Page 475 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
Armie chuckled. “Fair, I don’t mean to put words in your mouth. And I shouldn’t trash talk your boss like this.”
“No, you shouldn’t.”
He gave me a perfect white smile. “Sometimes I lose my inhibitions when I’m talking to a beautiful woman.”
I bit the inside of my cheek.
Armie looked down as if suddenly bashful. “You are a very beautiful woman, Tinsely Miller. I know you said you had a very busy month, but I’d like to extend my invitation to take you for dinner for the new year. Maybe when things settle down, you’ll indulge me for an evening? I could show you what it’s like to live amongst the high society.”
Barf.
I had to shut this down before he got it in his head that I was even remotely interested in him. “Armie,” I said firmly but politely as I put a hand on his wrist, “I’m very flattered, but I’m going to have to decline. I’m not interested in pursuing anything right now and I’d hate to waste your time. You should spend your efforts and energy on other women who might be looking for the same things you are.”
He looked at me like he didn’t understand what I was saying before pushing back from the bar. “Think about it, sweetheart.”
With that, he wandered off through the party, and as I watched he rallied with a group of men around his age, and they swept outside onto the patio. Just as they went out, I spotted Chadwick and his father coming inside.
I quickly turned my back.
The odds of avoiding Chadwick at this party were slim to none, but I could still try. The last thing we needed right now were more people becoming suspicious of us and talking. I didn’t want to be known as the girl who slept her way to the top. My career was a hard-earned one, and so was my reputation. Not to mention, this whole Naughty Santa thing was front and center in the media thanks to Bamford’s clever marketing. The whole damn city could find out I was hooking up with my boss if people talked too much.
I shuddered at the thought.
All I had to do was shake a few hands, pose for a picture or two to make sure there was evidence that I’d been here, give Alastair a congratulatory hug for his retirement, and slip out the door and make a run for it.
I took a swig of my wine.
You can do this. Just keep your head down, stay focused, and watch out for Chadwick.
I turned away from the bar and walked smack into a man’s chest. As soon as I smelled him, that fresh rain smell mixed with pine trees and musk, I knew it was Chadwick. I stepped back as spilled wine dripped from the bottom of my glass and looked up at him.
His face was expressionless. “Why are you avoiding me?”
I looked around. Too many people were within earshot. “I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Chadwick, I can’t do this right now. Please, can we just give each other some space tonight? I’m here for your father.”
A server walked by with an empty tray, and I put my wine glass on it, suddenly not interested in drinking.
“Did I do something? Did I hurt you?”
“What?” I breathed, searching his hazel eyes. “Is that what you think?”
He shrugged. “You tell me what I’m supposed to think, Tinsely. You ghosted me out of nowhere. After last night I thought something happened. I was worried about you.”
“Hush,” I said. “Not here.”
“What the hell has gotten into you?” His tone sharpened.
I’d handled this all wrong. I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry, I’m not trying to jerk you around. After I left your office last night—”
“Ladies and gentlemen.” Alastair Bamford’s voice boomed through the speakers throughout the mansion, and conversation died on the lips of all the guests. They turned to find their host standing in front of the Christmas tree with a microphone in his hands. His eyes twinkled with gratitude and sought out his son. “Chadwick, come join me.”
Chadwick moved away. Like a fool, I reached for him, catching nothing but air as he slipped out of reach and joined his father by the tree.
Alastair smiled out at all of us. “I am grateful to see each and every one of your faces this evening. Some of you haven’t been within these walls in over a decade. Well, to you I say, welcome home. It is with a heavy heart that I celebrate this evening without my late wife and Chadwick’s mother. She would have loved every minute of this evening, as I’m sure all of you well know. The party would be slightly messier if she were here, of course. She’d be well into the martinis by now.”
