climbed on the tall stool without tipping over or tumbling to the floor.That humiliation would top off the night.Her diminished height made those high stools always challenging for her.
“Hey, ladies, I’m going to run to the bar.What can I get you to drink?”
Jennifer indicated the wineglass in her hand.“I’m good, Devon.”
Devon’s arm was snug around Tessa’s waist.
“I’m surprised you’re even drinking, Jen.I can’t remember the last time,” Devon said.
Jennifer grimaced.Liquid courage, she thought.As she watched him walk off toward the back of the large room, her attention returned to Tessa and their conversation about work.
“Hey, girls, look over in the corner by the doors and check out the hottie that’s checking me out,” Madlyn said excitedly and smoothed any wrinkles from her short skirt.
Both Jennifer and Tessa turned their heads in the direction Madlyn indicated.
There was a moment of silence.“Oh, shit,” Tessa whispered.
Both women jerked toward her in surprise when Tessa swore.She hardly ever got upset and seldom cursed, so when she did, she was either scared or upset.
“What the hell, Tessa?You know that guy and have never introduced me to him before?”Madlyn complained, her eyebrows snapping together in annoyance, adjusting her cream-colored silk shirt and making sure her hair was in its sleek style that just grazed her shoulders.
Tessa looked worriedly at Jennifer.
Jennifer faced Tessa, concerned.“What, Tessa?”
“I’m pretty sure he’s staring at you, Jen,” she said, biting down on her lip worriedly.
Madlyn shot Tessa a hostile glare.“He could be looking at me.Not every man out there wants little Jenny.”
