On second thoughts, maybe attending the New Year’s party was a bad idea. The moment he stepped into Café Sydney with Jet he felt out of his depth.
Dan stood up straighter. Jet’s towering heels almost made her taller than him tonight. He felt like he needed all the height he could get right now.
Oh, the view was impressive enough. The café sat directly opposite Circular Quay with a jaw dropping outlook that included the Sydney Harbour Bridge and all the boats bobbing in the water. They were guaranteed a front-seat view of the fireworks and Dan couldn’t imagine how much it had cost to hire the venue for the night.
One glance around the room told him that to the people attending this evening, that sort of money was just a drop in the ocean.
‘OK?’ Jet asked quietly from beside him.
‘All good,’ he managed casually. ‘A drink would be nice, though.’ Understatement of the century. Dan rarely drank for the alcohol content, but tonight he could do with something to take the edge off.
‘Of course.’
Jet took his arm and led him into the room. Heads turned. So much for Jet not feeling like she fit in. The other guests certainly saw her as one of them. The men’s glances took in her dress and Dan recognised appreciation when he saw it. To a guy like Andrew, it might get his back up, but Dan was more concerned with the curious looks from the women in the room. He knew those expressions. They were measuring him up.
Where was that drink?
‘Juliet! So glad you could make it.’ Gerard materialised from somewhere and came to stand in front of them. Dressed head to toe in a lilac suit with a shirt that rivalled the best wallpaper of the seventies, there was no questioning his sense of style—for a gay man.
Jet leaned in and let the producer place a light kiss on her cheek. He took her hand and surveyed her not as a man might appraise a woman, but as a director would appraise a shot.
‘Stunning as always. If you ever have the urge to act, I’d put you on the screen in a heartbeat. And who is this with you tonight?’
‘Dan Rhodes,’ Dan said, offering the producer his hand.
Gerard took it but didn’t shake it. Instead, to Dan’s discomfort, he held it while he did the same appraisal routine.
‘Where have you been hiding this one, my dear?’ he said to Jet. ‘What a gorgeous couple the two of you make.’ Gerard turned back to Dan. ‘I hear you’re a wine man. Juliet did us the pleasure of stocking the bar with some of your wine tonight. I’ve already enjoyed a glass of Semillon. Sensational.’
Dan darted a questioning glance at his girlfriend.
Jet smiled serenely and Dan tried not to shake his head.
Gerard read the exchange like any good movie-man would. ‘Ha!’ he exclaimed, drawing the attention of several groups nearby. ‘She’s an enterprising businesswoman, our Juliet. I suggest you hold on to her.’
Dan managed a polite smile instead of the grin that was threatening. ‘I plan to. And do me a favour. Make sure you try the Shiraz before the night is out.’
Gerard raised a hand in the air flamboyantly. ‘I plan to try them all! Enjoy tonight, you two.’
Gerard wafted off in the direction of some new arrivals, leaving Dan and Jet standing alone again.
Dan didn’t bother trying to hide his grin this time. ‘You didn’t tell me.’
‘No, I arranged it with your father,’ Jet replied lightly. ‘I wanted to surprise you.’
‘I’m surprised.’ And in love, he realised with a tug at his heart. Everything about this woman was amazing and tonight he wanted to tell her so.
She read his expression easily, because Dan’s poker face was non-existent.
‘You can thank me later. First, we work the room—if you can stand it. I’m happy to do the talking.’
‘I can stand it. But a—’
‘Wine first,’ she agreed, and Dan’s heart soared a little higher.
Smart, beautiful and perceptive. Dan’s earlier concerns about feeling out of place this evening vanished. When else did you get the chance to meet a bunch of famous people? He might as well enjoy himself.
***
Andrew watched the happy couple from his position across the room.
‘You’re staring,’ Edie said through clenched teeth.
Andrew didn’t care. He didn’t care that it pissed Edie off or that it drew attention from other guests. He wished Edie would just go away. She was clearly growing more and more annoyed at him for not working the room like she wanted to, but he wasn’t in the mood.
Before Juliet had arrived, they’d had a good discussion with a couple of business associates he was on good terms with—much to Edie’s distaste. It was obvious she wasn’t here to mix with business types. She wanted to get in front of the show biz types and Andrew didn’t have the energy.
People like Edie were so full of themselves. Thinking that good looks and an ability to present well made for success. It might equal success on a screen, but for Andrew true success equated to brains—something his ex-wife had in spades. And beauty. She was the perfect package.
Edie huffed in frustration. ‘I’m going to get a drink. I’m sure you won’t miss me.’ She tottered off in her ridiculously high heels, drawing attention from the men as she went.
They could have her as far as Andrew was concerned. He was done with Edie Thomas. Originally he’d thought he’d sleep with her one more time for old time’s sake, but that desire had disappeared as soon as Juliet stepped into the room. There was no comparison.
