He drove the car in behind the others waiting in the valet line. She saw individuals she recognized leaving their vehicles.It will be a great night. A wonderful night.She repeated in her head.

Lanie entered the outdoor garden area hosting the reception happy, excited, and confident. Unfortunately, it didn’t last. Tom and Martha greeted her and Gavin the moment they walked in. They exchanged hugs and Lanie introduced Gavin. Nothing seemed discouraging. She didn’t notice any raised eyebrows or whispered gossip. The other ladies from tennis came over and chatted. All appeared well. Until Beverly.

Beverly kept her distance. She went so far as to walk in the opposite direction of them. Obviously, she planned to avoid them. It bothered Lanie. Why had her best friend done a complete 360? And without ever meeting Gavin, or inquiring about him?

Besides the Beverly shun, she and Gavin had a great time. They talked to everyone. Except Beverly. Even Gary, Beverly’s husband, chatted them up a bit. He and Gavin engaged in a long conversation about the changes at Raphael’s Bar. Gary thought that their plans were fun and exciting. He applauded them and agreed it would profit the establishment hugely. He told them he and Beverly would come soon and check it out.

The very mention of Beverly had Lanie cringing. Obviously, he didn’t know of any issue between the two women. But there definitely was an issue. David and Denise stopped and spoke with them too. Lanie gave the awkward introductions. It didn’t faze Gavin. At least not visibly. He shook David’s hand and raved about her and her influence at the bar.

David’s eyes narrowed and he half-heartedly smiled. “Yes, Lanie has the creativity and the mind for marketing. She helped me a lot over the years. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.”

Gavin returned David’s smile with a giant, beaming one of his own. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

Shifting on her feet and gazing elsewhere, Denise appeared uncomfortable. But not Lanie’s problem. If she planned on being a part of his life, Denise needed to accept the facts. David and Lanie were married for twenty-seven years. They worked together long before Denise had a business relationship with him. The insecure woman should be thankful Lanie moved on. Not that she considered herself a threat of any kind, but she imagined if she were dating a recently divorced man, she would be relieved if the wife started dating too.

Being the forever gentleman, David must have sensed Denise’s unease and excused them. “It’s great to meet you, Gavin. And Lanie…” He leaned in and hugged her. He whispered in her ear, “You look absolutely gorgeous. As always.” Straightening, he continued, “Good to see you. Congrats on your new endeavor.”

Once David and Denise were outside of hearing distance, Gavin asked, “You, okay? It’s never pleasant to see an ex. At least not in my experience.”

Hearing his concern and seeing his perfect face made it a whole lot easier. “Yes. I’m good.” She hadn’t expected the bar to enter any conversations that night. It came up in every exchange. Any worrisome thoughts that he did it for selfish reasons didn’t linger. He used the opportunities to showcase her. He credited her with all of it. He went as far as to say if she hadn’t agreed to be a public presence with it, it wouldn’t be a success.

Crap. She totally forgot that Australia won with the most votes for next Thursday’s theme. She and Gavin agreed to dress as crocodile hunters. A relief. Conservative.

Raphael’s could’ve certainly hired a young, hot ass to dress up and serve. She knew Gavin joked when he first mentioned her wearing the thong one piece Linda Kozlowski wore in Crocodile Dundee. Raphael’s didn’t want a reputation as a ‘Hooters’. Nothing wrong with Hooters. She loved their hot wings. But the amount you paid to either stay in the Summit or the atmosphere expected upon entry didn’t quite coincide with the Hooters image.

Gavin moved beside her, his body touching hers, and rested a hot hand on her ass. “Damn you have a great ass,” he declared.

Boldly, she put her hand on his and gripped it. “I can say the same for you.”

He cleared his throat before prompting, “I am in no way wanting to rush you out of here. But seems to be thinning out.” Lowering his head, he trailed his nose along her shoulder and up her neck. “It’s a crime, but I can’t wait to get you out of those sexy garments.”

One of the developers in the same firm as David waved and headed toward them. “Let me be sociable a minute longer and then we can leave.”

“Yep. Excuse me while I use the restroom,” he commented.

She and David’s associate talked for longer than a minute. He too had a son attending college and asked about Hunter. It hit her like a ton of bricks. She hadn’t spoken to Hunter since she met Gavin. That never happened. She usually tested him every day.

After exchanging a few stories of being without their sons and the tales of adjustment, she went to find Gavin. She didn’t locate him at either of the two bars. She didn’t find him stopped at any tables mingling. Rounding the column to the corridor containing the bathrooms, she saw him and Beverly. They didn’t appear happy. They both looked angry. Beverly held clenched fists at her sides and her forehead had a deep crease in it which surfaced only when she teetered on the verge of a serious meltdown.

Both noticed Lanie watching them at the same time. Beverly spouted off something to Gavin and stormed off in the other direction.

Gavin sprinted over to Lanie. Wrapping his arm across her back, he deflected, “Hey doll. Ready to go.”

“Do you know Beverly?” she pressed.

“No, I don’t.”

“Then why were you arguing with her?” Did Bev know Gavin somehow? Had that been the origin of her issues with Lanie seeing him? But why would it? The more Lanie got to know him the more she liked him. She couldn’t imagine anyone not liking him.

“I don’t know her, Lanie. I’ve never seen her before,” Gavin repeated. “So, you still ready to head out?”

“Well, I know her. She is… was my closest friend. Never have I seen her in a heated discussion with anyone who didn’t have it coming.”

Gavin dropped his arm and sighed. “You admitted she is or was your closest friend. Obviously, her issues are connected to you. Not me.”

“She voiced issues? What did she say to you?” And why wouldn’t Beverly talk to her and stop avoiding her? Then again, Lanie hadn’t made any effort to talk to her.

“She didn’t say anything. Let’s go and enjoy the rest of the night together.” He rubbed his hand down her bare back and over the material of her dress covering her bottom. “I know what you are and aren’t wearing under this and can’t wait to see you out of it.”

Tags: Sheri Lynn Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net