He was feeling sorry for himself, which I was just not going to let happen. Not when we were sitting in our fancy clothes outside a party filled with the wealthiest people in the city. “I can see why,” I teased.
“What?” he asked with confusion.
“It’s hard to look beyond the chiseled jaw and sexy eyes,” I said. “You could make a straight guy rethink his choices.”
He laughed and sipped his wine. “Thanks. I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
“You mean if the well finally runs dry in the female department?” I laughed again.
“Never say never.”
It felt good to laugh with him. We used to have such a good time together. We could spend hours talking and laughing. He was different back then. One day, he changed. He woke up and decided he was going to be his father and that had been a nightmare.
“What happened with the actress?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said. “Absolutely nothing. It was a couple of dinner dates. I honestly don’t know what happened, but a rumor spread like wildfire that I knocked her up.”
“Did you?”
He flashed a wicked smile. “I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but there is a certain thing that must happen in order for me to impregnate someone.”
“Are you telling me you did not do this certain thing?” I asked.
“I would never kiss and tell, but in this case, I promise there is nothing to tell.”
“And you don’t want to just set the record straight?” I asked. “Wouldn’t that alleviate some of the rumors?”
“I don’t care to talk about any of it,” he said. “It’s none of their business. I’m not going to feed the machine by denying it.”
“And you don’t want to look like less of a man because you didn’t take the sexy actress to bed,” I said with a laugh.
He smirked. “Maybe. I do have a reputation to uphold.”
“You’ve always been a flirt. It’s no wonder you’re the subject of gossip.”
“I’m not a flirt,” he argued. “I haven’t flirted with you at all tonight. I’m reformed. The old me would have been trying to get you out of that dress.”
“I’m trying to decide if I should be insulted.”
“Trust me, the thought crossed my mind, but you’re here as a favor,” he said. “I’m not trying to do anything to piss you off. You kind of hold my future in your hands right now. I’m going to be on my best behavior.”
He flirted without even trying. But I had to admit, it felt nice to know he was at least a little attracted to me. He was an attractive man. Very, very attractive. Back when we were together, he’d been hot, but he only got better looking. It was so unfair. Men seemed to get better with age while women were supposed to try and look like we were frozen in time.
“I guess I appreciate that,” I said.
“I’ve got a couple more things I have to attend to,” he said. “Would you be willing to do something like this again? I think we can both agree the outcome was positive.”
I shrugged. “I’d be open to considering another mutually beneficial arrangement.”
He grinned. “That makes it seem like a business deal.”
“It is,” I said. “I’m drumming up business and so are you. It works. As long as we don’t read into anything, it works very well for both of us.”
The volunteers returned with plates full of appetizers and the specialty cocktails. “Thank you for watching the table.”
“Why don’t you girls finish your food and then call it a night?” I said. “You’ve done an amazing job tonight. I appreciate the work.”
Reese and I went back into the ballroom. The night was winding down. Rich approached us once again. “Want to share a cab home?” he asked me.