We were greeted at the mammoth double entrance doors by big brooding men in black suits wearing earpieces. Henry handed over his invitation and the men waved us through. I tried not to gulp as we walked into a large oval-shaped entrance that seemed to have been built entirely of marble. We followed the guests down a small group of stairs at the end leading us into a huge entrance area. Oversized pocket doors had been opened on our right, leading directly into a ballroom.
An actual ballroom.
“Someone should tell them they have a ballroom in their house and that it’s roughly half the length of the entire mansion.”
Henry’s body shook with amusement as he led me into the gargantuan room. “I think they might already know about it.”
“True. It’s kind of like having Godzilla living with you. It’s not like you’re not going to notice that baby.” I took in the high arched ceiling and the stunning chandeliers that hung from it. Long tables draped in pale gold tablecloths were lined with hors d’oeuvres and glasses of champagne. A champagne fountain sat proudly in the middle of the center table. The room was decorated with simple elegance, but everywhere seemed to sparkle. Classical musicians were seated way, way down at the other end of the room where four sets of French doors led out into the garden. “Or in this case drape it in white gold and silver and fill it up with five-hundred-dollar bottles of champa …” I trailed off when I realized that some of the elegantly dressed guests were staring at us.
“Your fingernails are biting into my arm.”
“Because people are staring,” I whispered, and my pulse picked up speed.
“That’s because—and I’m trying very hard not to sound like a conceited ass—you’re with me, a Lexington, and more important, you’re stunning and they’re all wondering where I found you.”
I eyed him suspiciously. “You better not tell them Hollywood Boulevard.”
He laughed. “Damn, ruin my fun, why don’t you?”
Relaxing at his good humor, I let my gaze drift over his shoulder, and what (or whom, rather) I saw made me stiffen with surprise. Uneasiness quickly followed the surprise.
My grandfather was here.
With my grandmother.
Shit!
Why did I not think? I’d been so harassed this week and so caught up in my own crap that I hadn’t spoken to Grandpa and I’d completely, stupidly, so, so stupidly, forgotten that these were his people. Of course he’d be at one of the biggest society events of the year.
Oh God.
Where was my brain?
Oh yeah, Caine had turned it to mush.
“Alexa.” Henry tugged on my hand, pulling my focus back to him. He was frowning. “You okay?”
“Uh, yeah—”
“Henry, Alexa,” Caine’s voice interrupted. He’d come to a halt, standing only a few feet from us. Even through my panic I still felt the impact of him. He wore a tux cut similarly to the one Henry was wearing, but the effect it had on me was entirely different. My gaze drifted over his outrageous handsomeness, and the yearning inside me overwhelmed and depressed me. When our eyes met, his gave nothing away.
There was no “wow” from him.
So much for the expensive dress.
“This is Marina Lansbury.” Caine touched his hand to the lower back of the brunette he was with. She was as tall as me but curvier in a way that was alluring and sexy. Some might say without the makeup Marina was almost plain, but that body of hers, in that figure-hugging black dress, made you forget all about that. She looked amazing. “Marina, you remember Henry Lexington.”
She smiled politely and held out her hand to shake Henry’s. When I shook her hand her gaze was assessing in a competitive way she just couldn’t hide.
I mentally grimaced.
Clearly she was one of those women—the kind who viewed other women as competitors no matter what. Those kinds of women were exhausting. I thought I’d left them behind in college.
“And this is my PA, Alexa Hol—”
“Hall.” I quickly cut off Caine, holding out my hand. Marina reluctantly shook it.
I ignored Caine’s questioning look. I couldn’t introduce myself tonight as a Holland. All hell would break loose for Grandpa.
I had not thought this through.
“Well.” Caine gently pressed Marina to the left. “Just wanted to say hello. We’re going to get a drink. We’ll talk later.”
Once they were out of earshot, Henry sighed. “It’s not like him to disappear with his date like that. He usually sticks close to me. He likes to keep me around to smooth things over when rich people say things that annoy him.”
I raised an eyebrow. “That actually happens?”
Henry nodded. “Caine doesn’t have the patience for ignorance and snobbery.”
“Yeah, well, he has a funny way of showing that.”
Henry touched my lower back and began walking us toward the champagne. “You have a habit of bringing out his worst side.” He grinned at me. “I find it highly entertaining.”
I laughed, shaking my head at his nonsense. “You need to grow up, Henry.”
“And why would I do that?”
The hours passed and Henry charmed and entertained me. He introduced me to people and they were genuinely interested to learn I was Caine’s PA. No one looked or talked down to me, and I used my experience from years of dealing with celebrities on the job to converse with them like I wasn’t intimidated. I was cool, appropriately witty but inoffensive, and I bounced well off Henry, who everyone seemed to love.
Henry was convinced Caine was deliberately avoiding us, and it aroused his suspicion. He just didn’t get what it was about me that Caine so abjectly disapproved of.
I wasn’t about to enlighten him.
After returning from the ladies’ suite (yes, suite), I’d only taken a few steps back inside the ballroom when I saw my grandfather and grandmother walking straight toward me.
I halted, not knowing what to do.
Grandpa was in the middle of talking to my grandmother when he glanced over casually and then froze when his eyes locked with mine. They drew closer.
I held my breath.
“I don’t know what was in that vol-au-vent, Edward, but my stomach is unsettled,” I heard my grandmother complain as they approached.
“Adele,” Grandpa said, voice weary, eyes still on me, “you just had it fifteen minutes ago. I doubt it could have taken much effect already.”
“I know what I know. A brandy will relax it.”