“I, uh, had a question.”
He cocks his head.
“Uh, can you see the bruising around my eyes?”
He comes closer and lifts my chin between two fingers, staring down at my face intently.
“A little,” he says at last. “But I have to look really close, in bright light.” He slowly releases my chin, and I immediately miss his touch.
“Okay. Thank you.” I nervously smooth my hands down my pale blue dress, suddenly a bit anxious.
“You okay?” he asks.
“I think so?” I’m not sure I have an answer to that. “I’m a little nervous and I don’t know why.”
“Your first public outing since the kidnapping. It didn’t make national news but the story was out there.”
“It was?” I stare at him.
He frowns. “Well, yeah. It was a big deal locally, and Daniil made sure to leak mention of a sex trafficking ring. How else do we bring attention to the matter?”
“I didn’t… no one said anything,” I say in confusion. “I had no idea. Does that mean people know?”
“Some people know.”
“But no one reached out,” I say in confusion. “My friends…Well, I mean, Lacy didn’t know until I told her. But no one else…” Then I remember that I have a new number and groan. “Except I have a new number and I haven’t reached out to everyone yet.”
“We don’t have to go if you think it’ll be too much.”
“No, I want to go. I have to.” I stand up a little straighter. “Because I didn’t do anything wrong. Hiding would give the impression that I did.”
“That’s my girl.” He smiles. “By the way, I wanted to run something past you.”
“Okay.”
“Daniil suggested we go with the story that I’m your date for the weekend. Bodyguard will only bring unwanted attention. But it’s up to you.”
“I have no problem with you being my date,” I say with a teasing smile. “I mean, technically youaremy date, even if you’re pretending to be my bodyguard, and vice versa.”
He chuckles. “I don’t think I’m pretending to be your bodyguard, but you’re right that it doesn’t matter what we call it—I’m definitely your plus one for the weekend.”
“Tonight is a more casual setting so we don’t have to worry about you hovering. Tomorrow, you’re going to have to try to be less conspicuous because I’m shooting the fashion show and it’ll be weird if my new boyfriend is up my butt. So to speak.”
“Noted.” A smile plays on his lips. “I will do my best not to be…up your butt. Unless you ask nicely.”
I flush, dipping my head. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“So, boyfriend and girlfriend for the evening?”
“Yes.”
He extends his elbow. “Then let’s go.”
I take his arm and let him lead me into the hallway just as Courtney and Chris come out of their room. Courtney is six months pregnant, but she’s basically got nothing but a little bump in the middle of her abdomen. She looks incredible in an emerald-green cocktail dress and matching heels. Her red hair is in a messy updo and she’s simply stunning as she walks toward us.
“You look gorgeous,” I gush.
She smiles. “I don’t get dressed up often these days, so I figured I’d take advantage of it.”
