Page 46 of The Texan's Secrets

“You’ve made your case.” It was a more apt metaphor than he’d realized.

“It would be more fun if there were sailing ships, costumes and swordplay, I suppose,” she allowed.

He grinned with amusement at her sardonic tone.

“Oh, look.” She gestured with her near empty glass. “There’s Paris with Chase McMillian. And they’re interviewing with the video crew. Let’s go check it out.”

“You go.” Nico scrambled for an excuse to avoid being recorded. “There are a couple of people I want to track down.”

Emilia’s brow narrowed in bafflement. “They’ll want to interview us too.”

“They can do it later. Let me take your glass.” He reached out his hand.

“But—” She absently handed it over, perplexity clear on her expression.

“I’ll find you again. Don’t worry,” he assured her.

“You’re really not coming with me?”

“I promised a couple of people I’d catch up...” He let his voice trail off.

“You can’t talk to them later?”

He hated that he had to dig himself deeper and deeper. “They said they can’t stay very long. Go ahead.” He nodded across the room. “Visit with Paris. You can tell me what questions they’re asking so I’m prepared.”

Thankfully, she nodded to that, because he was running out of reasons to leave her alone. And he felt like a heel for doing it. But he couldn’t stand in front of the camera and answer probing questions. They’d put his face and voice all over social media. The name “Nick” wasn’t much of a disguise, and a whole lot of people in this town knew Nico Law was Misha’s brother.

He’d be recognized by someone for sure.

“I’ll find you,” he promised as he moved away and left her standing alone. Then he wove his way through the crowd, looking for an exit to a hallway or a patio where he could lie low for a while.

Emilia watched Nick disappear into the crowd without a backward glance.

Her lighthearted Cinderella-at-the-ball feelings evaporated as she wondered why he wouldn’t want to introduce her to his friends. He hadn’t even suggested she come with him.

Her self-pity moment was interrupted by another waitress with a tray of cocktails.

The woman gave Emilia a friendly smile and helpfully pointed to the glasses on her tray. “The tall one is called a River Fizz, and the blue one is an Ocean’s Fifty.”

The River Fizz looked refreshing to Emilia, and her last Silver Saddle cocktail had been tasty, so she took one. Then she squared her shoulders, determinedly shook off her dejection and headed for Paris and Chase, who were laughing as they spoke with Kaitlin Gander. Maybe Paris’s joy would improve her mood.

“I’d call this our second date,” Chase was saying in a smooth baritone as Emilia approached.

Paris grinned at her and gave a little wave, looking like she was in high spirits.

Emilia made a mock gasp, gesturing to Paris’s outfit. She’d worn a vibrant forest green off-the-shoulder gown, dripping with sequins and accented with a wide sash at the waist. Her lustrous hair was in a messy updo, and her earrings were dangling gold starbursts.

She was tall in her high heels, but Chase was taller still, and they made a striking couple with his black tux and bow tie. For a cowboy, he sure cleaned up nice, and his blue eyes gleamed a little when he met Paris’s gaze, making Emilia think their second date was going very well.

Abandoned or not, Emilia was happy for her friend.

“I think that will do it,” Kaitlin said to Paris and Chase, handing her microphone to a member of the crew. “Great interview, you two. Thanks for doing it.”

“It was fun,” Paris said.

“Thanks, guys,” Chase said to the crew members.

“And now I’m ready for a drink,” Paris said to Chase as she moved Emilia’s way. “Are those any good?”

---