Authors: Paige Cameron
“Thank you,” Ellen said in reply to her compliment. She hoped she hadn’t hesitated too long. Thank goodness none of the other women were paying her much attention. Their eyes were on Sahale, standing behind her, and Jack, headed in this direction followed by the other men.
Mr. Garraloga stopped for a split second on seeing her, and then sidestepped several others to come directly to her. “I believe I saw you yesterday.” He stared at her breasts.
Nausea churned in her stomach, but she forced herself to give him a slight smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”
Garraloga shot her a quick, heated glance. “You were coming in the hotel from outside. Your bodyguard,” he motioned toward Sahale, “was with you. If I’d known you were Hank’s wife, I would have stopped and spoke.”
She gazed lovingly at Jack. “I was expecting my husband to be back, or to be returning soon. I’m sure my mind being on him was the reason I didn’t notice anyone else.”
“Let me formally introduce you, darlin’. Mr. Garraloga, my wife, Crystal.” Jack sat by her and took her hand in his.
“Nice to meet you,” Garraloga said gruffly. “The woman sitting across the table, dressed in blue, is my daughter-in-law, Pat. My son, Brian, is standing behind her chair.”
Ellen hadn’t noticed Brian come to the table. He had changed. He was about sixty pounds heavier, and had thinning hair. “Nice to meet you both,” she said.
Everyone found their seats in time for the welcome from the speaker. While they listened, it gave Ellen time to regain her composure. After the short speech, waiters began serving the tables, and the sound of conversation flowed around the room.
Jack leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Are you doing all right?”
“Don’t I look all right?”
He chuckled. “You look great. Still, seeing all the family at once would be trying for anyone.”
“They aren’t my family. Thank goodness.” She patted his cheek, giving the impression they were making loving comments. When she gazed around the table, most of the women looked at Jack and her with envy in their eyes. Pat’s expression was one of sadness. Strange.
Garraloga asked Jack more about his various businesses. Ellen was impressed with how well versed he was in his role. None of the wives spoke, but nodded several times in agreement whenever their respective husbands spoke.
The food was good. Ellen concentrated on enjoying the meal, trying to ignore Brian, his wife, and his father.
When the incident happened, it appeared minor. Ellen only looked up because Pat actually said something.
Brian had made a statement. Pat, obviously without thinking, corrected him on a minor detail. The sudden silence and stiffness of the other women’s expressions surprised Ellen. Pat’s face was as pale as the white tablecloth.
“I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Pat said, a tremble in her voice.
Brian’s face flushed an angry red. “Apologize for being rude to the others, dear.” His words shot out like hard bullets. No one else noticed, or at least they pretended not to, but Ellen saw Pat grimace in pain and noted Brian’s hand next to her was under the table.
On impulse, Ellen knocked her tea glass over, sending ice and tea flowing across the table and toward her gown. She jumped up to escape ruining her dress.
“Talk about clumsy. Look at me.”
Jack stood immediately. “I am looking, darlin’. You look great. No problem. The waiter will get this cleaned up in no time.” He gave her a loving smile and brushed her lips with his mouth.
“I’m going to go to the ladies’ room. Would you come with me, Pat? We both need a break.”
Pat glanced at Brian and said yes when he nodded in agreement. Ellen took her arm as though they were old buddies and headed out of the room. They were directed down a hall to the left. The ladies’ room was large, with a sitting area where you first entered. Ellen sat and motioned for Pat to join her.
“Are you okay?” she asked the tiny, pale woman.
“Yes.”
“He hurt you, didn’t he?”
Pat wrung her hands and looked down. “No, no, he’d never do anything to hurt me.”
“I’m glad I was mistaken,” Ellen said.
But I don’t believe Pat, not for one minute. Brian has become a bully and mean like his father.
“You knocked your tea over to take the attention off of me,” Pat said, looking directly at her now. “Why would you do that for a stranger?”
“I don’t like men who bully or hurt their wives.”
“All men lose their tempers occasionally.”
“Mine doesn’t, and a lot of men don’t. You have choices. You can leave him.”
What the hell am I doing, interfering in this woman’s life? But I couldn’t watch what was happening and not try to help.
“Are all the men at the table the same? Is that why the women don’t comment, out of fear?”
Pat stiffened. “I think we’d better return to our table. Brian will wonder what’s keeping us.”
“And he might beat you when the two of you get home.”
“You don’t know him, or me.” She walked to the door and left.
Ellen hurried to catch up with her. “I’m sorry I interfered.” Pat gave her a weak smile and continued to walk briskly toward the dining room.
Brian looked suspicious when they returned. Ellen feared in trying to help, she’d only made matters worse.
Jack stood and pulled back her chair. Brian didn’t move. Pat smiled at him and quickly took her seat. Brian stared across at Ellen. He gave her a brief, contemptuous glance. She hoped Jack and Sahale didn’t notice, but they had. Sahale stirred behind her, and Jack started to open his mouth. Ellen squeezed his leg. He took a deep breath, gave her a look, and settled back to eating.
