Page 43 of My Beautiful Sin

I laugh. “Pretty much.”

“So what are you doing here?”

“Christopher!” Anna sounds appalled.

Christopher holds up a hand. “All I mean is that Devlin’s in Vegas.”

“I get it,” I say with a laugh. “The truth is, I didn’t realize he was out. I was coming by to see him before I head to LA, then thought I’d search you out once I realized I missed him.”

Christopher winks at Anna. “She’s saying that I was just a second thought.”

Anna scoffs. “Better than me. She didn’t think of me at all.”

“I’m not even going to try to dig my way out of the hole. I’ll only make it worse.”

They both laugh. “It’s all good,” Anna says. “At least you came before lunch.”

“Why?”

“We’re closing at noon,” Anna says. “Devlin’s orders. There’ve been some security breaches in Vegas. Minor, but Devlin takes every breach seriously. He’s got Ronan heading up a security team on this end so they can make sure all the holes are plugged.” She studies my face. “He didn’t tell you?”

I shake my head, and Anna shrugs as if it’s no big deal.

“Well, why would he?” she asks. “It’s not as if you’re actually part of the DSF.”

I know she doesn’t mean it unkindly—and the words are literally true—but I still feel the sting of being an outsider in Devlin Saint’s world.

Chapter Fifteen

I’m stepping off the elevator into the DSF lobby when I see Tamra Danvers standing by Paul’s desk, looking perfectly put-together in a pale pink suit. She looks up, then smiles widely as she heads toward me, her three-inch Louboutin heels clicking on the floor.

“I’m so glad to see you,” she says. “Paul said you were in the building.”

“I was in the research room.” I tell her, hurrying forward and accepting her hug. Tamra is the DSF’s publicity director, but I’ve known her since high school when I was interning for the police department and she was doing community relations work. At the time, I didn’t realize that she’d maneuvered herself into that job to keep an eye on Alex, her friend’s son. Bottom line, she’s known Devlin longer than I have. And I know she loves him, too.

“I think Anna’s helping him plot his book,” I add.

Tamra smiles. “She helps him quite a bit. Maybe we have another budding author.”

“Maybe.” I realize I’m grinning, happy to have bumped into her. “I’m so glad to see you. I had the impression from Reggie that you were busy.”

“Always, but never too busy for you. I’m sorry you missed Devlin. He’ll be sorry as well.”

“I figure I need to get used to his jet-setting ways. Honestly, considering who he is and what he does, it’s a wonder he has any free time at all.”

“Things tend to come in spurts,” Tamra says. She has dark hair with a single streak of gray, which she tucks behind her ear. “With you in the picture now, I’m sure he’ll be more discerning when choosing what projects he’ll travel for.”

I smile, liking the fact that she so easily sees Devlin and I as a couple. “Reggie said he should be back tonight.”

“Oh, good. But I’ll move his interview to tomorrow afternoon, just in case.”

“Interview? More coverage on the foundation? And my article’s not even published yet…” I trail off, pretending to pout.

Tamra laughs. “Would he do that? No, this is a quick interview with one of the LA morning programs. Pre-taped, obviously. He’ll talk about the foundation, of course, but mostly it’s because of the award.” I must look blank, because she continues. “He didn’t tell you about the humanitarian award?”

I shake my head.

“Devlin’s receiving the World Council Award for Humanitarian Services. It’s a very big deal.” She looks as proud as if she were his mother.