“I don’t think I’ve ever dined with the fishes,” I said, as Tyler took my arm and led me to one of the cash bars set up under the watchful eye of a sleek, Bonnethead shark.
The event was in the Shedd Aquarium’s Caribbean Reef rotunda. During the day, clusters of schoolchildren and tourists wandered this room. But now it was filled with over two hundred men and women gathered in small groups, chatting and drinking and watching the underwater world float by in the giant tank that sat like a centerpiece in the middle of the stunning room.
“I feel a little like Ariel,” I said, referring to The Little Mermaid.
“Does that make me your Prince Charming?”
I grinned up at him. “Maybe. It depends on if you find me wine.”
“A quest,” he said, “for the fair maiden Ariel. Come, my princess, let us be off.”
I laughed. “Okay. I take it back.”
“I’ll admit I’m no prince,” he said, “but you are as beautiful tonight as any princess ever was.” He hooked a finger under my chin and tilted my head up so that he could press a gentle kiss to my lips.
I sighed, feeling soft and girly and romantic, and when I took his arm, I realized I was smiling.
“What are you thinking?”
“That this feels like a date,” I said. “Considering how we’ve spent our time together so far, that makes the night a standout.”
He lifted my hand, then kissed my fingertips. “Disappointed?”
“No,” I said softly. “Not even a little bit.”
We continued on to the bar, where he got a Scotch and I got a glass of white wine. “I prefer red,” I said as we moved back into the throng. “But I don’t usually get this dressed up, and I’m currently suffering from the rather overwhelming fear that I’d get red wine all over my gown.”
“Then I’d just have to strip it off you,” he said, with a cocky, sexy grin.
I rolled my eyes. “Down boy. Fancy dress function, remember? Best behavior.”
We were continuing the circuit around the coral reef tank, and arrived at a series of tables topped with a variety of baskets, each with a clipboard and paper. “So what exactly is the purpose of this function?”
“It’s a fundraiser to benefit research into pediatric neurology research,” he said. “Evan and Angie should be around here somewhere. They’re both—along with the Jahn Foundation—patrons of the event.”
“Which means they made huge donations?”
“Pretty much. In fundraising, the donations often go to pay for the event, which then tries to recoup that money and earn more through table fees, silent auctions, that kind of thing.” He nodded toward the table with the baskets. “See anything you want to bid on?”
“I doubt I could afford anything, but we can look.”
We were heading that direction when Tyler stopped. “Wait. That’s Franklin. Eli Franklin,” he added, pointing to a tall, thin man with deep set eyes and a heavy brow.
“Lizzy’s boss?”
“I should tell him what happened. Not wait until the morning.”
“Sure,” I said as he veered in that direction. We didn’t make it there, though. Instead, we were waylaid by another man, this one white-haired and distinguished.
“Tyler!” he said, holding his hand out to shake as he patted Tyler soundly on the shoulder with his other hand.
“Mr. Danvers,” Tyler said. “What a pleasure. Did you get the revised proposal for the security system?”
“Yes, yes. Of course. But we’ll talk later. No point in boring your lovely companion.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Tyler said, pulling me to his side. “This is my date, Sloane Watson. Sloane, this is Gregory Danvers, the CEO of Covington Investments, one of the most influential financial companies in the world.”
There was something about his tone and manner that caught my attention, and I was damn certain that he’d forgotten to introduce me on purpose. I just wasn’t sure why.