Making her way back to him, Gina forced herself to relax and return his welcoming smile. She took a seat next to him on one of the many plush couches reserved for the guests requesting private bottle service for the night.
“You okay?” asked Matt close to her ear. Even over the din of the music and conversations floating around them, Gina heard the note of concern in his voice.
So much for playing it cool!
“I’m fine. Just a little anxious about everything running smoothly for tonight’s fundraiser.”
“Relax, Gina, you’re off the clock tonight. Everyone’s having a good time—the food and drinks are flowing and Connor’s manager has the club’s staff on top it. It’s your turn to let your hair down and enjoy the night.”
Just the mention of Connor’s name made a tiny shiver of foreboding run through her. The man wasn’t even here and he had her nerves clamoring with anxiety.
“Speaking of Connor,” Matt shifted nearer, “I kinda got the impression that you two might be…” He trailed off without completing his question.
Gina caught his meaning loud and clear. Forcing laughter into her voice, she shrugged with feigned disdain, “Connor and I are merely—friends.”
Friends? That sounded lame even to my own ears. But Matt seemed to take her answer at face value and didn’t press her any further.
Mentally shaking off her distress, Gina reached for her stemless wineglass resting on the low table in front of her and Matt. Lifting it to her lips, she tried to enjoy the bold taste of the wine sliding across her tongue. She ordered herself to enjoy the company of one of the city’s rising hockey stars, who was flirting outrageously with her. Gina had jumped at Matt’s invitation to join him at his table when she had walked into the party alone. Not wanting to mingle in the busy nightclub with a bunch of strangers, Gina had gratefully accepted his invitation. The only fly in the ointment was the likely possibility of running into Connor tonight. Who knew, maybe she’d get lucky and be able to sneak away before he showed up.
Discretely glancing at the slim watch on her wrist, she prayed that she had timed it right. Connor’s text message to her earlier that morning had been terse and to the point.
I’ll pick you up tonight at ten from your place—we’ll go to the fundraiser together. Then we’re going to talk. No more hiding from me. C.
Of course Connor would take it for granted that Gina would be waiting for him at her condo. Why wouldn’t he? He’d been choreographing their every move from the get-go. And if she was honest with herself, she hadn’t fought him too hard.
Gingerly adjusting her bottom on the cushion at the memory of the other night, Gina couldn’t help but wince inwardly at the mild twinge of discomfort between her legs, a reminder of the how she had allowed Connor to ambush her.
Even now, she was astounded at Connor’s pursuing her with such a relentless intent. If she were honest with herself, she was beyond flattered by his attention. The more he gave her, the more she craved. And that was the reason she had to avoid the man like the plague. Gina knew that if she continued to allow herself to be seduced by him, she was going to lose more of herself to him than she had to any other man in the past. Already she had started having strong feelings for Connor. Feelings she was sure were not reciprocated. If the great hockey star followed his regular pattern, Connor would be moving on to his next conquest. It was time to put on the brakes and end their game of sexual sport before she got her heart broken by the notorious playboy.
Just thinking about Connor and all the ways he had made her body come alive had Gina flushing with desire. What she needed to do was distract herself with another man and forget Connor and his practiced touch. And in doing so, it would help her move past Connor and he would get the hint that she wasn’t interested in continuing their relationship—if you could even call it that.
Enter stage right, Matt.
Tamping down on her guilt at using Matt in her attempt to assert her independence, she turned fully toward him on the small couch they shared. At that moment, she felt her cell phone vibrate in the small clutch she had tucked next to her thigh. Knowing full well that it was probably Connor demanding to know where she was, Gina ignored it with a false bravado.
Smiling up at Matt while he recounted an anecdote from the locker room, she couldn’t help but appreciate his enthusiasm and undemanding company. Gina encouraged him to continue his story. “Then what happened?”
Matt leaned in closer and continued enthusiastically. Gina allowed him into her personal space. After all, if she had to attend tonight’s fundraising event, what better way than to spend time with a man like Matt?