Just This Once (29 page)

Drew steered her away at last. “There’s the worst bit done,”
he assured her. “Easy as pie from here.”

In spite of his reassurance, she was more than pleased to
see Hemi and Reka in the group of players, wives, and girlfriends they were
approaching.

Hemi smiled a welcome and bent to kiss her cheek. “How ya
goin’, Hannah. You look beautiful.”

Hannah greeted him in turn, then turned to give Reka a hug.
“I’m so glad to see you,” she told the other woman. “And look at you. That baby
must be cooperating, because you’re looking wonderful.”

Reka was indeed glowing, in a gown of ivory silk that
wrapped around her baby bump and set off her luminescent Polynesian skin and
long, curling hair.

“Don’t ask me how long it took to get this way,” she sighed.
“Luckily the nanny was able to stay straight into the evening, so I had some
peace to get myself ready. But thank goodness I don’t have to get gorgeous
every day.”

Hannah laughed and privately agreed.

“But you look lovely too,” Reka went on. “Your earrings are
stunning.”

“Aren’t they beautiful? Drew just gave them to me,” Hannah
announced, looking over at him with a smile. “Wasn’t that nice of him?”

“Yeh, he’s charitable like that, eh. Always willing to do a
good turn,” Hemi responded solemnly, and the other men grinned into their
drinks as Drew shot them a fierce scowl.

“Hey,” Hannah chided. “You’re not supposed to use the Laser
Eyes on your own teammates.”

“Reckon they need it most of all,” Drew growled. “Cheeky
buggers.” But he smiled and pulled her gently toward him, handing her a glass
of champagne from a tray held by a passing waiter.

Reka leaned forward and gave her a conspiratorial wink.
“Never mind. Sometimes I think they don’t like it when we look too beautiful,
that’s all. Makes them go all territorial.”

Hannah laughed. It was good to know Reka would be there to
chat with during the evening. They were soon interrupted, however, by the first
in a string of major donors and other guests who approached Drew, either
already acquainted or being introduced for the first time. Drew was gracious
and friendly, focusing on each person in turn and exchanging polite chat about
the evening and, of course, the season. He listened to the men’s would-be
knowledgeable comments about strategy and tactics with what Hannah knew must be
assumed patience, and she found herself admiring his self-control. Surely, none
of these men really knew what he was talking about. Drew never let on, though,
just listened, smiled, and looked thoughtful.

He insisted on including Hannah in every introduction,
making her feel less like a fifth wheel as she stood by his side. At her
request, he kept her supplied with water after her single pre-dinner glass of
champagne. The last thing she wanted was to get tipsy, and she knew it would be
a long night.

“I know what a lightweight you are,” he agreed. “Not up to
Kiwi standard.” 

She was just thinking that the evening was going more
smoothly than she had feared when she saw the handsome figure of Koti James
approaching, leaving a stir of interest in his wake as usual. This time, he was
accompanied by a tall, stunning redhead, her slim but luxuriant figure draped
in a gown every bit as red as Hannah’s, but more figure-hugging, cut low, and
sparkling with thousands of tiny bugle beads.

The effect of the red on red was electric. Hannah wasn’t
surprised to see the male heads swiveling to watch her progress, though she had
to admit that Koti was attracting almost as much attention from the women.

“He’s brought the talent, eh,” she heard Hemi mutter to his
wife. “Show’s about to start.”

As Koti neared the group, offering Hannah a smile and a
quick wave, Hemi called out, “Hiya, pretty boy. We were just missing your
gorgeous self.” The others laughed, and Hannah listened, amused, as they joined
in the banter.

“Tall poppy,” Drew whispered in her ear.

“What?” She wasn’t sure she had heard him correctly.

“Tall poppy. Cutting him down a bit,” he explained. “Gets a
wee bit above himself, does Koti. Need to give him stick, time to time, keep
him humble like the rest of us,” he grinned.

Hannah smiled. She knew that the players’ dislike of
arrogance was reinforced by Drew’s own example, and she admired him for it. If
anyone had the right to be arrogant, surely it was him, yet she had never seen
that quality in him. Which must take a serious effort, she knew. And some good
parenting, to keep his feet on the ground and his head unswollen in the early
years of his success.

