Federal Affair

Chapter 2

Derek glared at Nick and for a moment I was sure he was about to lunge at the man. The silence between us was deafening. My pulse hammering in my eardrums was making me dizzy.

I couldn't take my eyes off of Nick. I felt extremely guilty for finding another man attractive. I wasn't supposed to look at other men this way. I was supposed to be infatuated with Derek for the rest of my life just like I'd been for the past three years. I wanted to believe that Derek was the most attractive man in the world – and I had – up until this moment.

Never before had I felt so drawn to a man than in those few heated seconds.

I almost felt like I was cheating on Derek just by the way I felt such a pull to Nick. It was as if our bodies had suddenly become cloaked in a magnetic energy with only a chair preventing a physical connection between us.

I mentally snapped at myself to get a grip.

Stop staring at him!

I reminded myself that I was engaged. I reminded myself over and over that my fiancé was standing right next to me with his arm around me. I repeatedly told myself to walk away, or strike up a conversation with Derek's father to break the silence, or at least get a damn drink to ease the discomfort. But I continued to stand there, mesmerized by the tall, muscular man before me.

"Derek." His father's voice shook me out of my thoughts. "I'd like a word."

Derek mumbled a curse under his breath and hesitated for a moment before passing Nick, following his father to a spot across the room.

I felt overexposed without his arm around my waist. Scratch that. I felt like my head might explode if I didn't sit down, get a drink, and relax.

"You look nervous," Nick said.

He pulled the chair he'd been leaning on out from the table. "Please, sit with me."

I hesitated. A chorus of fictitious excuses chimed through my thoughts. I considered chasing after Derek or saying I needed to visit the lavatory.

Nick's fingertips skimmed the edge of the table causing a hardly noticeable wrinkle in the tablecloth as they moved against it. He waited patiently for my answer, the slight dip in his wavered grin signaling that he was biting at his bottom lip.

I blinked hard, clearing my mind of silly escape plans. Taking a seat in the chair Nick had pulled out, I didn't say a word at first, reaching for the ice water in front of me. I felt a gentle tug in the tablecloth as Nick sat down beside me resting his forearm on the edge.

"So, you and Derek." He broke the ice. "How long have you been together?"

"A couple years," I answered, staring at the melting ice cubes in my glass.

"How long you been engaged?" he asked.

I assumed he was having a hard time making conversation knowing nothing about me aside from the man whom I was engaged to. It was understandable, though I couldn't help feeling awkward discussing Derek's and my relationship.

"Two months," I said. It felt more like a confession. "Why?"

Nick shrugged his broad, muscular shoulders. "What else is there to talk about besides work?"

My assumption appeared to be correct.

"Work?" I suggested.

"See, that would've made too much sense." The edges of his mouth curved upwards in a cheesy smile. "So what do you do?"