“Jacinda?” a male voice calls.
She shrugs and sends me an apologetic glance, her eyes soft. “I have to be going. My husband is calling. It’s been wonderful seeing you, Rainey.”
Before I can reply, she leans close and whispers, “You make a beautiful couple,” before turning and gliding away in her beautiful, royal blue gown.
My cheeks are burning as I look up at Lucas. “What was that about?”
“Just Mom being Mom.” He takes my elbow and guides me through the ballroom and past the string quartet playing in the corner.
“Where are we going?” I ask, confused.
“Somewhere alone so I can kiss you,” he says in a gruff voice.
Immediately, my body responds, my nipples hard peaks, and as much as I want to go with him, I also want to throttle him because I’m wearing a silk dress.
The last thing I need is someone noticing! “Lucas!” I hiss. “We’re going home together. We need to wait,” I say regretfully.
“Just one—”
“Rainey!” a female voice calls out.
I turn to see Blaire Reynolds waving to me, and Lucas is forced to stop and release my elbow.
“Blaire. How are you?” I force out. I knew she would be here but was hoping to avoid her. Her M.O. is to fawn all over me while hating me behind my back.
She treats me to a fake smile. “You and Kaylee have done a wonderful job here.” She sweeps her arm around, and I take in the greenery woven into draperies on the ceiling and the tall centerpieces with white lilies inside.
“Thank you so much. But we were just stepping out for a moment.” I tug on Lucas’s tuxedo jacket, now willing to sneak out with him.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to yourfriend?”
I sigh. “Lucas Carras, this is Blaire Reynolds. She owns Sun Coast Events. Blaire, Lucas,” I say, tipping my head toward him.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” She stares as if unable to take her eyes off him.
I clear my throat. “Really, we need to be going.”
“Did you know that Rainey and I went to high school together?” she asks.
“No, I didn’t know that,” Lucas says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”
She tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “I’m not surprised she hasn’t mentioned me. When wemet,” she says,using finger-quotes, “Rainey said she didn’t remember me from high school.”
“We had a large graduating class,” I murmur. The conversation was uncomfortable the first time we’d had it, and it never got any easier considering she mentions it every time we run into each other.
“We had a different group of friends,” Blaire says. “You know how it is. Cliques and all. But we ended up in the same profession. Friendly competitors!” she all but chirps.
“This is interesting, but we do need to—”
“Get going. Yes. Well, take care. I’m sure I’ll see you around, Rainey. Maybe I’ll have gotten the job next time.” She waves her fingers at us and walks away.
“What was that about?” Lucas asks.
“A competitor. In many ways.” I pause, then say, “She’s an odd one. But good at what she does. We’re just… better. And she has a hard time handling it. But I’m used to her.” I shrug.
“Now can we sneak out?”
I’m about to give in when the lights flash, the signal that it’s time for the sit-down meal. “I’ll be missed if I don’t take my seat.” I squeeze his hand and release it. “We’ll make up for it later. I promise.”
