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Frazier frowned. Hadn’t he said that? He was about to light into the man when Rylee answered. “Just as Mr. Connelly stated, I am Connelly Enterprises’ ambassador for tonight’s American Heart Association’s Let’s Live event. As you know the American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases and strokes.”
She presented the men a dazzling smile as she continued. “Both of my grandparents died of heart-related causes, and I am so proud to be working for a company like Connelly Enterprises, that gives so much back to the community, as well as to medical research.”
Frazier knew her words alone hadn’t been what had dazzled the paparazzi, but the mere fact that she’d spoken--and spoken so intelligently. Usually, his dates flaunted their beauty and not their intelligence…if they had some. They were all flash but no substance. Rylee had just proven she possessed both and didn’t feel the need to flaunt her beauty. It came naturally.
Now the reporters were asking her questions about tonight’s event and it didn’t bother him one iota that theattention had been shifted from him to Rylee. She was still praising the American Heart Association. It wouldn’t surprise him if those reporters and photographers put their microphones and cameras down to pull out their checkbooks to donate.
“Thank you for your interest in tonight’s event. I hope you let everybody know about this wonderful cause. They could always use more support,” Rylee finished, as if their main objective had been coming up with a story on the event and not get the dirt on Frazier. He’d never seen anyone play the press better.
Members of paparazzi were standing there, smiling like besotted fools. It was getting a little hard to watch. So he spoke up. “I need to get Ms. Danville inside. She and her team have quite an affair planned. Good night.”
Then taking Rylee’s arm, he led her through the double glass door.
• • •
The night was a huge success!
Everyone who attended commented on how well-organized the event had been. Caden Granger had wowed the crowd, as expected. But what had been even more special was when his four-year-old son Sax had joined his father on stage with his miniature saxophone. The little boy, a mirror image of Caden Granger, had shown that he would one day be as great a saxophonist as his father, if not better.
Vincent Giles and his orchestra had kept couples on the floor dancing the majority of the night, playing a vast array of music from the Roaring Twenties to Hip-hop. Severalof the older couples surprised him with just how versatile they still were on the dance floor.
Everyone was thrilled that Rob Lowe had made an appearance and he’d then encouraged everyone to add extra zeros to the checks they intended to write. When she was asked how she’d managed to get a celebrity like Rob Lowe to make an appearance, Rylee played it off. She wasn’t about to tell anyone her best friend Sheryl made the connection for her. When one of Sheryl’s books had been made into a movie a couple of years ago, Rob had been the leading actor. They’d been friends ever since.
But now, it was all over. The event had ended a while ago. During the night, she had seen Frazier mingling, doing a great job of working the crowd. He looked in his element among the other wealthy attendees. She had sent word through one of the staffers to let Frazier Connelly know there was no need for him to wait on her. She still had to finalize things, so she’d call an Uber to get home. He’d responded that he had no problem waiting.
It was after midnight when she finally headed toward the ballroom to find him. She saw him standing in front of a huge portrait of Thomas Jefferson, who’d been born on a large tract of land near Charlottesville. Frazier’s eyes might have been on the painting, but hers were on him. The man was standing there dressed in a tuxedo that looked as if it had been tailor-made for his body. With his wealth, it probably had been.
He looked every bit like the smooth, suave, debonair businessman that he was. He would never know how hard it had been for her to share a car with him. For only thesecond time since her divorce, she was attracted to a man--the same man.
He must have heard her steps because he turned and looked at her, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.
“Mr. Connelly, you didn’t have to wait for me. I could have found my own way home,” she said, coming to stand in front of him.
“It was no problem, Ms. Danville. I’m sure you’ve heard this already from a number of people, but tonight was amazing. You and your team did a fantastic job. I can speak for all of us at Connelly Enterprises when I say, you made us proud. I know the American Heart Association will be thrilled with the amount of money that was raised.”
Rylee couldn’t help but smile at the compliment. “Thanks. But it wasn’t all me. I had a wonderful team. And Shay Markham, the event planner, was awesome. I suggest Connelly Enterprises use her again.”
He nodded. “We will definitely consider your recommendation.”
“Thanks, Mr. Connelly.”
“Are you ready to leave now?”
“Yes. It’s been a long night.”
“I agree, it has,” he replied in a deep, throaty voice that made her even more aware of him as a man--a very, tall, dark, handsome man she was attracted to.
In truth, she’d been drawn to him since the day she’d walked into his office and saw him quietly sitting, staring up at the ceiling while he listened to an audio book--an audio book that she had narrated. How amazing was that?
“I noticed you didn’t manage to eat much tonight. If you’re hungry, we can certainly stop someplace and get something to eat.”
It was kind of him to offer but she was fine. Even had she been hungry, she would not have said anything. She’d taken up a lot of his time already.
“No, thank you. I’m fine. But thanks for the offer.” He must have been very observant to know how busy she’d been.
But then, she had noticed him watching her from time to time tonight. She’d figured he was simply observing the way she represented his company. In his position, she’d do the same thing.
Still, Rylee did recall a time tonight when she had glanced at where he’d been standing talking to Sheppard and Carson Granger. As if he’d felt someone staring at him, he had looked at her and their gazes had connected. She had been embarrassed at being caught staring at him, but for some reason, she couldn’t look away.