Gradually, she became aware that Koti’s beautiful date was
working her way through the group toward them, her gaze constantly flicking to
Drew. As she approached and leaned into him, her eyelids lowered as she
breathed, “Hello, Drew.”

Drew kissed her briefly on the cheek. “Hello, Dena. Good to
see you,” he said politely, then turned to introduce Hannah. Dena responded
curtly, and gave Hannah a sweeping look that seemed to assess and dismiss her
as no competition.

Hannah felt her hackles rise, and briefly considered some
Laser Eyes of her own. But her best weapons had never been offensive, so she
decided to kill the other woman with kindness instead. Who knew, she thought. Maybe
Dena was insecure, and was hiding it this way.

“Hello, Dena,” she responded warmly, and held out her hand. 
“It’s nice to meet you. What a beautiful dress. It looks so good with your
hair.”

Dena took her hand briefly, but almost instantly turned back
to Drew. Oh . . . kay. So, maybe not insecure. Hannah didn’t allow herself to
be upset by the other woman’s predatory act, as Drew gave her no encouragement,
and very soon was engrossed in yet another introduction.

At dinner, Hannah wasn’t overly surprised to find that Dena
had maneuvered so that she sat between Koti and Drew. Hannah wondered why,
having ensnared one successful rugby player, not to mention the most handsome
of them all, Dena should have set her sights on Drew as well. She couldn’t know
much about him. It seemed obvious to her that Drew would never pursue a
teammate’s girlfriend—or whatever she was. But Dena’s gifts didn’t appear to be
primarily mental. She was seeking out the lead dog in the pack, and she seemed
confident she could get him.

She was certainly giving it her best effort. While taking
care to laugh and flirt with Koti, Dena turned often to Drew as well, taking
advantage of being screened from the other man’s view. She leaned into Drew,
inviting glimpses into her impressive cleavage, even placing her elbows on the
table at one point to offer him the best possible display. She touched his
hand, stroked her own hair, and generally, Hannah thought with some heat, did
everything short of lying down in the middle of the large round table and
offering herself to him.

If Drew noticed, he gave no sign. He responded courteously
to her questions and comments, but kept most of his attention for Hannah and
the other guests at the table. As people finished their meal and others shifted
seats and moved to talk to people at other tables, he first checked that Hannah
was well situated, and then moved away to make his own rounds.

Dena looked disappointed, and Hannah couldn’t help smiling a
little. The beautiful redhead recovered, though, seeming intent on cementing
the relationship she did have.

You work on that, Hannah thought. Rule number one, don’t
lose one till you’ve landed the next.

She found Reka easing into the seat beside her with a sigh
as it was vacated by Hemi, who had kept Hannah well entertained during the meal
with his cheerful chat.

“I see Dena’s lost out again,” Reka grinned. “Hemi and I
always enjoy the show she puts on, though. I tell him to go ahead and look,
that’s as close as I’m ever letting him get. But that one is out for your man,
you know that. She’d love to steal him from you.”

“He’s not mine to steal,” Hannah answered firmly. “And if
he’s fool enough to choose somebody like that, he doesn’t deserve me anyway.”

“Too right,” approved Reka, though she looked a little
surprised. “No worries, anyway. Drew’s been looking after himself too long now
to be caught like that. I’m glad to see you don’t have your knickers in a
twist, though. Most women would, watching her try it on.”

“I figured that one out a while back,” Hannah admitted
wryly. “If I’m going to get upset every time a woman throws herself at Drew,
I’m going to have permanent heartburn. I try not to, anyway. What about you? 
Surely you’ve faced this, over the years. It had to be especially hard when you
were first pregnant.”

“I’m Maori,” grinned Reka. “We’ve always had weapons, and we
know how to use them. Hemi knows I’d cut it off.”

“Besides,” she continued more seriously, “he doesn’t get the
kind of pursuit Drew does. He was never New Zealand’s Most Eligible Bachelor,
eh. They all have their chances, though. Can’t answer for all of them, but
Hemi’s happy at home.”

“That’s obvious to anyone,” Hannah assured her. “I can’t
imagine anyone lucky enough to be married to you wanting to jeopardize that.”

Reka beamed and gave her a hug and Hannah laughed, grateful
for the other woman’s easy friendship. She asked Reka about the children, and
they were soon chatting happily about Ariana’s preschool and Reka’s troubles
with potty-training her stubborn son.

