Instead of heading over towards Brett and Mr. Simmons, I head towards Barney Lawson, another client of the firm who I have just spotted. I smile a greeting at him and he instantly begins chatting to me, asking me how Mr. Connell is doing and what happened. I fill him in and assure him his business is in safe hands.
“With him?” Barney says, nodding towards Brett.
“Yes,” I say, a little surprised. “How did you know? Have you met Mr. Connell’s son before?”
“No,” Barney says, shaking his head. “I didn’t even know Robert had a son. I just figured you meant him because you were looking at him when you said I would be taken care of.”
“Oh,” I reply stupidly. I catch myself and I know I can save this one. Barney gave me a readymade reason to be looking in Brett’s direction as I spoke to him. “Yes, yes of course. Brett has actually been out of the country expanding his own business.”
I can hardly say I haven’t been able to take my eyes off Brett since I came back in from outside can I? Instead, I give him a snippet of information I hope is interesting enough to distract him from my obvious discomfort when he said I was looking at Brett.
It seems to work and Barney switches topics, chatting to me about his own son who is almost ready to graduate high school.
I relax into the conversation since it’s on safer ground, but I still find my eyes drawn to Brett. I find it hard to maintain eye contact with Barney for more than a few seconds before I’m looking at Brett again.
I’m relieved when Barney finally excuses himself from my company. I mean he’s a nice enough guy and I thought being pulled into a conversation would distract me from Brett, but it just didn’t work. I can’t keep my eyes off him as I find myself slipping into a daydream about Brett, where he takes me in his arms, kisses me, makes love to me.
A waiter saunters towards me and seeing my empty glass, he holds out his tray. I put my empty glass on it and replace it with a full one, smiling and thanking him. I take my glass and go to sit on one of the couches. I sit back, leaning into the soft cushions and sipping my wine. I am still watching Brett, but now I think at least it looks a little more subtle. Anyone glancing at me would just assume I was watching the guests dancing.
The rest of the night drags on as I force myself to make polite conversation with the stream of people who see me alone and approach me, thinking I am maybe in need of company. I know I look like a total sad case, but Brett is expertly working the room now and I don’t want to get in the way. And truth be told, I’m not sure I trust myself to be in close proximity to him and not reach out to touch him.
As the night goes on, the first of the guests start to slowly leave and within an hour, more and more people have made their excuses and slipped away. The crowd is down to about half the amount we started with and I have put away another two glasses of wine. I’m starting to think Brett and I should be leaving soon too, but he’s deep in a conversation with one of the potential clients his father has been warming up, and I know better than to interrupt that. It seems I still have a few of my wits about me. That’s something, I suppose.
I finish my drink and I put the glass down on the small table beside the couch, telling myself I won’t be having anymore tonight.
A waitress materialises at my side almost instantly as though my vow to not drink anymore wine has summoned her to test my resolve.
Smiling politely at her, I shake my head. “No more for me thank you.”
She smiles and nods then moves on.
I turn back to where Brett is talking to the potential client, but he’s gone.
“Hey,” he says from beside me
He’s so close that I feel his warm breath on my ear as he speaks. I jump.
He chuckles softly. “Sorry. I thought you saw me coming.”
Shaking my head, I’m momentarily mute as I stare at his face. Every time I tell myself I’m prepared to see him up close and that I won’t let him affect me, the universe takes it as a challenge and shows me just how much of an effect he has on me. I’m honestly quite surprised he managed to come and sit beside me while I was talking to the waitress without me noticing.
“Are you about ready to leave?” he asks.
Still mute, I nod. I have wanted to leave for a while, but I realize leaving the party means leaving Brett and I suddenly don’t want this night to end. I have a feeling once it does, we’ll just go back to being a boss and his personal assistant and that cool distance will be back between us.
Brett stands and offers me his hand.
I take a deep breath and slip my hand into his, waiting for the sparks I know will come. I’m not wrong. My hand tingles where it touches his and his warmth seems to spread right up my arm. I let him pull me to my feet. “There’s a few people I need to say goodbye to,” I say.
“Yeah me too,” he agrees. “Meet me at the front door in five?”
I nod. At least he’s not abandoning me completely. He can’t because he will have to call my driver as I have no idea of his number, but I tell myself it’s more than that. I tell myself he doesn’t want this night to end either. I know I’m probably wrong, but
