They’d spoken to each other twice throughout the day, but only in passing. He’d offered her a polite hello that was devoid of sexual innuendo before the ceremony. And he’d checked on her again, simply asking if she was enjoying herself during the cocktail hour while the mariachi band Helene’s father had requested was entertaining the mingling guests. He’d sat with his grandmother, thee Leona Lovell, during the ceremony and they were placed at different tables during the reception.
It would have been interesting to spend the event on his arm, even though she had to check herself hard and fast for even considering it, but as the night went on and dinner turned to dancing, the invisible wall between them proved to be a blessing. It forced Amanda to really examine the impact her attraction to Sam had on her overall horniness. And that’s all it was, purely sexual. Beyond that there were no real feelings.
He was funny and charming, and on the surface, thoughtful and considerate. Amanda couldn’t ignore the way he doted on his grandmother until she was ready to call it a night. Sam Pleasant was a great guy, but what did that mean to her? Nothing. Definitely not enough to throw her hat in the ring with his hundreds if not thousands of lady admirers. Even if only a dozen or so had a real chance. On paper there was a lot to like about Sam Pleasant and she was sure, beyond what she’d already witnessed, he had even more to offer a lucky girl. Still she knew that none of it was for her.
It was so clear, Amanda should have felt good about the bullet she was going to dodge. The one where he realized she wasn’t actually his type. Or when she remembered that she would probably die alone, adjusting Dru’s IV in whatever assisted-living facility they’d both been stuck in by the kids Dru would eventually have with a pro-basketball player who refused to marry her. A calm, pleasant feeling should have washed over her. She should have felt light and carefree, able to enjoy the rest of the evening and the DJ’s impressive selections as she cut up her own corner of the dance floor.
Instead she found herself off to the side, nursing a glass of champagne as she swayed to the beat. Her smile refused to leave her face as she watched Helene, arms draped over her new husband’s shoulders. She was happy for them, and really the whole day, the whole weekend so far had been so much fun. She just wished she didn’t feel so lonely.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and chased it with a sip of bubbly alcohol. She caught sight of Sam on the other side of the dance floor. He was talking to some other ridiculously hot guys. Amanda knew men like that flocked together. It only made logical sense. But it didn’t matter, she reminded herself. Men like that were not for her. She didn’t mean that in a low self-esteem-y way. She was a catch, dammit. But the world of A-list celebrities was silly and over the top, and sometimes it hurt to look at it. She could be a friend on the periphery, she could watch from the sidelines, but she couldn’t participate. Not in any real way. Amanda glanced down at the now-empty glass in her hand.
She needed to stop drinking.
When she looked up again, at first she’d lost sight of Sam. Not that she was looking for him. A mixed bag of emotions rushed through her when she saw him making his way from the DJ’s table to her general direction. She figured there was some other famous or photo-ready person somewhere between them, and there was. She spotted at least four, but that didn’t stop him. He was coming right for her. Amanda’s palms were suddenly warm, her fingers unsure. She set down the glass on the dessert table behind her, then straightened her shoulders as she slowly released a deep breath.
Just as Sam reached her the opening notes of “I Only Have Eyes for You” came through the speakers. The DJ took to the mic. “Just want to slow it down again, just one more time. This one is for all the lovers out there, young and old. And the bride and groom.”
The sentiment echoed around the room as Sam reached for her hand. “Care to join me on the dance floor?”
She fixed him with a stern glare and whispered, “Keep clean and above the belt.”
“Ma’am. I’m a gentleman. Everything about me is nice and clean.”
“Uh-huh.” Amanda rolled her eyes, but that didn’t stop her from following him out to the dance floor. Also didn’t stop her from hearing some comments from the peanut gallery.
“Oh, that’s so nice,” one of Ignacio’s guests said in what would never have been mistaken for a whisper. “She’s been alone all night.”
“Who is she?” her companion said. Seriously, had no one ever learned to whisper? Sam had heard them too.
“I think it’s one of Helene’s cousins.”
Amanda bit her lips and forced herself not to laugh. Of course Sam’s attention was all about pity when it came to her.
“How come when you show up to these things without a date it’s seen as sexy, but when I do it, it’s pathetic?” she asked as his hand slid around her waist. She forced her body not to respond. She managed to keep herself from
