Guarded by Helena Newbury

Author:Helena Newbury [Newbury, Helena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Foster & Black
Published: 2023-05-28T16:00:00+00:00

The car slowed as we joined the line waiting for valet parking. I hunched down in my seat so I could look up at the massive building we were approaching. One of New York’s oldest venues, the entrance of the Hattendorf Ballroom had marble pillars the size of redwoods and a three-stage staircase leading up to towering wooden doors. Tonight, the stairs were a waterfall of color running in reverse as a constant stream of women in beautiful ball gowns swept gracefully up them. There was a throng of press clustered around the arriving cars and the camera flashes were going so fast they were almost continuous.

As our car crept closer, I could feel my chest going tight with panic. It wasn’t just the thought of some guy out there with a gun or a knife. It was the thought of being in the spotlight, instead of safely in the corner.

JD must have seen my face because his low, Texas rumble came from next to me. “If you want, we can just get out of here.”

I looked across at him. He’d driven me there himself, with the two FBI agents tailing us in a separate car. I knew he really would just get me out of there, no judgment, no questions asked, and I loved him for that. But I shook my head. I was thinking of my dad: this was his favorite night of the year. He’d have wanted me to be there and I wasn’t going to let him down. “No. Let’s do this.”

The car in front moved up, but JD held my gaze for a second, looking at me with something like wonder. I flushed and looked down at my lap. Then we drove forward and it was our turn.

JD got out first, looking like a Texan James Bond in his tux. He scowled at the press, his eyes everywhere, watching for trouble. Then he opened my door and helped me out. Camera flashes blasted me and all I could see were glowing negatives of everything. But JD slipped his arm around my waist and guided me up the stairs.

We moved through a short hallway and then, up ahead, I could hear the big, echoey space. I looked down at myself and my steps slowed. “Everyone’s going to be looking at me,” I mumbled uncertainly.

JD looked at me and his eyes gleamed as if I was the best thing I’d ever seen. “Yeah they are,” he said with feeling. And I felt something in my chest just lift, almost lifting me right off my feet. I took a deep breath and, together, we walked into the ballroom.

At least a hundred couples were there: bankers and business people, actors and politicians. Miles was there with Paige, who looked amazing in a long silver dress, her golden hair in an updo. She was grinning and wide-eyed, squeezing his hand with excitement. He’d given up his plus-one so she could have a night of glamor, when he could have used it for one of his hundreds of female admirers.

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