Chapter Six
Claire
My brother was slick. He knew I was mad so he followed me back to the main hall of the gala. Once we hit the fringe of the crowd, he must have spotted a likely group of bachelors because he caught my arm and pulled me into their conversation. By the time it came out that three of us were doctors, my brother was back at the bar. He raised his glass to me with an apologetic smile.
Meeting three eligible men was supposed to make up for his behavior. Instead of accepting his lame apology, I gritted my teeth and smiled while I plotted my revenge. It seemed like the fastest way to get him out of the gala was to tell a security guard he tried to pick-pocket me.
That would be far less of a scene than I knew Reese was capable of causing.
I excused myself from the polite conversation, despite the disappointed protests from my new acquaintances.
"You can't go. We have to have a toast! You're so right about those patients that come in armed with internet knowledge," the tallest of the men said.
"And you really should give me your number. We might have an opening in my hospital and you'd be perfect," the more rotund of the men told me.
Before I could make a polite excuse, a man with bold, salt and pepper hair and a booming voice joined our group. "Name's Ross Alan, and you are?" he asked me.
"Claire West."
He pumped my hand and I saw bright diamonds flash in his cuff links. The other men opened their mouths to protest his interruption, but they faded back when they heard his name. Mr. Ross Alan was the COO of one of the largest corporations in North America. Everyone wanted a chance to shake his hand.
"Nice to meet you. And this is my near and dear friend, Steele Channing," Ross said. "Steele, this is Claire."
I babbled out some ridiculous response to the introduction as my brain was overwhelmed. At six-feet-two, Steele Channing's was impressive but it was his bright smile that turned my brain to mush.
"Please, call me Steele," he said.
I tried to form a coherent thought. What was wrong with me? Meeting rich and powerful men had never intimidated me before, but my stomach was so full of butterflies I thought I might float away.
"I'm never really sure what to talk about at these events," I confessed. "Charitable giving? Art? Work?"
"How about drinks," Steele said. "Is there anything Ross can get you from the bar?"
The other men had faded into the gala crowd. Ross Alan seemed nonplussed by Steele's suggestion. He was happy to do whatever the younger man wanted.
"Unless someone is bringing you something," Steele added.
I glanced at my brother who had his arm around some unfortunate man. Probably telling him of a great investment that only needed a little cash up front. "No, I'm fine," I said.
"Two champagnes," Steele said to Ross. The older man slapped him on the back and headed to the bar.
I caught Steele's arm. "I don't want to be a bother. I'm sure Mr. Alan has better things to be doing."
"I wish," Steele muttered. Then he blinded me with another million-watt smile. "Shall we take a turn around the room?"
I let him tuck my hand into the crook of his elbow and lead the way. Ten feet across the marble floor and I still couldn't put together a full sentence. A nagging voice inside my head insisted that I'd met Steele before but I knew that was impossible. There was no way I could meet the heir to the Channing empire and the nation's most sought-after bachelor without remembering every detail.
"I'm sorry but I can't think of a thing to talk about besides work," I said.
Steele chuckled. "I'm a workaholic myself."
"No hobbies?" I asked.
He stiffened slightly then smiled. The orchestra had returned from their break and started a gentle waltz. "How about dancing?"
"I'm terrible," I squeaked.
"Relax," Steele said. "Your dress is so stunning no one will notice your feet."
My cheeks glowed hot as he spun me deftly onto the dance floor. Faces whirled by and I noticed half a dozen jealous glares.
"Did you come with a date tonight?" I asked.
"I wouldn't have asked you to dance if I did," Steele said. He pulled me closer. "Are you here with someone?"
The thought of my brother knocking back drinks and embarrassing himself at the bar made me cringe. "Yes."
"How long have you two been together?" Steele asked.
"Oh, it's not like that." I laughed. "I just refused to come to this alone and so he volunteered to be my 'date.'"
Steele's hand drifted from my hip to the small of my back. The feel of his wide palm against my bare skin made me stumble. He caught me and lifted my toes off the ground in a graceful turn.
"So, one of these nights I could volunteer to be your date?" Steele asked. "Maybe a smaller venue, less people."
"That sounds nice." I didn't recognize the breathy response as my own.
My nerves sang where our bodies touched and I felt a spreading warmth where our bare skin met. It had been six months at least since I had felt such physical attraction to a man.
"Then how about a tour of the private vaults?" Steele asked. "The museum got wise ages ago and opened up their storage space for private collectors."
