“Look at that.” To the left, a fountain of dark chocolate flows out of a crystal spout. Waiters artfully arrange graham crackers, cinnamon sticks, and marshmallows.
Isabella seems nonplussed but I’m taken aback. “So, this is how the other half lives?”
“Not my half, my husband’s.”
Other than this afternoon, I’ve never really spent time with her and she’s much different than I imagined. I always thought a billionaire’s wife would be bit stuck up but she’s so down to earth, I don’t get it. “Did you really work for Grayson before you married him?”
She laughs, a twinkle in her eye because her husband is listening. “I thought he was the new human resource guy when I stormed into his office. I yelled at him about my performance review.”
Grayson chuckles. “She was something else.”
“You fired me.” Her brows raise, she grins, then they both start to laugh.
At that moment, a string quartet plays in the background and Jack holds out his hand, “Would you waltz with me?”
“You dance?”
“Of course.” My husband never ceases to amaze me as he takes me into his arms and swirls me around the floor.
I think back on how his hippie mom moved him from town to town as a kid and wondered how he learned to be so light on his feet.
He must’ve read my mind. “My sergeant insisted we all learn.”
Then, his hand slides lower on my back, pressing me into him as I float in his arms. For the briefest moment, there’s just me and him. Gone are blackmail, kidnappers and Senator McAlister.
Too soon, the music stops and Jack kisses the tip of my nose. “I’ve wanted to do that for the longest time.”
I press my mouth to his, forgetting about my bright lipstick. “I had no idea…”
“There’s still a lot you don’t know about me.” He laughs when I rub the red off his face with a napkin.
I’m about to suggest to Jack how we should ditch this place and find a hotel when Senator McAlister’s wife steps into view by the ice sculpture. Dressed in silver, she holds a pink drink in one hand, a fork in the other, and converses with an equally bejeweled woman.
“There she is.” I grab Isabella out of Grayson’s arms. “I need an introduction.”
“What are you up to?” Her brows crease as I rush her to the seafood bar.
“Trying to save Jack along with your husband’s company.”
“I’m all in. Let’s go.” She grabs my hand and holds a palm up to Grayson when he tries to follow. “Give us a minute, okay?”
With two sets of male eyes upon us, I take a plate and help myself to shrimp cocktail while Isabella gives Eleanor a warm smile.
“Lovely party. Thank you for inviting us. Have you met Jack’s wife, Dr. Smythe-Taylor?”
“We haven’t officially met but we’ve spoken on the phone. Doctor of what?”
“Psychology.”
“That’s impressive and you’re so beautiful, too. How in the world did you meet Jack?”
I smile. “It’s a long story. Similar to how he saved your husband, he saved me. I wonder if you and I could have a quiet chat.” I make eyes at Isabella who nods and hijacks our men about to ruin everything.
Eleanor takes me down the hall and into the ladies’ room. “Okay. My interest is piqued.”
I lower my voice so the washroom maid can’t hear. “Do you know your husband is being blackmailed?”
The senator’s wife sputters and starts to leave but I hold her arm, my shrimp dropping onto the floor. “I don’t say this lightly. I was kidnapped and I think he’s involved.”
