Page 93 of A Little Naughty

“She’s around here somewhere. Covered in stars.” Martha surveys the room. “I don’t like all these masks.” She leans closer to my chest. “With those back doors open to the woods like that, anybody could walk in here.”

Shit. That puts me on guard, and I stand a little straighter. I’ve lost sight of Jemima again. “They don’t have security out there?”

“My daughter says they do, but you can’t stop a determined intruder.”

I’m used to Martha’s paranoia, but she makes a point. All the men are in the same white tie and tails as me, and now the masks make them all suspicious.

My eyes finally land on Jemima. She’s across the dance floor now, talking to Britt and Aiden. Britt is wearing a dark purple strapless dress with a bright green ribbon running across her chest and down the sides and bottom.

Aiden looks… the same as me. Gwen is not too far behind her in a black floor-length dress covered in silver stars, and I hope that means Bender is over there.

“I think I’ll just stay close to Jemima. You good?”

“Of course—go.” She catches my sleeve. “These people are no different than you, Raif. You just haven’t been around them as much as I have. You’re not who they think you are. I know what that’s like.”

She pats my arm, and I nod slowly. I can’t tell if she’s trying to warn me or make me feel better, so I go with, “Thanks.”

She waves her hand. “You’re welcome.”

Jemima meets me halfway around the dance floor. “Sorry!” She kisses my cheek. “I got all tied up with Piper making sure she has everything she needs. She can’t stay on her feet as long these days, so she’ll be taking off in about an hour. Then she needed me to give something to Britt…”

“No problem.” I slide her hair off her cheek, and she smiles up at me.

“Are you having a good time?”

“It’s interesting.” I survey the crowd filling the elaborate space.

Some people are on the dance floor doing the two-step. Some are doing their own style of dancing. All the women are dressed up in elaborate colorful dresses like fancy birds. The men are identical penguins for the most part, laughing and drinking, slapping each other on the back.

“Interesting?” Jemima’s brow furrows. “That’s not the same as fun.”

“It’s really nice.” I kiss the side of her head. “Martha was just saying… something. It’s okay.”

“Martha’s so creative.” She slides her hand into the crook of my arm. “I’ve been trying to get Piper to hire her at the paper. She writes the wildest headlines.”

“I bet.” We walk through the crowd in the direction of the courtyard area, passing Cass on the way.

“Hey, I’ve been looking for you.” She puts her hand on my arm, giving it a squeeze. “I want to apologize.”

Jemima’s eyes widen, but I’m curious. “For what?”

“I listened to the gossip instead of getting to know you myself. I was worried, and I misjudged you.” She pats my arm. “I’m sorry.”

I’m not sure what to say, since the gossip isn’t all wrong, but I recognize an olive branch when I see one. Taking her hand, I give it a gentle shake.

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m used to it.”

“But I do.” She studies my face, and I feel like she’s reading my mind or something. “I can tell my sister is right about you. You’re a good man, forgiving and generous.”

I almost laugh at that. “I don’t have anything to be generous with.”

“You do, though.” A warm smile curls her lips. “And you will. I can sense it.”

She hugs her sister and continues on her way, and I think she’s been spending too much time with Gwen.

Jemima snuggles into my side, leading us to the open back doors and out into the courtyard. “Nowthatwas interesting.”

The moon is a fingernail, and the surroundings are more mysterious outside. It’s darker with only the twinkle lights in the trees providing illumination. Jazzy music plays in the background, and small clumps of people sit at metal café tables.

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