Page 67 of Singing For His Kiss

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Muted conversation greeted Elizabeth as she neared the landing, climbing the stairs from the floor below. Madeline fidgeted next to her. She still wanted to wear the dress despite it now having a few chocolate stains on it which didn’t bother either of them in the slightest. Elizabeth had re-braided Madeline’s hair and sprayed it with silver glitter again.

Thankfully, everyone had been so busy that she hadn’t been questioned when she’d come back. Madeline was still in the kitchen helping Maria with the party food, and James had still been sequestered by Anastasia. The guests had filtered in about an hour ago. Elizabeth had the perfect excuse to keep away, but James asked them to come down to meet everyone. To Madeline, it was exciting. To her, it was going through the Gates of Hell.

Elizabeth wore the one pair of black pants she kept for special occasions, taken from the bottom of her backpack, which she’d matched with a plain, muted green, long-sleeved T. She simply didn’t own anything fancier. In light of that fact, she’d spent extra time doing her hair and applying her makeup alongside Madeline. She wouldn’t hold up to Anastasia, but at least she’d tried for her own self-respect.

“You look like a fairy, too, Liz’beth.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. Shall we go inside?” Elizabeth patted the phone Steve had given her tucked into her back pocket. She’d been on edge waiting for David’s return phone call. It had been hours of radio silence, and her nerves were stretched. Normally with a sniff of money to be stolen, it didn’t take him long to catch the scent. Especially since he’d made such a point about her getting James’ bank account details. He could have it emptied in a matter of minutes.

Now, however, she had to play the part of her life. She squeezed Madeline’s hand and stepped into Hanna’s room. People sat here and there, some stood, holding glasses of sparkling wine. Muted music filtered from a hidden speaker. Wait staff offered trays of food prepared by Mrs. D’llessio and the team in the kitchen.

The air was casual, yet restrained. Everyone here was well-dressed, neat and well-groomed. Sophisticated.

She was usually the waitress, the cleaner, the dishwasher. Overlooked. She was secure in that knowledge. Knew where she stood. The ground familiar.

She rubbed a damp palm over her thigh as several faces turned her way. Instead of gliding over her, they stayed to look. She offered a hesitant smile, feeling her face heat. She just wanted to melt into the ground, be that no one everyone missed.

Madeline tugged her hand and led her into the centre of the room. Two tall, burly men parted to let Madeline though. Then James was there and his gaze fell immediately to her.

He’d changed into casual clothes that served to enhance his solid chest, the straight line of his shoulders, the bulge of his well-defined biceps. His long-sleeved polo was tucked into beige pants that hugged well-formed thighs, emphasising his tall, lean physique. She knew how toned that body was. She’d run greedy fingers over every inch of him.

The navy blue enriched the midnight hue of his eyes, and as she peered into his face, they glinted with a hunger that shot straight to her abdomen. She grit her teeth. How quickly she responded, with something as simple as a mere look from him.

She couldn’t help any of it. She was a complete failure at resistance. If she wanted to kid herself, she’d ignore the way adrenaline spiked her veins, the way her heart tumbled in her chest, the erotic images that flashed in her mind, limbs naked and entangled, sweating, touching, feeling, desire blocking everything except where they existed in their own world. Hell, she was getting hot just thinking about the things they’d done.

“There’s the nanny. I didn’t know you invited her, James. Usually, the help doesn’t come to parties like these.”

Anastasia snaked her arms through James’. His body stiffened. He dropped his arm, and her hand fell away. The woman nearly pouted before she caught herself. She shifted her weight from one hip to the other, attracting the glances of several of the men as the movement showed off her shapely, and bare, thigh.

As much as Elizabeth knew she was underdressed, Anastasia was dressed to the hilt. Her ears, neck, wrists and fingers glittered with stones. Elizabeth knew were real diamonds. They kicked back the light with the sparkle of glittering sunshine.

Her flawless features were defined with dramatic shades of smoky charcoal around her eyes that made them come alive with an inner glow. Her lips were coated with thick, glossy orgasm red, making her teeth look pure white.

She wore a skin-tight black dress. The neckline plunged between perky breasts. She couldn’t have been wearing a bra, but with breasts like those, it didn’t matter. The dress outlined a perfect figure, hourglass waist and the rounded flare of slim hips. Elizabeth was sure she never had a derriere in her life. She had a butt, or a rear end, or a seat-of-her-pants, but never what could only be called a derriere, like Anastasia had. That woman was a bombshell.

Stiletto heels made sure she was a head taller than Elizabeth, so she was shoulder to shoulder height with James. Elizabeth was short, frumpy, beige. Next to Anastasia, she was a sparrow next to a peacock.

Anastasia aimed her black, gleaming eyes at Madeline. “Oh, look what she’s done to the child. Can we even find you beneath those frills, Maddison?”

“Her name is Madeline. And she picked out the dress herself,” Elizabeth said, riding a spear of anger. Anastasia could say what she wanted to her, but when it came to Madeline, there was a clear line.

“She looks beautiful.” James lifted Madeline and rested her on his hip.

“Yeah. I’m bootful. Liz’beth said.” The comment earned a chuckle within the group.

“Elizabeth, I’m glad you’re here. I’d like to introduce you to my foreman, Jordie, my accountant, Mike, and my draftsman, Stuart.” James gestured to the men beside him as he said their names.

To her surprise, each man reached to shake her hand and offer a smile, no egos involved. “This is Ian, Anastasia’s business manager.” Ian shook her hand and offered a smile as well.

“It’s…it’s nice to meet you all,” Elizabeth stammered.

“I heard you got J man on a horse,” Jordie said.

J man? Elizabeth’s gaze slid from Jordie to James. Somehow, she didn’t quite see James as a J man. “Ah, yes. He was very…good. I think he enjoyed it.”

“He told us you’re a pro. I guess working as a stockman, you get to ride often,” Mike said.

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