A Billionaire's Redemption(18)

Not at all. I could never stand seeing you in the back of your father’s campaign ads looking like a mouse and blending in with the wallpaper. You’re a beautiful, sexy woman, and you’re Senator Merris now. It’s time for people to notice you.”

Wow. That was really perceptive of him. Her father had always demanded that she and her mother dress ultraconservatively, and in colors and styles that wouldn’t call attention to themselves. She had more beige, boring dresses than she cared to count. Maybe this afternoon she’d burn them all.

And maybe this afternoon she should go shopping for the sexiest dress she could find, and spend the rest of the day making herself irresistibly gorgeous for this man who actually seemed to see her.

To that end, she stood her ground and insisted he go home to catch a nap and get a little work done. As soon as his SUV turned the corner and disappeared from sight, she headed for her own car and drove back to Dallas. She made a beeline for Nieman Marcus and its amazing personal shoppers. She’d never even looked for the sort of gown she had in mind for tonight and wanted to get it just right.

Sure enough, a lovely woman named Chloe found her the perfect dress, sexy but classy, and entirely grown-up. Willa was sick and tired of being John Merris’s quiet, conservative, proper daughter who never drew attention to herself. For once, she wanted to draw a whole lot of attention to herself. At least from one man in particular.

As Willa stood in front of her bathroom mirror, carefully applying her makeup, she felt like Cinderella transforming into a princess for a night. Although the rollers all over her head did look rather silly. She always wore her hair up in a bun or pulled back in a low ponytail, but not tonight. She was turning over a new leaf. Willa Merris was coming out of her father’s shadow for Gabe.

Her courage faltered momentarily when she put on the gown. Its sweep of copper satin down her body in a formfitting drape was more revealing than she remembered from the store. The dress’s boatneck swept across her collarbones, but then swooped down her back, baring her spine—almost all the way down to her buttocks.

No, she was not going to chicken out. The dress was exquisite and she looked smashing in it, if she did say so herself. She hadn’t been dressed particularly sexy the night James Ward attacked her, so it wasn’t like dressing like this was going to put her in particular danger of a repeat assault.

Ropes of crystal tied across her upper back to hold the dress on her shoulders, their ends falling in a sexy shimmer down her bare back. The skirt had a slit that rose nearly to her right hip. It was simple, stunning and by far the sexiest thing she’d ever worn. Carefully, she took her hair down and sprayed its lush waves as they fell over her shoulders. The effect was retro, harkening back to 1940s movie stars. In keeping with that theme, she applied bright red lipstick that made her fair skin look like velvet cream.

The doorbell rang promptly at seven-thirty, and she quickly slipped on crystal-encrusted mules that added several inches to her height. She threw on a silk wrap, grabbed her clutch and opened the door. Gabe’s fist froze in midair as he reached for the door to knock.

His gaze slid down the smooth satin, taking in every curve and every inch of leg peeking through the high slit. His voice deep and a little rougher than usual, he commented, “I approve.”

You’re looking pretty sharp yourself, Mr. Dawson.” He wore a tuxedo like he’d been born to it. Although she supposed it wasn’t the wealth a man was born to but the confidence within him that made a tuxedo work.

He held out his forearm to her and she took it shyly. He led her down the front walk to his Escalade, and helped her into the passenger’s seat. Her slit gaped open, and her entire right leg was revealed before she snatched at the copper satin.

But his hand got to the edge of the skirt first, and he gently draped the sleek fabric across her leg, his fingertips trailing fleetingly down the length of her inner thigh. She looked up at him, shocked and thrilled at the intimacy of his touch, but then the door slammed shut and he was gone.

His door opened and he slid into the seat. They were silent for the short ride to the college campus and its grand ballroom where the dinner, dance and charity auction were to be held.

Valets parked vehicles out front, and she and Gabe blended into the trickle of people moving into the venue. She took a deep breath and let it out carefully.

Nervous?” he asked her, sounding surprised. “Haven’t you done a thousand of these things?”

Yes, but always as John Merris’s daughter. Never as myself.”

Well, then. Here’s to the coming out of Willa Merris. And in case I don’t get a chance to say so later, it’s an honor to escort a woman as stunning as you.”

I could say the same for you, Gabe. You cut quite a dashing figure in that tux. Thank you for doing this for me. I know how you hate these things. Any number of your, umm, former companions, have mentioned that they can never get you to go out to big social functions.”

He laughed heartily. “Former companions, huh? You mean the ring-hunting sharks trying to rope me into marriage, or at least hoping to be seen by every other ring-hunting shark in town as having landed the elusive Gabe Dawson fish?”

Exactly.” She laughed. “Do you need help fending them off? I could always put out the word that you’ve decided to become gay and swear off women for good.”

He grinned. “In the first place, that wouldn’t slow them down because it’s my money they’re after and not me. And in the second place, no one on earth would believe I’m gay as long as I’m with a woman as sexy as you.”

Her jaw sagged.

What?” Gabe responded in quick alarm, pausing at the top of the long row of steps leading down into the ballroom. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable after—”

She turned to face him and pressed her fingers against his lips. “Don’t apologize. No one’s ever called me sexy before. That’s all.”

Are you kidding?” he burst out.

I don’t exactly run around in slinky gowns with

X-rated underwear and my hair down and wearing come-hither makeup that often.”

X-rated—” he broke off sharply, and his arm immediately went around her waist protectively. He happened to slip his hand under her wrap as he did so, and his warm palm slid across her bare skin. A strange look crossed his face. “I think I’d better see the back of your dress before I let you take that shawl thing off.”

On cue, a bellboy stepped forward and reached for her shoulders to remove the wrap. Gabe glared the kid off, though, and stepped behind her to lift away the garment himself.

Sweet baby Jesus,” he breathed.

She looked over her shoulder in quick alarm. “Is something wrong with my dress?”

I’m only going to have to snarl off every man in the room tonight. Wouldn’t be surprised if I end up having to fight a damned duel over you,” he grumbled.

A slow smile spread across her face. “You like it?”

Merciful God, woman. I’ve never seen anything like it. I can’t take my eyes off you.”

Thank you,” she whispered, more grateful than she could express at his gratifying reaction. It was just the confidence boost she needed to face the lion’s den of Vengeance society.

They started down the steps once more, Gabe’s arm firmly wrapped around her waist. “Good thing I box a couple of times a week,” he muttered in her ear. “I have a feeling I may need a solid right hook before the night is out.”

She leaned in close to murmur back, “Why’s that?”

Because every damn man in the place is staring at you like they’d like to eat you up.”

She glanced up at the crowd closing in around them. Good grief, he was right. She was so used to being invisible, to trailing along in her father’s wake and picking up the spare bits of attention thrown her way as a matter of courtesy, that this concentrated attention by everyone was badly intimidating.

She might have shrunk back from it or even turned around and left were it not for Gabe’s arm anchoring her at his side and lending her strength.

Jacquelyn Carver, chairwoman of the charity fund-raiser committee closed in on her and Gabe like a guided missile. “Why, Gabe Dawson. To what do we owe this pleasant surprise?”

Willa’s teeth ached to grind together at the syrupy purr the woman aimed in Gabe’s direction.

He answered drily, “I’m merely attending as Senator Merris’s escort.”

Senator—” Jacquelyn looked over Willa’s shoulder as if searching for John Merris. “Oh. Of course. Why, yes. Willa, congratulations on your appointment. It must have come as quite a shock.”

Why do you say that?” Gabe asked immediately and a little aggressively.

Well, everyone thought Larry Shore would be named...” Apparently, it dawned on Jacquelyn a little late that Willa might take offense at not having been on the short list to replace her father.