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“Who’s your date tonight,Jack?”
“What happened between you andElla?”
“Is it true that Ella broke off yourengagement?"
Nina’s body was in full-on fight or flight mode, adrenaline making her flushed and manic, but she couldn’t have run even if she’d wanted to. Her hand was tucked into Jack’s arm, pressed against his body as he held her close, propelling her purposefully up the carpet as he ignored the shoutedquestions.
It was over quickly. One second she was on the red carpet being pummeled by questions and light, the next she was being ushered into the restaurant, the chaos falling behind them as another object of interest stepped from another limo at thecurb.
“You did marvelously well,” Jack murmured near herear.
She didn’t have time to dwell on the rush of his approval. They moved into the restaurant — too mundane a word to describe the legendary Cipriani’s, with its expansive interior and towering barreled ceiling, more like a theater than a place to eat — and were quickly engulfed in a crowd of people Nina recognized from newspapers andtabloids.
There were more photographers inside, although markedly fewer of them. Jack steered her clear of the press areas set up for photography. They headed for the barinstead.
“Champagne?” he asked her when they reachedit.
She spotted an A-list actress leaning over the bar, deep in conversation with a director she’d seen described as “reclusive” in news articles. There wasn’t enough champagne in the world to get her through thisnight.
“Vodkamartini.”
His eyes lit with appreciation. “I’ll joinyou.”
He ordered their drinks and they moved toward a large area set up for the gala. Circular tables glittered under the towering ceiling, fresh flowers and flickering candles placed at the center of creamy linen. A balcony looked over the room on one side. Under it, a small orchestra in black tie played as guests began to trickle in from the bar and pressareas.
“It’s so beautiful,” shesaid.
He smirked. “Do you thinkso?”
“Youdon’t?”
“I think you’re beautiful. This…” He looked around. “This isartifice.”
“Can’t artifice be beautiful?” sheasked.
He seemed to consider her words. “It’s an interesting question. I’ll get back toyou.”
It wasn’t flip. Not a dismissal of her question or a way to move onto more interesting conversation. She had no doubt that he would think about, was thinking about it already, and that when he finally came to an answer it would be like everything else about him — thoughtful, considered,deliberate.
“Jack! Darling! I’m so happy you madeit.”
Nina leaned around him to find the owner of the voice and found an elaborately made-up woman leaning in to kiss Jack’s cheek, one manicured hand on hisshoulder.
Jack submitted to the kiss without any attempt to returnit.
The woman stepped in front of Jack and appraised Nina as if she were a strange and unusual object. “And who is yourfriend?”
“Nina, this is Kitty Vanderbilt, the organizer of this dog and pony show,” Jacksaid.
“Oh, you! Always a spoilsport.” Kitty squeezed Jack’s shoulder before hungrily returning her attention to Nina. “So nice to meet you, Nina. Jack has a habit of keeping his…friendsasecret.”
It was an obvious attempt to get Nina to say more about her relationship to Jack, and Nina was surprised by the protective instinct that rose in her. She had no idea who Kitty Vanderbilt was — other than the organizer of the Amfar gala — but the woman had no right to details of Jack’s life that Jack didn’t want to giveher.
Nina shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure meetingyou.”
The woman’s face tightened. “And you,dear.”
Nina didn’t bother trying to smile. Jack was right; Nina was here for him. She hadn’t realized how true it was — how right it felt — until thismoment.
Kitty was already moving on, her gaze scanning the increasingly crowded room. She lifted a hand into the air to greet someone beyond Nina’s shoulder, then turned toJack.
“Duty calls, darling. I’m sure we’ll catch uplater.”
She melted into the crowd and Nina lightly touched Jack’s arm. His cologne was subtle but effective, the spicy scent going straight to hertoes.
“A viper in couture?” sheasked.
For a split second, his face remained unreadable. Then he tipped back his head and laughed. It was the first authentic display of emotion he’d exhibited, the first time he hadn’t seemed perfectly controlled. He had a lovely laugh that came from deep in his chest, and his eyes crinkled at thecorners.
When he looked down at her, a smile still touched his mouth. “I had a feeling you were special.” He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Come on. Let’s see who else we cantorment.”
