Eternally Yours - Brenda Jackson [61]
Daniel laughed, remembering. “Being in love makes you do foolish things. But you’ll be spared ever finding that out.”
Clayton lifted a brow. “Why do you say that?”
“Because you’re one of those men who’ll never fall in love.”
If only you knew, Clayton thought.
“You like hit-and-run relationships.”
Not anymore, Clayton wanted to say.
“And speaking of relationships, Clayton, I may as well warn you that, thanks to Traci, the buzz word is that there may be a special woman in your life.”
That got Clayton’s immediate attention. He began wondering if somehow he had given something away for Traci to pick up on. That couldn’t have been possible since he hadn’t seen her a lot lately. “What gave her that idea?”
“I don’t know, but it sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Everyone knows you don’t believe in getting serious about a woman.”
“What makes Traci think otherwise?”
“I overheard a conversation she was having with Kattie. They’re trying to figure out what’s going on with you, and why you’re going out of town so much. They’re curious about all of your weekend trips—especially since you’re being so secretive. No one knows where you go or who you’re seeing. It’s driving them nuts.”
“Serves them right for trying to get into my business.” He looked thoughtfully at Daniel. “And I guess they have their own ideas of just who the woman is.”
Daniel laughed. “Yep. They figure it’s someone you met while attending that attorneys’ conference some months back.”
“Is that a fact?” Clayton said, slightly annoyed but relieved. He grabbed a glass of wine off a passing waiter’s tray and took a sip. At least his two nosy sisters hadn’t put two and two together and come up with him and Syneda.
“Do me a favor, Daniel.”
“What?”
“Put a muzzle on your wife’s mouth, and I’ll have a talk with Raymond about putting one on Kattie’s.”
Clayton strolled off, hearing his brother-in-law’s laughter follow him. He headed back to the main area of the house, intent on at least saying a few words to the honoree. While making his way to the other side, he noticed a deep silence spread across the room. He glanced toward the door and understood. The actor, Sterling Hamilton, had arrived, and just like the rumor mill had predicted, the very beautiful woman who appeared as his leading lady in a number of his films, Diamond Swain, was with him.
Clayton chuckled. Once again Hamilton and Swain’s appearance together would start tongues wagging. There were already reports circulating around the country that the two of them were secretly married. He knew if that was true, it would cause the heartbreak of quite a few women.
Clayton shook his head. He had enough to deal with regarding the woman in his life. He didn’t have time to speculate about the woman who was supposed to be in Sterling Hamilton’s.
Senator Lansing was pleased with the turnout. As usual, Jake Madaris had outdone himself. He glanced around the room and caught Braxter Montgomery’s eye and smiled at him and the lovely young lady he was with. He had been introduced to her earlier. He was glad Braxter had finally gotten interested in someone. He thought the young man worked a tad too hard at times.
The senator’s smile faded when, for the second time that night, he noticed the attractive young woman in a teal-colored gown making her way around the crowded room. He couldn’t put his finger on it but there was something oddly familiar about her. There was something about her that captured his attention, not in a sexual way, but in a way he couldn’t explain. It had something to do with her smile, her mannerisms, and the way she tilted her head when talking to someone.
He continued to regard her with interest. She reminded him of someone. But who?
Only a man as close to the senator as Braxter could have picked up on the senator’s troubled expression, even from across a crowded room. “Celeste, please excuse me for a second.”
He walked over to the senator. “Sir? Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Senator Lansing said, his words