Chapter 138: Older Men

"I think I am more distressed that you don’t seem to be reacting the way I expected." Dorian pointed out.

"What? You want me to be jealous? Throw my plate of food at you and storm out?"

Dorian considered that for a second. "Ah... yeah, that tracks."

Naomi looked down at the food on her plate in horror. "Now, why would I waste such good food?"

Dorian gave her a long look. "I hate you."

Naomi giggled.

They moved away from the buffet and found one of the smaller seating tables arranged around the reception hall.

A waiter appeared immediately and set drinks in front of them.

The subject of Lilian turned into an entire conversation. She made jokes when Dorian got too serious, asked questions when something didn’t make sense and occasionally stole something from his plate.

Dorian complained each time but never actually stopped her.

The more he spoke, however, the clearer something became to him. For years, he had told himself he was angry because she had cheated.

But that wasn’t the whole thing. Something that had annoyed him every time he saw them together and irritated him.

And suddenly, sitting across from Naomi, Dorian understood part of the problem.

"I don’t understand it," he said, staring down at the drink in his hand. "And I don’t know how to manage things I don’t understand. When I do not understand, I can’t let go."

Dorian Heathcliffe had spent more than ten years emotionally cross-examining a case that had never given him a satisfactory verdict.

"You want to understand why she dumped your ass?" She was doing her best to keep the conversation lighthearted.

Dorian’s head came up immediately. "She didn’t dump me. I filed for a divorce when I found out."

"So you want to understand why she would be with someone else?" Naomi redirected.

"I thought I did everything right. And of all the men in town, she chose my uncle?" He shook his head. "Why hurt me like that? What am I missing? There is something I am missing." Dorian hated unanswered questions, and his first marriage had been one giant unsolved case sitting in the back of his mind.

Naomi rested her chin on her hand. "You know, some people just prefer older men. They’re attracted to them." Her lips curved. "Like I am attracted to you."

Dorian frowned immediately. "What are you talking about? I’m not old."

Naomi gave him an odd look. "You’re ten years older than I am."

"That doesn’t make me old," Dorian grumbled.

"I didn’t say ancient."

"You implied it."

Naomi laughed. "Fine. Seasoned?"

"Naomi."

She grinned. "Okay, okay." She took another sip of her drink, then glanced toward Lilian across the room. "So let me ask you this. If she became available tomorrow, would you still tap that?"

"No."

Naomi narrowed her eyes. "That answer was for my benefit."

"It was the truth."

"Turn around."

"What?"

"Turn around, look at her for half a minute and then answer me."

Dorian stared at her. "You are insane."

With an irritated sigh, he turned in his chair and looked across the room.

Lilian was speaking to someone near one of the cocktail tables, perfectly composed, all black and red lips, looking intimidating.

he turned back. "No."

Naomi nodded. "Okay."

"Can I ask you a question too?"

"Hm-hmm."

"Do you still plan on marrying the Sterling douchebag when this is all over?"

Naomi’s smile faded. She looked down at her drink. "I don’t know."

"Naomi. What is he offering you?"

"I can’t tell you."

"Why?"

Naomi finally raised her eyes. "Because I like the way you look at me now." She gave him a small, uneasy smile. "I don’t want that to change."

He reached across the table and took her hand. "Naomi, nothing..." He paused. "Nothing can change the fact that I am absolutely stunned by your entire existence in my life. You are a breath of fresh air. You... you do not let me disappear into myself." His thumb moved over the back of her hand.

"You’re funny, you’re chaotic and my goodness, you’re hot."

Naomi smiled. "Wanna get out of here, so I can show you just how hot I can get?"

"What have I been pleading for the past thirty minutes?" He got to his feet quickly, caught her hand and started walking.

Their exit wasn’t quiet, but thankfully it wasn’t as chaotic as their entrance had been. A few cameras still flashed.

Some tried to get Naomi’s attention after her little public defense earlier, but the aggressive reporter who had been firing invasive questions at Dorian seemed to have conveniently disappeared.

He kept hold of Naomi’s hand and tugged her toward the exit.

Naomi, however, kept slowing down to smile and wave at the cameras.

Dorian looked back at her. "Have I mentioned you are crazy?"

"Couple of times."

"Not enough."

She laughed and waved one last time before catching up with him.

Once they made it outside, Dorian glanced toward the waiting Range Rover.

"Your keys?"

Naomi stopped. "You’re driving?"

There was actual disappointment in her voice.

"Everyone is watching our exit. Come on." He adjusted his jacket slightly. "I gotta maintain some steeze."

"Oh, okay." She opened her clutch and searched around until she found the keys. She held them up but didn’t immediately hand them over. "Be gentle with her."

Dorian frowned. "What?"

"It’s been a while since she has been with a man." She dropped the keys into his palm.

Dorian closed his eyes. He couldn’t. He genuinely couldn’t.

There was no reasonable explanation for this woman. Someone had handpicked Naomi Bennett, placed her directly in his path and said, Here. Let’s see how much sanity one man can lose before he snaps.

"Get in the car."

Naomi giggled again. She was doing that more and more with him.

Dorian opened the passenger door for her and waited while she climbed inside. He shut the door before she could say anything else.

By the time he slid into the driver’s seat, Naomi was already pulling off her heels.

He started the engine.

Dorian pulled away from the venue. "Remind me to take you to every function I attend from now on."