AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I cleared my throat. “And I understand the obsession with sharp suits now, too.”
His white smile flashed in the dim light. “I used to dream of having nice clothes when I was young. That didn’t have holes in the knees, and hadn’t been worn by someone else first.”
My chest squeezed for the little boy he’d been.
It wasn’t long before the shadowed darkness of Audubon Park appeared, and the buildings that made up the university. We turned into the stone gatehouse leading into Audubon Place. The security guards checked Kavner’s ID, then we drove in.
“Wow.” I stared at the huge, stately houses. “I mean, I see a lot of wealth on a day-to-day basis for work, but it’s mainly on paper.”
We pulled up in front of a huge house, and a valet driver took the keys with a friendly smile.
“Nice car, sir. I’ll take good care of it.”
“Thank you.” Kavner took my hand and I decided to go with it. He was doing me a favor, after all. I twined my fingers with his.
We walked up the path to the mansion. There were lush gardens and a green lawn, and the cream, stone house was grand. Columns flanked the large, arched front door.
“I like the dress. A lot.” Kavner’s voice was low, filled with appreciation.
Then he led me up the steps and inside.
I tried not to goggle, but the place was amazing. It screamed rich—from the shiny, honey-wood flooring to the ornate molding. It was also packed with guests.
I leaned into Kavner. “We need to find Spencer Bates, then get him alone so I can ask him a few questions.”
Kavner nodded. “We can make that happen.”
“Fury,” a voice boomed. “You never come to these things.”
We turned. A handsome silver fox was headed our way. He wore a dark-blue suit with a silver tie. His hair was a salt-and-pepper mix of black and white, but the silver was winning in his neatly trimmed beard. I recognized Jeffrey Fields from photos I’d seen of the wealthy restauranteur.
“Jeffrey,” Kavner said. “I was in the mood for a party.” He held out a hand.
Fields shook Kavner’s hand enthusiastically, then his gaze moved to me. “And who is this beautiful creature?”
“I’m London.” I held out a hand.
“A pleasure to meet you. Kavner rarely comes to my parties, and if he does, he’s always solo.”
I arched a brow. “That sounds like a lie.”
“It’s not, I promise.” Fields smiled. “I’m glad you came. Now, go get yourself some drinks. Mingle.”
We moved across the crowded living room, with Kavner’s hand pressed to the center of my back. Several people called out his name. He nodded, and I admired the way he kept moving, avoiding having to stop or join in any of the conversations. I glanced around, taking in the Who’s Who of New Orleans. My mouth flattened. There were a few present who I knew had been involved in some shady deals. They’d either been under investigation, charged in the past, or the charges hadn’t stuck.
“You can’t go after everyone,” Kavner whispered in my ear.
His closeness made me shiver. “I know.” I needed to stay on target.
We waited at the bar, Kavner’s hand burning through the fabric of my dress. His finger brushed my skin through one cutout, and I turned my head. “Fury.”
He gave another deliberate stroke.
I grabbed his wrist. I hated that I felt the burn all the way down to my belly. The man just had a way of lighting me up.
“I touched a lot more than your hip earlier,” he said.
“That was a mistake,” I whispered.
