“You okay with this plan?”
She cleared her throat. “That’s why you kissed me at the studio—because you wanted the dancers to think we were involved.”
“I want everyone to think it. A possessive boyfriend who can’t let his gorgeous girlfriend out of his sight—that kind of guy is much easier for the bad guys to take out.”
“As…opposed to you. The kick ass bodyguard.”
The driver had started the car. He pulled away and began heading toward the charity gala. The vehicle drove slowly down the busy New York streets.
The driver was another Wilde agent. Those guys seemed to be everywhere.
“I’m glad you think I’m kick ass,” Cole murmured. “I do try.”
She peered out of the window. “To make sure I’m clear on things, you’re going to act all obsessed with me tonight?”
“The way you look in that dress, trust me, it won’t be hard.”
Her head whipped around toward him.
“You look beautiful.” His voice was low. “The blue is perfect against your skin, and the silk hugs your body like…” He cleared his throat. “Well, it does a very good job.”
“You look, um, good, too.”
“I feel like an idiot.”
His words surprised her.
“Tuxes aren’t exactly my thing. I’m much more comfortable in the shadows.”
“So am I,” Evie confessed.
But he laughed. “You work on Broadway, Evie. You live in the city that never sleeps. You’re surrounded by energy and light and—”
“I work as a choreographer. That means I’m not on stage. I’m not dancing for the crowds.”
“You could be on stage. You’re a phenomenal dancer.”
Her chest warmed. “Thank you.”
“You’re such a great dancer.” A pause. “Do you sing, too? Are you secretly a double threat?”
A little laugh escaped. “No, I’m not. Trust me, Broadway does not want to hear the madness that is my singing voice.”
“You sure about that? I think your voice is sexy as hell.”
He…oh. Her laughter died away. “My singing voice is different than my speaking voice.” The limo was still driving slowly down the street. “And even if I could sing, I wouldn’t want to be on the stage. I like being in the background. Too much attention has always made me nervous.” That was why she was so comfortable doing the choreography work. She had the opportunity to orchestrate all of the wonderful dance sequences that she could imagine in her head, she got to bring those moments to life with the performers, but she didn’t have to step into the spotlight.
The limo slowed down.
She nervously tapped her index finger against the seat. “What’s the plan for when we go inside?”
“I don’t take my eyes off you.”
She shivered.
“Are you cold?”
“Yes,” Evie replied quickly. “Super chilly. Brr.”
“The dress doesn’t have sleeves. Do you have a wrap or—”
“I’ll be fine once we’re inside. The crowd will keep the room warm.”
Silence. Then… “You’re nervous.”
“Why would I be nervous? I mean, I’m just heading into a party with over five hundred people. A giant crush that you told me already was a security nightmare, and the bad guys could have slipped inside. No biggie.”
A very biggie.
“I have something for you. As a precaution…”
He pulled something out of his pocket. A black jewelry box. Not a ring box, but a long and lean, velvet box, and when he opened it, she saw the glitter of diamonds on the bracelet that waited inside. It looked expensive as hell. “That’s a precaution?”
“There’s a tracker hidden in one of the diamonds. As long as you’re wearing this bracelet, Wilde can find you.” He circled the bracelet around her wrist. “I can find you. Anywhere you go.”
The bracelet felt cold against her skin. “It’s beautiful. Ah, for a tracker.”
“The other diamonds are all real. Only one is fake.”
She lifted her wrist. The diamonds sparkled. “This seems like very expensive tech.”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes. It does.” That brought her back to another point. “You aren’t paying for my security.”
He looked down at the glowing dial of his watch. “We don’t have much time. There’s something else I need to discuss with you.”
“Uh, what you’re trying to do is distract me, but I’m telling you—”
He tilted his head. Focused on her. “Several suspects will be at the event tonight. Wilde techs found some disturbing ties between a few of the guests and your family, and I need you to be on guard with these people.”
A fist squeezed her heart. “What people?”
“Robert Demakis.”
“Robert?” He was familiar to her. “He’s a great director. I’ve worked with him before and he wants me to work with him again on his next—”
“Your step-father bankrupted Robert’s parents.”
“What?”
“Seems that, once upon a time, his parents and your step-father were good friends. Your step-father convinced them to invest in a real estate opportunity—promised them huge returns—but the property turned out to be worthless. A freaking swamp. They lost everything.”
The thud of her heart seemed very heavy. “He never mentioned that to me.”
“Gia Eastman.”
“The artist? What has my family ever done to—”
“According to my sources, she and your brother had quite a volatile relationship.”
That was news to her. “Harrison was involved with Gia? When?”
“At the time of your abduction, they were together. According to Gia’s friends, she was even hinting they might become engaged. Then you vanished. When you returned, Harrison broke off the relationship with her.”
She shook her head. “I-I didn’t know.” Harrison had never mentioned Gia to her.
“Two years ago, Harrison was supposed to invest in her new gallery, but he withdrew funds for it. The gallery didn’t open, and she also lost several other investors.”
The news was just sucking more and more. “Anyone else I need to know about?”
“One more person we know who will be at the party. He ever so helpfully RSVP’d.”
She waited.
“Stephen Lowe.”
Now she stiffened. That name was familiar. “He and Harrison were bidding on the same project about a month ago. But—”
“But your brother outbid him. Got the deal. Made millions. What wasn’t common knowledge—and still isn’t—is that Stephen’s company is barely staying alive. He needs an infusion of cash, and he needs it now.”
“An infusion…” She licked her lower lip. The kind of infusion you could get from a kidnapping? When she’d been taken in LA, the kidnappers had demanded five million dollars. “I really don’t want to go to this party.”
“Then let’s turn the limo around and head the hell back home.”