There were several more speeches after the meal, and then the dancing started. Ellen hadn’t realized what it would feel like to be held close in Jack’s arms while gliding across the dance floor. The mixture of his cologne and his own special scent ignited the flame of desire that never seemed to go completely out. She glanced at his face. His eyes mirrored how she felt.
“You’re incredibly handsome in a tuxedo, plus you smell good.”
“If you keep looking at me like you are now, I may forget my role and carry you off.”
“I’ll try to behave. It doesn’t appear to be fashionable to be too in love with your husband. At least not in this crowd.”
“I’ve noticed the same paradox. The women hang on their husbands’ words at the table, yet when dancing their eyes are on other men.”
“Mostly you.”
He laughed heartily. “I know. I’m afraid not to keep you close to my side. They may attack me.”
“You’re going to get much too big a head from this adulation. I’ll have to work on bringing you back to reality.”
This brought another laugh. Ellen noticed the envy reflected on some of the women’s faces. The music stopped. Jack put his hand on her lower back to guide her toward their table. Brian stepped in front of them.
“May I have the next dance with your wife?” he asked. Pat sat at the table, looking in their direction.
Jack darted a glance at Ellen. Her heart beat so fast she got dizzy for a second. She took a deep breath and gave him a smile and tiny nod.
“Yes, if I can ask your lovely lady to dance.”
“Sure.” Brian shrugged. “Help yourself.”
She’d hoped for a fast dance, but it was another slow one. The whole moment was surreal. Brian put his arm around her and clasped her hand with his. He still wore the same cologne. Her mind whirled back to the past, flashes of scenes she’d buried deep. She shivered.
“Are you cold?”
Forcing herself to look at his face, she smiled. “No, the air conditioner just blew across my shoulders for a minute.”
Her voice came out low and husky.
“You’re very beautiful.” His glance narrowed to her breasts, then back to her face.
He turned his head to the side. She remembered he had made the same gesture in the past when he was considering something.
“You remind me of my first wife. I’m not sure why. She wasn’t beautiful, and didn’t have a sexy voice. You aren’t related to Ellen Simmons, are you?”
She pretended to think about his question. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest at his words. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard the name. Where is she from?”
His harsh laugh raked across her skin. “A hillbilly from Tennessee. Of course, I’m from there, too, but I moved away when I went to college.”
“She must have had some redeeming features, since you married her.”
“I was young, stupid, and horny. I lived to regret it.”
“Ah, well, we’ve all made mistakes when we were young.” She tried to think of another subject to change the direction of their conversation. She glanced to the side and saw Jack talking with Pat as they danced.
“Your present wife is lovely and sweet.”
“A jewel of a wife for a politician, but no challenge for a real man.” His tone dismissed her as though she were his servant.
Ellen knew she ought to keep her mouth shut, but he’d irritated her beyond belief. “What is your definition of a real man?”
His eyes flashed with lust. “A real man knows what he wants and goes after it. When he gets it, he knows what to do with it.” His hand tightened on hers almost to the painful point.
“I assume ‘it’ is a woman. To me, your definition is of a bully. My definition of a real man is my husband.” With that, she turned and walked off the dance floor, leaving him to follow.
Sahale, or Paul, she must keep his fake name in her head, leaned close as she came to her chair. “What did he say?” Fury was evident in his voice and posture.
“Nothing, Paul. I’m fine, just a bit tired.” She sat and took a drink of her water.
Across from her, Brian glared. She’d made an enemy. Good. Surprisingly, she was free. Meeting him face to face, saying what she did, had broken something inside holding her back.
She laughed in relief, and Brian’s face got redder. Free, what an amazing feeling. She wanted to jump up and twirl around the room. Again, she chuckled, thinking about the response of this sedate crowd if she dared such behavior. She must control her joy. Brian looked ready to have a stroke.
When the music ended, Jack returned Pat to her chair and came quickly to Ellen’s side. He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “I missed you.” His eyes were really asking if she was upset.
“I got tired. Brian was a gentleman and let me excuse myself.” She made the comment loud enough for the others to hear.
Garraloga, who’d rejoined the table from where he’d been conversing with others at various tables, gave her a hard look. “You’re too young to be getting tired this early.”
Jack frowned. “We’ve been traveling through several time zones the past few weeks. I’m not surprised she’d be tired. Since she is, I believe we’ll excuse ourselves and go to the hotel.” He stood and pulled back her chair. “Darlin’, ready to go?”
“Absolutely, thank you.”
“I hope you will all join us at our cocktail party tomorrow evening. Until then, good night.” He nodded, put his arm around Ellen, and they walked around the tables to the door.
Garraloga caught up with them just as they were going out the double-door entry. “Meet with my son and me at my office tomorrow at eleven.”