The Critic (28 page)

“Hello, Mrs. Jordan. I’m actually—”

“My boyfriend.” I glanced at Bentley. He was smiling, which made me do the same.

“Oh. I didn’t realize. It’s good to meet you.” My mom extended her hand. She grinned as she inspected his features for a bit too long.

Bentley shook her hand. “This is a wonderful club. I noticed the greens when we pulled in. They look like they’re in great shape.”

“Oh, you play?” Apparently my mom appreciated not only his looks but the fact that he played golf.

“I’ve been known to, yes.”

Just then, my dad walked up. “There’s my princess.” He leaned down and kissed me.

Bentley chuckled, but he reeled it in quickly as I playfully glared at him.

“Charles, darling, this is Andrea’s boyfriend, Bentley. He plays golf.” My mother wore an expression that said she’d just solved life’s great mystery.

“It’s good to meet you, Mr. Jordan.” Bentley outstretched his hand to my dad.

“You as well. We’ll have to get you out on the course. Do you have a handicap?”

Here we go. Golf talk.
I rolled my eyes, which would be a common occurrence that night.

Bentley squeezed my hand. “Yes, sir, I do. I ended with a five last season.”

I was shocked. “That’s really good, babe!”

Bentley shrugged as if it were no big deal.

He’d definitely impressed my dad though. “Well, then. We won’t just get you on the course—we’ll get you in a few member-guest tournaments.” My dad winked and put his hand on my mother’s back. “Darling, we should go say hello to Joseph and Marguette.” He kissed me on my cheek. “We’ll see you in a bit. Have fun, kids.”

My parents walked away, and I turned toward Bentley. “Wow! Ass-kiss much?” I laughed.

“Hey, he asked. I told him.”

“I didn’t even know you played.”

He whispered in my ear, “I like putting it in the hole. When it rims the top and then slowly hits the sweet spot. Then I do it all over again. Sometimes my stroke is firm, and other times it’s all finesse.”

The warmth of his breath and the images he put in my head that had nothing to do with golf, instantly dampened my thong. I took a sip of my drink.

Bentley finished his. “Want another?”

“No, I think I’m going to go outside for a minute. It’s a bit warm in here.”

Bentley gave me a knowing smirk. “Okay.”

Bentley stayed inside while I went out to the patio near the ninth green. Another woman was standing there alone. Her gorgeous dress hugged her curves, but I smiled at the red stilettos peeking out from the bottom of her gown. She defied the club’s boring dress code—I liked her already!

When I got closer, I was a bit shocked. “Bev?”

She turned. “Andi?”

We laughed as I scurried toward her for a hug.

“You look amazing! I always thought you were beautiful, but this . . .” I stepped back and looked at her with our arms stretched to the side. “God! You look so different!” My hand went to her raven hair, which had once been fair. “This color is amazing on you. Your mom must have flipped!”

Bev laughed and smiled. “Thank you. I got tired of being called ‘heavy Bevvy.’ It’s been so long! But you’re pretty as ever! I didn’t know you were back in town. Last I heard, you were lighting up the stages on Broadway.”

“Really? You heard that?” I was so sorry we had lost touch when she went to college.

“Of course I did. Do you think your mother didn’t tell mine? I mean, you’re a successful actress. I’m just a teacher in the poor part of town.”

“I think your career is wonderful. You have a gift, but you always have.”

She smiled and glanced to her right as a gorgeous man walked by. He was tall, dark, and broad. By the look on Bev’s face, she’d noticed that too.

“Holy shit! Who’s that?” I asked, turning to watch him walk away. He walked inside as Bentley walked out.

Bev shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before, but I’d totally rock that!” Her eyes followed Bentley. “Are they having an all-male revue tonight, or did they add hot guys to the silent auction?” I smiled and was about to say something, but she cut me off. “Oh my god, he’s walking over here.”

Bentley sidled up to me and rested his hand on the small of my back. Bev’s face turned beet red, and she sucked in her lips to suppress a grin.

“Bev, this is my boyfriend, Bentley. Babe, this is Bev. We went to high school together.”

“Ahh, someone who knew Andi in her glory days. We’ll have to chat later,” he said with a smile. They shook hands. “It’s a pleasure, Bev.”

She nodded. “Likewise.”

“Baby, they’re about to get the event started. We should get back in,” he said calmly.