Andrew’s gaze fell on her partner for the night.
Daniel Rhodes.
His eyes narrowed at the man’s relaxed stance. He stood beside Juliet like he had every right to be there, talking to that queer Gerard as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Well, it was bullshit. Dan’s wines might taste acceptable, but the winemaker didn’t belong in this world and he certainly didn’t belong anywhere near Juliet.
Andrew accepted another glass of wine from the waiter. To hell with it. He might as well taste more of the bastard’s handiwork before he put him in his place once and for all. The fact that Dan Rhode’s wines would fuel Andrew’s confrontation would make it all the more satisfying when the time came.
***
An hour later, any concerns Jet had about Dan feeling uncomfortable had long since disappeared. She knew he was a great listener and it worked to his advantage when it came to networking. He had a well-known newsreader sharing stories of her childhood five minutes into a conversation, while a young reality television celebrity gave him a complete outline of her career goals.
Dan nodded and smiled. He laughed in all the right places. And Jet knew without a doubt that Dan was in the right place by her side, too.
He was busy chatting to the restaurant manager about stocking more of their wines when Edie came over.
‘Edie, hi!’
Jet’s greeting was more effusive than usual thanks to her joy over having Dan there and several glasses of sparkling wine.
Edie raised an eyebrow. ‘Happy, much?’
Jet laughed. ‘Some. How about you?’
Edie crossed her arms and nodded towards the corner of the room. ‘I’d be happier if he wasn’t such a spoilsport.’
Jet’s smile faltered. Andrew was looking right at them and he didn’t look happy. Jet looked away.
‘Oh. He’s brooding,’ Jet said, knowingly. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘You should be. He’s brooding because of you and your stud winemaker, if you ask me.’
‘Surely not?’ Jet resisted another glance in her ex-husband’s direction.
Edie uncrossed her arms and nabbed a glass of bubbles as a waiter walked by. ‘He’s absolutely no fun. Why didn’t you tell me he could be so difficult?’
Jet took a sip of her own drink to mask her expression. Edie had heard about Andrew’s many faults time and time again over the years, but she’d conveniently forgotten about them in recent months.
‘I suggest you leave him to brood,’ Jet advised her friend. ‘He probably won’t come good tonight. He’s exceptionally good at brooding.’
‘I’ve no idea why the dark, brooding heroes have so much appeal. In my opinion, good-time guys are more fun.’
Jet bit back a smile. If Edie’s past behaviour was anything to go by, those were the words of a woman about to stray. And judging by the way Edie’s eyes were wandering in the direction of a certain blonde up-and-coming actor on the other side of the room, Edie didn’t plan to brood like Andrew.
Jet wasn’t going to lie to herself. She was relieved. Life would be so much easier if Edie wasn’t involved with Andrew, however, Jet knew both of them well and her friend was edging into dangerous territory.
‘I know it’s New Year’s Eve, but you should possibly be careful of who you mix with tonight,’ Jet suggested tactfully. ‘Technically you’re still involved with Andrew.’
‘And technically you were still married to Andrew when he fucked that other woman. What’s the difference?’
Jet placed a hand on Edie’s arm. ‘Andrew’s a perverse man,’ she said carefully. ‘He might consider it acceptable to sleep with someone else, but he won’t be happy if you do the same.’
‘That’s a double standard!’
A few people nearby turned to look at them.
‘Yes, it is,’ Jet replied softly, ‘but I recommend you don’t make a scene tonight.’
‘Why the hell not? He dragged you through the papers. Plus I’m an actress, I make the best scenes.’
Jet removed her hand. It was worse than she thought. Edie was pissed off with Andrew and prepared to make him pay for it. Except Edie didn’t appreciate quite how powerful Andrew was. It also meant Jet’s intention of speaking with Andrew had just gotten a whole lot easier. Maybe she could help her friend and herself at the same time.
‘How about I have a word to Andrew for you?’ Jet offered. ‘It’s not fair of him to ruin your night like this. I know you told me to keep my distance, but ...’
‘Pfft. You’re welcome to the grumpy bastard. If anyone can talk sense into him, it’s you. Not that I plan to let him spoil my night.’ Edie glanced at the young actor again. ‘Just don’t let him spoil yours.’
‘I might do it now,’ Jet suggested, seeing that Dan’s in-depth conversation with the manager about wine was still continuing. ‘But please don’t do anything rash.’
‘Be my guest. Don’t blame me if he ruins your mood. I’m done with him ruining mine.’
Edie slipped through the crowd, no doubt in search of the actor she had her eye on.
When Juliet looked up in the direction of Andrew, his cool green gaze was on her like he’d been watching the whole time.
Waiting.