AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Well, there goes my heart rate, competing in the fifty-yard dash.
We made it through the throngs of people who had undoubtedly heard word that Rhett was going to make an appearance here tonight. He smiled and helped me from the car, then dropped my arm and waved to the crowd. I didn’t blame him for putting a little extra distance between us, especially because he was supposed to be here tonight with Karina. Someone shouted questions about my identity, but Rhett ignored them.
When we made it inside, a tall woman in a sleek black gown took Rhett by the arm and dragged him away. He pointed in my direction and said something to her, and she nodded, gesturing where he needed to go. We were in an opulent ballroom of some classy hotel, and people milled about, gathering at tall tables and sipping champagne. Rhett disappeared into the crowd, and I felt very alone all of a sudden, despite the number of people around me.
The woman in the sleek black gown approached me with a wide smile. “Hi, I’m Portia. Rhett asked me to make sure you’re comfortable.” She tilted her head with an interested smile. “You’re his guest?”
“I work for him.” That was a safe answer, right? I didn’t want anyone to realize we were on a weird almost-but-not-really friend-date. Not when his image was so important to him.
“I’m his cousin. It’s nice to meet you. Let me introduce you to...” She looked around the room and paused, searching for someone appropriate to introduce a nobody to. “Follow me?”
She led me to the back corner of the ballroom, where an older woman sat on a plush, mauve chair at one of the few short tables. Her white hair was pulled back in the semblance of a French twist, but it looked to be falling out.
“Mrs. Daugherty,” Portia said, “this is...” She stared at me, and I realized I hadn’t introduced myself.
“Hello. I’m Beth Parker.”
Portia looked pleased with herself, wearing the type of expression that meant she was proud of the charity she’d done. She noticed someone else who needed her and clapped her hands lightly. “I’ll pop back over later and see how you’re getting along.”
I took the seat beside Mrs. Daugherty and admired the woman’s shoulder pads, a fashion feature I had not seen in quite some time.
“Welcome, Beth,” she said. “Sorry you’ve been stuck with the old crone.”
“Nonsense.” I grinned at her. “It’s the perfect vantage point to case the joint.”
“You’re a thief?”
“I’m not staking out the wealth, Mrs. Daugherty. I’m looking at the men. Who would make a good dancing partner?”
Rhett was visible on the far side of the room beside Karina, and he was the only man I wanted to dance with. But if I was going to experience an elite event, I might as well make the most of my time, right? And that meant dancing.
“Ah, I see.” She scanned the crowds. “That one looks promising.” Mrs. Daugherty gestured to a man laughing so hard he bent backward. He looked nice in a tux, but he probably wasn’t my type.
“I’m not into blonds.”
“Mm? Well, I’m no good.” Her loose updo seemed to loosen further, and some hair fell out of the twist. “My eyesight is so terrible I couldn’t tell you what color his hair was. He just appeared to already be dancing.”
I laughed. “I’ll stick to recon, then. You tell me about yourself.”
“Well, I have an interest in the library system.”
That was a strange point to make. “How lovely. I have an interest in hair. That’s what I do, at least. I’m a hairstylist.”
“It is no wonder, then, that you look so lovely,” she said kindly.
“Thank you. Do you spend a lot of time in libraries?”
“Not much lately.” She picked up her glass and took a sip, emptying it. “But I am glad there has been such a good turnout tonight. We could use funds in some of our buildings.”
“Tonight benefits public libraries?”
“Indeed, it does. But don’t let me keep you talking about that, darling. You ought to be casing the men out.”
Close enough. “I’m not too worried about the dancing yet. Can I get you another drink?”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I wouldn’t mind having a task. I’m completely out of my depth here. I’ve been to functions like this before, but nothing this swanky, and it’s a little out of my wheelhouse.”
