Taking a deep breath like she had when she’d danced with Hector, Charlee tried to gather herself. Hector was already smiling big before he even reached them. She’d dream of that smile and that moment time had stood still for Charlee tonight no doubt—all night.
“So you guys might have heard of this little-known boxer named Felix Sanchez.” Hector patted Felix on the shoulder.
Hector began introducing them one by one, and they all smiled and shook Felix’s hand. Even though Charlee should have been feeling as starstruck as everyone else appeared to be, her insides were still going wild as the reality of what had happened earlier with Hector set in.
Felix was very nice and surprisingly down to earth, considering how famous and not to mention good-looking he was. He was actually better looking in person than in all the tabloids she’d seen him in.
As much as Charlee tried to focus on what Felix was saying to them and attempted to mimic Drew’s excited smile, she couldn’t help it. Her mind kept going back to Hector and what an about-face his behavior toward her had done.
Another huge distraction was that he was doing it again. Every time she glanced his way, she caught him looking at her. He didn’t even try to hide it now. He’d smile every time. A few times she thought he might laugh because she’d caught him yet again. And he wasn’t just looking at her face either. Several times, like earlier when she caught him taking her in completely, she noticed he was engrossed in her hair or her hands.
She knew her hair was eye-catching. It always had been, and she’d always hated that, but the way he looked at it was different, almost as if he were in awe. All her life, she’d had people comment on her hair—compliment it even. But no one had ever gazed at her quite the way he did. It made her insides warm but in a good way.
Felix finished answering a few more questions from the guys then excused himself. To Charlee’s surprise, Hector didn’t go with him. Felix walked away with his entourage to the next group of people waiting to talk to him.
“Is it weird having a friend that’s so famous?” Drew asked Hector.
Even though it wasn’t directed at her, his playful smile made Charlee breathe deeper. “People’s reaction to seeing him will probably never get old. That’s different but hanging out with him, not at all. He’s the same guy he’s always been.”
“Oh man, I missed him,” Maurice frowned as he came and stood next to Drew. “I was trying to hurry and get over here to meet him before he walked away.”
Since Hector had been so eager about bringing Felix over as soon as he arrived, Charlee expected him to maybe offer to introduce Maurice to Felix, but he didn’t. Instead he seemed a bit off put by Maurice joining them again. He didn’t even acknowledge him, ignoring his comment and turning to Walter. “So you gonna stand here all night or you gonna actually do some dancing?”
Walter glanced at Charlee nervously then turned to the dance floor. “I’m not much for dancing.”
Hector bringing up dancing again made Charlee’s heart start thumping. Would he be asking her to dance again? The D.J. announced the appetizer trays had been refilled. Walter and one of the other guys exchanged smiles. “Let’s go,” Walter said, and they both took off.
The look of disgust on Hector’s face was almost comical as he watched Walter rush off toward the appetizer trays. “What’s wrong?” Charlee asked.
Shaking his head, Hector turned to Charlee. The way his disgusted expression morphed into that sexy smile did all kinds of funny things to her insides. “Nothing’s wrong. He’s just supposed to be watching what he eats,” he said, motioning with his thumb in Walter’s direction. “He asked me to help him drop some weight. I’m doing the best I can in the gym, but that,” he pointed at Walter who was now making his way down the buffet of appetizers. “That’s not gonna help.”
Charlee smiled, knowing that if Walter were anything like her, food was comforting. She could tell she and Walter weren’t too different in terms of being outgoing. He was just as shy as she was, and she’d seen that look on his face when Hector suggested he maybe try dancing. It was the same she was sure she’d made when Roger asked her to dance earlier. As usual, it was only after Drew said okay for both of them that she reluctantly followed her to the dance floor. When Hector had asked her, she’d been speechless.
Hoping to make up for choking during their dance and clamming up, she tried to shake off any feelings of awkwardness. “It’s nice of you to help him out. You two been friends long?”
She saw a subtle but noticeable change wash over his face. He started to answer then stopped when something behind her caught his eye, and he frowned then held his palm up. “Give me a sec,” he said, bringing his hand down, and touched her arm. “I’ll be right back.”
As he walked away, Charlee stood there, trying not to smile too silly. She felt a little ridiculous about how excited something as simple as his touching her arm could make her. “What happened?” Drew leaned into her. “Where’d he go?”
“I don’t know. He got called away.” Again she did her best to flatten the silly smile that threatened to burst when she added, “But he said he’d be right back.”
Charlee glanced back in the direction he’d walked away. He was talking to his brother and Noah. She’d never admit it to anyone, even Drew, because it was too embarrassing, but she knew the names and recognized the two other owners of 5th Street from all the Google-stalking she’d done this past week.