“Darling! I was hoping you would be here,” she said in her smoky voice, completely ignoring Donna.
“Caroline, I had no idea you were back.” He let go of Donna’s hand and took the woman’s outstretched ones. “You look good.”
“You mean after you left me?” she asked sweetly. “I'm fine, darling.”
“And I'm right here,” Donna said with a forced smile.
“I'm sorry,” Thomas turned to her, still holding Caroline’s hands and unconsciously making them into a unit. “Caroline this is Donna—”
“His wife.”
“I know who you are,” the woman said with a dismissive look before turning back to Thomas. “Darling, do you have a moment? I need to talk to you about something.”
“No, he doesn’t—”
“It will be just a minute. Go over to Leesa and the others. I'll be there shortly.”
Donna stiffened, not missing the triumphant look the bitch threw her. To hell with both of them, she thought as she turned and marched over to where the group of ladies were standing. Introductions were made to the ones she hadn't met before. Grabbing a flute of champagne from the passing waiter she drank half the glass as she sat on one of the padded seats between Leesa and Kelly. “I see that you've met Caroline Schaeffer.” Kelly said with a smile.
“I wanted to smash my fist into her very white face,” Donna admitted ruefully. “Does that make me sound ghetto?”
“We've all been there,” Leesa said with a grin.
“Good,” Donna said feelingly as she searched the room to find out what they were doing, her lips tightening when she saw them cozied up together in a corner. There were reporters all around and they didn't seem to care. She pasted a bright smile on her and grabbed another flute of champagne. “I think I'll find a really cute guy and ask him to dance with me.”
“You could use one of our husbands,” Stacey suggested.
“No. He has to be single and hot.”
“There's Blake Webb and I do believe he's been looking at you ever since you came over.”
“Who is he?”
The women looked at her in surprise. “Blake Webb is running for the senate.”
“I don’t much like politicians,” Donna muttered. “But I'm desperate.” She put her glass away and got to her feet, making her way towards him.
“I like her,” Leesa said with a grin.
“Me too,” Both Stacey and Kelly murmured.
*****
“Why did you bring her?” Caroline asked plaintively as she clung to his arm. “I came back from Europe hoping that we could have some sort of understanding. You broke my heart Thomas, and I have to tell you that being away only made me realize that I can't give up on you.”
“You might have to,” Thomas said grimly, his eyes going to where she was sitting with the other wives. “I can't promise you anything, Caro.”
“What does that mean?” she demanded.
“It means that my life is complicated right now and I don't want it complicated even more.”
“You said it was going to be a year. I want to wait. She isn't your type Thomas, and we both know that.”
“Things have changed,” he admitted.
“Don’t tell me you've fallen in love with her,” she asked incredulously.
“No,” he bit out, feeling boxed in and wishing that he was anywhere else but there right. “Look—” He broke off, his eyes narrowing as he stared at his wife in the arms of Blake Webb. His mouth tightened as he saw the man’s hand tighten around her waist and the way she was laughing up at something he said. He felt anger coursing through his body when the man bent to whisper something in her ear.
“Thomas?”
With supreme effort, he tore his gaze away and forced himself to focus on her. “I can't do this right now.”
“So when?” she persisted, her fingers pressing into his arm.
“We'll have lunch one of these days—” He broke off again and saw red when the man dared to run his fingers up and down his wife’s back. “Please excuse me.” Without waiting for her response he strode away and in their direction, but he was cornered by his mother and sister.
“I don’t have time—” he began.
“Your wife is making a spectacle of herself with that man!” Rosalee said coldly, her eyes blazing.
“How is she doing that? They're only dancing.”
“Are they?” Talia asked smugly, seeing the anger on her brother’s face. “He's leading her out of the room as we speak.”
“I'll handle it,” he told them coolly and went after them. By this time they'd left the room. He found them in the lobby area seated on one of the stuffed chairs. Blake was so near her that his knee was touching hers, his body turned to her as they conversed.
He looked up and saw Thomas advancing and shifted away slightly, getting to his feet. “Thomas, I was just telling your wife how charming a conversationalist she i—”
“We're leaving.” His green eyes slashed the man with a glance before looking at Donna.
“We just got here a couple of minutes ago.” Donna deliberately remained seated.
He snapped his fingers at the girl who came hurrying over to them. “Please get our coats.” He turned to look at Blake. “Please give me a minute with my wife.”
“Of course.” Blake turned to take her hand in his and pressed it. “I'll be seeing you, my dear.”
Thomas’ hands clenched into fists and he had to take deep breaths to stop himself from punching him.
He practically threw her coat at her and shoved his hands inside the arms of his. “Let’s go!”
“Don’t you want to tell your girlfriend that you're leaving?” she asked as she got to her feet graciously and donned her coat.
“Let’s go, now!”
He took her arm roughly and guided her out of the room, practically plowing down a reporter who was coming up to them. He kept his hand on her arm as they waited for the car and practically shoved her inside before getting in. All through the ride, he didn't speak one word to her, and she decided not to rile him any further.
He handed the maid his jacket and without looking at her, went bounding up the stairs. Donna smiled at the woman as she handed her the jacket and wondered if she should go up to their suite with the mood he was in. With a shrug she walked up the stairs slowly, trailing her hand on the banister. She'd just entered her room and was sitting on the side to the bed, taking off her shoes when he marched into her bedroom. He'd stripped off the sweater and unbuttoned the buttons of his shirt, leaving it hanging loose. “What the hell were you thinking?” he asked her furiously.
“I have no idea what you mean.” She forced herself to be calm even though fear was darting through her at the furious look on his face.
“You were flirting with him! Did you give him your number with the intention of going up to a room with him?”
“With you and your entire family there?” she asked mildly. “I would never be that insensitive or careless, for that matter.”