These women had an agenda, and as far as she could tell, she was now on the menu as a possible dish for Kyle.
He’d known, of course, that the women were going to circle and attack. And that’s why he’d abandoned her after their dance. Payback.
She smiled politely at the women, grateful nonehad yet noticed that she was entirely avoiding their questions.
She raised her gaze over the sea of gray-and blue-haired heads and caught his eye, hoping her expression conveyed that he needed to get his rear back over there. Right that second.
He held up a glass of champagne as though to ask, “Want some?” She sighed, then nodded. Champagne. Wine. Straight Scotch. Anything to help get through this little ordeal.
The truth was, under normal circumstances, she might actually be enjoying this. After being raised by Gram and Gramps, she got along famously with the senior citizen set. But these were not normal circumstances.
“Are you and Kyle dating, dear?”
She started to concoct an answer, but fortunately the man himself eased up beside her and handed her a drink. Then he took her free hand and twined his fingers through hers. It was a casual gesture, but right then it seemed anything but. Not when his fingers were pressed against hers, firm but gentle. And not when he was looking down at her with that crooked smile and those dreamy eyes.
“Now, Abby,” he said, sliding smoothly into the conversation. “You know I’m not dating anyone in particular right now.”
Mel found herself almost sagging with relief from that tidbit of information.Ridiculous.
The bespectacled woman just smiled and tapped the tip of her cane on the parquet floor in front of him. “I can hope.”
“Ladies,” he said, hooking his arm through hers. “I’m afraid Grace and I really do need to get going.”
Finally!“It was nice meeting all of you.”
They said a few more goodbyes as they made their way to the front hall. Emily met them there and gave them each a quick kiss. “It was lovely to meet you, Grace. Now that we’ve met, please don’t be a stranger.”
“Thank you,” Mel said.Emily Radleytold her not to be a stranger. Oh, Gramps was not going to believe this.
Finally they were out the door. A valet in a white coat with red epaulets trotted over to take a ticket from Kyle, then he jogged off into the dark.
“A valet?”
“My grandmother likes to go all out when she throws a party.”
“I guess so.” She licked her lips. “So, uh, thank you.”
“For what this time?”
“For getting us out of there.”
“Notice how I’m not saying ‘I told you so’?”
She scowled. “You’re lucky I’m not chewing you out. You threw me to the wolves, you know.”
“Hell, yes.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“Sorry,” he said, sounding anything but. “I guess I just assumed you could think on your feet.”
At that, she just glared.
“Right,” he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. “You’re a thief, not a con artist. Got it.”
She opened her mouth to retort, then thought better of it, focusing instead on her fingernails. Not surprisingly, she was unable to find a nail with anything left to nibble. She shoved her hands in her pockets.
When the car arrived, she wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved. It was your basic So Cal transportation, a Jeep Grand Cherokee. A fabulous vehicle—certainly out of her league—but considering who his grandmother was, Mel had been expecting something more ostentatious. A Ferrari, perhaps. Or a bright-red HumVee.
