The blond looked down, not daring to look into Helen’s eyes. “I’m just here doing the serving, ma’am. But I’d be happy to bring you more if you’d like.” The waitress said to the tray.
“Jim’s a very nice man.” Helen said.
The woman stiffened, froze for a long moment before setting the appetizers onto the tray more quickly. “Your boyfriend is an attractive guest.”
“Don’t worry. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s just a friend. What’s your name?”
That admission perked the woman up for a moment, but then she looked around warily at the other workers, obviously afraid her supervisor would catch her talking to a guest. “I’m Amanda,” she said and finished the tray. Picking it up, she smiled at Helen, offering her more food. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
Helen popped another appetizer into her mouth from the counter, not wanting to mess up Amanda’s platter. “Just give me your phone number and I’ll pass it along to Jim. I know he’s interested so I’ll tell him to give you a call.”
Amanda’s eyes widened. “My phone number?” she whispered.
Helen grimaced. “You’re right. Work your way around the party and I’ll get Jim’s phone number so you can call him. It’s safer that way. I know Jim and he’s very sweet, but a woman can’t be too careful.” Helen pushed away from the counter and smiled encouragingly at Amanda. “Don’t worry about anything. I’ll let him know you’re a very nice woman and won’t be dallied with,” she teased.
Amanda instantly laughed and relaxed. “Why would you do this? Why aren’t you interested in him?” she asked, dumbfounded that anyone could not find the very nice looking Jim attractive.
Helen took another sip of her wine and sighed. “I don’t know. I just know that I’d rather be his friend than anything more. So nothing is going to happen.”
Amanda grinned and nodded. “Thank you,” she said quickly and with a great deal of sincerity and appreciation.
Helen watched happily as Amanda walked out of the kitchen with a new spring to her step.
Helen followed more slowly, wishing she could feel jealousy at this activity. Shouldn’t she feel more possessive of her dates? But then, she’d never felt that way about any of the men she’d dated over the years. She’d even been mildly attracted to some of them but none had ever gone anywhere since she’d ended up friends with almost all of them. Some were happily married now with children and Helen was even invited to the birthday parties and other celebrations.
Sighing in wonder, she walked out of the kitchen and looked around for Jim. She spotted him on the lawn by the pool and headed in that direction, her mind thinking of the one man she shouldn’t think about. She smiled up at Jim and whispered in his ear. When he looked down at her, stunned, she only nodded at her suggestion.
Jim surveyed the crowd, instantly catching the eye of the pretty blond woman. Helen almost laughed when both of them blushed. Jim quickly looked away, then pulled out his wallet with a business card, wrote his private number on the back and handed it to Helen. Helen palmed the card and stuffed it into the waistband of her skirt so it would be safe until she could pass it along to Amanda.
The group was laughing about something Helen hadn’t caught when she felt the tingles along her neck. She tried to shoo them away, but the tingles wouldn’t go away. She looked around and froze. About twenty feet away was Alec and he didn’t look happy. He was standing alone but when she looked at him, he moved toward their group.
“Good evening,” several of the people gushed out, astounded that the head of their company would enter their group of employees.
“Good evening, Jim, Marty.” Helen had to acknowledge that it was impressive of Alec to know everyone’s names, even their wives and he greeted each of them with a façade of warmth. Until he came to Helen.
There was a definite coolness about his demeanor as he addressed her. “Helen. How have you been lately?” he asked, his dark eyes looked at her dangerously.
Helen took a deep breath. She’d been looking down when he’d spoken to the others hoping he’d just skip by her and be on his way but when he directly addressed her, there was nothing she could do but look up. It was worse than she’d thought. Alec in the office was one thing but here in his own domain with his tie off and the top buttons of his shirt undone, he looked incredible. Or maybe he always looked this magnificent and she was just putting parameters around him. She wasn’t sure. “I’m fine,” she replied, holding her breath.
“Caused any other minor catastrophes lately?” he asked with mock innocence.
Helen heard the sharp intake of someone’s breath but ignored it. His question only angered her, since it was embarrassing Jim who wasn’t sure which person he should defend. “Oh, you must be asking if I’ve humanized any part of your organization lately.”
“Tomato, tomato,” he mimicked, changing the accent for the same word.
Her eyes flashed her anger at him but she wouldn’t back down. “No, as a matter of fact. You should know by now that I’ve been avoiding all contact with Dionysius Corporation.”
Alec’s eyes skimmed to Jim, then back to her. “All evidence to the contrary.”
She squared her shoulders and glared at him. “Actually, I didn’t know that this was a company party. Jim forgot to mention that little detail to me,” she ignored Jim’s mumble of protest and continued at Alec. “If I’d known, you must know that I’d be on the other side of London now, enjoying a cheap cup of coffee and enjoying it much more than your excellent wine.”
She must have known he wouldn’t take that comment from her. He turned to Jim and smiled politely. “You’ll have to excuse me, Jim. Your…date…” he hesitated over that word, obviously not liking it one bit, “and I have a difference of opinion we need to hash out.”
He didn’t wait for her to agree but simply took her elbow in his grip and pulled her along to a deserted part of the patio. When he stopped, she pulled her arm free and turned to face him. “Yes, there’s all that charm you’re so famous for. I recognize it now.”
Alec gritted his teeth, not sure if he wanted to throttle the beauty standing in front of him or kiss her until neither one of them could think any longer. “You want charm?” he growled. “Then how about if you stop flirting with my staff and be honest with yourself.”