By the time Curtis finished with her, a crowd surrounded her, and all of them wanted to know every little detail she could remember about Xavier. Answering all their questions took another hour, and she didn’t leave the salon until late afternoon.
With all the distractions, Isabel lost count of the number of times she checked her phone to see if Michael had called. She guessed she wanted some kind of acknowledgment that their night together had been memorable. But then, for Michael, maybe it hadn’t been.
Since it was a dress-up affair tonight, she decided to wear the black fitted dress Regan and Kate had insisted she get. The crossover straps at the neck and racerback showed off her tanned shoulders.
If a dress could be both modest and sexy as hell, this was it. She slipped into her high-heeled sandals and dabbed on her favorite perfume.
Regan arrived promptly at five. She had changed into a soft peach dress that looked lovely on her.
With her dark hair, the color was spectacular.
“We’re going to take the service elevator to the garage,” she explained.
“Why?” Isabel asked. She took her phone and room card from the table and put them in her small wristlet with her lipstick.
“It’s quicker,” Regan told her.
Isabel accepted the explanation until she opened the door and saw two security guards dressed in black suits, waiting for them.
“What’s going on, Regan?”
“There were some photographers out front. Security has ordered them off the property, but if we go out the circle drive, we’ll be trapped. There are also quite a few young men and women hanging around.”
“They must think XO is here.”
“Don’t be so sure he’s the one they’re waiting for. You’ve become quite a sensation yourself. It could be your autograph they’re wanting.”
Isabel was shocked. She couldn’t comprehend why anyone would wait just to get her autograph.
“You should go without me,” Isabel said. “They might surround the car . . .”
“Oh, I’m not driving. Alec is waiting downstairs for us. All we have to do is step off the elevator and get in the car.” She took Isabel’s hand and pulled her along.
Once they were in the elevator with the guards in front of them, Isabel asked, “What about your car?”
“I rented it through the hotel, so no worries. I’ve already given the keys to the concierge.”
“I’ve made this such an inconvenience for Alec and you. I’m sorry.”
The elevator doors opened, and there stood Alec. When he saw his wife, his eyes lit up. “Wow, babe, you look incredible.” He then pulled her to him and gave her a long kiss.
Isabel didn’t want to stand there and watch the two lovebirds, so she moved out of the way and let one of the guards open the back door of the car for her.
When the kiss ended, Regan, looking a bit dazed, was led around the car by her husband, who tucked her into the passenger seat. He then leaned down at the open back door and said, “Hi, Isabel.
What are you doing there? You’re supposed to get in the trunk.” Getting the startled reaction he was seeking, he laughed as he shut the door and went around the car to get behind the wheel.
“Your husband has a warped sense of humor,” Isabel told Regan.
“Yes, he does,” she replied cheerfully. “Doesn’t he look handsome tonight?”
Alec did look good, Isabel thought, even as she watched him tug on his tie. He wore a conservative navy blue suit with a white dress shirt and a blue-and-white-striped tie. He still looked a bit scruffy for his next undercover case, but there was no denying he was a Buchanan male, which meant he was an extremely handsome devil.
“Yes, he does,” she agreed. “Alec, is it really crowded outside the hotel?”
“It’s not bad. Just look straight ahead. We’ll be out of here in no time.”
This was just plain crazy, she thought. Surely the crowd outside thought XO was at the hotel. They wouldn’t be waiting for her, would they? How long had she been onstage last night? Ten, fifteen minutes at the most. Her face was plastered on the gossip sites along with Xavier’s, and now bedlam?
She was certain this would all die down soon enough, and the notoriety would fade. Once she was on her way to Scotland, she could escape this madness.
They drove out onto the street and were immediately surrounded by screaming fans. Most were chanting Xavier’s name, “XO, XO, XO,” over and over again. But there were a few yelling her name, too. She noticed that some of the more frantic fans were shouting at every car that pulled out.
Alec, every bit as skilled as a Grand Prix driver, quickly and effortlessly got them on their way.
Traffic was congested as usual, yet once they reached the highway, Isabel began to relax. A half hour later they were on the bridge to Nathan’s Bay. No one would bother her there.
Isabel, who used to have a carefree attitude, had become quite the worrier.
No matter what, she was going to concentrate on the positives. It was going to be a beautiful night.
Nathan’s Bay was ready for a party. Every light in the house was on, and when darkness fell, it would become a beacon for everyone on the island. A huge square-shaped dance floor had been laid near the center of the manicured lawn. There were posts at least twelve feet high at each of the four corners. A net of tiny white lights attached to the top of the posts became a sparkling ceiling. It looked like a thousand twinkling stars.
The valets were setting up to park cars. Alec waved them off and drove around to the back of the house, next to the garages.
“Who organized this celebration?” Isabel asked. She took Alec’s hand and let him help her out of the backseat. Before he could answer, she guessed, “Never mind. It was Jordan, Kate, and Regan.
Right? I’m right, aren’t I?”
Alec laughed. “I was going to try to convince you that my brothers and I planned the party, but you’d never buy it, so, yes, our wives did all the work.”
All three of them came to a quick stop as soon as they entered the kitchen. The catering company had taken over the space, and their staff, dressed in white shirts, black pants, and black loafers, were
rushing back and forth with silver trays laden with delicious-looking canapés. The aroma was heavenly. Alec popped a couple of shrimp into his mouth on his way through.
Isabel maneuvered through the pandemonium and hurried up to the third floor. Michael’s bedroom door was open and his gym bag was on a chair near the window, which meant that he was back. He must have changed and gone outside to join the party. She could go looking for him but decided not to.