Then it was time for the after-dinner speeches, and Hannah
soon discovered what Drew had meant by “a few words after dinner,” as one
speaker succeeded another for a full thirty minutes.  She wasn’t entirely
surprised to find Drew getting an award for his service to the charity, or that
he hadn’t mentioned it to her. Of course, he had to go up to the podium and
give another speech in response, which he accomplished with his usual grace.
Hannah could tell he didn’t relish his moment in the spotlight, though, and
that he was glad to return to his seat. She squeezed his hand and smiled at him
in support, and he grinned back at her ruefully. 

“How’d you go, then? Rather schedule a root canal instead,
next time?” he asked, when they were in the car again at last.

She laughed and admitted, “Not nearly as painful as I’d
feared. It was wonderful to have Reka and Hemi there. I like them so much.”

“Reka invited me to Ariana’s fifth birthday party next
weekend,” she added with enthusiasm. “Wasn’t that nice?’

He sighed. “Here I take you to this glam do, and you’re more
excited by a four-year-old’s birthday party. What am I going to do with you?”

“I think you’re missing the point,” she told him severely.
“It’s a
five
-year-old’s birthday party. But you must admit, the dress
code is easier. Phew, I never knew how much effort it was to get this fabulous.
I can’t wait to get out of these clothes.”

“Funny,” he smiled, “I was just having the same thought.”

“You’ll have to help unwrap me, I’m afraid,” she told him.
“This dress requires a remarkable amount of underpinning. Look, double-stick
tape,” she showed him the bodice, “just to make sure nobody gets a bonus peek.
And I don’t want to tell you about the foundation garments. Apparently only
those skinny models are allowed to wear these things without support. I always
knew there was a reason I avoided the whole glamour thing. Now I can see how
smart I’ve been, all this time.”

“I’ll be happy to unwrap you,” he said with a wicked gleam. “I’m
a trained professional, remember. But I know what you mean. I always feel like
this tie is choking me.”

“Poor you,” she comforted him solemnly. “Having to wear a
whole . . .
tie.
What a nightmare. But never mind, I’ll unwrap you if
you unwrap me.” She smiled at him and, mindful of the driver in the front seat,
contented herself with holding his hand and giving him a kiss.

“Thank you for taking me,” she went on more seriously. “I
actually had a good time. I like your teammates. They make me laugh. Although
some of their girlfriends leave a bit to be desired.”

He laughed. “She’s a picture, eh. Reckon she’ll get the
message one of these days.”

“It’s too bad for Koti, though, don’t you think?” she asked.
“Being with somebody who doesn’t care more about him.”

“Don’t waste your sympathy. They’re not exactly, what’s that
word you like? Oh yeh. Exclusive. Just some arm candy, that’s all. On both
sides,” he concluded firmly, cutting off her protests.

They were sharing an early breakfast before Hannah headed in
to work on Monday morning when the telephone rang, and she heard Emery’s voice
on the other end.

“I saw the pictures online,” he crowed. “
What
did I
tell you? Am I good, or what?”

She reached for the paper and thumbed through. Sure enough,
there was a blurb about Saturday’s gala, and color photos of several of the
celebrity guests, with herself and Drew prominently featured.

“Well, I guess that’s the secret,” she told Emery
resignedly. “Thousands of dollars on clothes, a private army of people to fix
me up, and I can get a decent picture of myself. Drew looks great, though,
doesn’t he?”

“Testosterone on the hoof,” Emery confirmed. “Just like
always, only even yummier than usual. It’s an unfair world, isn’t it? All he
has to do is show up, whereas you and every other woman in the world have to go
through what I
know
you’re going to tell me was a nightmare of
preparation to look that good. Some women actually enjoy it, you know. Maybe
you’re just not used to it. We’ll have to get you out there more.”

“Heaven forbid,” she sighed. “I think I’m ready to go back
to my down-to-earth self for now, thank you very much. But yes, Emery. You were
right, you did great, and I owe you.”

“Oh, I’m paid back. It’s all worth it,” he assured her.
“Just seeing your beautiful face on my screen. I can’t wait to post the link.”

She groaned. “There goes my privacy, lost to the Internet
Age. Oh well, if it has to be out there, thank goodness it was flattering.”