Chemical Attraction (4 page)

“Women love musicians,” Eva replied.

“Should I dig my guitar out of the garage?”

“Ooh, would you?” Eva squeezed Matt’s hand. “I’ll be your groupie.”

“Hey, you two,” Madeline said from behind them. “I forgot how exhausting it is to network for project funding. Doctors are boring and executives are even worse.”

Matt groaned. “I hate mingling. Trying to be civil to people you can’t stand is like being shot in the leg. I don’t know how you and Eva can do it,” he said as Joe joined them. “What kind of pep talk did you give those boys?”

“I just told them to have fun and that women love musicians.”

Matt looked at Eva. “You really are related to him, aren’t you?”

“Madeline, how’d you like the music?” Joe asked.

“I thought the boys played great, but the drummer had a hard time keeping a steady tempo.” Madeline smiled while Matt laughed.

“What? I did not.”

“You’re right. You’ve developed quite the following.” Madeline casually pointed to a group of young giggling women staring at Joe. “Eva, have you put in your bids for the silent auction yet?”

“I have, but let’s go anyway.” She kissed her husband’s cheek.

Madeline wrote a check while Eva visited with a few physicians.

“How much are you donating?” Alan Shaw asked, standing behind her.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Madeline replied, looking down at him. His heeled shoes didn’t help.

He glanced at her check for five hundred dollars. “I think we’re paying you too much.”

“As BennTech’s CFO, I’m sure you can afford to triple that amount,” she stated loud enough for the table to hear.

“I’ve already donated,” Alan replied.

“Oh, I don’t think so.” Amanda smiled. “I’ve been working here all night.”

Bill Bennett chuckled from the end of the table. “Get out your checkbook, Alan. It’s for a good cause and you know it.”

Madeline smiled and walked away. That turd wasn’t even going to donate. She scanned the crowd and visited with a few small groups before joining her aunt for another break.

“You haven’t danced at all, dear,” Sylvia said.

“I’m not up to it.”

“I’m sure there are a few nice men who’d dance with you.”

“Most of the men here are old and stuffy.”

“What about him?” Sylvia gestured. “He’s handsome.”

Joe watched Madeline leave with his sister. “What’s her story?” he asked Matt.

“Don’t take it personal. She has a stressful job. Eva said she’s been jumpy lately.”

He considered Matt’s analysis and watched Madeline move from one small group to another. She finally sat next to Mrs. Folkert and her lady friends. The band returned to the stage with Nelson Packert on drums. They seemed more relaxed this set. David nodded. He smiled and saluted. The band started the set with their first slow song of the night. Joe excused himself and walked over to Madeline’s table. An old guy with a walrus mustache eyed Sylvia and stood from the next table. Joe beat him to her.

“Sylvia, may I have this dance?” he asked, holding out his hand. He held her in his arms as they danced slowly around the room.

“I’d much rather dance with you than with Earl.”

“That guy’s glaring at me. Is he sweet on you?”

“Earl? I hope not.”

He spun her and smiled directly at Earl. “He’s jealous,” he said, leading her into a few complicated steps. She followed easily while he continued to smile at Earl.

“And you’re making it worse.”

“Can I dip you right in front of his table?” he asked as the song ended.

“Don’t you dare, and thank you, Joseph. You’ve brought back some wonderful memories.”

He kissed her hand. “When you’re ready to leave, let me know so I can walk you home.”

She patted his cheek. “Stay away from those two blondes by the auction table. You deserve better.”

He laughed. “I won’t pursue anyone unless I get the thumbs up from you. Okay?”

She nodded and returned to her table. He wandered around the room and stopped at the punch bowl. One woman made him blush with a marriage proposal. She wanted to skip the ceremony and start the honeymoon. Smiling, he turned to Sylvia, who sternly shook her head. He spotted Madeline talking to a group of men. Standing outside the circle, he listened to the conversation.

“I really believe BennTech has the King Midas touch,” Madeline said. The men agreed.

Joe interrupted. “As a curse or in reverse?” Her mouth dropped as he grinned. “I believe you owe me a dance. Excuse us, gentlemen.”

“You?”

Taking her hand, he tugged her toward the dance floor. “You just became my girlfriend.” He looked at David while the band finished their song. On cue, they played “Something” by the Beatles. He took Madeline in his arms.

She glanced at David, who smiled as he sang. “The band is doing your bidding now?”

“Yup.” He raised his eyebrows to Sylvia, who nodded like a bobble-head doll.

“What kind of code word was that anyway?” Madeline asked as he slowly moved her around the dance floor, avoiding other dancers. “When the agent on the phone gave me the words ‘King Midas,’ he said you liked using oddball songs like that.”

“You don’t like that Hollies’ song?” he asked.

“I’m partial to ‘Bus Stop.’ Do you know how long it took me to think of a way to work it into every conversation?”

“I was curious to see how you’d manage. Not bad.”

“Gee thanks, now what?”

“For now, we dance and let everyone think you’re falling in love with me.”

“What? Why not the other way around?”

He grinned. “Because I’m already falling for you.”

“Oh, brother, does that line actually work on women?”

“Seriously, I’m in charge of keeping you safe. I know you have sensitive information on BennTech. We’ll discuss the specifics in private later,” he said, eyeing the dancers around them. “You’ll have to trust that I know what I’m doing. We need to work together.”

“Don’t make decisions for me,” she replied, following his lead on the dance floor.

Joe smiled. For now, he’d enjoy their dancing. Not letting Madeline step away, he guided her into an East Coast Swing. As he moved her around the dance floor, he remembered his first dance lesson. In middle school, he was nervous about the spring dance. Taylor’s mom showed him some steps. She confided that most women couldn’t resist a man who knew how to lead in the dance. He took private lessons in high school and became popular soon after.

