“Lucas Bryer.”
“We’re with the Ray party,” Valerie added, leaning across the seat.
“Ah yes.The Heritage Room is where you’ll want to go.”The valet took my keys.
I rounded the car.There was already another valet there, opening the door for her.Valerie grinned and held her hand out to me.“Thank you for waiting for me,” I whispered.
“Of course.”
“If you go through the doors to your right, there’s an elevator that will take you to the fifth floor,” the second valet said.
“Thank you.”I put my arm around Valerie’s waist and guided her into the building.“Have I told you how beautiful you look?”She relaxed in my hold.Good.Happiness filled me that I could support her tonight.But God help her family if they showed any disrespect to my woman.
“Several times actually.”
“I’ll say it as often as I think is necessary.”The elevator opened, and we stepped inside.“Don’t tense back up.”The elevator began to move.
“I’m trying not to, but…”
“Nothing.You are a beautiful woman, intuitive, and you care…about your friends, about me.You are more worthy than they will ever be.”I pressed my finger against her mouth.“I’m here for you and only you.Lean on me as you need to.”
“Thank you.”She brushed a kiss against my cheek before the elevator stopped.
“Here goes nothing,” she muttered.
While I didn’t quite understand why Valerie was so tense—her family couldn’t be that bad—I would back her up no matter what.The elevator door opened, and I got my first glimpse into the room.The crystal gleamed under the lights, and there was an air of superiority that I’d never liked.
People mingled around the room, dressed to the nines.The room smelled of money and exclusivity.Not that I didn’t have money.I’d worked hard to make sure Mindy and I were taken care of, and I had done well.But this had the hint of old money.
“Incoming,” Valerie whispered.
An elegantly dressed woman, I would say in her fifties, made a beeline for us.Her graying hair was done up into some sort of curly hairstyle, the bright blue dress she wore sparkling as she floated toward us.So did the blue sapphire necklace and earrings.Talk about showing off money.
“Valerie, darling, I’m so glad you finally made it.A little late, but you’re here.”The woman air kissed Valerie’s cheek before looking at me.“And who is this?”
“Mother, this is Lucas.Lucas, my mother, Cora.”Valerie’s voice was tight.
“Mr.…Lucas.”Her gaze looked me up and down.
“Mrs.Ray.”I fought to keep my tone civil.We’d just walked in, and she was already taking Valerie to task for us walking in less than five minutes after the start time, still within the socially accepted ‘on time’ parameter.
“Aren’t you delicious?”
I grimaced, but luckily, Cora’s attention had returned to Valerie.“At least you dressed up a bit.”
What the fuck?My arm around Valerie’s waist tightened as she stiffened.
“Since you didn’t tell me what kind of party, I figured a cocktail dress would work.”
“It does.Although it shows off way too much skin.But you’re here, and that’s all that matters.Your father and sister are mingling somewhere.There are food, drinks, and places to sit.Go mingle and behave yourself.The announcement will be at nine.”Cora walked away.
“Well, there you go,” Valerie said.“I wonder what announcement she’s talking about.”
“Your mother is something.”I leaned down.“We’re not late, so don’t take her words to heart.”Her mother was over-the-top dramatic in my opinion.
“If my mother says six-thirty, you better be there at that time.Although there are others who are just getting here.My father is over there.”She pointed across the room.“We should at least say hello.”
“I agree.”Let’s see how her father treated her.Better than her mother, I hoped.I kept my arm around her waist as we crossed the room.
