She was about to step on the marble floor when she turned tothe right... and her heart skipped a beat. A gorgeous man who looked like Hunter was standing off to the side with a beautiful dark-haired woman hanging all over him.
He lifted his head, looked straight at Britt, and her heart stopped.
Chapter 21
“Made it in the nick of time.”
Amy’s jaw dropped as Max pulled up in front of the Picketts’ house. No, this wasn’t a house. It was a bona fide mansion, and she’d never even been this close to one before. It was spectacular.
A young man opened her door at the same time Max got out of his car, leaving the engine running. He met her on the passenger’s side just as the valet was helping her out of the car. Mindful of her hem, she lifted her dress atinybit. She’d shown enough skin for the night.
As the valet went to park Max’s Mercedes, Max offered her his arm again. She took it, still marveling. “This is really something.”
“I’d forgotten how impressive it is actually.” He turned to her. “We better get inside. Arthur should be here any minute.”
They walked in just as a sophisticated, impeccably dressed woman was trying and failing to shush the crowd. And it was quite a crowd, almost filling the large grand hall. Finally, someone from somewhere whistled, and everyone quieted down.
“Arthur is on his way,” the woman said in a soft Texas drawl that managed to sound both sweet and elegant. “We’ll be dimming the lights in five minutes.”
“Where should we stand?” Amy asked.
Max shrugged. “Anywhere we can find a place.”
They made their way toward the ginormous spiral staircase asa young woman wearing a vintage sixties dress and long white gloves descended the stairs, a man with close-cut, curly black hair in a tuxedo right behind her. The outfit looked like something Britt would wear, not that she would ever go to a huge, fancy party like this.
Then the man turned to look out on the crowd. Amy halted.
His gaze suddenly locked on hers. Her heart hammered in her chest. She’d recognize those green eyes anywhere, anytime, even though it had been almost twenty years since she’d last seen them.Daniel.Although, it couldn’t be Daniel because he wouldn’t be at this kind of party with these kind of people. Impossible.
The woman stopped at the bottom of the stairs, Daniel almost bumping into her.
Amy’s hand flew to her mouth. Britt? No, it couldn’t be.
“Something wrong?” Max asked.
She couldn’t look at him. All she could do was stare at Britt, who was frozen on the bottom step, gawking at something on the other side of the room.
Amy’s gaze followed hers just as the crowd cleared for a moment. She couldn’t believe it. Standing near the wall with a modelesque woman basically glued to him was the man from Britt’s drawing.
“Amy?” Max stepped in front of her. “You’re white as a sheet.”
“I—” She turned to Britt again and saw the familiar look of fear in her eyes. Daniel leaned over and whispered something to her. Britt gripped his arm.
Another whistle. This time a man’s voice rang out. “Light’s out in three... two... one...”
Darkness descended on the room, although it wasn’t completely without light. Two of the outside lights were still on, but they didn’t give off enough illumination for her to see Britt. Shefelt Max cover her elbow with his hand. The room was now so silent, Amy could hear herself breathing.
She wasn’t thinking about Max, or his boss.Daniel is here. With Britt.Her daughter knew he was in town and hadn’t said a word to her about it. How long had he been here? Why was Britt here?How could she keep this from me?
The door opened, and Arthur walked in.
***
“Surprise!”
The lights blazed bright again as the crowd’s shouts echoed off the marble floor and high ceiling of the great room. But Hunter barely heard it and kept his gaze on the staircase, confusion swarming his mind. Britt was here? With the chauffeur? At least that’s who he thought was standing behind her. She was still on the step, her expression petrified. Daniel—was that his name?—now had a protective arm around her and was whispering in her ear.
But her eyes are still on me.
