“Good evening.” They both practically swooned.
“Am I the only guy here?” He looked down at me.
“Yes...”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
He walked over to the bar, and once he was out of earshot, Sandra slapped my shoulder. “That’s your boss? Your description didn’t do him justice at all! Screw the age thing, Claire, he’s sexy as hell.”
“Is he single?” Helen eyed him.
“He’s taken.” Sandra wagged her finger. “Claire’s dating him.”
I’m not dating him!
“Well, about time! Welcome to Cougar-town!” Helen laughed and took a long swig of her drink.
On any other night, I would’ve replied to her silly little remark, but it was my birthday and I didn’t feel like letting her get to me. Besides, I wasn’t a real “cougar,” she was. She hardly ever dated anyone her own age. The oldest boyfriend she’d ever had was twelve years younger than her—when she was thirty five.
“Screw you, Helen.” Sandra rolled her eyes. “You better not say anything ridiculous when he gets back over here.”
Helen made a “scouts honor” symbol with her fingers, and as if on cue, Jonathan walked back over to the table with a tray of exotic drinks.
“Cheers to the birthday girl?” He smiled.
We all nodded and tossed back a shot.
He slid into the chair next to me and placed his hand on my thigh.
I immediately felt myself getting hot, so I brushed his hand away and crossed my legs.
Why did I let Sandra talk me into going commando tonight?
“So Jonathan...” Helen purred. “What exactly do you do for a living?”
She knows the answer to this already...Why is she asking him that?
Jonathan put his hand back on my thigh. “I’m the CEO of Statham Industries. And yourself?”
“Interesting! I’m a lawyer at my own law firm, Donovan and Fitz. It’s actually one mile away from your company. How did you become the CEO at such a young age?”
“I started the company when I was still in college. It was just a side thing at first—charging people twenty or thirty bucks here or there to install all types of systems on their phones or laptops, but then I realized that I could build phones and computers from scratch; that I could do a much better job than some of the bigger computer companies. So, my professor helped me to write up a business plan and I showed off the best products I’d developed. Then I got a few investors and professors on board with the condition that I would be the CEO and the company’s namesake. I made a profit the very first year and the rest is history.”
Wow...
“Very impressive.” Helen nodded. “It must be a pretty hectic life. What do you do in your free time, and why aren’t you married already? I’m sure someone like you has lots of beautiful options to choose from.”
What the hell is she doing?!
I was glaring at her, silently begging her to stop making him uncomfortable, but he didn’t look the slightest bit bothered by her insane questioning. He looked calm and in control.
He began strumming my thigh with his fingertips. “I work out, travel, and collect yachts in my spare time.”
Did he just say “yachts”? As in plural?
“And the reason you’re not married yet is because? Are you too rich to be tied down? Having too much fun sleeping with a different woman every night?”
God, please strike her down now...
Sandra was giving Helen the most evil side-glare in history. It looked like she was about to claw her eyes out.
“No...” He smiled. “That’s definitely not it. I guess I haven’t found the right woman yet.”
“Okay, I’m going to the bar to get a stronger drink.” Sandra shook her head.
“I’ll get it for you.” Jonathan released my thigh and stood up. “A stronger version of what you had before?”
Sandra nodded.
“Helen, you too?”
“Yes.” She batted her eyes.
“Claire?” He smiled his dreamy smile and I lost my words.
I shook my head and he walked away.
“Helen! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Sandra fumed. “I told you not to—”
“Calm down, calm down.” Helen snorted. “I was just having fun. He’s clearly into Claire. He’s been eye f**king her all night.”
“Helen!” I shook my head.
“Don’t Helen me! It’s the truth. He’s eye f**king you right now, from all the way over there. And you’ve been doing it too so get over yourself. You two should just get it over with. The private bathrooms here are really nice. Hint, hint.”
I burst into laughter. I should’ve known Helen was only toying with him. She too often took pleasure in testing the threshold of people’s nerves.
Jonathan walked back over and set down more drinks. “Golden Paradise for you Sandra.” He slid it across the table. “Triple chocolate cloud for you, Helen. And for you,” he said as he reached for my hand, “would you like to dance with me?”
“Sure.” I slid out of my chair and clasped his hand.
He led me down two sets of stone carved steps, to the front of the stage where an orchestra was beginning to play.
He placed my hands around his neck and wrapped his arms around my waist, swaying me to a song I’d never heard before. We were so close to one another that I was breathing in his scent—a heavenly spicy smell that enveloped me and made me never want to let go of him.