L

e red gown I wore, my eyes catching th

Shawn wasn'

eriously

uled to start around 5:30 p.m. We

clutch purse, uncrossed my

iranda over his own grandfat

er the first time

h my skin. I got to my feet, my fingers tightening around

ng room, and I couldn't help but smile at the transformation. I wondered

think thing

dying embers of love that tried to swamp me. I didn't need

ong. For me. An

nswered on th

awn

ll. Laughter. Then his mother's voice drif

?" A pause, followed by a conspiratorial hiss. "I have told you to di

en as my chest tightened with a cold ache. So they al

without waiting f

lled back

you?! Did you forg

The fool didn't even suspect I might have overheard.

oing together," I said c

's sickly sweet voice floated into the

see Grandfather. They're alre

aw

ame for a lapdog-which, frankly,

osity thriving over my common sense. I wanted

of a man caught in a web of his own making. "We met at the off

I had started avoiding her months ago, ever since my instincts began

turning dismissive and cold. "Grandfather is getting

the party. I'll be there

call, leaving me w

ffly into the purse, strolled to the dining area, and collected the meticul

basket of keys in the hallway, and picked the

well conf

There wasn't a single place to park, but because the Porsche gleamed, one of the security guar

azes as the guests turned to see

ted me toward a parking spa

was fully aware of the attention-on the car, on the flash of red,

the entrance, her spine stiff, preparing to act like

ould b

urse in my right hand, I pushed

s turning a bright pink as he hurrie

gnized me. Non

rest

ally looking beautiful in her own way as she

e that slithered across my li

ation happen in real-ti

her. I watched the confusion taint her face as her gaze dragged over me from head to t

la

ly, then looked past her at the w

reaching my ears like the

Elara L

. Has she always be

? And those killer hee

this beauty at h

.. from the countryside. What'

started toward the heart of the party, where I was s

er daze. She reached out and grabbed

oing? Why are you coming at

ly, staring at her inte

she blurted out, "Do you think dressing to the nines will change who

wondered, looking down at her hand on my

lared at her-smiling faintly when she took a step back, shock flas

way. I had to s

guests stepped forward to present their offerings. When he saw me, he

you look

e rest of his judgmental family. I was aware of Linda stepping into the canopy behind me, her fac

amps. Happy

anda closed the distance between us, her arms

ng her dead in her track

oud enough for everyone nearby to hear