Chemical Attraction Read Free Page B

street to the auditorium.
    “That’s what Taylor and Eva tell me.”
    “Your sisters are right. Now, Joseph, I don’t want my Blue Room turning into a bachelor’s buffet with girls coming through there,” she said, opening the side door.
    “No, ma’am, not when I have you all to myself for the next few days.”
    “You are the charmer, just like my Herbert,” she replied as they walked into the Hartford kitchen.

    In a sleeveless, mint green dress and loose bun, Eva Connor handed out booklets and greeted the community members in their suits and dresses. This was the big event of the year for Allenton.
    She turned toward the door. “Jack, I haven’t seen you in a while.”
    In a tuxedo with a red tie and vest, Jack Adams introduced his female companion, who wore an excruciatingly tight bun. “This is Tricia Simko, my veterinary assistant. Hey, I saw Matt earlier. He said he’d be here. Tell him we’ll catch up later,” Jack replied. Without acknowledging Eva, Tricia urged him forward into the room.
    Eva turned to her young coworker, Amanda Sturgis. “Her bun must be cutting off the area of her brain that’s polite.”
    “Maybe she’s better with animals,” Amanda replied.
    “Dr. Russell, thanks for coming tonight,” Eva said, handing him a program.
    “Yes, well, why wouldn’t I be here?” he asked, unbuttoning his tuxedo jacket. As he walked away to flirt with every woman he met, she rolled her eyes.
    “I’d love to run my fingers through that thick blond hair,” Amanda said.
    Shaking her head, Eva picked up another stack of programs. “Hello, Mayor Kilmer, good to see you. Where’s Betsy?”
    “She’s sick at home; I’m stag tonight. Since when do you call me mayor? The four of us played pool last week.”
    She grinned. She and Matt dined with them frequently. “How mad is she, John? I know you’ve taken dance classes.”
    “She’s ticked. This was our big chance to show off our Arthur Murray lessons. Save me a dance later.”
    “Sure,” Eva said. As the mayor made his way into the room, his constituents surrounded him immediately.
    “Looks like everyone’s here,” Madeline said, smoothing out her tight bronze dress. Like Eva, a loose bun seemed to be tonight’s style of choice against the heat. “There are quite a few people I don’t recognize.”
    “Many are BennTech executives from around the country. The others are from Allenton County to support the benefit. We’ve counted over two hundred people so far.”
    “Whoa, who is that?” Madeline gestured to the dark-haired guy towering over a crowd of women by the punch bowl. She recognized his butt from the B & B earlier.
    “That’s my brother, Joe,” Eva replied.
    “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
    “He’s not really, but we grew up together. He and Taylor are more my family than my real family.” She watched her reaction. “Try ignoring him.” Smiling, Madeline swayed past Joe, not looking his way. On cue, he turned his head to check her out.
    With a hand full of programs, Amanda laughed. “How’d you know he’d do that?”
    “I know my brother,” she replied, watching Joe stare at Madeline from across the room.
    “Where’s that sexy husband of yours, Eva?” Dr. Vandeen asked, playing with her new pixie-style haircut. The premature gray matched her shapeless dress and flats.
    “I haven’t seen you around lately,” she replied, ignoring her question.
    “I have projects in the works at BennTech.”
    “You’re splitting your time between patients and research?”
    “Yeah, the research is more rewarding. Patients are a pain. They’re so needy.”
    After Dr. Vandeen left, Amanda shook her head. “Do you think they’re needy because they’re in pain?”
    As she and Amanda greeted more guests, Matt walked in wearing his tuxedo but carrying his bow tie. “Boy, you’re handsome in uniform but in a tux, wow,” Eva said.
    “Well, these shoes hurt my feet and I can’t get my tie