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Isatat the dressing table after drying my hair, applying my makeup, and watching him in the mirror as he buttoned up his shirt. He gave me a wink when he caught me staring. Once I was finished, I unwrapped the towel I had been wearing, and pulled on a black pair of panties, then walked to the wardrobe. He watched me take the dress from the hanger and slip it on. He walked to stand behind me, pushed my hair to one side as he fastened the halter neck. He smiled at me as he planted a gentle kiss on my exposedshoulder.
Something had changed; there had been a shift within him. The brusqueness was gone and had been replaced with agentleness.
“Ready?” he asked. I ran my fingers once more through my hair, loosening the curls andnodded.
We took the lift down to a ballroom. He was immediately greeted the minute we stepped through the door. He kept his hand on my back and introduced me to everyone that stopped to talk to him. I lost track of names and their relationship to him. Some were colleagues, others were businessmen, and a few were friends of Gabriella’s. A waitress stopped in front of us, and he took two glasses of champagne, handing meone.
I spotted Gabriella across the hall. She smiled, broke away from her friends, and walked towards us. She greeted me first with a hug, then kissed Mackenzie on thecheek.
“Happy birthday,” Isaid.
“Thank you. I see you already have drinks, I made sure to have some nice whiskey behind the bar for you, Mackenzie,” shesaid.
“Good. I’ll indulge after dinner,” hesaid.
“You saw the guest list, I take it?” sheasked.
“Idid.”
She smiled and nodded, but her comment left me concerned. Mackenzie didn’t return thesmile.
“You relax, enjoy your evening. I’ll behave,” hesaid.
She patted his cheek before leaving. I looked athim.
“I’m not fond of her brother,” he said, by way of anexplanation.
“Okay. Do you want to mingle? I’ll be finehere.”
“I didn’t bring you to a party to leave you standing in a corner. Haven’t you done thatenough?”
“I…”
“You’re here with me. Where I go, so do you,” hesaid.
I was grateful for that comment. I didn’t want to stand in a corner of a room full of strangers on my own, but I didn’t want him to think he had to babysit meeither.
We walked towards the bar, stopped and chatted. While he spoke to the men, I spoke to their partners. All were very pleasant, and I loved the Southern accent ofmany.
“MackenzieMiller!”
I felt him tense before a man interrupted our conversation. He walked over with a lovely elderly woman and her youngercompanion.
“Daniel.” That time, he didn’t introduceme.
“And who is this delightfulcreature?”
I tried not to laugh at his corny words. I held out myhand.
“Lauren Perry, and youare?”
“He didn’t tell you who I am? Really, Mackenzie. Daniel Collinsworth, the birthday girl’s brother, and archenemy of your friend,Mack.”
Mackenzie bristled beside me. “Archenemy, huh? How dull to only have that accolade to boast about. Do you do anything else, Mr. Collinsworth, anything ofnote?”
“Your girl has a smart tongue, how refreshing,” he said,leeringly.
