He meant to say something charming then, but the sight of her so close started a series of memories in his head. Quick little movies of Veronica perched topless on his lap, of her naked on the couch, of her licking him, teasing him, sucking him. “Damn,” he breathed. “It’s good to see you.”
She glanced up, and her happy eyes held his. Her shy smile turned wicked.
Gabe cleared his throat and rocked back a little, aware that he was already on the verge of getting embarrassingly aroused. “So what are we doing here?” he asked.
“My dad’s really into being a big shot in Jackson. Sometimes he wants me to come to these charity events with him. It makes him seem like a community family man or something.”
Gabe was suddenly very glad he’d moved back. “Your father is here?”
“He’s in front being— Oh, shit. This is weird, isn’t it? I didn’t mean to make this into a meet-the-family thing! Oh, God. I won’t even introduce you, okay? This is...” She grimaced and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s no big deal,” he said, hoping he was right.
“I wasn’t thinking of that. I just wanted someone to keep me company. It’s always so boring. There aren’t a lot of young single people at charity auctions, and there’s never anyone I know, and I wanted to see you.”
“Hey.” He rubbed her arm. “It’s fine. If you introduce me to your dad, I’ll pretend we just met and I’m barely tolerating your presence. It’ll be fine.”
She nodded and crossed her arms tightly. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Yes, I’m kidding. I’ll introduce myself and then ask his permission to take your virginity. How’s that?”
Her laughter started out as a shocked squeal, but it soon descended into hilarity, complete with tears leaking from her eyes. “You,” she gasped, “really are the worst.”
“I know. Sorry.” He had a strong urge to pull her into his arms and press a kiss to the top of her head, but he didn’t have that right. Not in public. Certainly not with her dad here.
A waiter approached and Gabe snagged two glasses of champagne, exchanging Veronica’s nearly empty glass for a fresh one.
“Should we mingle?” he asked.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “Let’s look at the art instead.” She moved toward a wall of photographs. “This is a local photographer. She has her own place around the corner.”
He thought the photo was black-and-white, but as he studied it, he realized it was only a late fall scene of bare aspen against a hill of rock and snow. There was a hint of gold in the crushed aspen leaves that littered the ground. “It feels a little sad,” he said.
“It is. But I love it. She doesn’t take the most obvious photos. There are so many beautiful places here. I like that she finds the secrets, too.”
He glanced at her, thinking that she was like that. Beautiful, with cool hidden secrets that others didn’t notice. “Are you going to bid on it?”
“Ha! I’ll leave that to the billionaires. I have been eyeing one of the small prints in her shop, though. I might be able to afford one of those someday. Are you into art at all?”
“I admire it, but I don’t know much.”
“Me, too. I’m in awe of artists. I always wanted to be able to draw when I was young. I used to sketch all the time, but I never got any better. It’s funny that you can see something perfectly in your head, but somehow your hands can’t make it.”
“Right, it’s like—”
“Veronica,” a man boomed from behind them.
Gabe swung around to see a distinguished-looking man in his sixties. He wore an expensive suit cut to make his paunch look a little less noticeable. The man took off his glasses to give them a quick polish, then looked everywhere except at Veronica and Gabe. “I’m leaving. I put in a bid on that mixed-media piece by the door. Text me if I’m outbid. I’ll have to make a donation if I don’t get it.”
“Sure,” she said. “Dad, this is Gabe MacKenzie. Gabe, this is my father, Judge Anthony Chandler.”
“Sir,” Gabe said, trying hard not to think about the virginity joke he’d made as he shook the man’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you,” her father said gruffly, barely glancing at Gabe. He left without another word to Veronica. Gabe watched him stop on his way toward the door to clap hands with another man with great enthusiasm before hugging the man’s wife. He wasn’t gruff with everyone, it seemed.
“I hope that was painless,” she said.
“Is he pissed at you?” Gabe asked.