Joe would investigate her suspicions into the company, which would pair them together for the next few days. She smiled. Playing hard to get didn’t seem the way to go anymore. It didn’t surprise her that Joe knew how to dance. She supposed it was another way of impressing the women. He moved her so quickly that her bun began to unravel. He spun her around and the song ended. As he dipped her low, her long brown hair brushed the floor. With his face a few inches from hers, she was panting. She liked this kind of workout. Lost in his vibrant green eyes, she lifted her head and kissed him. She barely touched his lips, but the nerve ending in hers sent an electrical shock throughout her body. A wave of heat followed. Her body lit up with awareness as if a bolt of lightning shot out from her toes.

Stunned, he blinked twice and slowly stood her up. “Ready for some punch?” he whispered.

“Yeah.”

She couldn’t believe she’d just done that. What was she thinking? She wanted to try it again. He held her hand as they walked to the side table for drinks. She reached up with her other hand and removed the rest of the bobby pins. She smiled at the women shooting daggers at her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had acted so boldly. That kiss woke her from a deep sleep.

“Damn,” Eva said as they watched Joe and Madeline leave the dance floor.

Matt laughed. “I really need to find that guitar.”

“I thought she was going to play hard to get.”

“I don’t know what happened, but all these women don’t look happy. They know they’ve lost their shot with him. How about a dance? We haven’t been out there much.”

They stuck to the slow songs. Matt’s leg still ached from overuse. Having been in rehab at the same time years ago, Eva knew Matt’s pain. As they danced, she scanned the crowd and saw Joe by Madeline’s side. She had invited them to the barbeque tomorrow. She figured they would probably come together now. She wanted to grill Madeline about that kiss. She saw Joe’s expression and knew the kiss had hit him hard. She and Sylvia got it right. Chemistry is an amazing science. After the set, David laughed as he joined them at their table.

“What’s so funny?” Matt asked.

“The guys are impressed with Uncle Joe’s skills with women. They’re taking notes.”

“Son, we need to talk about your Uncle Joe,” Matt said.

“I’m going to check in with Amanda at the auction table,” Eva said. “David, there are downsides to Joe’s skills. He’s too much of a player.”

Matt turned to his son. “But I think he just met his match.”

Eva approached the table as Amanda finished chatting with Dr. Russell. In her early twenties, Amanda usually wore scrubs as a medical assistant at the hospital. Tonight, she had glammed herself up and her coworkers were checking her out.

“He’s single now. While I flirted, he donated five hundred dollars. I think I’ll be seeing him around our department next week,” Amanda said.

“Sounds like you’re working hard. Do you want me to take over?” Eva asked.

“No way, I haven’t been hit on like this in a while. I’m having a blast.”

“Hello ladies, I really don’t need this golf package or season passes to the Whitecaps. How about I just write a check?” Jack Adams asked.

Amanda handed him her pen. “That would be great.”

“Did you find Matt?” Eva asked.

“I’ll call him on Monday with some test results,” he replied, handing Amanda his check.

“I’m curious, Jack … are you seeing Tricia?”

“Heaven’s no, but she’s a big help around the clinic,” he replied, leaving the area.

“Wow, this will definitely help our cause.” Amanda held up the five-thousand-dollar check.

“Wow is right, but he’s always generous with the community.”

“What’s going on with Joe and Madeline? I saw her kiss him. I wouldn’t have been able to hold out either. Can she tame him?” Amanda asked.

Eva chuckled. “We’ll see.” She returned to their table as David left to start the last set.

Joe and Madeline were chatting. “I’ll be right back. Will you save me another dance?” Joe asked.

Madeline smiled. “Sure.”

Joe joined Mrs. Folkert by the door while she said goodbye to her friends. “Did you have fun, ladies?” he asked, offering his arm to Sylvia.

“Oh, yes,” a heavyset, gray-haired woman replied, “it was all very exciting.”

“Joseph, you stay and have fun,” Sylvia said.

“Oh no, that’ll never do. I always leave with the same woman I came with.”

As her four friends stared, Mrs. Folkert grinned and took his arm. They walked out the door and into a night that offered relief from the steamy day.

“Did you have a good time?” he asked.

“I will have sweet dreams of dancing with Herbert thanks to you. My friends were so jealous.”

“How long have you planned on setting me up with your niece?”

“What ever do you mean?”

“Madeline’s your niece, isn’t she?”

“She told you?”

“No, I see the resemblance and you both added an extra step in your foxtrot.”

Sylvia laughed. “That’s Herbert’s doing. Did the set-up work?”

“She’s as beautiful as you are. Is it okay if I see her while I’m here?”

“She has a mind of her own,” Sylvia replied as they walked to the porch.

He chuckled as he unlocked the door for her. “I grew up with Eva and Taylor. I know all about strong-headed women.”

“You run along back to the party and charm my niece. She works too hard.”

“I’m getting up early to go fishing, so I’ll see you in the afternoon.”

At their table, Eva smiled while Madeline watched Joe leave with Sylvia. Eva hadn’t liked her at first. Five years ago, they had met at a BennTech function. Madeline had seemed guarded and all business. But two weeks later, while she and Matt strolled along the downtown area, they had spotted a mattress sticking out of a doorway. They peeked inside and found Madeline, who smiled and gave them a little wave. She had wedged herself between the stairs and her mattress. Matt quickly pulled it off her, and they helped her carry it up the narrow staircase to her apartment. She told them that the attendants across the street at the Shell gas station had come over an hour before and taken bets on how many people would walk by before someone helped her. She had placed her own bet and won with lucky number eighteen. With the fifty dollars, she bought them dinner, and they became fast friends.

“Okay, spill,” Eva demanded.