I was intrigued. Heading into the subterranean storage levels of the museum to see the private collection of rich donors was an exciting prospect. Steele answered my eager nod with a broad smile and led me off the dance floor.
Unfortunately, we stopped our spinning waltz near the bar and Reese's voice was too easy to hear.
"You can't cut me off, man. This is a charity event and I paid for my ticket," Reese said. He slammed one hand on the bar. "And don't give me any crap about driving because I have a town car waiting."
It felt as if a heavy weight settled onto my shoulders. My arms slipped away from Steele and I automatically turned to go to my brother's side.
Steele caught my hand and stopped me. "He's with you?"
My shoulders sagged. No matter how much I longed to ignore Reese and go exploring with the tall, handsome man, I had to stand up for my brother. He was the only family I had.
"Yes." I reached for a reasonable explanation for my brother's embarrassing behavior. "He's been under a lot of pressure lately."
Steele lifted my limp hand to his lips and kissed it. "I'll take care of this," he said.
I was horrified. Steele strode past me and right up to the bartender. All he did was nod and a drink materialized instantly.
He slapped my brother on the back and handed him the glass. "There's more than one way to get a final drink," he said.
Reese glowered up at him. "What do you mean 'final?'"
Steele flashed my brother his winning smile. "It's not like you're having any fun here anyway," he said.
My brother snorted and tossed back the drink Steele had given him. The bartender hovered nearby but he looked confident that Steele had everything well in hand.
That might have been the end of it had I not appeared from behind Steele. Reese groaned at the sight of me.
"Here comes my chaperone, guys. Watch out," Reese said. "We used to call her 'No Dare Claire' because she's never done a fun thing in her life."
Steele drew himself up to his full height and crossed his arms over his chest. "That's no way to talk to a lady," he said.
"Hey, I'm just trying to warn you, man." Reese stood up and gave Steele a friendly punch on the arm. "I saw you two twirling away on the dance floor. That might have been the most interesting thing she's done in the last eight years."
Steele took a deep breath to respond but I shook my head. "It's all right. He's just had too much to drink. Thanks for all your help, Steele."
Reese perked up at the name and brought his blurry eyes back up to Steele's face. "That's your name? What kind of name is that?"
"My mother's maiden name," Steele said.
His words rung a bell in my head, but it stopped when he grabbed my brother's arm. Reese's tuxedo jacket stretched as he resisted the taller man and I worried the rental was about to rip. Not to mention worrying about my brother's ill-planned reaction.
Reese shoved Steele but his grip didn't loosen and they both stumbled back from the bar.
"Stop, please. Reese, come on, we're leaving," I cried.
"See? 'No Dare Claire' has to be in bed early. All work, work, work. That's why you think you're so good, isn't it, Claire? You're so much better than me because you work all the time and ignore real life?"
Reese's loud and belligerent tone was attracting many curious on-lookers. I could see Steele was pained by the attention, and all I wanted to do was extricate my brother from the gala before he really caused a scene.
I brushed Steele's reluctant hand off my brother's arm. Then I whispered to my brother, "And you think this is real life? Can we just get out of here, please?"
Reese rolled his eyes at my plea and shoved me away. My heel caught on the hem of my long satin dress and I stumbled. Steele caught me with one strong arm and held up the other to keep my brother back.
"It's okay, he didn't mean to," I cried.
Steele's jaw flexed but he lowered his arm.
That could have been the end of it but Reese crowed with drunken laughter. "Some date you turned out to be, Claire. You can't even walk in big girl shoes!"
"Enough." Steele's voice was as hard and unbending as his name.
Security stood against the wall, waiting for the museum's biggest donor to make the decision. He was one second away from a curt nod that would have sent them swarming all over my brother.
"Please." I shifted to block Reese with my body. "He didn't mean any harm. It's my fault for bringing him. I should have known an open bar would be too much for him to handle."
Reese didn't appreciate me painting him as a habitual alcoholic, but his drunken attention was wandering. "Hey, they're announcing the silent auction winners. I put your name down for a bunch of items."
"Are you sure you don't want my assistance, Claire?" Steele asked.
I shook my head and blinked back sudden tears. It was time to say goodbye to my tall, handsome surprise acquaintance. I had felt like Cinderella for all of fifteen minutes, so this was a fitting end to my fairytale night out.
"I'm sorry. It was nice to meet you." I linked my arm through my brother's and headed for the door.