Page 93 of Risky Obsession

“Roger that.” He grabbed my right hand.

I yelped and pulled my hand free.

“Shit! Sorry.” His expression crumbled. “Where’s your brace?”

“It didn’t go with my dress. I’m okay.”

“Crazy woman.” His eyes were a fascinating cocktail of admiration and desire.

My damn heart did little flips. Dragging my gaze from his, I cupped my damaged hand to my chest and reached for him with my other hand. “Let’s go.”

He pressed our palms together and as we slipped out of the room, the distant sound of thundering footsteps stood out from the murmurs of a crowd.

“They’re coming,” I whispered.

He led me along the corridor to a set of double doors. When he cracked them open, I pushed in beside him to peer into the next room. We’d found the grand ballroom.

“Remember, blend in. Act like we belong here.” He gripped my hand, and we stepped through to the ballroom where elegantly dressed guestsmingled beneath shimmering chandeliers. Some danced in front of the four-piece band, but the hum of conversation and music did little to drown out my thumping heartbeat.

As we pushed through the crowd, Kane grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to me. We paused, facing each other, and as we sipped our drink, we each looked in opposite directions.

“You see Gunter?” Kane asked.

“Not yet.”

Three guards stood across the room, but none of them looked nervous. Yet.

A white fur shawl was draped over a chair next to me. Ensuring nobody was watching, I slipped it off the back of the chair and then hooked my hand around Kane’s arm to lure him away.

I held my glass toward him. “Hold this.”

He took the glass, then his jaw dropped as I pulled on the shawl. “You sneaky little thing. Good idea, though.”

“Thanks. It’s all right for you. Just about every man is in a black tuxedo.”

The shawl had a rhinestone pin to hook the sides together. I removed the identifying jewelry from view, and as I attached it to the end of the shawl, my mind flashed back to seventeen-year-old me who had stolen grocery items for cheap thrills.

God, I’m awful.

I took my glass off Kane and drank my champagne in one go.

“You okay?” Kane asked.

“Yeah. I just feel bad about this.” I tugged the shawl, adjusting it over my shoulders. “Let’s get closer to the front tables. Maybe Gunter is up that way.”

As the band picked up a lively tune, Kane pressed his hand to my lower back, guiding me through the ballroom toward the round tables in front of the dance floor.

A guard to the right of the band scanned the crowd with watchful intensity. His gaze shifted to me, and I forced myself to look at him like I had nothing to fear. After several thumping heartbeats, he dragged his gaze away and I could breathe again.

As we approached a group of dignitaries engaged in animated discussion,I finally laid eyes on Gunter. “Found him. Right-hand table. He’s in a black tuxedo with a red bow tie.”

“Got him. Good work.” Kane squeezed my hand in the crook of his elbow, and I bit back the pain in my fingers. “Let’s go over this way.”

He guided me to a large pillar and when a waiter approached, we plucked a couple of canapes off a tray and turned back toward the crowd.

The guard I’d seen a moment ago was gone. I searched for him, and when I found him striding toward another guard, a surge of adrenaline shot through me. The first guard spoke to the second guard before they both spun back to the crowd. Their expression was no longer just watchful. It was lethal.

“Shit, Kane. Those guards are looking for us.”