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I loved picking out the colors of my makeup—a smoky eye and nude lip—and watching a high-end artist accentuate my face until I looked as gorgeous as a bride on her wedding day. And I didn’t know my hair could be this shiny, this elegant, draped over my shoulder. But the dress had to be my favorite with cuts carefully crafted for a woman’s curves, making anyone in it feel like a princess.
All of it was enchanting.
The part that had me questioning my sanity was the next part of the agenda—entering a room of rich, powerful people where I’d have to try to act like I wasn’t a fish out of water.
The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass Hunter Lockwood in his own home.
CHAPTER24
Hunter
The night that would become one of my best dreams started off terribly.
I clenched my fists, anxiety winding through my spine with all the people in my great room.
Waiters carried silver trays with bubbling champagne flutes. The violinists were tucked away in the dimly lit corner, their instruments screeching out tunes to a room of deafening indifference, and a roaring fire devoured logs in the fireplace, casting an orange glow across the gowns and tuxedos.
All four of us Lockwood brothers were in attendance—me, Bryson, Jace, and Grayson—all standing in a loose circle.
“I’m surprised you showed,” Jace said to Grayson.
“I told you I’d be here,” Grayson replied casually.
“No offense, but you commit to lots of things you never show up to,” Jace retorted.
Grayson pursed his lips.
“Let me guess.” Bryson raised a brow. “You weretraveling.”
Grayson took a sip of his drink. I wondered if Bryson or Jace would continue to question him, but before they had the chance, social obligations intervened, pulling them away and leaving me and Grayson alone.
He studied me. “You look like you’re about to go two rounds with Mike Tyson.”
“Nice subject change.” I adjusted my shirt collar. “I’m not thrilled about people being here tonight.”
I told Grayson about Franco’s threat and how no amount of security would ever make me feel like she was safe.
“Maybe this was a mistake,” I said. “Any one of these guests could be on Franco’s payroll.”
“How many security guards did you say you hired for tonight?” Grayson asked.
“Thirty.”
“Positions?”
Even I didn’t know all of their positions. That was the point, my security leader reminded me. Discretion. The ones I knew about were at every single entrance. Perimeter. Drive. Road leading to the drive. And a flock of them around the party, disguised as guests.
My goal was to spend no more than an hour here before I whisked Luna away to the upper floor of my mansion, surrounded by several guards.
I seriously hoped she wouldn’t give me grief about that, too—about what I needed to do to keep her safe. The girl was critically dangerous to herself.
“Grayson, Hunter.” Uncle Alexander put a hand on my shoulder. “Great turnout, eh?”
My uncle’s eyes swept the space, pride straightening his shoulders, undoubtedly because of all the high-profile people in attendance. Politicians. Business leaders. Even a few big-name athletes and celebrities.
“Do you boys remember the first gala I took you to?” Alexander asked.
“Grayson bid on every item in the silent auction,” I remembered.
