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Chris smiled at her as she walked toward hiht had happened back there Heout or he wouldn’t look so sed a way for theht you’d want another," he said with a wink

"Yes, I would," she said, taking it and sipping on the whiskey sour

The key felt like the business card Brady had given her the first time they hadlike the tiny thing eighing her bag down

The next hour was a blur of Brady, taking pictures, shaking hands, sch her eyes away from him, and Chris wouldn’t let her have more than one more drink Apparently she hadn’t been as sober as she had thought when she had ht about it anyway; she shouldn’t trust herself to drink in this environave a short speech thanking everyone for being in attendance A series of other officials spoke after hi from everyone They all wanted people to donate n They wanted to take hiht he was And she had before she had become completely and totally biased

After the speeches, hts dile around the roo Chris disappeared for a second to get another beer, and Liz thought about leaving early anyway

She just needed to suck it up and see the evening for what it was She had gotten herself into thismore fro in the diner…that she would want a real relationship And it hadn’t mattered, until it did

Liz found Brady in the crowd standing with his family, A and Brady was laughing at whatever she said At least he got along with his sister She wondered if he and Clay were too much alike, or if their ani to the official as Amber spoke with his wife She wondered what it would be like to stand there with Brady and entertain the wives of officials while he spoke to the husbands Would she enjoy doing that? A chill went through her She was getting way ahead of herself

His eyes found her across the room and she saw his mask fall when he smiled at her Their eyes locked and her cheeks flushed He wanted her She could see it in that one look

Liz licked her lips He nodded once, as if he understood what she was i and turned his attention back to his sister

She needed to leave She couldn’t stand here any longer She wanted to be in his bed, snuggled up against his chest, enjoying the time she could have with him She didn’t want to see him parade around a roos toward A She understood his position, but she didn’t have to like it

"I think this is the last one for lass

"Are you sure?" Chris asked

"Yeah I think it’s tio hoainst the table and surveyed the people surrounding theuess Just tired Sorry I haven’t been the best date," she said with a setic smile

"Well, you weren’t the worst one I’ve ever had," he said with a wink

"Does this also have so handed off to soain You’ll use it againsthis head

Liz pointed at herself and shrugged "Reporter I don’t forgether ar He patted her back twice before releasing her

"Take it easy I’m sure I’ll see you around I always end up at functions for Brady"

"Definitely Hopefully I’ll see you soon," Liz said with a smile

She took one last look at Brady He looked up, saw her leaving, and smiled She tried to hold her smile back, but she wasn’t successful He knehere she was heading now

Liz turned away before he could and walked through the double doors and into the fresh evening air She turned the corner and stared at the line of cars and limos that stretched around the circular drive Unless his driver happened to recognize her, she wasn’t going to be able to locate Brady’s car without a valet

She looked around and found the valet station, but it was currently unoccupied Theya car for someone else

She craned her neck when she heard voices off to the left, hoping it was the valet, but saw so on their cell phone The person turned and Liz saw that it was Clay He nodded his head at her and beckoned her over

Liz scrunched up her eyebrows and stood her ground The last thing she wanted to do was upset Brady right now

"Letup his phone and sliding it back into his pocket "Hey, you’re not leaving, are you?"

Clay walked back across the sidewalk to stand in front of her Fuck! She couldn’t take Brady’s car if Clay was standing here

"Yeah, I think I’ht," she told hi his car?"