The Safe Bet (Hidden Truths #1)(31)

“Soon. There are a few people I still need to chat with,” he replied. “Let me walk you back to your room when you’re done.”

He wasn’t buying her act. Clearly. “If you’re still around. Sure.” Before he had a chance to respond, she walked off the terrace and back into the ballroom. She gave one last look around the room for the muscular blonde man. When she didn’t see him, she forced herself to complete the job she had been hired to do.





CHAPTER TEN




KATE WAS SAYING GOODBYE TO some of the few lingering guests when the man with the winning auction bid called out her name. She looked over at the handsome man and feigned a smile. She wasn’t in the mood to be friendly to this pseudo-date, but what choice did she have? “Hi. Ethan, right?” She reached for his hand. “Thank you for the donation. It will help a lot of people.”

His gray eyes lit up when he reached for her hand. “Will Friday work for you? The New York Times and Charlotte Observer want to take a few photos of us during our date. They approached me after the auction ended.” Unlike most of the men at the gala, he wasn’t wearing a tuxedo. He was sporting a sleek, gray, three-piece suit with a bright red necktie.

He was handsome and seemed nice enough, Kate thought. Could be a lot worse. She hated herself for wishing the date was with Michael, though. “I was planning on leaving for New York tomorrow. Is there any way you could come there? If not, I can fly back for the date.” But she wasn’t sure if she wanted to come back to Charlotte ever again.

“I would, but I’m making a quick trip to China this week, and I won’t be back until Friday afternoon. We could change the date if you would prefer?”

At least he was agreeable. “No, that’s okay. We can meet here.” Just change the date. Meet him in New York! Before she had a chance to voice her change of heart, he was leaning forward and pressing a kiss on her cheek.

“Until Friday.” A grin touched his lips, and he walked away.

“I hate that guy,” Michael said. He’d walked up beside her after Ethan left.

“Oh yeah? Why?” Kate asked, fighting back a smile.

“Because I know what his intentions are. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him,” he said as he crossed his arms.

Was he acting like a brother, or was he jealous? She had no clue at this point. And it shouldn’t matter to her.

“His intentions can’t be any worse than yours.” Kate watched the corner of his lips quirk as his eyes moved over the length of her body. The things he could make her feel with one look. God, help me.

She forced her attention away from Michael and looked around the almost empty ballroom. She had already said goodbye to Julia, who had walked a few prestigious guests out of the hotel. “You can head out. Everything is all set here.”

“I’m walking you to your room. Remember?” He held up his hands. “My intentions are honorable, I swear.” There was a tone of mild amusement dancing in his eyes, which had a hint of steely gray in them tonight.

“Okay.” She found herself agreeing not because she felt sure that she could control her feelings, but rather because she was more afraid of her stalker than of making a mistake with Michael.

She looked down at the elevator floor once they stepped in, toying with her keycard on the ride up. “Thank you again for allowing me to put this event together. You’ve helped a lot of people, and the work you do is important.” She could feel him watching her. She forced her eyes up to meet his, and neither of them moved to exit the elevator when the doors opened. He looked so broody and contemplative—what was he thinking about?

The doors began to shut, and he thrust his arm out to stop them.

“I’m this way,” Kate said, tipping her head to the left as she exited.

“I remember,” he said before grinning. They walked the short distance down the hall to her room. “I guess this is goodnight.” She could hear disappointment echo through his voice.

“And goodbye,” she added. She unlocked and pushed the door ajar before turning back toward him. “I probably won’t see you again until we launch the next event. I was thinking we might try the Hamptons at New Years? I mentioned it to Julia, and she loved the idea.”

Michael studied her for a moment. “I’m not a Hamptons kind of guy. Too many rich, uppity people there.”

She smirked at him. “And you are?”

“Not uppity.”

Was that a school-boy smile? “Okay, no Hamptons, then. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

“And no auction.”

She laughed. “Definitely no auction. Although I have to say, we raised quite a lot of money tonight. So, nice job.”

“Won’t you be in town all week now?”

“I’m still going to leave tomorrow as planned. I’ll just fly back down for the date Friday.”

“Maybe we could get dinner when you come back. Or the next time I’m in New York?” His eyes darkened, and he took a step closer to her. “You know, maybe hash out some of the details for the next event.”

“I don’t know,” she replied, although her body screamed yes. She felt hot and a little dizzy in his presence, which was a feeling she was learning to live with whenever he was around.