Simon shrugged. “I don’t plan on getting too excited. I’m content with my employee stock options. As for the other ... I’ll have to tread carefully. They’re the competition on several points.”
“Smart man,” someone commented.
Talk of business and politics continued to filter through all conversations. Topaz shifted her stance and, this time, managed to smother another yawn. Simon had asked that she accompany him to the party and she accepted despite her lack of energy. Since returning from the weekend gathering several days earlier, she’d been unable to catch up on the sleep she desperately needed. She hadn’t seen Alex since the evening of their day together. He left that very night, taking all her hopes for the possibility of their relationship righting itself. Grimacing over the intrusion of unwanted thoughts, Topaz cleared her throat and tried to focus on the current topic of discussion. Someone was saying how good it was of Clifton Knowles to organize such a gathering in their honor.
“Well, the Queen City Happening’s new entrepreneurs’ page has gotten a lot of positive buzz.”
“Not to mention the increased business we small businesspeople have gotten as a result.”
Topaz felt her lashes grow spiky as tears began to pressure them. Thoughts of her own business filled her mind to capacity. She smoothed damp palms across the navy blue bustier-style camisole and the short matching straight skirt she wore. She was tossing her head back in an effort to keep the tears at bay when she noticed Alex arriving at the party. He didn’t arrive alone. Topaz smiled, taking note of the woman at his side. Josie Sharp practically beamed with happiness and pride as she gazed up at Alex with adoring eyes.
“Simon, I’m going to get a drink,” Topaz whispered, walking off before he could respond.
Clifton Knowles had joined Simon and Topaz’s group. He too had spotted Alex and was calling the man over just as Topaz rushed away. Once introductions were made, the conversation returned to talk of stocks and future outlooks.
Alex allowed his attention to wander. He’d seen Topaz hurrying away and just managed to hide his grimace when he saw her. He knew she’d seen him walk into the room and he couldn’t blame her for heading in the opposite direction.
“Josie, would you excuse me a minute?” he whispered down to the woman who’d been eagerly participating in the heated business discussion.
Alex found Topaz at the bar. He brushed the back of his hand along the line of her arm covered by the sheer fabric of a quarter-length navy blue chiffon coat.
Topaz didn’t bother to turn. She didn’t need to, able to sense his presence—sight unseen.
Alex was cupping her elbow in his palm. “Can I talk to you?”
“There’s no one around, go ahead.”
He tilted his head closer to hers. “I prefer someplace more private.”
“Why?” she blurted, muttering a curse at her reaction.
Alex’s hold around her elbow tightened just slightly. “Do you have a problem being alone with me?”
“Course not,” she curtly responded, setting her drink on the bar and allowing him to lead her to a more private area.
Once they were far away from the crowd, silence captivated their would-be discussion. Finally, Alex balled a fist to his mouth and cleared his throat.
“I’m sorry about what happened before we left the mountains,” he said.
Topaz felt her cheeks burn as those explicit memories returned. Her lips parted as a wave of heat washed over her.
“I’m very sorry, Topaz,” he was still apologizing. “I never should have treated—kept you there like that in that cabin all day. I just, um ...” He trailed away, frowning as he fought to find the best words.
Topaz smiled, feeling the honesty lacing the words he did speak. She smoothed her hand against the front of his tan suit coat. “Greg was just someone I met and struck up a conversation with. I didn’t take his ... friendliness to mean anything more. I never would have slept with him.”
“Slept with him?” Alex retorted, blinking in surprise. “Love, I never thought you’d actually do that. I was just angry over the way he was touching you—his motives,” he clarified, sudden laughter rising to the surface. “Hell, I probably would’ve tried to kill him if I thought you’d actually let him ...”
Topaz felt her mouth fall open. It was now her turn to be surprised. “Why would you care about that when ... you told me nothing more could ever happen between us?”
“You know why I said that.”
“Not really. I don’t.”
Alex stepped closer, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. “Topaz, if you don’t know by now how much you mean to me, take this as notification. I care about you so much that it scares me. And for a man like me, that can be a dangerous thing.”
Topaz’s eyes narrowed to amber slits. “What do you mean, ‘a man like you’?”
“Damn,” he whispered, his stare faltering as he realized his mistake.
Topaz smiled. “Does it have anything to do with those ghosts you were talking about?”
Alex chuckled then. “Somethin’ like that,” he admitted, watching her shake her head.
“Why won’t you talk to me, Alex? I wouldn’t betray your confidence.”
“I know that,” he whispered fiercely. “It’s all just too complicated and I—I don’t think you can handle it.”
Topaz rolled her eyes. “I run a garage, man. I can handle most anything.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to have to handle this,” he countered, his thumb brushing her mouth before he planted a kiss there. Placing another on the crop of curls atop her head, he walked away from her.
Returning to the party, Alex located Josie Sharp, who was still talking with a group of other financiers. Completely disinterested in a discussion of appealing stock opportunities, Alex forced himself to appear involved.
“... I certainly plan to take advantage. Now, before the price goes even higher, ” Josie said.
“And you know it’s only gonna go up, up, up ...”
