“As in career?” she asked for clarification.
He nodded, noting that the soft light from the crystal chandeliers gleamed in her lustrous near-black hair. He wondered how her hair would look down, whether it fell to her shoulders or below, whether the curls were real or temporarily set, whether it could possibly feel as soft as it appeared. And he wondered how it would look spread over the snowy white pillowcases on his bed.
“I’m between jobs at the moment,” she explained without apparent concern. “And what do you do?”
He forced his thoughts away from the wayward fantasies. “I’m president of DataProx.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “DataProx?”
Surely she’d heard of the company, even if she didn’t know his name. DataProx ranked second in the nation in the production and sale of business-oriented computer software. Their newest payroll program was rapidly becoming the industry standard. “Computer software,” he prodded.
“Oh, yes.” She nodded, but he wasn’t entirely convinced that she recognized the name.
He was ruefully amused at his offended reaction. He hadn’t quite realized how arrogant he’d become in the past few years, to expect everyone he met to recognize his name and to be suitably impressed and properly respectful. Odd. He’d always acknowledged his tendency toward stuffiness, but he hadn’t intended to turn into an egotistical boor, like some notable others around him this evening. He’d have to watch that.
Nicole’s gaze had drifted again, this time toward a tall, debonair man and his equally exquisite wife. “Isn’t that—”
Glancing that way, Andrew nodded a greeting to the couple, who smiled in return. “Senator and Mrs. Burton. Do you know them?”
“No. I’ve seen them on TV.” She looked back up at him with a smile. “Very distinguished crowd you move with, Mr. Tyler.”
He shrugged. “I’ve known most of them since childhood.”
“I understand now why Norvell and Joyce were so persistent that I should come with them this evening.”
“And why is that?”
Amusement gleamed in her dark eyes. “They think I need a rich husband,” she confided.
Andrew swallowed. It was obvious that she was teasing, but he couldn’t help asking, “Do you agree with them?”
“I haven’t decided. What do you think?”
Taken aback, he blinked. “I, er—”
She laughed. “Am I confusing you, Mr. Tyler?”
“Please call me Andrew,” he said stiffly. She was laughing at him, he decided. And he didn’t like it. But he still found her utterly fascinating.
The music ended a few moments later. Andrew slid Nicole’s hand through his arm. “Would you like some champagne?”
Her polished fingertips rested lightly against the sleeve of his tux, and she nodded. “Yes, that would be nice.”
They were detained on their way to the champagne fountain by Senator and Mrs. Burton, who’d been joined by the mayor and his wife, all of whom greeted Andrew by name, and were obviously curious about his lovely companion. He introduced them to Nicole, noting that she chatted easily and unselfconsciously with them. If she were particularly impressed, she certainly didn’t show it.
Andrew wondered if she would be equally at ease in a meeting of the world’s heads of state. She didn’t act at all like a woman who claimed to be in between jobs and in need of a wealthy husband.
He and Nicole had just taken a sip of their champagne when Andrew heard his name called out again. He turned to find his mother bearing down on him, her silver hair waving softly around her face, her blue dress swirling around her still-trim figure. “Are you having a nice time, dear?” she asked, her bright eyes focused eagerly on Nicole.
Andrew swallowed a sigh. His mother had been after him to get married for years, and especially since he and Ashley split up. He suspected that she was afraid he would settle comfortably into bachelorhood, the way his late uncle had, leaving her without grandchildren to boast about. Now he’d danced twice with a beautiful brunette and set his mother all aquiver with hopeful expectation.
“Mother, have you met Nicole Holiday?”
She nodded. “Joyce McClain introduced us. I’m Lucy Hester,” she reminded Nicole.
Nicole smiled. “Yes, of course, we met earlier this evening. I didn’t realize that you were Andrew’s mother.”
“Different last name. I’ve remarried since I dumped his worthless father,” Lucy said in an overly sweet tone.