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“The fund-raiser was certainly hile Of course,for the paparazzi and patting themselves on their scrawny backs could have donated more than the price of a ticket if they’d just tossed in one of the glittering baubles decorating their malnourished bodies—and that was just the men”
Bryan made a funny sound in the back of his throat, but his expression didn’t change “And the program, itself?”
“Opera isn’t really ood at what they do, but I can’t say I enjoyed it Since I didn’t understand the words, I found the story hard to follow—and what I did understand seeot sadder and sadder and then everyone died”
“That pretty h she suspected he had enjoyed the performance more than she had
She sighed “Okay, I’racious It’s just that I hate this whole charade The way everyone watches us and speculates about us The catty tittering about Chloe and Donovan The security I really hate the security Couldn’t we—?”
His s eyes hardened “We’ve discussed this The security is not negotiable I’ to risk your safety”
“You don’t really think so scheme, do you? Especially since it failed so badly last time, with all three kidnappers now in custody and thehis bail”
“I’m relatively confident that Childers has left the country I’ve received reports that he was spotted in Mexico and probably has moved to South A, I won’t be entirely satisfied—and neither will Donovan And I’et the stupid idea of tapping intoas we’re together—even if it’s only for the benefit of the gossip columnists—you’ll tolerate the security”
She re in coreat deal of power in his business and an al orders and having theet so irritated every time he took that officious tone with her
It still hacked her off
“I’ll tolerate the security until after Chloe’s wedding,” she conceded, her voice frosty “But I don’t have to like it”
“No” His smile had returned now “You don’t have to like it Or s just between us”
The li Grace to slide on the leather seat Bryan reached out quickly to steady her, his hand warth she sensed in him each time he touched her always surprised her It belied his appearance of lazy elegance—a façade she suspected he cultivated deliberately so his opponents would underestimate him
It wasn’t a mistake most people made more than once
The drive to the Manhattan hotel where they would be spending the night didn’t take long Grace sighed as the li to have to wedge her feet into those gosh-awful heels again She groped with her right foot, then scohen her abused toes throbbed in protest
“Hell with it,” she muttered, and reached down to scoop up the shoes by their delicate ankle straps “I’ll carry them”
Bryan’s s her even ht off his handsome face She was not here to amuse him, damn it
The driver opened the door and extended a hand to her Ignoring it, she cli her shoes in one hand and the top of her dress with the other The lock of hair that had escaped the clip tumbled into her face She blew it back
She glanced at her perfectly pressed co the delicate evening bag she had forgotten, he looked iain
“Nohat are you grinning about?”
There was a wicked gleaave her a leisurely survey “You look as though we had quite an…interesting ride,” he murmured
Her cheeks fla there barefoot, her hair and dress in suspicious disarray The blush probably only reinforced the ie of a woman who’d just played tease-and-tickle in the back of a li the eye of a rotund man across the lobby, she saw hinition of her escort—and then smile in a way that confirmed her suspicion of the impression her mussed appearance conveyed “Damn it”
Even though it was exactly the ialled her to think that everyone around theone on between her and Bryan in the lio on between theht She ht then, sending off-putting glares toward anyone who dared catch her eye, had Bryan not slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her firmly to his side