past him. “Isn’t that Cole Callaway?” Melanie whispered, nodding toward the tall, silver-haired man greeting new arrivals near the door.
Clay was amused at the awe in her voice. His uncle had that effect on people. “Yes, ma’am, it certainly is. Uncle Cole is the head of the clan. The petite lady beside him is his wife, Allison.”
“That is Allison Alvarez, the famous sculptor? She looks too young to have made such a name for herself for so many years.”
“She’ll be pleased to know you think so,” he replied. He took her hand and led her over to the line of people waiting to be greeted.
Melanie’s infectious laugh rang out, causing a few people to glance their way. “Don’t you dare embarrass me by telling her, Clay. You promised to be on your best behavior!”
Clay attempted his innocent look but knew she wasn’t buying it. “You are aware, are you not,” he drawled, “that you will be meeting my parents tonight? My father will definitely demand to know your intentions toward me.”
She blinked her wide green eyes, her long lashes quivering, and replied in a throaty voice, “Well, honey, I’ll just have to explain to him that they are—and always have been—very dishonorable.” She almost purred the last word, which caused him to burst into laughter.
The couple just ahead of them moved away and Clay was face-to-face with Cole. His uncle grinned. “I’m pleased to see you’re already enjoying yourself, Clay.” He shook his hand. “Glad you could make it tonight.”
Clay nodded in response. “Oh, I don’t think there was ever a doubt about that, was there?”
He had no idea how his uncle had managed it, but Clay had no doubt the man in front of him had something to do with his being there tonight.
Cole smiled. “We need to get together a little later this evening—if you can spare the time,” he added with a sidelong glance at Melanie.
“Of course, sir. I’m looking forward to it.” He drew her closer to his side and said, “I’d like you to meet Melanie Montez. Mel, my aunt and uncle, Cole and Allison Callaway.”
Allison smiled and took Melanie’s hand. “I’m delighted to meet you. I believe I read that you’re originally from Texas, is that right?”
Melanie nodded. “Yes, from a small town in south Texas that nobody’s ever heard of.”
“I’m so pleased that you were able to join us tonight,” Allison said. “I understand you have a new movie coming out in a few weeks.”
Clay watched as his aunt managed to charm yet another person into opening up and sharing her life. Allison never ceased to amaze him. Cole was lucky to have her.
He slid his arm around Mel’s bare shoulders and said, “I’m starving. Let’s find a table somewhere and hit the buffet.”
Allison chuckled. “I believe your mother expects you to sit with them tonight,” she said, nodding to a table across the room from the entrance.
“Great,” he said, slowly moving his hand along Melanie’s shoulders and down her arm to her hand. Taking it in a firm grasp, he said, “Let’s go meet the folks, gal. Hope you’re up for this.”
He started across the crowded room with the sound of Allison’s laughter ringing in his ears.
Melanie said, “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were nervous about seeing your folks tonight.”
“Not nervous, exactly. It’s just that they’ve been trying to get me to come back home for years and I’ve never made it until now. I generally meet up with them somewhere during their travels.”
“Ah. So they’re going to be surprised to see you here tonight?”
He knew his laugh sounded a little hollow. “It seems I’m the only one who’s surprised,” he said, glancing back at Cole. “Sometimes I forget the kind of power this family can wield.”
Cody, Clay’s father, stood when he spotted them approaching the table. His grin lit up the room. “Glad you could make it, son,” he said, grabbing Clay in a bear hug. “Somehow I expected you to show up in your uniform.”
“I took time to shave and change into my tux at the airport. You wouldn’t have wanted to see what I looked like coming off that plane this evening.” Then he leaned over and hugged and kissed his mother, Carina. “I swear, Mom, you get younger-looking every year.”
He introduced Melanie to his parents.
Carina said, “Clay’s sisters will be thrilled to death to meet you, Melanie. They should be arriving any time now.” She gave Clay a quick glance that spoke volumes. “We had no idea that Clay knew you.”
With commendable poise, Melanie chuckled and said, “I’m just one of his many deep, dark secrets, don’t you know?”
Clay thought it was time to change the subject. “Have you two been to the buffet yet?” he asked his parents.
“Actually, we thought we’d wait until the line thinned down a little,” Carina replied.
“Obviously you haven’t skipped as many meals as I have getting here,” Clay said. He looked at Melanie. “How about it, Mel? Think you can force yourself to eat something?”
She held up her fist in a mock threat before turning to his parents and saying, “Let’s see if feeding him will calm this unruly beast, shall we?” She led the way to the buffet, giving Clay the opportunity to admire her figure, showcased in a flaming red dress that clung to every curve.
As soon as they reached the line in front of the buffet Clay caressed the small of her back. “Have I mentioned how exotic you look in that dress?” he whispered in her ear.
She leaned against him slightly and glanced over her shoulder at him. “I was beginning to think you hadn’t noticed,” she replied with a saucy grin.
“I may be suffering from severe jet lag at the moment, but I’m not dead.”
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, causing her body to enticingly rub against him. “Mmm. So I notice.”
He laughed outright. “How long has it been since I last saw you?”
“Not that I’m counting, but it’s been close to eight months…four days…and, oh, six-and-a-half hours?”
“Unfortunately it’s going to be several more hours until I can get you alone, I’m afraid. I have no idea how long this meeting will last tonight.”
“It must be important for him to have it this evening.”
“Oh, it’s important, all right. Otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to the trouble to get me here.”
The line moved ahead of them, and Melanie straightened and picked up a plate. “I’ll be waiting for you whenever you can get away.”
He smiled at her, placing his fingertip lightly against her bottom lip. “I’m counting on it.”
