Clearing her throat, Topaz headed inside. Of course, almost everyone in attendance knew her well. Many had had their cars repaired at her shop. Once, she had also traveled in the same social circle. Long ago, she had turned her back on her affluent heritage. Her parents, Eric and Patra Emerson, were partners in their own law firm and had lavished their only child with every luxury. In spite of those trappings, Topaz had emerged as a compassionate, polite, and graceful woman who was loved by almost everyone who knew her. Summers spent at her aunt and uncle’s Louisiana farm contributed to her love of the outdoors and cars. At an early age, Topaz knew what direction her life would take.
She accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. She had taken only a small sip when two arms slipped around her waist.
“I was worried. Did you have trouble finding the place?” Simon Whitley asked as he hugged her close.
“I had car trouble,” Topaz explained, patting her free hand against his white-tuxedo-sleeved arm.
Simon frowned, his dark brown face clouding with concern. “How’d you get here, then? You didn’t have to ride with some stranger, did you?”
“No, no. Don’t worry. The car just overheated. Nothing major,” Topaz assured her friend.
“Come on,” Simon instructed, pressing a kiss to her cheek and leading her farther into the house.
“So how long do you plan to be here?”
Simon chuckled. “What in the world is it with you and these parties?”
“I grew up around these parties,” Topaz reminded him, taking another sip of her champagne. “I’d much rather get dressed up to get down than get dressed up to act stuck-up.”
“Ouch,” Simon teased, massaging the crisp dark hair at the nape of his neck. “Well, let’s see if we can show our faces for at least forty-five minutes. Then we bounce. I promise,” he drawled and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Simon, there you are!”
Topaz smothered a groan, recognizing the high-pitched nasal voice belonging to DeAndra Rice. This should be interesting, she thought.
“Hey, De,” Simon greeted, leaving his date’s side to take his hostess by the hand.
DeAndra hugged Simon close and placed an overly gracious kiss to his cheeks. The bright expression left her face the instant her hazel stare moved past his shoulder. “Topaz,” she said, through clenched teeth.
“De,” Topaz replied in much the same manner.
“I must admit I’m surprised to see you here,” De remarked, setting her frail-looking hands on her barely noticeable hips. “We never see much of you at my little gatherings.”
Topaz folded her arms across her bosom. “Well, De, one, you never invite me to your little gatherings and, two, you know I hate coming to these things.”
DeAndra’s phony smile appeared to freeze on her face. “Have a good time, Simon,” she finally said, then brushed an invisible speck of something from the severe-looking green tailored suit she wore.
“Oooh, that woman,” Topaz whispered, clenching and unclenching her fists as DeAndra glided away. “Now I know we need to get out of here.”
Simon chuckled. “Why do you always let that mess get you so uptight?” he asked, pulling her back against him again.
Frustration marred Topaz’s lovely features. “Weren’t you listening to what was being said?”
“Why do you hate this stuff?” Simon asked, looking around at the maze of well-dressed professionals strolling around the Charlotte home. “I thought most women loved going out for this sort of thing.”
“I’m not most women, baby.”
Simon couldn’t argue with the simple reply. He could practically feel dozens upon dozens of male eyes spewing daggers of jealousy into his back because of the incredible chocolate beauty in his arms.
Of course, many of the secret admirers would have been less jealous had they known the true nature of the relationship. The onetime love affair had been over for many years, but Simon and Topaz had managed to remain friends. He rarely let himself revisit the memories of their troubles and was happy they were still in each other’s lives. Simon didn’t think any man could ever get a woman like Topaz Emerson out of his system.
“So what do you want to do after we get out of here?” Simon asked, nuzzling his handsome dark face against her shoulder.
Topaz sighed heavily. “I don’t really care, just get me out of here,” she urged, allowing her head to fall back against his shoulder. “I don’t know why you always bring me to these awful parties, anyway.”
Simon kissed her shoulder. “Part of your punishment for not marrying me.”
“Mmm, I thought my parents were the only ones still punishing me because of that.”
Simon turned her around to face him then. “You know I still love you, girl.”
Topaz fixed him with her trademark dazzling smile and patted his cheek. “You better love me, look at what I’m putting up with because of you!”
“What took you so long to get here, Lex?” DeAndra was asking as she hurried toward Alex.
“You should be happy I came at all,” he softly, yet firmly, replied.
De ignored her cousin’s usual bad attitude and waved a hand toward the crowd. “Everyone’s just mingling now, but dinner should be ready soon.”
“Sounds good,” Alex remarked, sounding as though he couldn’t have cared less.
De watched him slip a cell phone inside his wine trouser pocket and rolled her eyes. “I hope you’ll let your employees handle business tonight.”
Alex smirked and shook his head. “Spoken like a person who’s never worked a day in her life.”
“Oh, Lex, come on. There’re several single, lovely women here who would love to meet you.”
