Lucille grabbed him by the arm, pulling him out. “Buddy, you are gonna love the laid-back, crunchy lifestyle of Asheville. Be safe, P. Have fun tonight. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do...” And she closed the door behind them.
Chapter Sixteen
Perdie balanced on one foot in front of the entrance to the Atlantic Theater to fix the strap of her heel. The chilly winter air licked her bare legs, and the enormous old-school marquee blared bright with the festive message: Happy Holidays from Joy and Schulz.
Perdie wasn’t experiencing much joy though. For one, her silver stilettos were already threatening bodily harm, her toes scrunched and smarting in the ungiving leather. And the butterflies in her stomach were attempting to escape by way of her mouth. Oh good god, don’t puke. She tightened the belt of her white faux fur coat. The coat was extra as hell according to Lucille but also necessary in these trying times. If nothing else, Perdie was certainly following the Old Hollywood Glam theme of the night.
She hated walking into places alone, especially formal events like these. She was accustomed to the carefree comfort of Lucille for most gatherings, or at the very least a date she’d scrounged up elsewhere. She hadn’t been doing much swiping on the dating apps the past few weeks, that went without saying. But she had to reject her own cowardice. She’d have to face Carter one way or another, and if she did it alone, well, she was woman enough to stand in front of a Joy and Schulz partner with whom she’d almost had an illicit affair and eat shit like a pro.
Enough stalling, walk your ass inside that door, big girl.
Perdie headed in through the heavy glass entrance.
Rita from event planning greeted her at a check-in table. “Oh, Perdita, don’t you look lovely tonight,” Rita chirped, tapping at the laptop. “You’re all set. Coat check is to your left.”
Perdie experienced mild panic at the thought of removing her coat, stripping away a layer of protective armor, and serving herself up on a white shimmery platter to the rest of the lawyers. But she shook away the fear—no more dramatics. It was just a party, and she was just a person. She’d have a few drinks, shake a few hands, and get out of there, spending the rest of the night on the couch with Bananas, eating panettone out of a box.
She headed to the coat check, undoing her belt. As the coat slipped from her shoulders, a familiar voice surprised her.
“Wow, I’ve been out of the Charleston office for far too long. When did they start hiring models as lawyers?”
A small smile flitted over Perdie’s face. The voice belonged to Max Goodridge, a friend who worked in the Joy and Schulz satellite New York office. From anyone else, she would’ve found the line cheesy at best and sexist at worst. But they were pals, so to speak, and had possibly engaged in some innocent flirting before. Nothing serious, as Max had been married then, and Perdie wasn’t in the habit of hooking up with married men or coworkers. Or at least, she hadn’t been at the time. But she wasn’t going to let her mind wander to Carter...
“Flatterer.” She moved aside as Max leaned over to hand his coat to the coat check, the velvet of his navy tuxedo jacket brushing against the bare skin of her arm.
He flashed a bright white smile. “You can flatter and speak the truth all in one.”
“And what’s your truth, exactly? Still mixing your Glenlivet with ginger ale?”
He lifted a finger to his lips. “Shhh, don’t let my secret out. You’ll compromise my manhood.”
“Forget about your manhood, in some countries you could be arrested for such an offense.”
“Good thing I know an excellent attorney.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And a bunch of shit ones.”
Max chuckled as they made their way through the lobby and into a swarm of decked-out, mingling people, sequins and jewelry glittering under glass chandeliers.
“That’s why you’re my favorite one here.” He swooped two coupe glasses from a flowing champagne pyramid centerpiece and handed one to Perdie.
“Why’s that?”
“Because you don’t fake anything.” He winked when she playfully whacked him on the arm with her clutch.
“Not that you’d have any idea what I do or don’t fake.”
“You don’t seem like a faker to me,” he said with a naughty smile on his face as they neared the main room.
The jazzy, smoky tones of a popular Charleston cover band floated through the air. They only played K-pop covers, which Perdie knew well thanks to Lucille. Even so, if she wasn’t at a work event, the whole thing might feel a little magical, romantic even.
But Max was handsome, wasn’t he? His dense swath of hair was a deep auburn and a little on the messy side, and his thick matching beard contrasted nicely with his pale skin. He wore a tartan bow tie with his tuxedo, harmonious with his overall style. Lumberjack meets Luxembourgian prince meets big-city attorney? Perhaps not Perdie’s usual type, but his confidence and charm sold the whole package well. Maybe he wasn’t Carter Leplan handsome, but then again, who was? Either way, Perdie was sure Max wasn’t wanting for attention.
Perdie sipped from her glass, the effervescence tickling her nose. She was going to be okay. She smiled and let out a satisfied sigh, letting her eyes wander the room, the silver and gold tables stacked with mountains of fancy hors d’oeuvres and desserts. There was an espresso station in the corner and several bars scattered throughout with people already lining up behind them. Joy and Schulz didn’t play when it came to alcohol distribution.
She and Max said cordial hellos to fellow partygoers as the large stage came into view, the band dressed in black suits and sequined dresses.
But as soon as a modicum of ease settled over her, she spotted Carter across the other side of the large ballroom. Dammit, Carter. It only took a glimpse of the back of his tall body smoothed in a crisp midnight tuxedo to ping her radar. Quickly, she averted her gaze before she could register any details. Regular, everyday men could turn out damned good in a tux. Lord only knew the kind of psychic damage Carter could inflict all dressed up like James Bond.
Perdie mentally swept the room, targeting who she would have to rub elbows with for a few minutes before she could jet. But in the meantime...
“So, Max, where you staying? You in town for long?” Perdie absently swirled her champagne.
He scratched the back of his neck. “Staying at the Wentforth. Can’t beat the location.”
Perdie nodded. “Ah, very old money, very old lady chic of you. I’m convinced that place is haunted.”
His eyes glimmered. “Don’t try to scare me, or I’ll show up at your doorstep towing ghosts.”
At that, Perdie’s stomach blipped. Did she really want to be flirting with Max right now? Maybe it would have been fun last year. Although familiar and pleasant, it felt far less fun than it should have.
Max cleared his throat. “You probably already heard about Kathryn and me.”
She nodded. She’d gathered through the grapevine that Max had divorced. “Sorry to hear.”
He shrugged. “I’m not. We grew apart like adults tend to do when they get married too young and barely know themselves yet. Hadn’t been happy for a long time. At any rate, I’m a free man now...” His gaze flickered over her.
It was an opening, and if she wanted to, she could spend the whole evening with Max by her side. He was handsome, funny, smart. He could distract her from her feelings, from work, from the fact that she would spend the holidays alone. Hooking up with someone at a satellite office was way more inconspicuous than with someone on the fifth floor. But...
