She cut through the crowd like Moses parting the Red Sea. “You’re la—” She didn’t get the word late out. She stared at me, seeing my red dress, high heels and hot man for the first time. Her mouth gaped. Her eyes widened.
A hush fell over the crowd.
Aha, success! I’d left them all speechless.
“Sorry to be late, Mother,” I said with a smile I couldn’t contain. “We lost track of the time.” I’m sure there was a sparkle in my eye. And I’m sure it backed up my innuendo that we’d been up to no good. “You remember Michael Houston, don’t you?” I continued. “The photographer. He’s currently got a book on the New York Times Best Seller List.”
She didn’t say a word, just continued to stare at me.
There was a bit of a commotion in the crowd that had all turned to witness the spectacle I’d created. A moment later, Lizzie burst forth, dressed in a pale blue silk suit consisting of a long skirt and a short jacket. She wore diamond earrings that rivaled the massive rock on her left hand.
She took one look at me then turned her attention to our mother. “I told you she didn’t read the invitation, Mother.” To me, she said, “The attire is country club chic. Not Manhattan strip club.”
This garnered a few snickers from my relatives and the Corbetts. And one chuckle from the devilish man next to me.
Heat crept up my neck because I knew I was pushing some serious boundaries here and making a scene my family would fume over. Yet, I drew strength from Michael being in this with me. I also felt bold and daring because of the backbone I’d finally grown.
“This is supposed to be a party, isn’t it?” I pointed out. The band was about the only group that hadn’t fallen silent to witness the exchange between my sister and me. Turning to my date, I said, “Let’s dance.”
He grinned at me. To my family, he said, “Nice to see you all again.”
Then he led me out to the dance floor that was set up in front of a twelve-piece band. It took a few moments for the conversations to start up again. Michael and I deposited our drinks on a nearby table. As he pulled me into his arms, the discussions around us turned animated. I had no doubt we were the headlining topic.
My heart pounded and my stomach lurched into my throat, but I managed to ask, “Mission accomplished?”
“And then some.”
I bit back a grin. “Did you see the looks on their faces? Especially my mother and Lizzie.”
“I’d say this is one party they’ll be talking about for weeks to come.”
“Thank you for being here with me,” I said. It occurred to me that the thundering of my heart had little to do with the scene I’d just made or the fact that I was at my sister and ex-fiancé’s engagement party. Being with Michael, on his arm—in his arms—was what I found exhilarating.
As he whirled me around the floor, making me feel graceful even though I wasn’t particularly comfortable in such high heels, he said, “You realize you’re center stage. Everyone’s watching us.”
“That’s because we’re the only ones dancing. And because you are so unbelievably gorgeous.”
He laughed. “Trust me, they haven’t even gotten to me yet. They’re all still gawking over how sensational you look.”
I had to admit, I felt sensational. How could I not? Michael could have any woman he wanted…and he currently wanted me. In fact, his gaze never even wandered toward the other women in the tent. He seemed to only have eyes for me. This warmed my heart and gave me another little shot of that confidence I’d been lacking for far too long.
“I can’t imagine being here with anyone else,” I told him. “In fact, I knew the moment my mother mentioned the party, you were the only one who could help me survive this.”
He held me a little tighter and smiled down at me. “You’re the one taking all the risks. But we do make a good team.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.”
We stayed out on the dance floor for several more songs. Then he retrieved fresh glasses of champagne for us. He guided me over to a quiet corner and gave me a serious look.
“I want us to get back together.”
My knees nearly knocked together. I knew h
e wouldn’t put that sentiment out there in an arbitrary way.
“Maybe,” I suggested, “we could go on another date.”
He shook his head. “I’m not talking about casual dating. I’m talking about an exclusive relationship. Spending nights together. Talking about what we want for the future.”