I nodded. “Bev, may we escort you inside? Unless you’re here with someone. I wouldn’t want to get my ass kicked.”

Bev forced a smile. “No, I’m alone.”

Those three words tore at my heart. She was too amazing to be alone. Maybe the hot mystery dude would sweep her off her feet.

“Well then, shall we?” Bentley bent his arms as he stood between us.

We placed our hands on the crook of his arms, and we walked into the room. Waiters and waitresses were passing out glasses of champagne to the people starting to fill the tables.

I looked at Bev. “We’re at table fifteen. You?”

“I’m at table twenty-three. The bitch table.” Her eyes pointed at the clique from hell.

“I’m sorry.”

Bev nodded. “Yeah, me too. I can’t stand them. At least you were bold enough to tell them to fuck off when they acted like stuck-up bitches. I just stood behind you.” Her face reddened when Bentley chuckled. “Please, excuse my language.”

“No, really, it’s okay. I was picturing my princess here telling people off.” Bentley kissed my forehead.

My lips twisted. “Yeah, well, you know me. Not the type to really hold back.”

“No, you’re not. That’s one of the things I love about you.” Our eyes met, and I wanted to get lost in the depths of his.

“Okay, you lovebirds, I’m off to hell. Thank you for the escort, and it was great meeting you, Bentley. Andi, let me get your number.” She reached into her clutch and pulled out her cell phone. We exchanged information, then we went to our tables.

My parents were sitting at our table with some of their friends. Bentley and I were definitely the only ones who didn’t have an AARP card. My mom introduced us as the wait staff set salads in front of us.

“So what do you do Bentley?” my dad asked. He had the, “I hope you’re good enough for my daughter” tone, which I completely hated.

“I’m a journalist.”

“Oh, impressive. For which paper? The
Times?
”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Bentley.

“No, sir, I write for the
Edge.
”

“I’m not familiar with that publication,” my father said.

Here we go.
Dad’s voice of disapproval was just waiting to come out. At that point, it wouldn’t have mattered if Bentley was good enough to be on the PGA Tour. If Dad thought Bentley’s job wasn’t good enough, then that was all it would take.

“It’s a trade journal. That’s how I met your daughter.”

A woman named Gloria piped up, practically choking on her merlot. “Oh my! Are you
the
Bentley Chambers?”

“Well, I’m the only one I know.” Bentley winked and speared a piece of his salad and popped it in his mouth.

“Wow, your reviews are critically acclaimed.” She looked at my parents and leaned in as if sharing a huge secret. “He’s won several literary awards. Harold and I were just at a show where he praised the actress . . . oh . . . what was her name?” She snapped her fingers. “Harold, dear, what was her name?”

The man to her right, whom I assumed was her husband, shook his head and shrugged.

She squinted, and her eyes rolled up as if she were looking into her brain for the answer. She pointed at Bentley. “Hart! That’s it.”

Bentley smiled.

I was so happy this woman knew his work. “I saw that show as well. Ms. Hart is a very good actress.”

“So then you reviewed Andrea’s new show?” My mother’s question silenced everyone at the table.

He shook his head. “No, not this last one. I reviewed one she did in Jersey and haven’t reviewed any since we started dating. It would be a conflict of interest.”

“That’s actually how we met. He came to my show, reviewed it, and the rest is history.” I took a long sip of champagne. They didn’t need any details about how he’d hated my performance or our confrontation afterward.

“That’s wonderful, honey.” My mom smiled.

I whispered in his ear, “Thanks for saying I sucked.” I smiled and bit my lower lip.

“My pleasure.” The band started playing as we waited for our main course to be served. “Dance with me.” Bentley stood and took my hand. He looked at the others at the table then at my parents. “Excuse us.”

We were the only couple swaying to the music, but I didn’t care. I was in the arms of my man, and that made me happy.

Our bodies moved in sync as he pressed his hips against mine. His hand glided up and down my bare back. “You look amazing in this gown, but I can’t wait to get you out of it.” His right hand slid down the curve of my ass before resting on the small of my back.

“Sounds good to me. Can we get out of here?”

“You’re what I want to eat, but I think we should at least finish our dinners.” He nibbled my ear, which made my knees weak.

I placed my lips to his ear. “Bentley, I love you.”

He smiled. “I love you too.”

