The Secret (Single in Seattle 1)

I take Vaughn’s offered hand, and he lifts mine to his lips, kissing my knuckles.

“I told you,” he says softly. “This is a private dinner honoring Christian Wolfe. He is a fiercely private man. He wouldn’t have allowed a big show.”

“My family knows him,” I say with a smile. “How lovely that they’re honoring him.”

We walk down a little hallway. Before we enter the ballroom, a young woman in uniform collects our phones.

“Don’t worry,” she says with a smile. “These are labeled and safely locked away. They’ll be here when you’re ready to go.”

We’re not late, but we’re clearly one of the last few to arrive. The room is bustling with people, all dressed to the nines, mingling and talking.

“Oh, gosh,” I whisper and take a deep breath.

Vaughn squeezes my hand and kisses it again. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

And then the array of people swallows us.

“Vaughn! Darling, it’s so good to see you!”

“Vaughn, over here, babe!”

So many people call out to him, wave, or smile. It’s clear that he’s well-liked in this room and among the most famous.

Vaughn never drops my hand and is sure to introduce me to everyone as Olivia Conner. I’ve never been given the side-eye so much in my life.

Stella and I will laugh about this tomorrow.

“I think that woman just grabbed your ass,” I whisper to Vaughn as we make our way to our table.

“It happens,” he whispers back, and I can’t help but laugh. How can I possibly get jealous when it’s all just so ridiculous?

“Vaughn, thank you for coming,” Christian Wolfe says as he stands and shakes Vaughn’s hand. He glances at me and then does a double-take. “Liv?”

“Hi, Christian.” He comes around to kiss my cheek, and the fifteen-year-old in me swoons just a little. I’ve known him for a long time, but he’s still the super-hot movie star to me. “I’m Olivia Conner tonight.”

Christian blinks in surprise. “Your dad?”

I just shake my head and turn to Christian’s wife, Jenna. “It’s so nice to see you.”

“My darling girl, that is a divine dress. Tell me you designed it.”

“Guilty.” I laugh with her, and we take our seats. “When Vaughn invited me to join him tonight, I didn’t realize that it was a dinner to honor your husband. Now, I’m even more excited to be here.”

“How do you know each other?” Vaughn asks as he and Christian also take their seats.

“Our family has spent a little time in Montana, where Jenna’s from,” I reply with a smile. “And, of course, Dad worked with Christian quite often.”

“We’re getting looks,” Jenna points out.

“I’m pretty sure they’re just checking out the men. I mean, look at them.”

So, we do. Vaughn looks as if he stepped out of a movie in that dark suit, with his brown hair perfectly styled. And Christian is drop-dead gorgeous himself, even if he is at least ten years older than Vaughn.

“Okay, I admit, our guys are handsome,” Jenna says with a smile. “But I think everyone’s trying to figure out who Vaughn’s date is.”

“Olivia Conner, costume designer,” I reply honestly. “That’s exactly who I am. I’ve worked with some of the actors here. They’ll spread the word, I’m sure.”

“That was,” I begin after we’re cozied up in the limo on our way home, “so fun.”

“You are a rock star,” Vaughn says and kisses my forehead. I kicked off my shoes as soon as we got into the car, and I’m leaning against him, my head on his shoulder. “You worked that room as if you’d been doing it all your life.”

“It’s just about being polite,” I reply. “I know how to do that. And it was kind of nice when some of them said they’d noticed my work. And I got to see some other actors I’ve worked with before. It’s nice to feel like you’re with your peers, you know?”

“Yep. I get it. No one understands our world like the ones who live in it, so it’s nice to get together and talk shop.”

“I had about half a dozen women ask me to design their Oscar dresses for next year,” I admit with a smile. “Of course, I don’t have time, but that was pretty cool.”

“When you wear your work, you’re a walking billboard.”

I laugh at that and snuggle closer. “Your speech was awesome. I think Christian had a tear in his eye when you finished. How long did it take you to write it?”

“I didn’t write anything. I winged it.”

“No way.” I sit up and stare at him. “You thought all of that up on the spot? The story about being on set with him, how he showed you the importance of being professional when you’re at work, and all of the other stuff was just off the cuff?”

“Yeah.”

“Damn, you are good.”

He chuckles and links his fingers with mine. “It was nice that your dad recorded a speech for Christian. I could tell that surprised him.”