Nell wore a navy-blue dinner suit with a long skirt and beaded navy jacket. Emma kept it simple with a knee-length black suit piped with satin, and a string of pearls.
Cain leaned down and brushed a kiss on Nell’s cheek, did the same to Emma, then turned to the big, heavyset woman beside them.
“Well, look who’s here,” he drawled, eyeing Cleo with what appeared to be speculation.
“Cleo’s a friend,” Jenny defended. As large as she was, in her flashy fuchsia skirt and flowing-silver sequined top, she stood out among the sophisticated crowd. “Of course, she was invited.”
Cain just smiled. “Cleopatra,” he said and surprised Jenny by leaning down to brush a kiss on the older woman’s powdered cheek. “Welcome to the Grand Vista Salon.”
Cleo grinned. “You handsome devil. You haven’t changed a bit. Still charming the women the way you did when you were a boy. You’re just better at it now.”
Cain laughed. He waited for each of the women to choose a mask, then ushered them to the table he had reserved for Nell and her friends. He stopped a passing server. “The ladies will have champagne.”
The lanky young man took three crystal flutes filled with golden liquid and set them on the table.
“Jason, isn’t it?” Cain asked.
“Yes, sir, Mr. Barrett.”
“I’ll expect you to personally take care of this table, Jason. See that these ladies have everything they need. Food, drinks, whatever it might be.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cain spoke to Nell. “Jenny and I need to mingle.” He smiled at the group of women. “Enjoy yourselves.” Taking Jenny’s arm, he led her through the crowd, pausing here and there to renew old friendships and make new ones.
An hour slipped past.
Dylan and Summer arrived, Summer looking like a beautiful angel in her silver gown, Dylan in a rented tuxedo that fit his lean, broad-shouldered frame as if it had been perfectly tailored for him.
Her brother leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful, sis.”
Jenny smiled. “You both look incredible. I hope you have a good time.”
They looked at each other as if the answer was a given, and behind her back, Jenny crossed her fingers, hoping it would work out for them.
Nick Faraday showed up with a flashy redhead. He looked great in a tux, and his date was gorgeous.
A few more minutes passed. “I need to visit the ladies’ room,” Jenny said to Cain. “I’ll be right back.”
Cain just nodded as Jenny slipped away. By the time she returned, he had drifted a little farther into the salon. Jenny froze when she recognized the woman he was talking to.
Anna Hobbs Somerset.In a full-length, gold-lamé designer gown that made her blond hair seem to glow, she looked gorgeous. It was a slip dress, the thin material held up by two narrow gold straps, the shiny fabric draping so low in front it barely covered her pale breasts.
Jenny had gone over the guest list with both Millie and Cain. Anna wasn’t on it.
Should she disappear back into the ladies’ room before they spotted her, or join them and stake her claim? Or should she simply wait for Cain’s next move?
The question was resolved when a good-looking, silver-haired man appeared at Anna’s side. Her date, Jenny presumed, when he set a hand at Anna’s waist.
With a rush of relief, Jenny pasted her smile back on, walked up to Cain, and rested her hand possessively on the sleeve of his black tuxedo.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said, a little too sweetly, as she studied the couple. She didn’t have to worry that Anna might remember her. They had never been introduced, and in high school Jenny had been too far down the pecking order for Anna to notice.
Cain introduced them. “Jenny, this is Lucien Rossi, president of Overland Industries, and this is his companion, Anna Somerset.”
“A pleasure.” The silver-haired man made a polite inclination of his head. He was tall and lean, with Italian features and a suntan. Maybe he played a lot of golf.
Anna’s gaze swept over Jenny as if she should have been one of the servers instead of Cain’s date. “Jenny.”
