Page 110 of The Secret

I tilted my chin up to his, angling for a kiss, which he only too happily obliged. “Thank you. Thank you so much for this. It was amazing.”

He kissed me again, his eyes shining like emeralds. “Anything for you, Columbia.”

I’d almost forgotten we weren’t alone when Todd cleared his throat. “That’s the end, I’m afraid. I do hope you enjoyed it.”

I spun round to his eager face, my hands clasping his. “It was wonderful. Thank you for taking us around. I feel so lucky to have seen it, especially as I didn’t manage to get tickets before they sold out.”

“You’re very welcome.” His cheeks glowed with a pale tint before he reached into his pocket and handed over a business card to me. Please do call me if you ever want to come to anything again. We’ll sort you out with tickets.”

I took it silently.

“I think you’ve made her day,” Murray added, given I was a little speechless, holding the card forTHEhead curator of The Met, the guy that oversaw every exhibit.

He guided us back out to where the first few guests were milling around in the atrium, glass of champagne in hand.

“Darling, unless you’re desperate to walk the red carpet, let’s stay in here and get drunk. The boys will be here soon.”

I shook my head so hard the diamonds almost bruised my chin. “No, I’m not.”

He grinned, leading me over to a nearby waiter with a full tray of drinks, who hadn’t yet spotted us. “Good, didn’t think so. Thank you for being here with me.” His glass clinked against mine, before taking a sip.

Another influx of people walked into the swiftly filling room, but this cluster was different to everyone else, set apart by the way people reverentially moved for them to pass, parting as they might for Beyoncé or other celebrities who’d reached the same echelons of fame. As they neared, I realized at the center of the parting sea were Rafe and Penn, followed by several museum officials, almost running alongside them as they strode over to where we were standing.

They were as resplendent as Murray in his tux, tall and broad, looking like they’d been born to wear it; as they did with all clothes, but they were nowhere near as handsome, as beautiful, or as striking as Murray.

“Muzzer, looking fantastic as always.” Rafe smacked him on the back, pulling him into a big hug, Penn going in next like it hadn’t been mere hours since they’d last seen each other. “Kit, you’re also looking very beautiful.” They both kissed my cheek.

“Thank you,” I grinned. One of the things I loved most about Murray was his friendship with these two.

Huh. Loved.Loved.

“You okay? You look like you’ve just remembered you left brownies in the oven or something.”

I shook my head, with a broad smile. “No, no I’m all good. Didn’t leave the oven on.”

I scanned the room, which now seemed to be at capacity, volume levels rising along with the thick odor of immense wealth. Everyone in this room was somebody, although none of them seemed to be less interested yet most in demand for attention than the three men I was with, given that every thirty seconds someone interrupted us. And not once did Murray let go of my hand, or fail to introduce me as his girlfriend. Not once did he make me feel less than the most important person in the room.

As groups peeled off to tour the exhibit, two exceptionally beautiful and impossibly glamorous women joined us, making my spine stiffen almost as hard as it had when I’d opened the door to Satan’s Mistress. Except these two didn’t look like someone was wafting shit under their noses, and with the way the tall brunette pinched Penn’s arm, hard, making him jump with a squeal, I’d hazard a guess that she didn’t want to sleep with him either unless it was a new, very bizarre flirting technique I hadn’t yet read about in Cosmo.

“Hello, troubles,” she drawled in an international accent I couldn’t place. Not quite as English as Murray’s, but not as American as Penn or Rafe, who both greeted her with a kiss to the cheek, although Penn’s not filled with quite as much warmth while he rubbed his arm.

“God, who allowed you entry?” Murray let go of me for the first time and pulled her into an enormous hug, which, to my relief, was the same as the hugs he gave to Freddie and Wolf. As soon as he released her, his hand took mine again. “Laurie, this is Kit, my girlfriend.” He turned to me. “Darling, this is Lauren, Penn’s youngest sister.”

“I’m still older than him.” She pinned him with a look. “Kit, it’s amazing to meet you, finally. I’ve heard so much about you.”

My head jolted back in surprise, which Murray noticed. “She’s heard nothing.”

She side-eyed him then grinned, kissing my cheek, her arms wrapping around me with a big squeeze as though we’d known each other years and I liked her immediately. “You’re right, I haven’t at all. But I can’t believe Murray was the first of the Tuesday Club boys to fall. Hell must have frozen over.” She waved her champagne glass around, before nudging Rafe. “Which one of you is next? Rafey boy, who do you think? Probably you, seeing as there is no one brave enough to take on my brother, right?”

Rafe merely raised an eyebrow, not willing to engage in this chat.

“Kit,” Lauren grabbed the other girl’s hand and pulled her over. Her hair was a shade of blonde so white and shiny there’s no way it came from a bottle; she was either descended from angels or the Scandinavians. I also didn’t miss the very thorough assessment Penn gave her. Granted, I’d never seen Penn around a woman before, but I was fairly sure that this look was not the usual look he gave to women. “This is my best friend in the world, Lowe Slater.”

“Hello, it’s so lovely to meet you.” Like Lauren, she greeted me with a hug that almost realigned my spine. “Laurie told me you’re the first to infiltrate this group. Congratulations, and about time, although I haven’t seen the boys in a while.”

Laurie halted a passing waiter in his tracks and relieved him of three full glasses of champagne, swapping out our empty ones.

“Thank you.”

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