The Heart of Tomorrow (Book Two) (The Tomorrow Series 2) (13 page)

Nineteen

When Drew said our car was waiting for us, he failed to mention that car was a limousine. I’d never been in a limo before, but Drew sat casually as if it were no big deal, holding my hand as we drove through downtown Los Angeles. Unlike New York City, which you could never prepare yourself to see in person the first time, L.A. didn’t seem nearly as impressive as it appeared on TV. We passed the famous Grauman’s Chinese theater and the Capital Records building and then pulled in front of the grand arched entrance of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The limo stopped and a few seconds later, the door was opening. Drew got out first, offering his hand to me. I saw him slide a tip into the driver’s hand and then we linked arms, heading inside.

“So,” I said quietly as we made our way through the lobby. “What exactly is this fundraiser for?”

“Cedars-Sinai Hospital. We’re poised to design the new pediatric wing, unless the president of the hospital decides to pull us off the project thanks to Mya’s screw up.”

He sounded bitter and I knew he’d rather be somewhere else instead of trying to clean up her mess.

“I’m hoping our little show of support, along with a donation will play in our favor.”

“I’m sure everything will work out with the president, unless he’s a total ass.”

“She.”

“She?”

“The president is a she, not a he.”

“Then that makes your problem even easier to solve.”

“And why’s that?” he said, stopping just as we were about to enter the ballroom.

“Because no woman can resist your sex appeal. Use it to your advantage,” I smiled as I brushed the lapel of his tuxedo jacket.

He started laughing, kissing me on the cheek.

“You want me to flirt with her?” he asked and I nodded. “That’s a tad immature, don’t you think?”

“But it’ll work. You really don’t know how irresistible you are.”

“I do know, but I only use it to get my way with you,” he said, raising an eyebrow at me before whisking me inside.

There must’ve been at least three hundred people in the ballroom, all dressed in tuxedos and gowns. The whole situation instantly made me uncomfortable. This wasn’t who I was. I was Natalie Vasser, born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I was too ordinary to be on the arm of a man like Drew. He must’ve felt my apprehension because he pulled me closer as we got deeper into the crowd.

Drew seemed to know where he was going and then I realized why. Mya and a man who seemed to be about my age were standing across the room. Mya looked beautiful in a dark green dress, her curly hair piled on top of her head.

“You look lovely tonight, Mya,” Drew said when we reached them.

“Thank you,” she said and then turned her attention to me. “Hello again. Natalie, right?”

“Yes. Good to see you again, Mya.”

“This is Anthony, my assistant,” she said, referring to the man who was sporting a tux similar to Drew’s and short dreadlocks. He held out his hand to me and I shook it.

“Have you spoken to Dr. Reynolds yet?” he asked and I assumed he was talking about the president of the hospital.

“Not yet. She’s been busy,” Mya answered and Drew started looking around. “She’s over there.” Mya was pointing across the room to a woman, probably in her mid-fifties, wearing a long white gown, her brown hair pulled back into an elegant bun.

“She doesn’t look busy now. I’m going to go introduce myself,” Drew said and I looked at him curiously.

“You haven’t met her?”

“No. Mya’s been handling all the communication, but I think it’s time she meet the man behind the name in Taylor and Saben.”

Drew started across the room and we all followed. Dr. Reynolds looked up from the cracker and pâté she was eating and I knew instantly she’d noticed Drew. I could also tell she was trying not to openly check him out, which she was failing epically at.

“Ms. Mendez,” the woman said, acknowledging the only person she knew out of the group. There was no formal greeting and her voice had a hint of annoyance and I knew it was directed at Mya for her mistake.

“Hello, Dr. Reynolds,” Mya said. “I hope we’re not interrupting.”

“I was just getting a bite to eat.”

“I wanted to take a moment to introduce one of the partners, Andrew Saben.”

Mya gestured to Drew and even though it was subtle, I could tell Dr. Reynolds didn’t mind being interrupted by a man who looked like him.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Dr. Reynolds,” Drew said, taking her hand delicately.

“Likewise, Mr. Saben,” the doctor said and then her eyes drifted to me and I decided to take the lead before Drew could blow this.

“I’m Drew’s sister, Natalie,” I said, extending my hand and I saw the way Drew’s face contorted in confusion. “I’m just visiting from New York and he was nice enough to bring me along. I hope tonight is a profitable one for the hospital. Drew was telling me you’re working on building a new pediatric wing.”

“We are. We’ve almost reached our fundraising goal. Tonight should put us over the top. We’re hoping to break ground within the next few months.”

I saw her eyes drift to Mya, an obvious insinuation as to her being the reason that might not happen.

“I was hoping we might actually be able to discuss that, Dr. Reynolds,” Drew cut in. “Do you have a few minutes?”

“Of course,” she said and then Drew took her gently by the elbow, charm practically oozing out of him as they walked away.

“Sister, huh?” Mya grinned when they were out of ear shot.

“I figured she might be in a better mood if she believed he was unattached.”

“Good plan,” she said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies room.”

I'd yet to even exchange two words with Anthony, but she was gone a moment later, leaving me alone with him.

“I think your plan may save her ass,” Anthony said once Mya was gone.

“I hope so. Drew said this is an important project. I want it to go well for him.”

“I’m sure it will. He seems like a good guy.”

“He’s a wonderful man,” I said, my eyes drifting to him.

I could barely see them now, but I knew he was working his magic.

“He’s getting our office in gear, that’s for sure. He seems all right to work for though.”

