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Music and the din of conversation could be heard from within Donovan didn’t hesitate, but walked in as if he owned the place, arrogant and confident Surprisingly, he fit right in alam of all the attendees

PJ stopped in her tracks when she took in the glittering ballroohtened on her hand as he tucked it underneath his arm

"Don’t slo," he "

Easy for him to say Places like this struck terror in her heart It was filled with beautiful people Beautiful rich people

There was a sea of thehed as Donovan expertly h the croard the bar She was here to garner the attention of one specific eous women were stacked wall to wall in this place And she was supposed to stand out?

Donovan took two flutes of chane and handed one to PJ As he lifted one to his lips, he murmured to her

"Okay, see the man on your far left? No, don’t look Gradually scan He’s in a group Can’t hs really loud Likes to be the center of attention Women surround him because they know he has money and power They have no idea of his perversions or they’d run like hell"

A shiver raced down her spine

Great

She casually scanned the roo to Definitely couldn’t hter was loud even over the rest of the two hundred plus people gathered

"That’s Brumley, and he’s a ain his notice Nelson is across the roo the crowd and, if I had to guess, looking to score See hiuy Muscled, but he’s not one of Bru a hell of a lot closer to Bruuy Brumley sends to clean up his messes Dark hair Mustache Fake tan"

"Yeah, I see hi

"Noould be a very good time for you to make a pass by him The ladies’ room is beyond him so it’s the perfect opportunity for you to walk by and it’s likely why he’s taken position there, because he knows he’ll see the majority of the women at some point on their way to the powder room Go reapply some lipstick and make eye contact on your way by Give hiht be interested, but be subtle and don’t tip your hand too early"

"Why Van, you sound like such an expert," she said le?"

"Smart-ass," he o"

"You’ll be fine," he reassured "We’ve all got your back"

She clutched the beaded handbag, wishing desperately it was the stock of a loaded pistol, and walked as gracefully as she was capable across the room

As soon as she approached she could feel Nelson’s gaze on her, all but peeling off her dress She felt violated before she got within ten feet, just froh Donovan had told her to ut told her that obliviousness would serve her better This was a guy who didn’t like not to be noticed He was so attention He probably had any nu else than his connection to Bru and pretended to focus her concentration on finding the lipstick as she drew even with Nelson As soon as she passed, she relaxed but could still feel the weight of his stare boring into her back He’d definitely noticed her

It appeared as though Donovan’s intel was correct, because along with PJ there had been two blondes and a stunning redhead walking in the direction of the ladies’ room, but Nelson had zeroed in on her

She positioned herself in front of the mirror and forced herself to calm the jitters She was a professional, with a hand as steady under pressure as they ca

This girl stuff wasterrorists, though

Sheup her lipstick, made sure it was nice and shiny, and then after she rubbed her lips together, she slid the tube back into her clutch and squared her shoulders, ready to exit

To her utter surprise, she nearly ran headlong into Nelson as she left the ladies’ rooain her balance

He grasped her arhtened me"

"You are American," he said in a heavily accented voice A voice that was heavy with approval His eyes gleaether like she was some choice steak he was about to devour

"Y-yes," she stammered out

She had no basis for her assuirls his boss had, and that he likely had as well, she i and innocent Even when he went for legal-aged women

She stared up at him wide-eyed and nervous, and even as she did, his arm came around her protectively as he herded her back toward the ballroom

They paused a moment as he collected drinks for them both While she stood there, Nelson looked across the roo intently at both of them If Nelson’s earlier frank assessaze ers Then his eyes glearow cold

Nelson didn’t give her tied her toward the patio doors and then out onto the terrace The night air was chilly on her bare aret even closer to her, and he took it, wrapping a beefy ar her up to his side

She positively itched to knee him in the balls and then kick his ass on the spot, but she lance shyly up at hi here?" he demanded

She raised an eyebrow "Are Americans not welcome?"

He chuckled "No, of course they are welco her with avid curiosity "You’re different fro to hi to anyone," she said crisply "I met him outside I heard about the party and that it was a swanky affair Thought it would be fun to crash There were other woured why not? I ood food and have as much as I want to drink"

"You even sound American," Nelson said with a chuckle "So independent I like Airls They have fire"

"DAMN, she even has me convinced," Dolphin athered outside a bar just half a block fro hosted They were dressed casually Like a group of guys out for a good tiood," Renshaw said "Thinks quick on her feet Sirl"

Steele held up his hand as the conversation between PJ and Nelson resumed Cole stood in the dark, hands shoved into his pockets as he listened in disgust while the creep ca bull