Page 84 of Before the Night Falls

Her breath caught.

Dressed in a black tuxedo with his hands casually tucked in the pockets, he looked like he’d stepped from the pages of a high-fashion magazine. She pushed away the rush of attraction she felt.

When he saw her, his expression shifted from distraction to quiet admiration.

“I’ll be the envy of the party.” He took a step closer, grabbed her hand, and twirled her around, making her feel light and graceful despite the heaviness that shadowed her.

“You know how to flatter a woman.”

“Not flatter—the truth.”

Her cheeks flushed.

Then she looked him up and down. “You don’t appear too shabby yourself.”

Their earlier differences behind them, he offered his arm. “Our chariot awaits.”

Olivia looped her hand through the crook of his arm, and they walked outside. A black limousine waited in the circular drive.

“Security insisted on driving,” Tyson explained. “This event draws some of Charlotte’s most influential people.”

She glanced around the property, suddenly alert for any movement in the shadows.

She saw nothing.

Hobbes, acting as doorman tonight, waited beside the vehicle and opened the door as they approached. “You look lovely, Ms. Montgomery.”

“Thank you, Hobbes.” She slipped into the limo with Tyson behind her.

A moment later, they took off toward the gala.

As they headed down the road, Olivia wondered if Tyson felt as off-center right now as she did.

All she desperately wanted was to return to their sweet moments together from this weekend . . . before reality had crashed down on her and reminded her that The Admirer was still in control of her life.

But right now, that wasn’t possible.

* * *

As they drove, Tyson tried to keep his mind off how much he wanted to reach over and take Olivia’s hand. How much he wanted things to return to the way they were yesterday.

Though he knew this was for the best, he still wished things were different.

He tried to keep his thoughts occupied by explaining to Olivia that the event they were attending was a charity gala raising funds for children’s health initiatives, hosted by Charlotte’s Medical Foundation. It was also an opportunity to find potential sponsors for the school he was building.

He added that Donald would be there. He’d driven separately. Tyson had thought it was a good idea to have another set of eyes at the event.

When they arrived, camera flashes greeted them.

Olivia stepped from the limo, her media training kicking in as she smiled for the photographers.

“Ms. Montgomery! Over here!”

“Tyson! Olivia! Are you two dating?”

“How’s the fitness program going, Olivia?”

She called out a few generic answers, probably to try and be polite, and rested her hand on Tyson’s arm as he led her inside.