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"I see you’veassigned yourself, my personal keeper."
"Somebody has tohave that job, and it’s not so bad. Pay is lousy, but justbeing near you is making me look good. I’ve seen several womeneyeing me like they want to have me for their next meal." Hegrinned at her and grabbed two flutes of champagne from the passingwaiter.
"You’refree to mingle and put in your application."
"Nope. I’msticking to you like glue."
Chantelle glancedaround the room at the crowd, and it was quite a crowd. She could seeseveral movie stars, more than a few politicians, lawyers, judges,several famous singers, and a number of powerful members of society.
She wasn’t intogawking but had come close to it several times during the night.She’d flitted around, making sure there was an endless supplyof food and liquor, and did her best to chat with the customerswithout showing how intimidated and overwhelmed she was.
She’d watchedthe 'wives' with their husbands and felt a pang at how happy and inlove they were but had shaken it off to do her job. "You don'thave to pretend that we’re an item." She told him quietly."He isn’t here, remember?"
"Stillsticking." He touched her arm lightly. "For support."
"Thanks."
"No sweat. Eat."
"Yes, Mother."
Across the room,Kelly was watching her unobtrusively. "She’s done anexceptional job." She murmured to her husband. They’dfound a quiet place to sit and eat, away from the crowd who demandedmoments of their time.
"She’s agem." Kane agreed. He still hadn’t heard anything fromKenji, who hadn’t answered his emails. "She seems to bedoing much better."
His wife cast him awry look as she popped the caviar into her mouth. "Men!"She snorted.
"What?"
"She’skeeping busy trying to hide the fact she’s seething with angerand pain inside." Leaning over, she dabbed at his mouth with hernapkin. A live band was playing on the dais, and people were alreadyon the dancefloor.
"I rememberseveral times when you rejected me, and I had to pretend like madthat I was fine. Inside I was full of insecurity and pain."
He looked at her,admiring the classic beauty of her face. She was wearing a clingydress that looked stunning on her. Diamonds and emeralds glittered ather ears and throat, a recent set he’d bought for her tocelebrate her birthday. "I was a jerk."
"You were adick." She gave him a wide smile, kissing him slowly andstirring his blood. "But I couldn’t stop loving you, nordid I want to."
"I’m happyabout that." He returned his gaze to the woman they werediscussing. "Kenji has a lot of explaining to do."
"He does."Kelly agreed grimly. "Still no word?"
"Nothing. It'sas if he’s dropped off the face of the earth." Taking herplate, he put it down and took her hand. "And now I’d liketo dance with my wife."
*****
She’d hoped shewould be so exhausted that as soon as her head hit the pillow, shewould have gone to sleep, but that didn’t happen. She’dbeen riding high on the success of the party and the many complimentsshe’d received, especially the one from Kane in the privacy ofhis office.
"You deserve abonus." He remarked, gesturing for her to have a seat. It waslate, and most of the guests had already left. She’d gladlytaken the seat because her feet were killing her.
"Are you statinga fact or just saying?"
He’d laughed atthat, intense dark eyes studying her. "It's a fact. You’vedone an exceptional job, Chantelle, and I appreciate your attentionto detail."
"I love what Ido."
"It shows. Mywife is trying to come up with ways to steal you away."
She smiled slightly."She already tried to poach me."
