Page 12 of Love On and Off Set

I acknowledged her with a nod before glancing over at another couple whom I was delighted to see.

Smith and Alessandra MacLean were more my speed. Smith was a successful entrepreneur, with whom I’d had a number of dealings over the years. We were close in age as well as success levels. The blond man offered a warm smile and stood to offer his hand. His cerulean eyes also shone.

Alessandra was a little slower to rise. She flushed. “Sorry. I should be used to not being pregnant by now, but it still catches me off-guard that I don’t have a bowling ball where my stomach had been.”

Dade laughed. “I have an aunt who says the same thing after each pregnancy.”

For a moment, I held my breath.

“How many pregnancies?” Alessandra’s dark-brown eyes narrowed. Her black hair was in some kind of an updo that I hadn’t seen before.

Dade grinned. “She just had number six.”

Alessandra elbowed Smith in the gut. Judging by his reaction, she hadn’t pulled her punch.

He held up his hands. “I just suggested two was a nice, even number.”

“How soon after she gave birth?” Lucille didn’t rise, but she did nod to me. “Because after my first, I swore I wasn’t doing that again.”

Gordon laughed. “As I recall, my dear, you were the one who suggested we have another two.”

“Well, I’d forgotten.”

Alessandra held out her hand to Dade. “Everyone tells me I will as well. I’m not convinced. I’ve only been out twice since the Wesley’s birth. I don’t like being away from him.”

Smith pressed a kiss to his much-shorter wife’s temple. “My dear, Tara is upstairs with the baby right now.” He shook Dade’s hand, then offered me a shake as well. “We decided we’d make a weekend in the city. Our friend accompanied us.”

“Tarah Merrick? Sebastian’s wife?” I wracked my mind.

Alessandra grinned as she sat back down. “One and the same. Sebastian’s out of town on business, or they’d be attending tonight. We tried to talk Tarah into coming—even offering to hire a babysitter for the night—but she worried about odd numbers.”

Dade offered me a sheepish grin. “See, sweetheart, you didn’t need me after all.” He offered his hand to Gordon, who’d also risen. “Dade Simard.”

“Apologies for not introducing my…boyfriend.”

Smith caught my gaze and raised an eyebrow.

So many eyebrows raised tonight.

On the other hand, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d brought a date.

“So tell us, Dade, what do you do?” Lucille sipped her wine after asking what likely sounded like an innocuous question.

“Oh, good, you’re all here.”

Walter and Bethany arrived, and Walter’s comment was a welcome, if temporary, reprieve.

I cleared my throat. “Dade, this is my CFO, Bethany Maitland, and her amazing husband, Walter. He assisted in organizing this event.”

Dade shook Bethany’s hand first. “I understand you’re invaluable to Horatio’s work. I so appreciate that. I mean, he already works so hard. Can you imagine if he didn’t have competent people working with him? I’d never see him.”

Bethany’s jaw dropped.

Walter snagged Dade’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “I say the same thing. If Horatio wasn’t such a great boss, I worry Bethany might burn out.” He placed a protective arm to Bethany’s back. “Well, I always worry about that. But nights like tonight are meant to recharge us.”

I didn’t miss the look between Alessandra and Dade. Clearly she wasn’t feeling the vibe tonight, and he was empathizing with her—if I was reading their expressions correctly. Conveniently, his seat was next to hers. Inconveniently, mine was next to Lucille’s. I would’ve much preferred sitting next to Bethany, but I suspected Walter knew we’d find a way to talk business. We always did.

“Oh, I believe our MC is going to say a few words and then we’ll eat.” Walter patted his flat stomach. “I can’t wait.”