Page 127 of Hard Rain

Axel smiled to himself.

For a guy who claimed he hated parties, Whip looked right at home.

Charleston excused himself from another conversation and disappeared through a set of double doors marked Private.

Noted.

Two security men remained outside without speaking.

Axel checked on Whip.

A knot of guests blocked his view for a second.

Whip was on the balcony overlooking the ballroom.

Better vantage point.

Of course.

Axel looked back toward the private doors.

Security hadn’t moved.

Neither had Charleston come back out.

Then Charleston reappeared.

Axel took the moment to drift with the crowd, never getting close enough to Charleston to be remembered.

The man accepted a small cup of espresso from the waiter before moving toward the west side of the ballroom.

Axel watched him disappear into conversation with another donor.

A quick glance found Whip on the stairs overlooking the room.

Smart.

From up there he could watch everybody.

Axel continued his slow circuit, noting the private hallway, the grand staircase, and the security team quietly steering guests away from the west wing.

He filed that away.

Axel checked on Whip again.

This time, he found him near the bar speaking with one of the servers.

“Can’t take your eyes off me,” Whip murmured over the radio.

“Wasn’t trying,” Axel shot back.

Whip’s gaze found his across the ballroom. A slow smile tugged at his mouth before he blew Axel a quick kiss.

Smiling, Axel turned his attention back to Charleston.

“Enough, you two. Anybody have any idea who he met with?” Boone growled into the earpiece.

“Nobody more than ten minutes,” Axel said.