“He’s a great boss,” I said and I could tell Anthony was curious. “I used to work for him. I was his assistant when I first moved to New York.”

I wondered if he was judging me and I hated to admit I cared what he thought.

“So,” he asked and I could hear the curiosity in his voice. “You started dating after you left the company?”

“It’s complicated,” I said and he knew better than to press me for any more details.

“There was quite a stir in the office yesterday after you showed up.”

“A stir?”

“Word got around that Drew was unavailable, but that didn’t mean some of the girls hoped he’d only said that to avoid any interoffice flirting. Then you showed up live in person and crushed a few of their dreams.”

He was laughing and I smiled too, but I didn’t like the thought of the women in the office lusting over him the way I knew they did. I felt a little ball of worry form in my stomach too. I’d seen some of those women. They were beautiful and I knew Drew was aware of that. He was a red-blooded man with a healthy libido and I lived 3,000 miles away. It wouldn’t be hard for him to get a little relief on the side and I’d be none the wiser.

“Would Drew mind if I asked you to dance?” Anthony asked tearing me from my thoughts.

“No,” I said.

“No, he wouldn’t mind or no you won’t dance with me?”

He was smiling at me, his teeth almost blindingly white against his dark skin.

“Of course I’ll dance with you,” I said, hoping a jaunt on the dance floor would take my mind off my sudden worry.

He extended his hand to me and I took it as he led me into the crowd. A small jazz band was playing at the front of the room, a far cry from the last place I’d danced: a back alley club in Manhattan in the arms of my gay friend.

It became obvious quickly that Anthony knew how to move. His body glided effortlessly over the dance floor, almost like we were on a cloud, and I hoped I was doing a semi-adequate job of keeping up or at least not embarrassing myself.

“You’re a good dancer,” I said as he spun me.

“Fifteen years formal training will do that.”

“That’s impressive,” I said as we continued to move over the floor. “What’s your specialty?”

“Contemporary, but I’ve studied all forms.”

“Did you dance competitively?”

“I did. I still do actually,” he added. “That’s why I’m in L.A.”

“You’re not from here then?”

“No. Salt Lake City. Dancing is big in Utah. I’ve been here the last couple of years trying to pursue a career.”

“How’s that going?”

“Not as well as I’d like, hence the job as Mya’s assistant.” He laughed and he reminded me very much of Ethan moving to a new city to follow his dreams. “I even tried out for
So You Think You Can Dance
when I first moved here.”

“Really?”

“I was on TV for about a millisecond and I made it to Las Vegas, but got cut there.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It was a good experience and made my drive that much stronger. I’ve done a few musicals and I do competitions when I can.”

“You’ve thoroughly impressed me, Anthony.”

“Then I’ve achieved my goal,” he said, dipping me and pulling me back up. “What about you, Natalie? What do you do?”

“Currently I’m a non-linear editor at Channel 5 back in New York.”

“Pardon my language, but what the hell is that?” he said with a laugh.

“I’m basically a proof-reader.”

“Sounds thrilling.”

“It can be interesting. I’ve been going out with one of the field reporters lately and I like doing that.”

“Is that something you want to do then?”

“No,” I said quickly.

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I never really thought about it until I got this job.”

“Would you consider it?”

“I’d have to go back to school and I don’t know if I’m really at that place in my life right now.”

“What do you want to do then?” he asked and I didn’t know to respond. My life had been so mixed up ever since moving to New York City. I’d followed Ethan to Manhattan to support his dream without ever having a dream of my own.

“I don’t really know,” I admitted and he grinned. “It’s probably safer to stay where I’m at…or move out here with Drew for a little while.”

“I guess that’s okay when you’ve landed a man like Drew. I hear the guy is loaded.”

I planted my feet firmly on the ground so we stopped dancing and Anthony looked confused.

“You’re very bold,” I said. “And that’s not always a good thing.”

“I’m sorry if I’ve offended you.”

“I’m not with Drew for his money.”

I knew I sounded defensive and I realized it was probably because Anthony had pointed something out to me that I’d been ignoring. I didn’t like realizing that in my move to New York with Ethan and when falling in love with Drew, I’d lost a small piece of myself that dreamed I could be something.

“I apologize for my insinuation,” Anthony said and I could tell he was sorry.

I stood looking at his apologetic face and I didn’t quite know how to respond.

“It’s fine,” is what I settled on and then he held out his hand.

“Can we at least finish our dance?”

I nodded and took his hand. He started leading me across the dance floor again. I glanced around the room, my gaze landing on Drew whose arms were around Dr. Reynolds as they danced, obviously wining and dining her to fix Mya’s mistake. It’d been my idea after all. I was the one who told her I was his sister in order to give him that freedom. I didn’t like it though. I didn’t like watching him smile at another woman, even if she was nearly twice his age. That just meant he’d be even more appealing to someone younger. 

I tried to clear my head of my conversation with Anthony and the thoughts of Drew with another woman, but I suddenly longed to be back in New York and the simplicity of the little life we’d created in our bubble where I didn’t worry about any of those things.

Anthony and I put our momentary tension behind us and ended up dancing two more dances before I finally excused myself to get some water. I was surprised when I felt a touch on the small of my back before it vanished. Drew was beside me, glancing discreetly at my cleavage.

“My sister? Really, Natalie?” he whispered. “Now I have to keep my hands off you the rest of the night unless I want Dr. Reynolds to assume I’m an incestuous pervert.”

He started laughing and I had to admit that he was right. Ordinarily, I would’ve reached up and kissed him or at least taken his hand, but my little white lie meant hands off the rest of the evening.