Still, knowing he was going to a party with the intention of, well, talking to women made him feel awkward about leaving his kids.
“It doesn’t seem right to go.”
His fourteen-year-old niece laughed. She had long dark hair like her mom’s and her dad’s lanky frame. She also wore braces that winked when she said, “We’re fine. I babysat Clayton so much I practically raised him for my mom.”
He laughed. Clay was her three-year-old brother. And seeing how Kate doted on him the night he’d had dinner at their house, he sincerely doubted Trisha had been as much a party to his raising as she thought. But he appreciated that his niece was trying to ease his nervousness so he said, “I’ll bet you did.”
She shooed him away. “Seriously. Go. I have Gram’s number and your cell and even the cell number for your nanny.”
He stopped, faced her. “You do?”
“Yeah, Mom got it for me.”
Was it just him or was it odd that Tory hadn’t given him her cell number?
True, he could call the cottage if he needed to check on the kids, but what if he needed to reach her when she wasn’t home?
His feelings of mistrust rose up in him again and he sucked in a breath. He couldn’t go through life suspicious of everyone. If this wasn’t proof that he needed to get himself out into the world again, build up his trust muscles, he didn’t know what was.
That thought took him up the brown brick lane to the mansion. He entered through a side door and ambled up three halls and a corridor before he made it to the grand foyer. Replete with a huge chandelier, marble floors and paintings worth millions, it instantly told guests his mom had more money than a third-world country.
She spotted him immediately. Wearing a sleek gray dress with a shimmery jacket that sparkled when she walked, she glided over to him. “Darling, you look wonderful.”
He pulled on the collar of his tux. “What? This old thing?”
She laughed. “Half the guests are here.” She turned him toward the living room door. “This party’s to reintroduce you to Pine Ward. So mingle.”
He entered the huge room. Decorated in super modern black-and-white furniture, with white rugs over hardwood floors and a black accent wall, the space was such a departure from the old-style foyer that guests frequently paused at the door.
Chance didn’t, he dove right into the fray. If he was getting back into the world of people, he was doing it with gusto. He chatted with his brother and sister-in-law, greeted a few old friends he hadn’t seen since he left town and met two very interesting women. Tina, a pretty brunette with huge blue eyes. And Marcie, a blond real estate agent who was so obviously interested in getting his business he didn’t doubt for one second that she’d go to any lengths to get it.
But every time he found himself alone, he glanced out into the foyer, looking for Tory.
“She and her mom were shopping today. I’m guessing they ran late. She’ll be here.”
He turned and faced his sister-in-law. “I’m not looking for Tory.”
Sleek and sophisticated in her short black cocktail dress, Kate winked at him. “Sure you are. She’s gorgeous and you’re a normal guy.”
He shoved his hands in his trouser pockets. “The normal guy in me just met two really attractive women.”
Kate laughed. “I saw. And neither was as pretty as Tory. Or as sweet.”
“Oh, so you think I should get into a romantic relationship with an employee?”
“I think you should be following your heart.”
Before he could argue, Tory and her parents entered the living room.
Unlike Kate’s short cocktail dress, Tory’s sparkly tan sleeveless top with flowing pants showed no leg. Disappointment surged through him. But she still looked exquisite. Breathtaking. No wonder the other women didn’t measure up.
“If you go over right now, you’re going to look overeager.”
“I’m not going over. But if I do it will be as a friend. She’s my nanny. I’m not interested.”
“Right. You’re standing there like you’re in a trance or something. Staring at her like a ninny. Because you’re not attracted to her.” She turned him away. “Go back to greeting guests. Make your move when she gravitates over to you but until then try to look like a guy who’s enjoying his mom’s party.”
“I’m not pursuing her.”
“Okay. Whatever.”
“Kate, she’s an employee. An employee who lives with me. And I’m a guy who got dumped by an evil ex and can’t seem to trust anybody anymore. She deserves better.”