He frowned. “I didn’t tell you that last night? Seriously?”
Her mind cast back. “Uh. No.”
“Well, I was thinking it. I was also thinking you were fun. That’s why I asked you out. Before you busted my balls.”
She blinked. “I did not…Oh, frack, I was rude.” She sighed. “I’m sorry.”
His green eyes brightened. “Okay, then.”
She held a hand up. “That doesn’t mean I’ll go out with you.”
His face fell again. “Well, will you at least come eat with us? You’ve got a plate full of food and you need to set it down somewhere.”
Go eat with a bunch of professional hockey players? That was a bad idea. But he was right, she did need to eat somewhere and she didn’t know anyone else at this party other than some of the other models, all of whom were supposed to be mingling with guests and encouraging people to drop loads of money on tickets for the silent auction. Also, one of those hockey players happened to be her boss. “Okay,” she finally said, and followed Duncan back to the table.
“Amber’s going to join us,” Duncan said to the others.
“Great,” Rupper said. Everyone shifted to make room for her.
“How long have you been modeling?” Lovey asked her.
“Since I was about fourteen.” Amber made a face as she picked up a shrimp. “It was kind of fun at first.” She shrugged. “When I moved to Chicago to go to school, I needed money. A photographer I worked with in L.A. was living here and he got me a few gigs. The money’s good.”
“You never wanted to make it your career?”
“God no! I mean, not that there’s anything wrong with it.” Duncan had dated Melissa Cayne, for fuck’s sake. Melissa wasn’t world famous, but she was good, considered to be a rising star. She’d probably have to leave Chicago to achieve her lofty career aspirations, but right now she was pretty damn successful on a smaller scale. “It’s not for me. And I don’t know that I have the looks to really make it big.”
Beside her, Duncan made a snorting noise of disagreement. She ignored him.
“What do you do, Lovey?”
“I’ve just started my own marketing consulting company. Big Cheese Media. I help businesses with social media. Some of my clients are Panache Clothing and Eden Beauty. And the Chicago Aces.”
“Oh cool. I did some work for Panache. They’re a good group to work with.”
“Yes, they are. I’m excited to have them as a client. I also have a blog…Sugar Blossom.” Lovey eyed her. “I don’t suppose you’d let me take your picture to put on it?”
“Uh…well, sure.”
Lovey’s hand moved to her small bag and she produced a camera. “I’ll wait till you’re done eating and you can touch up your lipstick.”
Amber grinned at her. “Appreciate that.” She had no idea how many people looked at Lovey’s blog, but even if it was two, she didn’t really want a shot of her stuffing food into her mouth being out there.
“How about you, Clementine?” Amber looked at the other woman, an exotic-looking dark-haired beauty in a strapless gold dress. “What do you do? Nice name, by the way.”
“Thanks. I’m not working right now.” She lifted a slender shoulder. “I was taking some college classes, but they were kind of boring. I like to shop and travel and hang out with my friends.”
“Mmm. Sounds nice.” Clementine had a pampered air about her. No doubt lived at home with Mommy and Daddy, probably in a Lake Forest mansion. Amber felt an unwelcome twinge of envy. Not that her goal was a pampered life of leisure, but damn, life was hard sometimes. Money made it easier. “Where did you last travel to?”
“I was in Dubai last month. Daddy does business there, so Mom and I went along on his business trip. They have the biggest shopping mall in the world!”
“Yes, they do.” Amber nodded. “Dubai’s an interesting city. They’ve really moved beyond relying on the oil industry for revenue, with tourism being so big now. Also real estate and financial services. They’ve had some innovative construction projects.”
“They’re potentially bidding for the Olympics,” Duncan said.
She blinked at him. “Um, yeah, I heard that. That’s interesting. But they have a lot of labor and human rights issues with their workforce.”
Clementine looked back at them both blankly.
“Dubai has some big projects to develop even more sectors of their economy,” Lovey said. “Like Dubai Fashion 2020 and Dubai Design District. They expect them to become a home for their top fashion designers.”
Amber smiled at her. “I didn’t know that.”
“I don’t know much about Dubai,” Lovey admitted. “But with Panache being one of my biggest clients, I’ve been keeping on top of industry news.”
Duncan again spoke up. “They have hockey in Dubai.” Amber turned to look at him.
“They do not,” Lovey said, laughing. “You’re so full of it.”
“No, they do,” Marc said.
“It’s an amateur league,” Duncan added. “The Dubai Mighty Camels.”