Page 59 of When He Plays

She took the flute. “Thanks.”

“We can also bring you in a collection of cheese, fruit, anything that you⁠—”

“Sure, bring in a charcuterie.” Again, zero interest. But, why not?

The waiter slipped away. Evelyn lingered. Her stare was very watchful as it assessed Charlotte.

“Don’t you need to go deal?” Charlotte asked as the silence stretched. “I thought you were going to be passing out cards tonight for Ares.”

“Ares wanted me attending to you. Someone else stepped in for the games.”

There was literally not a single hair out of place on the woman’s head. How did she manage that?

“Hmmm.” Evelyn arched one brow as she continued to linger with Charlotte. “I’ve never heard of Logan bringing anyone to these events. He’s usually a solo player.”

“Guess I’m special.” She peered down into the champagne. The bubbles drifted to the top.

“Are you?”

Her gaze lifted.

Evelyn studied her far too sharply. “Are you special to Logan?”

Now she got it. “I see.” A nod. “Your boss told you to come grill me. Ares wants you to find out how deep my connection is to Logan.”

Evelyn shrugged one shoulder.

“Super deep,” Charlotte informed her. “In fact, I think he might even marry me.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened.

Charlotte laughed. “I am kidding!” She sipped the champagne. Just a little sip so it looked as if she was relaxing and going along with whatever plan was scheduled for that night. In reality, she was getting ready to grill Evelyn. “Look, Logan isn’t serious about anyone.” A chummy tone. As if she was confiding, woman to woman. “I’m just enjoying the ride for as long as I can.”

“Are you?”

Before Charlotte could respond, the waiter returned with a truly massive selection of cheese and fruit and who knew what else on the big tray.

After putting the tray on the desk, he ducked out almost immediately.

“Please make yourself comfortable. If you need anything,” Evelyn waved toward the desk, “you can ring that bell.”

Sure enough, a silver bell perched on the edge of the desk. A few inches away from the tray.

Evelyn turned away.

“How serious is it between you and your boss?” Charlotte asked on a whim.

Evelyn paused.

“It was the way you looked at him,” Charlotte said. A lie. There had been no giveaways. “You’re sleeping with Ares.”

“It’s not serious at all,” Evelyn turned without glancing back. “Ares is incapable of actually caring about anyone.” She exited. Closed the door behind her.

Turned the lock.

Wait, wait, wait. Charlotte bounded across the room. She wrenched the doorknob because surely that woman had not just locked the door.

But the door would not open.