Lacey punched him lightly in the chest with a shaky arm. Chris was an affectionate kind of guy. Good-looking with naturally tanned skin and reddish-brown hair, he attracted attention from women of all ages, but he had eyes only for Kelly.
“I guess I need to correct that. Sorry Lace, you take third place behind Jessica.”
Lacey was relieved he hadn’t notice her start. “I can handle that.” Jessica was their only child and was spoiled horribly. “How’s she doing? No interest in gymnastics yet?” Lacey knew the fourth grader hated the sport.
Kelly rolled her eyes. “She acts like it’s toxic or something. All she likes is soccer. She’s taking after her dad.”
Chris had played professional soccer for a few years after college. When he blew out a knee, Kelly convinced him to help her open the gym. Surprisingly, he enjoyed coaching a different sport and had an excellent eye for gymnastics. Probably from all the years he spent watching Kelly practice and compete.
“Jess would love to see you, Lacey. Could you come for dinner tomorrow night?”
“I can’t. Tomorrow’s that fundraiser for the Portland Dental Van project. I can’t miss it.”
Kelly nodded, but her eyes still held a trace of worry.
“What’s your take on all these deaths, Lace?” Chris’s brown gaze was unnaturally serious.
“I hate it. The police are warning everyone who was involved in the trial and digging up DeCosta’s past, trying to see who might do a revenge or copycat killing.”
“What about that guy in the paper?” Chris asked. “The one Michael wrote about? Are they going to arrest him? He’s got too many links to the old murders and to the new ones. How freaky is that?”
“Jack Harper hasn’t done anything. He doesn’t have any motivation and there’s no reason to arrest him.” Lacey defended him, but her heart sank a little. She’d been caught off guard by some of the revelations in the article. But he’d stood by her as they showed the police that tape, and he definitely had good instincts about her ex-husband. Plus, she felt safe around him.
To her, that carried the most weight.
Jack ran a finger between his neck and the collar of his tux and tugged. Usually the formal clothes didn’t bother him, but tonight was different. He felt out of his environment at this charity event, adrift. He hadn’t seen Lacey since she’d thrown him out of her house yesterday for harassing that damned reporter. He knew she was coming to the party tonight. His sister had confirmed her name on the guest list.
Jack had forgotten about the fundraiser. He always forgot formal events until his always-efficient sister would call the day before and remind him. He believed Melody’s phone call yesterday was fate offering him a chance to see Lacey on neutral ground. Damn it. He tugged at his collar again. He wasn’t in control of the situation and was grabbing his opportunities where they came.
He strolled the hotel ballroom, seeking distraction and looking for a certain petite blonde. Melody had done an impressive job as usual. Her fundraising and organization skills were legendary. A miniature orchestra filled one end of the giant room. Swags of silver and black fabric graced the walls and complemented the existing elaborate moldings. Fresh white roses and every other white flower he couldn’t name were displayed in intricate arrangements along the walls of the ballroom.
The theme was Under the Moon and the dress code was black and white. Most of the guests had followed the rules, but he saw a few siren-red dresses here and there. Nothing like a black-and-white party for a woman to make a statement.
The party was to raise funds for the Portland Dental Van project. Run by a nonprofit medical organization, the van was actually a pair of gigantic RVs that traveled the state bringing dental care to low-income areas.
Every person he spoke with had perfect teeth. Jack stopped at the bar and ordered a drink.
“Jack. Over here. I want you to meet someone.” Melody Harper tucked her hand through his arm and anchored him in place. His sister looked good. At forty-two her figure was slim and her face wrinkle-free. He suspected she liked to cheat nature a little bit. Melody was tall with dark brown hair and eyes that’d charmed many a man. She’d been divorced twice. Both men she’d married turned out to be fortune hunters.
Jack gave a last quick glance around for Lacey and put on a polite face for Melody’s guests. The gray-haired man and woman turned out to be the founders of the dental nonprofit. Trying not to stare at the man’s crooked, yellowed teeth, Jack rescinded his earlier generalization about perfect teeth and chatted with the Hamptons while Melody preened on his arm, delighted with her success.
He felt Melody tense and lose focus on the conversation. Turning to see whom she had in her sights now, Jack met a glaring brown gaze, fifteen feet away, which flickered from him to Melody and back again.
He caught his breath. Lacey’s simple black dress hooked behind her neck, leaving her shoulders bare and accentuating her curves in all the right places. She’d pulled her hair up into a soft twist at the back of her head and her diamond studs looked bigger than Melody’s. His gaze traveled down, past the hem just above her knees, and past the toned calves to spike heels that looked sharp enough to maim. Overall, she was stunning, and by the slant of her eyes, he knew she was still annoyed with him.
