Iblush as all the people in the ballroom clap for us in the polite way expected at a black-tie affair.Jacepulls me to standing, and we both take a little bow.I’mbreathing heavily and my heart is racing andIam smiling with my entire face.
Insteadof looking for colored relationship flags,Iam metaphorically waving a white flag.Isurrender.Jacehas won, and to the victor goes my heart.
CHAPTER24
RATING AND EVADING
MACKENZIE
JaceandIare still breathing fast as he leads me away from the middle of the dance floor.Idon’t know about him, butIam feeling such a high from that dance that my feet are barely touching the floor.Happinessis bubbling up from my insides like champagne.
Movementcatches both of our eyes and we turn to look atMiles, who’s standing maybe fifteen feet from us.Hegives the barest nod toward the door leading into the rest of the mansion.
Jaceturns to me and leans in close.Thefeel of his breath against my neck tickles me in the very best way.Ina low voiceIwishIcould record and listen to on repeat, he says, “Itlooks like my contact is here in a meeting room.Doyou mind ifIleave for a moment?”
Ibreathe near his ear, “Notat all.”
Hekisses my cheek and then gives my hand a squeeze.Hekeeps holding on as he’s backing away, as if he would rather do anything at this moment than walk away from my side, and the feeling is mutual.
I’mwatching him as he turns and walks withMilestoward the door of the ballroom, soInotice when he nods to a guy near the wall who must be his friend.Theguy looks like he’d be more at home flashing anFBIbadge at a crime scene than holding the martini that’s in his hand at this black-tie gala.Buthe’s got kind eyes.
Ilook around the big area and decide to head for the bar in the middle of the ballroom with the counter that forms a complete circle around the bartenders.Iscope out the people there, trying to determine who looks as if they’d most like someone to chat with, soIwon’t be sitting there alone and feeling stupid.Ichoose a spot right between two women, sit down, and order a club soda.I’mnot about to drink anything that will make me remember this night any less than crystal clearly.
Almostimmediately,Jace’sfriend also sits down at the bar, but with three seats between us.DidJacesend his friend over to look out for me while he isn’t here?That’sso sweet!Iwant to acknowledge that he came over and that we both knowJace.Butevery timeIlook at him, he looks away, like he’s trying to not make it known that he’s there ifIneed him.
SoIgo back to whatIam doing, which is finding someone to talk to soIdon’t feel likeI’min middle school and no one is sitting by me in the lunchroom.SoIturn to the woman to my right.She’sstanding beside the seat, waiting for her drink to be made.She’swearing a deep green, floor-length, long-sleeved dress with a neckline so adventurous it’s almost in danger of discovering her navel. “Hi,”Isay. “Isn’tit so beautiful here?”
Shebarely gives me a glance as she accepts her drink from the bartender. “You’veseen one gala put on by an evil billionaire trying to show off his house, you’ve seen them all.Excuseme,” she says and walks away.
Evilbillionaire?Maybe“business solutions” companies are more like hedge fund managers and crime lords, where the shadier your dealings are the closer to billionaire status you get.
Thewoman to my left is wearing a light blue, off-the-shoulder dress that is all satin, lace, and embroidery, and she looks a little less like she invented the oxygen she’s breathing.She’sfacing the bartenders and looking bored, soIhold out my hand and say, “Hi,I’mMackenzie.”
Shegives me a nod, but no offer of her name or shake of my hand, soIlet it drop and try to think of something to strike up a conversation about.Mentioningthe ballroom was a swing and a miss, so, knowing that we are at some kind of business convention,Iask, “So, what do you do for a living?”
Thewoman actually looks at me this time, and says, “That’snot a question that gets asked often at these events.”
“Oh.”
Thenshe adds, “Iam here with my husband.Healways drags me to these, andIjust have to sit around and wait for him.”
Theman on the woman’s other side says, “Ahh.Mywife drags me to these things, too, andIhave to sit here while they go off and do whatever business in the back rooms.”
Thewoman looks animated for the first time— part of me guesses it’s the first time this entire night— and says, “Hethinks that if he lets me dress up and takes me to fancy balls, it’ll make up for him being gone all the time, or for the sketchy people showing up at our home, or for the threats of legal action.”
“Thesame is true with my wife.Andthen there’s the unpredictability of not only our schedules but of where the future might take us.”
“Andthe secrecy.”
Theguy nods his head.
Itsounds like their spouses are definitely on the shady end of things.Ihope they’re not whoJaceis meeting with.Iask, “Doyour spouses work for the same company?”
Theyboth look at me like they didn’t realizeIthoughtIwas still part of this conversation and then the man looks at the woman and shrugs. “Younever really know, do you?”Thenthey turn back to each other and continue their conversation, but this time clearly closing me out of it.
Oh… kay.Thepeople here are not my people.Wait.Isthis whatmyfuture holds ifIcontinue to dateJace?WillIbe hanging out in ballrooms, wearing fancy dresses, complaining thatI’msitting at the bar alone asIwait forJace?
Awoman in a pewter-colored sequin dress steps up to the empty seat at my right and flicks a finger, signaling the bartender.Onearm of her dress has a long sleeve and the other side shows her bare arm and shoulder.Thedress is floor length with a slit to the top of her thigh.Sheorders a drink, andI’mconsidering striking up a conversation, but she’s holding her head high and glancing around like she’s a 6-karat diamond and the rest of us are cubic zirconias.
