Getting ready as quickly as I could, I dressed in the fresh-laundered suit I’d picked out for the evening and headed downstairs to the room where the gala was taking place. By the time I arrived, the room was thronged with noise and people, the buzz of the chatter rising above the crowd and filling the enormous space. I took a deep breath and dug down deep inside to find my game face. I could do this. When I had stepped up after Dad’s retirement to take over the company, I’d known this shit was a part of the job, and I was good at it when I actually tried.
“Kristo!”
I turned when I heard someone call out my name. I found myself facing Neil Grayson, a friendly rival of my father from way back.
“Good to see you here.” He thrust his hand out to me, and I shook it and then waved down a passing waiter for a drink. If I was going to be here, then I was going to take advantage of the free booze that likely cost as much as the jewelry dripping off every woman in the place.
“Good to see you, too, Neil,” I replied coolly. Before I could stop it, I was caught up in a conversation about how business was going for him. He introduced me to a friend of his, an up-and-comer here in Vegas, and I realized tonight could actually be useful if I just kept my mind open and talked to whoever I could. Or maybe that was just the champagne loosening me up a little.
“Give me a minute.” I held my hand up to duck out of the conversation with Neil and the newcomer, my drink dry. “I’m going to grab another glass.”
When I turned, I found myself looking straight at the woman who had been at the pool earlier. There was no doubt in my mind that it was her. I would have recognized that body anywhere, even if it was now poured into a deep green velvet dress instead of a swimsuit. Her hair was pulled over to one side, the waves shiny and soft in the dim light of the room.
She spoke with someone I didn’t recognize, her face lit up and animated, a glass of champagne in her hand as she tossed her head back and burst out laughing at something they’d said. The dress was cut so low, it looked like someone had just cut a “V” out the front to show off her perfect cleavage.
I wanted to trace the lines of her with my fingers, but then I remembered where I was and what I was supposed to be doing. I reluctantly pulled my gaze away from her and back to the waiter with the champagne.
The night had just gotten a hell of a lot more interesting now. Maybe I could buy her that drink… or something gentlemanly like that.