He didn’t care. All he wanted to do was sink his fingers into her hair and release the twist, letting it spill over her shoulders. A flick of his finger at the back of her neck would drop the entire dress to her deadly shoes. He swallowed hard and tried to ignore the electricity that hit his chest, lighting every nerve and tightening his grip on his glass.
Lacey couldn’t have known he’d be here. Seeing him must be a total shock. Good. She’d be a little off guard. He couldn’t have set the stage for their impromptu meeting any better. Now he just had to whip her away to dance and grovel out an apology. What could happen after that...?
“Ah, fuck.”
Lacey had turned away, giving him a startling view of her backless dress. It barely covered her ass and made Jack’s hormones stand at attention. But it was the tall man who’d handed her a drink and took her arm that’d staggered Jack.
What the hell? Jack’s heart gave a stumbling thud.
The prick held up his glass in a silent toast in Jack’s direction. “Who is that? Why’s she staring at you like that?” Melody’s protective older-sister instinct had been lit.
“I know them,” he muttered. Wasn’t the reporter supposed to be out of town? The guest list had shown Lacey and her father together. Jack had stupidly assumed they’d come together.
Melody studied the pair with assessing eyes. Jack knew she was estimating the cost of Lacey’s dress and jewelry. “He looks familiar. I think he works for the paper. I’ve seen him before, but I don’t know his date.” She cast a side-glance at her brother. “Apparently you do.”
The Hamptons excused themselves and wandered off.
Michael pulled Lacey toward the dance floor. “God damned fu...”
“Jack!” Melody rapidly glanced around. “Watch your language! What is your problem with that couple?”
Jack closed his mouth. He didn’t know where to start. His perfect game plan had just warped into a clusterfuck.
Jack took Lacey’s breath away. The sight of that man in a tux was what a bad girl’s dreams were made of. His shoulders were wide, his stance self-confident, and those gray eyes burned hot holes in hers. How could cool gray project so much heat? If she was a bad girl, she’d seduce him under his date’s nose without a second thought to how the other woman felt. The look in his eyes said all she had to do was crook her little finger and he’d be hers for the night.
What if her date eyed another woman the way Jack was eyeing her? Lacey would be furious. She should’ve known he dated other women. A man like him attracted beautiful women like hungry bunnies to a fresh carrot.
Where was her brain?
She wasn’t a one-night stand kind of girl. No matter how tempting...
She swallowed the sour disappointment in the back of her throat. They’d had what...one unofficial date? A group interview with the police? One kiss? She didn’t have any claim to him. Why shouldn’t he date? He’d never officially asked her out. Ah, hell.
They were simply two people connected by unusual circumstances. That’s all.
She felt Michael approach and pulled her gaze away from Jack’s. Who was the woman with Jack? She was beautiful with an expensive dress and shoes and she was hanging on Jack’s arm with the attitude of a woman who knew him extremely well.
Michael handed her some champagne. “Don’t look at him,” he murmured close to her ear. “Let’s dance.”
She nodded dumbly and cast one last look over her shoulder as Michael pulled her away.
Why was Jack here? Lacey had been a sponsor of the Dental Van Project for three years, and she’d never seen him attend the fundraiser before. It must be his date. She’d probably dragged him to the fete.
Lacey didn’t get a chance to sip her champagne before Michael handed it back to a waiter and spun her out on the dance floor. She caught her breath and smiled weakly at him, thankful for his attention and relieved to move her feet after those uncomfortable long seconds. Michael was one of those unusual men who danced well and actually enjoyed it. His hand on her bare back was warm, and Lacey felt her stiff spine relax.
“Did you know he’d be here?” Lacey couldn’t say his name.
“No. But I’m not surprised he’s here.”
She tilted her head back to look at Michael. “What do you mean?” Had Jack found out she was coming and decided to show up? Her heart rate doubled.
Michael was silent for a second. “His date is one of the premier fundraiser divas in the city.” His words were short, clipped.
“Oh.” Her shoulders wilted a bit.
They slowly twirled about the floor, neither speaking. With Michael she didn’t feel obligated to make small talk. He was always cozy and comfortable. Sort of like her cats.
A dancing couple brushed against them and Lacey glanced up in time to see her father close by with a young woman in his arms. James Campbell looked fantastic in his tux. “I’ll see you at the apartment tonight?” her father asked.
Lacey nodded.
Her father looked directly at Michael. “Keep her safe.”
“Of course, sir.”
Her father spun his dance partner away.
The sight sparked a smile on Lacey’s lips.
“He’s having a wonderful time.”
“He’s in his element in a social situation like this.” Michael paused as he watched the couple. “Your mother would have hated this place.”
Lacey laughed. Michael was so right. Her mother never had patience with glitzy fundraisers. Lacey’s smile faded a bit at the memory of her mother.
“Do you want to leave?”
Her chin came up.
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Good.” Michael stared over her shoulder. “But you better put on a happy face.”
“Why?”