conversation continued with us talking about places we’d been in China until the curtain rose for the second act.
During a brief break for a scene change, Abbott asked if it would be acceptable for my parents to take Lauren and Xiaolan home after the cast party, so he and I could go somewhere else.
I responded with, “Somewhere like the Diamond Club?”
Abbott raised an eyebrow. “I would be happy to take you, though you don’t give the impression of being that kind of girl.” There was no judgment in his statement, and he didn’t appear to be upset I’d checked into him.
“I warned you I was a plethora of inconsistencies,” I said with a smile, “but the way we’re dressed, perhaps we should go somewhere quieter tonight.”
When the show was over, I made my first safe call to James, explaining to Abbott that I had an overprotective friend who asked me to check in at predetermined times when I went out with someone new. Abbott asked what time my next call was, and I told him he didn’t need to know when, only that they existed.
“What will happen if you don’t make the call?”
I smiled and changed the subject. “What part of town do you live?”
“Lookout Mountain.”
Of course he lived on the mountain. Where else would a respectable rich man who’s a visible patron of the arts live? Somewhere he can look down on the common folk, with a nice view of the city, the river, and the other mountains. Just like we were looking down on the common folk from his box. Or, maybe I was being judgmental.
“Where on the mountain? Fairyland, or somewhere with a view?”
He smiled. “On the brow, between the Incline and Point Park.”
Damn . Those houses were worth millions. I started to ask if he knew Aaron, as there were only around a dozen houses along his stretch of road, and since Aaron lived there, too, it was likely they knew each other. However, I didn’t want to have to explain how I knew him.
I once again wondered why Abbott Hamilton was interested in me. I mean, I’m not ugly, but I don’t believe I’m beautiful anymore. In my teens and younger twenties I was a model and a ballerina, but now I’m in my thirties and…well, I guess I’m still attractive, but not beautiful. I don’t really miss it — people now accept that I have a brain, which didn’t happen much when I fit the definition of what our society considers ideal.
Abbott appeared to be about my age and in very good shape.
Very. Good. Shape.
Let me just say he’s hot. So far I’ve only seen him in well-tailored suits, but twice I’ve touched an arm and it felt like braided steel. Also, let’s not forget the already-mentioned chiseled face.
So why the interest in a middle-aged, upper-middle-class single mom with a couple of psych degrees? Not that I’m selling myself short, but something hadn’t felt right about him from the beginning and it just kept feeling curiouser and curiouser. Add the possibility his club had supernatural bouncers, and I wasn’t sure what to think, but if he were the Master Vampire, wouldn’t he have said something by now? He hadn’t tried to poke through my shields in any way.
Unless he was good enough I wouldn’t know. I’ve been able to keep some really powerful people out, so it wasn’t likely, but I needed to keep the possibility in mind. Mistakes happen when people begin to think they’re invincible.
As the play progressed and I started crying, he calmly handed me a handkerchief without comment. He’s the only man besides my father I’ve ever seen carry a handkerchief, and he gained lots of points by not making a big deal of my tears.
When the play was over we went backstage, but my parents weren’t there yet. I called my dad’s cell phone to see where they were and discovered security didn’t know them and wouldn’t let them pass. I usually sat with them, and hadn’t considered how they’d get to Lauren without me as an escort.
I stepped out to meet them and walk them in,
During a brief break for a scene change, Abbott asked if it would be acceptable for my parents to take Lauren and Xiaolan home after the cast party, so he and I could go somewhere else.
I responded with, “Somewhere like the Diamond Club?”
Abbott raised an eyebrow. “I would be happy to take you, though you don’t give the impression of being that kind of girl.” There was no judgment in his statement, and he didn’t appear to be upset I’d checked into him.
“I warned you I was a plethora of inconsistencies,” I said with a smile, “but the way we’re dressed, perhaps we should go somewhere quieter tonight.”
When the show was over, I made my first safe call to James, explaining to Abbott that I had an overprotective friend who asked me to check in at predetermined times when I went out with someone new. Abbott asked what time my next call was, and I told him he didn’t need to know when, only that they existed.
“What will happen if you don’t make the call?”
I smiled and changed the subject. “What part of town do you live?”
“Lookout Mountain.”
Of course he lived on the mountain. Where else would a respectable rich man who’s a visible patron of the arts live? Somewhere he can look down on the common folk, with a nice view of the city, the river, and the other mountains. Just like we were looking down on the common folk from his box. Or, maybe I was being judgmental.
“Where on the mountain? Fairyland, or somewhere with a view?”
He smiled. “On the brow, between the Incline and Point Park.”
Damn . Those houses were worth millions. I started to ask if he knew Aaron, as there were only around a dozen houses along his stretch of road, and since Aaron lived there, too, it was likely they knew each other. However, I didn’t want to have to explain how I knew him.
I once again wondered why Abbott Hamilton was interested in me. I mean, I’m not ugly, but I don’t believe I’m beautiful anymore. In my teens and younger twenties I was a model and a ballerina, but now I’m in my thirties and…well, I guess I’m still attractive, but not beautiful. I don’t really miss it — people now accept that I have a brain, which didn’t happen much when I fit the definition of what our society considers ideal.
Abbott appeared to be about my age and in very good shape.
Very. Good. Shape.
Let me just say he’s hot. So far I’ve only seen him in well-tailored suits, but twice I’ve touched an arm and it felt like braided steel. Also, let’s not forget the already-mentioned chiseled face.
So why the interest in a middle-aged, upper-middle-class single mom with a couple of psych degrees? Not that I’m selling myself short, but something hadn’t felt right about him from the beginning and it just kept feeling curiouser and curiouser. Add the possibility his club had supernatural bouncers, and I wasn’t sure what to think, but if he were the Master Vampire, wouldn’t he have said something by now? He hadn’t tried to poke through my shields in any way.
Unless he was good enough I wouldn’t know. I’ve been able to keep some really powerful people out, so it wasn’t likely, but I needed to keep the possibility in mind. Mistakes happen when people begin to think they’re invincible.
As the play progressed and I started crying, he calmly handed me a handkerchief without comment. He’s the only man besides my father I’ve ever seen carry a handkerchief, and he gained lots of points by not making a big deal of my tears.
When the play was over we went backstage, but my parents weren’t there yet. I called my dad’s cell phone to see where they were and discovered security didn’t know them and wouldn’t let them pass. I usually sat with them, and hadn’t considered how they’d get to Lauren without me as an escort.
I stepped out to meet them and walk them in,
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