All she heard over and over was the word "whore."
"Hey, Cass. Company approaching on your left. Villanueva, cover the senator." Preston Galloway's kind voice dueled with Wilds' cruelty through her earwig.
Cassie's body sensed where Ian was before she saw him, her heart rate and breathing amplified. She reminded herself Ian Chase was dangerous. She couldn't allow herself to have feelings for him. She didn't deserve any man, much less a man like him.
"May I have this dance?" Ian tapped the elder Whitman's shoulder. His large hand opened for hers.
Wilds' voice echoed in her com, "Here comes the big, rich Navy SEAL to save the day. I bet he wants to peel you out of that dress." Her boss seemed not to care if her colleagues heard his harassing comments.
Whitman bowed to Ian. "If Ms. Ellis is willing." Cassie accepted Ian's hand. "Enjoy the dance, Mr. Chase. Cassiopeia, it's good to see you." Bradford kissed her cheek and then returned to his wife. She buffed the kiss away with her thumb.
* * *
Monique was alluring. Patrons reached out to her as she crossed the large ballroom. Standing beside Jason and Colby, she observed Ian and Cassie dancing while chatting with Kieran on her cell. "I'm not having as much fun as your brother. He's dancing with a beautiful woman. If you ask me, he's smitten."
Kieran chuckled. "What's her name? Get pictures and video. I'll believe it when I see it." He paused. "Are you sure you're talking about my dear brother?"
Monique shot a photo and forwarded it to her husband. "Her name is Cassie Ellis. I'll see you soon, love."
Kieran texted Tiki. He wanted to see that file.
* * *
Cassie placed her damp palm in Ian's. Despite her heels, he towered over her. When he put his hand against the small of her back, she flinched. "Hey." As he took her other hand, his pinkie depressed the button in her ear, switching her com to push-to-talk. She eyed him but did not change the setting. "Are you all right?"
Cassie pushed out a laugh. "Peachy."
Ian raised a knowing brow. "I've got you, sweetheart." Cassie closed her eyes to take a stabilizing breath. "I get the feeling you're not okay."
He calmed her, placing his hand against the nape of her neck. The emotional tone in his voice, coupled with his warm touch, eased her anxiety. Soon, at the continued caress of his hands, her body softened. "Cassie, I'm happy to have this chance to see you again. I didn't like how things ended between us. I'm sorry I spooked you."
"You did Nothing wrong. Thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful." She looked up at him. "I don't want to hurt you. I'm trying to be honest and upfront. I don't date. You will be so much better off without me. I'm not worth the effort."
Cassie's eyes closed again, and a single tear escaped. He swiped it away with the pad of his thumb.
"I don't know why you feel this way, but I shouldn't press you while you're working. I would like to take you to lunch tomorrow. We can talk more about why you feel this way then."
Cassie exhaled and stared at his face. She saw a softness urging her to try. "I'll think about it. I have to be at work at eight. We can talk around seven?"
* * *
Ian watched Cassie leave for the restroom, catching up to her in time to see a heated discussion with Greg Wilds end and leave Cassie alone, her chest heaving in anger, her com on the carpet at her feet. As she bent to pick it up, she looked up at him with a quizzical smile. "Are you following me?"
"I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't. I needed to say one more thing." He whispered, "Cassie, I will never hurt you. You are so worth the effort."
"Thank you for your kind words, but I can't do this to you."
Ian reached for her hand. "If you're ever ready to take a chance on us, I'll be waiting."
"Chances and wishes are fairytales. They'll never come true for me." Cassie stepped back.
Before he could say more, Quinn Marcus approached with a worried expression.
Cassie nodded and turned to her teammate. "Thank you, Mr. Chase."
* * *
Traffic whizzed by. Bradford stood with Sebastian in the warm Washington night. "Your behavior, young man, is not what I expect from the soon-to-be aide to the President of the United States. Ms. Ellis is not a problem. Do not poke the bear. She's not a toy."
