Except Gus who had been standing in a small group of people, listening to the conversation with only half an ear. She hadn’t realized he’d shown up yet. He knew that as soon as she discovered his presence, her smooth, calm demeanor would slip away.
He rattled her. And he liked that reaction. He loved the way he could spark fire in her eyes.
Gus had never been attracted to blonds before. He’d always thought they were too cool and detached. Watching Alana tonight, he might have concluded the same thing about her. She definitely had sophistication in spades. But there was something that sparked between the two of them each time they got close.
He could also make her laugh. That fact warmed him as well. It gave him hope despite her constant rejection each time he came closer. He suspected that she didn’t laugh very often.
Gus had been standing in the same place for almost a half hour watching her mingle with her guests before he caught her eye. He was instantly concerned when he saw the fatigue on her face, the dark smudges under her eyes. She was exhausted and, he suspected, bored out of her mind.
He knew she recognized him despite the dim lighting because she stumbled over a plant. Gus chuckled at the way he could frazzle her so quickly.
Unfortunately, now that she’d spotted him, she was heading in the opposite direction. Gus hadn’t anticipated that. He had thought that the minute she’d seen him, she’d come over and start snapping at him.
She moved over to where her father was standing as he smoked a cigar with two other men. She whispered in his ear and Ed’s eyes searched the room, obviously looking for Gus. When he spotted him, Gus raised his glass in salute. Ed smiled and returned the greeting, pushing himself away from the railing to walk over to where Gus was standing.
“How are you doing, Gus?” Ed said, putting his cigar between his teeth so he could shake Gus’s hand without giving up his bourbon.
“Great, and you?” Gus asked.
“Fine, fine. Although I’m guessing my daughter is about to lynch me for inviting you tonight. She wasn’t expecting you. I wonder why?”
Gus chuckled. “She likes me,” he explained.
Ed laughed and shook his head. “I think she does. And she’ll eventually admit it once she gets over hating you.”
Gus threw back his had and laughed, patting the older man on his shoulder. “Any advice on getting through her barricades?”
“My boy, you don’t need any advice in that area. You seem to be the only one that has been able to do that. And I’ve seen a lot of men try. So just keep on with your current strategy and she’ll eventually come around.”
Gus shook his head, surprised at the man’s comments. Ed immediately suggested that they play golf the following weekend at his country club and Gus took him up on the offer, hoping he’d have an excuse to get more negotiations done on the Los Angeles property Ed owned.
She was dancing with Steve Renolds, a nice stock broker who was going into details on how she should invest her money to get the best return. She was only half listening, wondering how she could escape and find a quiet place to be alone when her hand was taken off Steve’s shoulder.
The next thing she knew, she was standing in Gus’s arms and he was twirling her around the dance floor. Alana’s pulse doubled as she inhaled his spicy aftershave and looked into his laughing eyes. “Excuse me?” she said, becoming indignant at his arrogance in interrupting her dance with another partner. “Steve and I were having a conversation.”
Gus laughed, shaking his head. “No, Steve was talking and you were bored to tears. Admit it you have no idea what he was saying,” Gus said, spinning her to the right and pulling her closer.
“He was telling me about a stock,” she said, coming up with a logical assumption since Steve was always talking about a stock.
Gus shook his head. “You just proved my point. He was telling you the formula for calculating compound interest.”
Alana looked confused. “He was?” she asked, then gasped at his knowing look.
She couldn’t help but laugh at his smug expression. “He was not,” she confirmed.
“Since you don’t know, I feel justified in saving you from his monotonous monologue on the best way to get into the market,” Gus said, then walked off the dance floor, taking her with him.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, following behind him reluctantly, trying not to make too big of a scene. She didn’t want to find her picture in the newspaper again tomorrow morning. Her friends were not believing her when she denied their relationship anymore.
A striking woman with flaming red hair stepped directly in their path. “Gus, you naughty boy. You haven’t called me in months.”
Gus looked down at the red, pouting lips of Jessica Parker. They had dated a few times but nothing seriously. “How are you, Jessica?” he asked, bending down to kiss her on her cheek.
“I’d be wonderful if you’d take me away from this boring party and buy me a drink, somewhere more quiet.”
“I don’t think that would…” Gus started to say.
“Like my place,” she suggested before Gus could finish his rejection of her idea.
Alana stepped in front of the brassy redhead, ignoring the jealousy that ripped through her stomach. Alana told herself that she was furious only because this offensive woman had insulted her party. “Jessica Parker, how are you doing? I haven’t seen you since high school,” Alana said and took both of Jessica’s hands in hers.
Gus wanted to laugh at the way Alana had gotten the red head to stop touching him but didn’t dare. He was too grateful.
“Alana?” Jessica was saying. “I saw your father, but I hadn’t seen you come in. It’s so nice to see you. Yes, it has been a long time,” she agreed, air kissing Alana’s right and then left cheek. “What a fabulous dress!” Jessica said about Alana’s simple black satin cocktail dress that was conservative, yet still sophisticated.
“Well you still have your daring way with fashion,” Alana was saying, holding out Jessica’s hands so she could view the tightly fitted, red dress that displayed all of Jessica’s charms.
“I like to shock,” Jessica replied, twirling for effect. “And I was dying to get this man to take me out of here,” She turned back to Gus.
“You’ll have to wait your turn,” Alana said and grabbed another man who was on his way to the bar. “Gus is trying to swindle my father so give him a few minutes and he’ll be all yours. In the meantime, here’s Jason Alexander. I don’t think the two of you have met.”