“It’s the champagne,” Winnie said dumbly, setting the offending glass down beside her. “Olive, don’t tease me. Is Mack here?”
“He just arrived.”
Her heart thundered in her chest, but she couldn’t turn around, couldn’t face him. What would she do when she saw his blasted dimple? Would she remain true to her principles and cut the lying varmint, or would she cave and let him get away with it? She bit her lip, unsure which reaction would be worse.
A breathless Clem arrived at her side. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Mack Donnelly is here.”
“Look at her expression,” Rhoda said. “She knows.”
Winnie nodded stiffly, hurt cascading through her. “You invited him?”
“Listen to me, Winnie. Mack’s invitation was sent out beforeyour trip to Whidbey Island. I knew he intrigued you, and I thought you would enjoy a dance with him.”
“Oh no, Clementine.” Olive’s voice was tinged with censure.
Clem wrung her hands. “With all the upheaval in the last few days, I forgot to tell you. I honestly never thought he would show his face, not after what happened. But I couldn’t rescind the invitation either. Please forgive me.”
Winnie let out a breath. It made no sense to take out her frustration on Clem, who had been nothing but supportive and kind. Her actions had been well-meaning, just misplaced. If anyone deserved her ire, it was Mack. “There’s nothing to forgive. Iwouldhave enjoyed a dance, once upon a time.”
“You could still have that dance,” Rhoda said. “Just step on his toes a little.”
“That’s not entirely a bad idea.” Winnie chewed her lip. “I suppose there’s no putting it off, is there?”
Clem peeked around her. “He’s making his way over here. Brace yourself.”
Winnie squared her shoulders and turned on her heel. Mack’s tall form maneuvering through the crush was impossible to miss. Her mouth practically watered at the sight of him in his crisp black evening attire, causing her no lack of annoyance. She wasn’t the only one drawn to him. Whether it be his good looks or his new position, several revelers attempted to waylay him. But he didn’t pause. Instead, his gaze was trained on her like prey. With her feet glued to the rug like a doe before the hunter’s gun, the image wasn’t far off.
But she was no doe. She was a bobcat.
Her chin lifted and she met his penetrating gaze. He halted in front of her. His nearness bombarded her senses. Her eyelids lowered halfway as she inhaled his scent, a heady dose of oak and verbena. Even though she hated him, she wanted nothing more than to burrow her nose in the crook of his neck and absorb the warmth radiating from his body.
Bobcat? More like a mewling kitten.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone came out harsher than anticipated, but anything was better than appearing weak.
“I’ve come to win you back.”
CHAPTER24
Winnie’s nose, with its smattering of auburn freckles, rose even higher in the air. “Nothing will change my mind. Trusting you was the biggest mistake of my life.”
And then she turned on her heel and fled.
The dismissal was so jarring Mack was momentarily frozen. He had expected her to be upset, but the bitter vehemence in her voice eviscerated him. It was only when she disappeared into the crowd that he jolted into action. He took three steps in her direction, and then stumbled over something, barely catching himself from hitting the floor.
“Apologies,” the Carlisle Department store girl said with an all-too-innocent smile.
He righted himself and managed one step before he jerked backwards to avoid bowling over the slim blonde who appeared in his path like a wraith. The pianist, if he was not mistaken. The one Winnie declared an utter lamb avoided his eyes, choosing instead to glower at his bowtie. When he edged to the side, she followed, blocking his exit.
His fingers twitched at the medieval urge to toss these women across the room like a caber, but he was also impressed. These were Winnie’s friends. They knew what he’d done and wanted to protect her. It might surprise them, but he was thankful they stood up for her. His bobcat deserved friends as fierce as herself. He met the gaze of the third friend, his hostess, Miss Clementine Lewis. A tiny, but fearsome barrier on his right side, she delivered a glower that made him feel like a misbehaving child.
“Do I need to have you removed from the premises, Mr. Donnelly?”
He lifted both hands in the air. “I’m not here to hurt her, I swear.”
“You already have.”
He grimaced at her cold tone, unable to deny the truth. “I know. My role in the scheme against Winnie is inexcusable.”
