Page 30 of Mountain Void

“The PGHM has invited us to their spring fundraising event. After they were so kind as to let our students visit them, it’s time for us to scratch their back.”

Her heart beat faster, as it did whenever she heard that word. PGHM. Lorenz.

“I don’t understand. Why do they want the school there?”

Sean shrugged. “Most likely to stand there and make them look good in front of the mayor. Nobody wants their funding cut.” He coughed into his hand. “I would attend, but I have dinner with the superintendent tomorrow night.”

Tomorrow.

He looked at her expectantly.

“I thought you and Carmen might be willing to represent the school.”

Why me?

Paranoid thoughts overtook her.

He knows about Lorenz. He knows—

Charlie pulled herself back forcefully. There was no reason for her boss to have found out. And, even if he had, what she did in her spare time was her business. She and Lorenz were both adults.

“Yes?” he pressed.

Charlie forced a polite smile. “Of course. But I’ll have to check with Carmen.”

“Excellent. My secretary has already spoken with her, I think. I’ll send the invitation. Seven p.m. tomorrow. Nothing too formal. Tenue de cocktail.”

12

Lorenz

Lorenz repositioned the tie, resisting the urge to yank the damn thing loose altogether.

“Be grateful we weren’t forced into dress uniform,” Ry laughed, straightening the cuffs of his jacket. “Those jackets are torture devices.”

“Yvette wouldn’t do that to me,” Alex said. “I do wish she didn’t have to spend all evening with the mayor and his cronies.”

“You’re jealous,” Tristan said mildly.

Alex huffed. “Obviously I’m jealous.”

“What are we even doing here?” Lorenz grumbled.

“Free champagne,” Hugo offered. “Tiny appetizers. And the chance to see our women in cocktail dresses.”

“I don’t think that’s—“

The words died in Lorenz’s throat. Across the room stood a woman in a knee-length navy dress. She had her back to them, but he didn’t need to see her face to recognize her. It was enough to see the slope of her shoulders, the soft curve of her hips, those dark-blond curls falling down her back.

He’d threaded his fingers through that hair just—

What is she doing here?

Suddenly, she turned. Her eyes were on the doorway beyond. She still hadn’t noticed him.

The back of the dress was restrained, elegant. The front was something else entirely. The navy fabric crossed her chest in a clean, decisive line, revealing enough cleavage to make Lorenz’s pulse skyrocket.

“Lorenz?” Ry followed Lorenz’s line of sight. “Ah. Now I understand why you’ve been in such a terrible mood—”