SHEWASN’TGETTINGaway from him this time. He stepped in front of Stacey the first time their paths crossed. ‘Señorita Winner, I’m beginning to think you’re avoiding me.’
She looked at him wide-eyed. ‘Why would I do that?’
Her manner was as direct as ever, and held nothing more than professional interest. Opening her arms wide, she explained, ‘Forgive me. We’ve been very busy tonight, but I hope you’re pleased with what we’ve achieved so far?’
‘I am pleased,’ he admitted. ‘You’ve dealt with some difficult guests, defusing situations that could have disrupted other people’s enjoyment of the evening.’
Stacey shrugged. ‘I want everyone to enjoy themselves whoever they are. We all have different expectations.’
‘Indeed,’ he agreed, staring deep into her eyes.
She searched his as if expecting to find mockery there, and, finding none, she smiled. ‘Anyway, thank you for the compliment. I’ll accept it on behalf of the team. But now, if you’ll excuse me, I have one more thing to check before the banquet begins.’
‘Which is?’ he queried.
‘I want to make sure that no one else has swapped around their place card to sit closer to you.’
He laughed. ‘Am I so much in demand?’
‘You know you are,’ she said with one of her classic withering looks.
‘But not with you, I take it?’
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said, but she couldn’t meet his eyes.
‘Forget it.’ He made her a mock bow. ‘And thank you for protecting me.’
‘My pleasure,’ she assured him, on the point of hurrying away.
‘So, whereamI sitting?’ he asked to keep her close a little longer.
‘Next to me.’ She held his surprised stare in an amused look of her own. ‘I thought you’d like that. You don’t have a companion tonight, and I’ve seated the princess on your other side. I’ll be on hand to run errands.’
‘You? Run errands?’ he queried suspiciously.
‘Yes. Like a PA, or an assistant,’ she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
‘And you don’t mind that?’
‘Why should I? I’m here to work. If you’d rather I sat somewhere else—’
‘No,’ he said so fast he startled both of them. ‘I’m happy with the arrangements as they are.’
‘Then…’ She looked at him questioningly. ‘If you’ll excuse me?’
‘Of course,’ he said with a slight dip of his head. ‘Don’t let me keep you.’
She didn’t see Lucas again until everyone was seated for the banquet and she finally took her place beside him. ‘I was only joking about sitting down,’ she explained as a waiter settled a napkin on her lap with a flourish. ‘I wasn’t sure if you had someone in mind to take this place, and now I don’t want to leave an empty seat beside you.’
‘That wouldn’t look good,’ Luc agreed. ‘Is that the only reason you came to sit next to me?’ He gave her a long, sideways look.
‘I can’t think of any other reason,’ she said, though she knew she had to broach the subject of Lady Sarah’s leave of absence.
‘You impressed me tonight.’
‘You mean the team impressed you tonight,’ she prompted.
‘I mean you.’