After the song was over, we made our way back to our table. I glanced at Bev, who looked as if she were in hell. It reminded me of the lunchroom we’d suffered through, with all the cool kids at one table. I prayed they were being nice to her. She looked amazing, and her personality was even lovelier, but those women were brutal. Bentley kissed my hand before he pulled out my chair for me.

“So tell me, Andrea, how is life in the big city?” Mrs. Hodges asked. She was dripping in diamonds and looked as though she was infused with Botox, which wasn’t surprising—her daughter was sitting next to Bev.

“I actually live in Jersey and work in the city.”

I began to eat my dinner, hoping to be able to leave sooner than later.

“Oh.” Her one word was extremely condescending, but I wasn’t in the mood call her out on it. She turned her attention to Bentley. “And you, Mr. Chambers? Is your apartment in the city?”

Bentley wiped his mouth with the black linen napkin. “Actually, I own a brownstone, but yes, it’s in the city. However, I’ve been offered a job in England.”

My mother cleared her throat. “You’re moving?” She looked at me. “Andrea?”

Bentley spoke before I could address my mother. “Yes, Mrs. Jordan, I will be moving, but it isn’t permanent. The longest I’ll be gone is a year.” Bentley grabbed my hand under the table.

I turned to him and smiled.

“Andrea, dear . . .” My father’s voice was sympathetic as his eyebrows lowered.

“Dad, it’ll be fine. This is a wonderful opportunity for him, and as he said, it isn’t permanent.” There, that sounded convincing. But I needed to get off this topic before I turned into an emotional wreck. “So, Mother, this event, it’s for charity?”

“Yes, all the proceeds go to several different charities. There’s a silent auction as well. We have some lovely prizes—you should take a moment to look at them.” My mother was on the planning committee, and I was sure she was happy each table was full of people with deep wallets.

“Sounds wonderful. We’ll take a look on our way out.”

Bentley and I continued the small talk while we finished our meals. We glanced at each other knowing we wanted each other for dessert, which brought a smirk to his face. I placed my napkin down.

Bentley stood to move my chair. He placed his hand on the small of my back as my father stood.

He walked over to us and shook Bentley’s hand. “It was wonderful meeting you. We’ll have to get you on the course this summer.”

Bentley smiled. “Thank you. I’ll look forward to it sir.”

I was so thankful he hadn’t brought up London. I didn’t tell him not to before we’d arrived at the club. If he had, I didn’t know what my parents would have said.

“Please, call me Andrew.” My dad acted as if I were with the next Master’s champion. “Be sure to take care of my little girl.”

I glanced between my father and Bentley and realized they stood eye to eye.

Bentley’s fingers flexed on my waist. “You can be sure of that, sir.”

My mom walked over and gave us both a hug good-bye. “Sweetheart, don’t be a stranger. And please call us know when your next show is or if you just need to talk.”

The relief in my heart was immense. “Thank you, I will.”

We said our good-byes. I looked toward Bev’s table and saw her sitting next to the hot guy we’d seen outside. I caught her eye and waved. She smiled as she waved back. I needed to make sure to keep in touch with her. She was real people, and I loved real people. The other women at the table looked at me, and I couldn’t pass up strolling over there hand-in-hand with the hottest guy in the room.

“Hi, everyone.” I looked around the table then at Bev, who was hiding a smile in her napkin. “Well, isn’t this a high school flashback.”

Their eyes appreciated my boyfriend as if he were as rich as the dessert. I couldn’t help but snicker. They must have been boggled over how the “nerdy drama club girl” got this super-hot guy. Well, they could kiss my perfectly toned ass.

“Andrea, who do you have there? Did you call Rent-a-Date?” Angelica Hodges asked.

Angelica had been the nastiest of them all in high school. I’d never forget how awful she had been to Beverly, calling her all sorts of names and making snide remarks about her weight. Putting her in her place would be fun.

“Angelica, you’re looking . . .”

She adjusted in her chair and arched her back, pushing her no-doubt-fake D’s out farther.

“Older,” I said.

Bev laughed.

“Bentley Chambers.” His voice was deep and sounded extra sexy. I wondered how he did that. He extended his hand to her. “Andi’s boyfriend.”

Angelica took his hand in a way that insinuated that she wanted him to kiss it. He just released it and took mine to his mouth instead.