“Jealous of Sydney? All the years you were with her, not once did I ever feel jealous or threatened by that woman. My place with you is secured.” She arched an eyebrow at him again.
The fire was back in Tachina. This was how he loved seeing her.
He glanced around the room. Charles stood with someone else having a conversation, but his attention was on Tachina. Vic smirked.
“Why is your date staring over here like he wants to drag you away?”
“Because I told him I needed a few minutes,” she said.
“To do what?” Vic leaned back against the bar. He wasn’t sure where this conversation was going to lead. He knew where he wanted it to go, and it was far from this place and ended with them in his bed.
“To talk with you.”
Before he could respond, Evelyn tapped on a microphone, calling guests to make their way to their tables for the program.
“I should get to my seat,” Tachina said.
“Yeah, me, too,” he said.
But neither of them moved. They looked at each other, not saying a word.
“We’ll talk later.” She sighed.
“Yes. Later.” He nodded to her. They would be talking later. This he promised.
She turned and walked away. He watched the curves of her ass sway beautifully, unable to take his eyes off her.
Sydney appeared by his side. She tapped him on the arm and scowled at him in the most unladylike fashion she normally wouldn’t dare do in public.
“I hope you are not making a fool out of yourself over her,” Sydney murmured.
“I’m not interested in your opinion regarding Tachina.” He walked away from her and headed to his table.
Tachina took her seat at her table. Her eyes met his.
Something inside him shifted.
This was dangerous.
He wanted her.
This was one thing he was certain of.
The program wound down with applause and polite laughter. The clinking of glasses echoed through the air as servers weaved through the aisle with champagne trays. Vic finished off the rest of his water and settled back in his chair. Evelyn stepped up to the mic again.
“And now, to close our evening, we’d like to invite to the stage the CEO of Maxwell & Sons Development Group, Victor Maxwell,” she announced.
Applause swept over the ballroom. Vic stood fromwhere he was seated and made his way toward the stage. Eyes tracked him. Old money, new money, politicians, donors, builders, and even his competitors were all in the room. He felt Tachina’s gaze before he found it.
She watched him as she clapped. Her date was seated next to her, speaking with a local politician whom Vic recognized.
But all he cared about was that she saw him.
Vic snagged a glass of champagne from a waiter. He stepped onto the stage, shook hands with the coordinator. The woman had worked her ass off tonight to ensure that everything went off without a hitch. He murmured his thanks then went over to the podium and set his glass down. The room stilled and fell quiet. Vic cleared his throat and offered a welcoming smile.
“Thank you. I promise not to give one of those speeches people pretend to enjoy while secretly wondering when they can head over to the bar,” he said.
Laughter rippled through the room. His gaze zeroed in on Tachina and found her smiling. He slid one hand into his pocket, and confidence filled him. He hated this part of his career. Being not only the man leading the company but also having to show his face.