“I am.” She tilts her head at me. “I’m just having trouble finding interesting conversation.”
“That can’t be true in a room full of intellectuals.”
Then she laughs, and two males nearby look over.
“Charming and dismissive. That’s a new one for me.”
“I’m sure it is.” I smile at her, not wanting to appear too cold. I have to be the perfect date, which means remaining polite.
“You didn’t commit to our dance later. Are you in or out?”
I’m not sure she’s referring to dancing.
I need to play the game. Ms. Holt is a donor.
“A dance sounds great. It’s?—”
She groans. “I sense a ‘but’ in there somewhere. Don’t be so boring.”
“Iamboring and not much of a dancer.”
“I doubt that very much.” She touches my arm. “I can tell.” She licks her lips. “We’d have fun.”
“I have no doubt. I’m here with Robyn. I like her very much, and I would hate to hurt her.”
“She would never find out.”
“I would know.”
“So, chivalry isn’t dead, after all. You’re a keeper, Ridge. Such a pity.”
“Have a good evening, Ms. Holt.”
“I will.”
She holds my eye for one more breath, then a smile blooms on her face, and she drifts off again. I watch her go. She slides into a circle by the bar and starts laughing at something a male is saying, her hand on his sleeve.
I turn back to find Robyn, and she isn’t there.
The space at my elbow where she had been thirty seconds ago is filled instead by the canapé waiter. The small group has broken up. I do a slow sweep of the room, but I can’t find her.
My dragon comes to attention so fast I feel my vision hone. I keep my expression flat as I move, looking everywhere for her as I do.
My heart rate is picking up when I finally catch a flash of green at the far end of the room.
Thank fuck!
I push my way through a couple, put my warm beer down on a passing tray, and start across the room toward her.
She’s standing near one of the tall windows that look out over the gardens.
I stop dead about ten feet away.
She finally took off the wrap, and her dress is strapless.
Her shoulders are bare. There’s a delicate silver chain looped around her neck, and the pendant sits in the dip between her collarbones.
And her chest.
