Page 143 of Call Back

Chapter 28

As soon asI opened the garment bag, I understood why Belinda had insisted on choosing my dress. Not that it wasn’t beautiful—it was the most gorgeous dress I had ever seen—but the quality of the fabric told me it had cost Belinda as much as a wedding dress.

The champagne-colored sleeveless dress had a fitted top with a plunging neckline that wasn’t too deep and an open back that stopped at my waist. (Thank goodness it had built-in cups because there was no way to wear a bra.) The skirt fell in long chiffon folds, and Belinda had sent a rhinestone belt and champagne-colored, iridescent heels to add more sparkle. I planned on taking it back to her first thing in the morning. But tonight I would wear it and love every minute of it. I might even wear the gold masquerade mask she’d included. It was the small tiara that I balked at.

“Belinda insisted you wear it all. Tiara included,” Momma said, as if reading my mind. “It’s a masquerade ball. The one place you can get away with it.”

One of the nurses had a curling iron in her locker, so I curled my hair, and another nurse styled it in an elaborate updo to showcase the tiara. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I had to admit that I felt like a princess, which was utterly ridiculous since I was far too old to play the part.

But my mother oohed and ahhed—and even insisted the nurses take photos of me with her phone. I asked her if the IV antibiotic had made her high, but she just laughed, a sound it felt immeasurably good to hear, and told me to get used to it.

A month ago, I would have run from this. Now I reveled in it.

But at eight thirty, as I stepped out of the Uber with my mask in my hand, I was a mess of nerves. Colt and I had a purpose for coming to this ball, and I had no idea how it would end.

I scanned the sidewalk outside Savannah House, the only true house in Franklin big enough to hold an event of this size. But all thoughts of murders and gold flew out of my head the moment I saw him.

Colt Austin was a good-looking man, but tonight he looked like a Greek god in his form-fitting black tux. His blond hair was freshly cut, though God only knew when he’d had the time, and his blue eyes sparkled when he saw me. I finally understood what people meant when they talked about seeing someone across a crowded room and the whole world disappearing.

I stopped in my tracks, but Colt continued his path toward me. When he reached me, a smile lit up his entire face. “You’re beautiful.”

“It’s Belinda’s dress,” I said, feeling an uncharacteristic blush rising on my cheeks. “I think it turns into a pumpkin at midnight.”

“It’s not the dress.” Then his smile changed into a sexy grin. “But as long as I’m the only one there to watch the transformation, I’m good.”

I laughed. “I had no idea you had a pumpkin fetish, Colt Austin.”

He leaned over and kissed me with a mixture of tenderness and possessiveness, a kiss that matched the man who gave it to me. “I had no idea you would be so perfect.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What does that mean?”

His bad-boy grin was back. “I’ve heard about you since the first day I walked into Southern Belles Catering. I expected a diva, which is definitely not what you turned out to be.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” I said in a mock-offended tone.

He laughed, but then the humor slipped away. “You make me believe everything will work out.”

I turned serious too. “It has to. I’ll accept nothing less.”

“Do or die,” he said. I expected him to grin like he was teasing, but he didn’t.

“Colt,” I said, fear snaking in my gut. “Where’s the gold?”

He scanned the crowd, avoiding eye contact. “Hidden.”

“What’s your plan?”

Looping his arm through mine, he led me to the entrance. “We’re denying a whole room full of people the chance to see the most beautiful woman in the world. I’ll perform this one act of selflessness and share you for a few hours.” He shot me a sexy grin. “But when this dress turns into a pumpkin, fair warning—I plan to take advantage of your naked body.”

I gave him a demure grin, but my eyes were full of mischief. “You’re just full of promises tonight.”

His hand tightened over mine. “And I intend to keep every one of them.”

We joined the line of people entering the building, and I noticed several women eyeing Colt with looks of appreciation and lust. There were whispers of my name. Of his.

“Where’s your mask?” I asked him.

He grinned. “In my jacket pocket. I’m in no hurry to put it on.”

---