Mikhail took her arm as they exited the apartment complex.“What is the address so I can tell my driver?”
Clarice rattled off an address in an exclusive suburb, more herself now.It made Mikhail wonder if he was imagining things.He opened the door and helped her slide inside the sedan.He strode around the vehicle’s rear and settled beside her while recalling a recent car ride with Edwina.
“Where are we going, sir?”the driver asked.
Mikhail gave instructions and sat back.“Tell me more about your friends.Why are they in town, and why aren’t they staying for the entire evening?”
Clarice squeezed her silver clutch bag.“They’re booked on a flight home in a few hours.If you hadn’t gone out of town, you would’ve met them earlier.”
“I see.”An understatement.Clarice’s behavior and this dinner fuss were out of character.Well, he’d wait and judge for himself.Deciphering undercurrents was his specialty and made him an excellent entrepreneur.He’d read the room and determine his approach.“You said you went shopping after I saw you earlier?”
“After a quick lunch with my girlfriends,” she said.“Was your business trip successful?”
Mikhail’s smile was instinctive when he thought about Edwina.“Yes.Very.”
She stared at him, and their normal easiness fell apart at the seams.Interesting.He didn’t enjoy touching her anymore, and she no longer amused him.Mikhail checked his watch.It would be a long evening when he clamored to return to Edwina.
Their driver halted outside a large, gated community and opened his window to murmur into a speaker.An instant later, the gate slid open, and they drove through.
Mikhail glanced at Clarice and found her anxiously watching him.“Something wrong?”
“No, of course not.”
But there was.He sensed it, and her anxiety rubbed his fur the wrong way.
Their driver pulled up outside an imposing mansion.Lights illuminated the entire building, and several luxurious model cars crammed into the driveway.
“I’ll let you off here and find parking, sir,” the driver said.
“No problem,” Mikhail said.
“You want me to walk in these shoes?”Clarice asked in an icy tone.
“Where would you have us park?”Mikhail said, reining in his temper.
When the driver pulled up, Mikhail exited the car and circled the rear to open Clarice’s door.He offered his arm, despite his tiger’s rumbling protest.He’d act the gentleman for a few more hours.
The mansion’s front door opened before they reached it.A woman stood there, dressed as formally and seductively as Clarice.
“You’re here,” the woman said.
Clarice smiled, but the gesture sat awkwardly on her mouth, and his instincts flared in warning.“I’m sorry we’re late.The traffic was worse than we expected.”
“Come in.This must be your Mikhail,” the woman said.“It’s nice to meet you finally.”
Mikhail glanced at Clarice, who appeared faintly embarrassed.
“I’m proud of you,” she blurted.“I can’t help it if I want to tell everyone how happy you make me.”
The woman ushered them into a room full of strangers.Mikhail had met some of Clarice’s friends but spotted no familiar faces.More peculiar, Clarice had told him the dinner was with friends.Mikhail didn’t like this and heightened watchfulness had him scanning the room’s occupants.
“I’m afraid I can’t stay for long,” Mikhail said.“I have other commitments.”
“Can’t you change your plans?”their hostess asked.
“No,” Mikhail said without hesitation or apology.“I explained this to Clarice before I agreed to accompany her here.”
The woman’s face grew hard before she slipped on an ill-fitting smile.“Let me introduce you to everyone.Would you like a drink?”
