Page 71 of Her Ruthless Protector

“More bizarre than Rubies, Rifles and Rugrats?” A.J. asked.

“Oh, I was so glad that show didn’t get picked up. That was horrendous.” Shelly downed her entire glass of champagne.

“Didn’t you date one of the guys from that show?” A.J. asked.

“Aje! You promised never to speak of that. I am so going to tell Kane all of your secrets.”

“Do you know what A.J. stands for?” Kane asked.

“No,” Shelly said reluctantly. “If I did, I could make some serious coin in Los Angeles.” Another waiter walked by. “Excuse me, I see a glass with my name on it.” She waved at them and left them alone.

“Let’s dance.” A tingle went through her as she looked over at the dance floor. There was an orchestra playing. She’d been to some Hollywood parties where she’d played dress-up before, but never once had she had an opportunity to dance with a man who gave her butterflies.

Kane didn’t wait for an answer, his warm hand rested on the small of her back. “Did I tell you how much I like the dress?” he asked. His thumb caressed her bare skin. Oh yeah, tingles.

“Did I tell you how much I like your tuxedo?” she asked as he took her hand and drew her amongst the crowd of people. Somehow with Kane leading, people parted out of their way. It was like they were in their own little bubble. His hand exerted a tiny bit more pressure and A.J. eagerly moved closer to the warmth of his big body. Even in her heels she only came up to his jaw.

His warm breath caressed her temple where a tendril of hair had gotten loose from the complicated hairstyle she’d arranged for the evening.

“You continue to amaze me, I never know who I’m going to meet next. The sassy girl in cut-off jeans, or this sophisticated lady that I hardly dare to touch.”

“Don’t lie to me, you dare.” She gave him a wicked glance from beneath her eyelashes.

His thumb travelled a little south, sliding just a little under the fabric of her gown. An inch lower and he would be touching her butt.

She whipped her hand back and wrenched his arm up.

He chuckled, his breath blowing in her ear and she trembled.

“I’m on duty,” she admonished.

“So am I.” He pulled her even closer so there was no light between their bodies. “There wasn’t really a game show called Rubies, Rifles and Rugrats, was there?” Kane asked.

“Oh yes there was. I keep telling you that my job deserves hazardous duty pay.”

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them.

“Hey, stop it.” How did he read her mind like that? “If you second guess every little thing that comes out of your mouth, we won’t have nearly the amount of fun that we do. Zed’s fine and trust me, he’d run for the hills before working on something called RR&R.”

She dropped her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for that. And yes, he probably would.”

“So, who was working with the publicist?”

“Do we have to talk about that?” she asked.

The song came to an end and Kane easily maneuvered them off the dance floor. He found them a private spot near a pillar and A.J. gratefully leaned against it. The shoes were a killer.

“So, who was her accomplice?” Kane asked again.

“It was Clive. That guy who supposedly went home to his wife with the broken leg? The one I told the rumor about and then told every single person in the industry that he was a good guy? Remember him?”

Kane squeezed her hip and she tried to shove off his supportive touch, but he wouldn’t let her. “I take it you were duped, huh?”

“Oh yeah, I was the biggest dumbshit in the world. Pinky told me about the affair that Markson was having with him after it came to light that she had glued the doors shut and set off the stink bombs. There was no way she could have cut the cable herself, it had to be a stagehand. Made sense that he left. But the fact that I’m the one who gave him an alibi gives me this year’s Stupid Girl Award.”

“Trust me, you’re not the only one winning stupid awards these days, it happens. I’m going to get to do extra runs on the obstacle course with Nick, that’ll be fun.”

“What’d you do?”