Page 68 of Ripple Effect

“I’m so thrilled the design I provided worked for your image of the space,” Libby says as she accepts a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. Snagging another one for myself, I include myself in the soft clink of glasses with the others.

“Brilliantly,” Bryce says enthusiastically. “It’s one of the main compliments we receive from the guests.”

Libby’s smile widens with satisfaction. I’m so proud of her, I can’t hold it in. I lean down and brush my lips against her cheek. “Your talent is amazing,” I tell her.

She shrugs her delicate shoulders to offset the compliment, but Chase’s voice jumps in. “I concur. It’s rare for someone to be able to walk into a space and not overdesign it. We were still able to add unobtrusive touches of us without it ruining the overall impact.”

“That’s my job,” she protests.

“No, that’s your gift,” I correct.

She blushes a delicate pink that draws my attention down to the low V-neck of her dress. Unable to stop myself, I take the champagne glass and run it along her bare back.

And am floored when she steps forward out of reach.

“Libby!” We all turn our heads. Josh is waving her over to a crowd of people. “Come over here for a moment?”

With a helpless shrug, Libby says, “Duty calls. If you’ll excuse me?”

“Of course, my dear,” Chase says gallantly as he steps back to make way for her.

“Save me another dance later, Elizabeth,” Bryce chirps.

Before she can step away, I catch her wrist in my fingers. “I’ll be around.” Lifting her hand to mine, I brush a kiss along the knuckles.

She smiles before walking toward her brother.

Maybe it’s a trick of the light or her makeup, but I could swear the smile never made it to her eyes.

“So, tell us Cal, what do you do?” Chase asks.

And I begin to explain the outsider’s knowledge of what Alliance does for the US federal government.

“Sounds…stimulating,” Bryce says, with a delicate pat to his mouth to hide his yawn. “Excuse me. Must be too much champagne.”

Thinking back to our most recent fact-finding mission in Spain, I sip the dredges of my champagne from the glass to hide my smirk. “You have no idea.”

Then again, no one really does.

44

Elizabeth

Year Three - Eight Years Ago from Present Day

I’m sitting on the edge of the grass skipping rocks into the water, watching as each rock ripples into the river. Each skips over like a hit-and-run—a perfect analogy of my life with Cal.

The morning after the party, I’m still trying to get my bearings after my husband came in. And the peace I normally find on this one place on the property isn’t meant to be found.

Dragging my knees upward, the handful of rocks in my hand fall heedlessly next to me. “What’s happening to us?” I whisper aloud.

“I don’t know.” I jump, not only because of the fact I’m not alone but because Cal continues on and what he says seems to lay the blame of us entirely at my feet. “Who was that woman last night? She was a revelation.” Cal drops down next to me.

I shift uncomfortably. “What do you mean?”

“A business expansion? A dress that could bring a man back from the dead? The way you wrangled money out of all those donors?” Cal shakes his head. “I didn’t recognize you, Libs.”

I choose my words carefully. “I don’t know why this is such a surprise.”