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I manage to put down my glass and wipe my mouth before giving her a smile.
“It’s fine,” I say.
Who knew she’d be so kind?
I look at my dress. “I think it’s still okay.”
Finn got the brunt of the champagne. I only got a few drops, and they’re not really visible against the dark dress.
“Sure?” Cerena asks.
I nod. “Yeah, but thanks.”
She smiles and turns away. The moment she does, I realize I’ve just let a golden opportunity slip. Wasn’t she just offering to let me inside her house?
“Wait,” I say before another second goes by.
Cerena faces me. “Yes?”
I shrug. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that offer, after all.”
I’ll let her bring me inside the house. She’ll leave me to entertain her other guests. Then I’ll be free to snoop around.
Cerena nods. “Sure. I’d love to give you a new dress, uh…”
I realize she’s waiting for me to supply her with my name, and I take a moment to debate whether or not to give her my real one. I’m about to go through her stuff. Do I really want her to know who I am? Then again, I did give the usher at the entrance my real name.
“Allie,” I say. “Allie Chandler.”
“Chandler?” Cerena’s eyes grow wide. “Any relation to Grae Chandler?”
“Sister,” I admit.
If I’m being honest, I might as well do it all the way. Who knows? Maybe my identity will make her more lenient if she catches me snooping around her house.
“Really?” Cerena smiles. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
To my surprise, she places her hands on my shoulders and presses her cheek to mine. It’s a warmer greeting than I expected. Let me guess. She has a thing for Grae. Many women do. Even the married ones.
Cerena squeezes my arms. “Let’s get you a new dress, shall we? Frankly, I think I have something better. Not that this one isn’t nice. I mean, I designed it, so of course it’s nice! But you deserve more than nice. You deserve spectacular.”
I give her a sheepish grin. “Thanks.”
I don’t really care, and frankly, this is all too much. I just want to get started with the interesting part of my evening.
She offers me her hand. “Come with me.”
I smile. “With pleasure.”
~
As soon as Cerena has picked a new gown for me – a silver and white one, slightly more revealing, but I don’t complain because I want her gone as soon as possible – she takes her leave to attend to her other guests. I put the gown on as fast as I can, then take a quick peek out the window to make sure she’s back outside before leaving the room and beginning my investigation.
I’m already on the second floor, so I start with the rooms down the hall.
Another guest room. A parlor. A library. Another guest room. A movie theater. Another parlor. A music room.
Finally, at the end of the hall, I find what must be Cerena’s office. It has a huge desk in the middle and a portrait of Cerena behind it.
I close the door behind me and turn on the desk lamp. I can’t turn on the lights, because that would draw attention, but I can’t work in the dark either, so this lamp will have to do.
I go through what’s on top of the desk first. A calendar. Some charming paperweights. Post-its. I take pictures because I don’t have time to examine them all now and I don’t want to risk forgetting anything.
I try to open the drawer next. It’s locked. Shit.
“Need help?”
I nearly keel over at the sound of the voice and at the silhouette stepping out of the shadows. As it is, I stumble back and drop into Cerena’s chair. I place a hand over my pounding heart as I gaze at the man who just appeared in front of me.
What the hell?
It’s Cain. He’s wearing a jet black three-piece suit, alright, although it fits him even better than I imagined. The structured two-button jacket looks especially good, emphasizing his broad shoulders. His midnight blue shirt has the top two buttons undone. No tie. He shaved, so his chin and jawline look smoother, sharper. His hair seems to have been trimmed, too, and it’s combed back, out of his eyes. Not a single strand sticking out.
If I hadn’t already nearly had a heart attack, I’d probably be having one now.
“Must you keep doing that?” I ask him as I get out of the chair.
This is the third time in a row he’s made a startling entrance. And it’s not fun. I’m not sure how many more I can take.
“Doing what?” Cain asks innocently.
I frown. Not cute.
“Trying to make my heart stop.”
His eyebrows furrow. “I’m not sure I’ve ever tried doing that. To a woman. On purpose.”
I snort. “You just jump out of nowhere.”
