I should’ve known that I couldn’t keep her to myself for too long. Before you knew it people were coming up to me under one pretense or another, but I knew their game since every last one of them had their eyes glued to her.
By the third time a male checked her out too closely, I removed my jacket and put it around her shoulders. She only spared me one knowing glance but didn’t protest, which was good because it wouldn’t have mattered.
This of course caused my own personal peanut gallery to snicker like little old women. “Can’t you fucks find someone to dance with?” As was usual, all of the single women were sizing them up and more than a few of them were giving me looks like I’d done something horrible by taking myself off the market.
“You ready for a glass of champagne now baby?” I was pacing her but she didn’t know it. That’s why I hadn’t let mom introduce her around as soon as we got here. I wanted her to enjoy her evening and throwing her to the wolves as soon as we got here wasn’t part of the program.
“I’d love one thanks, but Caleb I can only have maybe one and a half.” Her face went beet red. “Why is that sugar?” I was walking her away as we spoke.
“Um, I tend to say a lot when I’ve had too much champagne.”
“Say a lot?”
“You know, be a little more honest than is sometimes good.”
“Oh I see, not to worry.” Like hell! I signaled one of the servers and had the first glass in her hand before she could blink.
When she was halfway through I saw my brother and his wife enter. Drake saw us and made a beeline towards us, while Diane did her thing where she waits for all eyes to be on her. The only one missing now was my little sister and she was gallivanting all over Europe for another couple of weeks.
“Good evening Amanda, you look amazing. I won’t ask how you’re doing, I can see for myself. Congratulations, to both of you.” He kissed her cheek and I pulled her back under my arm.
“Geez bro, it’s just me.”
“Yeah I know.” I rolled my eyes at him, like he was any better. Diane finally made her way over to us after accepting all the praise that was to be had.
“Well hello everyone, why Amanda don’t you look smashing tonight, but what’s with the ugly men’s jacket?” she turned up her nose.
Drake started to scold her for the crack about the jacket but I stopped him. “She’s wearing my jacket because I find I don’t like the eyes of every man here on her.”
That ought to shut her the hell up; the thought that she wasn’t the center of attention tonight should keep her ass too preoccupied to start shit.
“Very becoming Caleb.” My crack had apparently gone right over her vain head. Her eyes and her voice lost some of their fake warmth when she noticed the family jewels adorning my girl’s neck and hands.
If I remember correctly, she’d once made a joke that they should all come to her since I was never gonna get married. Everyone else had laughed it off at the time, but I knew she wasn’t joking.
I held Amanda’s hand a little more securely and ran my thumb along her palm. She’d told me about their conversation the day Diane had visited the ranch, and there hadn’t been anything to send up any red flags, but still I didn’t let down my guard.
Things only got worse when mom’s friends, probably tired of waiting for an intro, started coming over to introduce themselves. Each and every one of them expounded on her beauty in some way, and I could see it was bugging the hell out of my sister in law.
Drake noticed it too, but he just smirked and shrugged it off. We were all accustomed to her behavior by now; she always has to be the center of everything no matter what. It’s one of the reasons I’d banned her from coming to any more of my shows.
“Why don’t I take Amanda upstairs to freshen up a little?” she tried taking her out of my hand.
“She’s good thanks, I think I see someone I’d like to introduce her to if you two will excuse us.” I hadn’t seen a damn soul but I wanted her all to myself.
So far things were running smoothly as was to be expected where mom was concerned. She’d gone above and beyond just as I’d asked, and even the governor and his wife were on hand to meet my new fiancée.
When word of the party spread as I was sure it would, I didn’t want anything left undone. I can’t and won’t forget that crack Cecily had made about her being the help. By the time word got back to her, she and everyone else will know the truth, that Amanda was the future wife of the heir to half the damn state.
“Are you having fun yet baby?” I turned her into my arms for a slow dance after passing her empty champagne glass off to someone.