The One I Need

“Ms. Parker.” Ross gave a polite nod. “Cameron told us you were coming tonight.”

“Cameron.” Anson spoke into the momentary void, a smile splitting his handsome face.

This was the man of the hour. Anson had jumped into politics as soon as he’d turned twenty-six, the minimum age required to run for a city council seat. After a four-year term on the council, he would be old enough, at thirty, to run for mayor.

The money raised at tonight’s party would go a long way toward paying for campaign ads in his hotly contested district.

“You must be June.” Anson extended his hand, his green eyes warm and welcoming. “I’ve heard so many good things about you. I’m happy we finally have the chance to meet.”

June gave his hand a firm shake, her eyes never leaving his face. She had so many questions for him about the night her sister was killed. But she’d agreed with Cameron that tonight would neither be the time nor the place for that discussion.

“Good luck with your campaign,” she told him. “If I lived in your district, I’d definitely vote for you.”

Anson laughed. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that. My answer is always the same—my district is a great area to live in, so you might want to consider moving.”

“I’ll give that some thought,” June said.

Cameron clapped his friend on the back. “We’re going to get something to drink and check out the silent-auction items.”

“I’ll catch up with you two later.” Anson’s gaze shifted from Cameron to June. “A pleasure meeting you.”

Smiling, June wiggled her fingers, thankful Cameron’s parents were engaged in conversation with an older couple, allowing her and Cameron to stroll off without further interaction.

Cameron smiled when she took a glass of white wine, instead of red, off of a passing waiter’s silver tray. “I thought you preferred red.”

“I do.” She absently sipped the Pinot Grigio and found the light-bodied and crisp flavor very much to her liking.

“Then why go with the Pinot Grigio?”

She gestured with her free hand to the white silk dress. “Out of love for this dress, my lips will not touch anything red tonight.”

His quick grin told her he recalled an earlier conversation where she’d sworn—based on past experiences—that anything red always ended up spilled down the front of whatever she was wearing. Especially if that clothing was white.

“Shall we check out the silent auction before we grab something to eat?” June left the decision up to Cameron.

His parents’ home.

His friend’s fundraiser.

She was simply here to keep him company.

“A lot of the items are quite pricey.” A woman, her dark hair billowing like a dark cloud around her shoulders, stepped forward. “They might be a little above your means. Oh wait, I bet you can get Cameron to give you the money. That seems to be a particular talent of yours.”

“Nyla.” Cameron’s tone held a warning as he turned and met the gaze of his older sister. Conscious of the people on all sides of them, he lowered his voice. “We’ve been through this. Gran assured you—and me—that she gave the money to June willingly. She wants to help her find the person who hit and killed her sister.”

“I know that’s what Gran said, Cam.” Nyla’s brows drew together. “But it doesn’t make sense.”

“Neither did marrying me.” The handsome blond man at Nyla’s side spoke in a cheeky tone. “You did it anyway.”

June watched Nyla shift her attention to her husband, Deron Flock.

Nyla cupped Deron’s cheek with her hand. “Marrying you always made sense. How can anyone argue with marrying the one you love?”

Deron laughed. “Your parents, for two. Then there’s my dad and brothers. And—”

“Okay, okay.” Nyla lifted her long, elegant hands, palms out. A large diamond on her left ring finger winked in the light. “Forget that analogy.”

“Before you offer up another one,” Cameron said to his sister, “I’d like to introduce June to Deron. You already know her from when she was Gran’s intern.”