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“I know.” He shifted in his seat and then pulled out his wallet. From it, he slid out a card and placed it on the table. “That’s my answering service. If I don’t answer my cell phone, leave a message for me there. I check it wherever I am.”
I eyed the card.
“And don’t give the number to anyone else.”
I wanted to give him shit, but I refrained. “Thank you.”
“I haven’t done anything yet,” he said as he rose and I stood with him. While I didn’t fully understand the man, I got the directness. “Look after Lainey B.”
“I will.”
Without another word, the man pivoted and strode out of the deli. No hesitation marked his steps. I scratched at my jaw and then glanced down at the card again. I memorized the information on it. Not that there was much, then I shredded it before shoving it into the water glass remnants.
My phone vibrated as I left the deli and I pulled it out of my pocket. The message on the screen made me snort.
Adam Reed wanted to see me.
I guess I wasn’t the only one making sure I knew what everyone else was doing. That was fine. He could answer a few questions for me too.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
LAINEY
"Smile before your face freezes like that," Tally scolded me as she looped her arm through mine. I spared her a look. It wasn’t like we were being photographed. Instead, we were here for a charity fashion show and I’d never been so bored in my life. I wanted to be working on the corporate breakdown of the shell companies hiding King’s assets. That seemed a better use of my time.
Tally Marlowe squeezed me gently and I dredged up a smile for her. “Not sure any of these are to my taste.” It was the right thing to say because her eyes practically danced with amusement.
“I don’t think they are anyone’s taste,” she murmured in a voice too low to carry. “They really are hoping they can break the mold and set a new trend.” We shared a grimace that turned my forced smile real.
We'd been best friends since our very first day at Abberlay Hall. She'd made fast friends with me, the Benedict bastard, and nothing her family or anyone else said could change her mind. Damn, they had all tried. Only Tally and Emersyn had remained faithful friends, and poor Emersyn, her family had all but isolated her even when she was away at school.
For Tally, I could smile even if I found myself wishing Em was with us right now. In some ways, Tally had been my public best friend and Emersyn my secret one. Thankfully, neither begrudged me the other. Nor did I have to keep my relationship with Em a secret anymore.
Though, to be honest, if Em were here, she’d be enabling my desire to escape. Neither of us cared for these events. Her reasons held far more depth than my own. I was justbored.
"Better," Tally said, claiming a glass of champagne from one of the dozens of trays being carried through the room. She handed one to me then took another for herself. The runway was one of three set up in the event room. The designers were mostly new, with a few bigger names to garner interest and guarantee attendance.
Social situation, fine clothing, and a chance to get an early glimpse of the spring and summer collections? It was the perfect type of fundraiser to cater to the kind of clientele who would spend a lot of money to attend and spend more once inside.
“You are in a mood,” she commented before sipping the champagne. I gave myself a solid internal shake. Tally was hardly the first person to point it out. I needed to do better about covering my irritation.
“Just—nothing here interests me.” Which was absolutely true and if I leaned a little too hard on the bored socialite, well, it wouldn’t be the first time.
“I don’t know,” Tally argued, draping an arm around my shoulders. “I think that Wintergreen fellow might have more than a few nice ideas.” She used the hand holding her champagne glass to motion toward the runway that was simply overflowing in whites, off-whites, creams, and the palest of beige outfits. Granted, they were all light, airy, and offered more than a bit of lace.
Leaning into her, I tilted my head. “They look like negligees and old-world pajamas.” The lacy camisoles were delicate and pretty, but did he think those would really catch on?
“Exactly,” Tally said with a hint of laughter. “Think about going to one of the frumpier luncheons dressed in the cami with a pair of slacks or, even better—that skirt.”
I snorted. It was probably amongst the more inelegant of my reactions, but she giggled.
“Also, while we’re conspiring,” she continued in a much more hushed voice. “Why do you have the dishy bodyguard back? And are you going to take my advice and see if he has a little extra or if the only steel he carries is that gun?”
With a roll of my eyes, I leaned away to give her a look. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Absolutely, and he looks like the dark and dirty type, all quiet and fierce in public, but will downright rail you in the bedroom.”
I wasn’t going to respond to that.
