In Her Corner (Harlequin Superromance) by Vicki Essex

Author:Vicki Essex [Essex, Vicki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE STARLIGHT FOUNDATION charity ball was held annually to raise money for underprivileged inner city children. Hadrian had come from a family with very little money, and he’d only gotten into mixed martial arts when a Jeet Kun Do teacher had taken him under his wing. Aside from being one of the foundation’s biggest supporters, Hadrian also sat on the board. He hosted the event, which counted on well-to-do folks willing to pay thousands of dollars to rub elbows with the world’s greatest athletes, celebrities and socialites.

Kyle had told Bella all this on the ride to the event, but she had no idea what a big deal the ball was. Part of her had expected a stuffy hotel ballroom filled with monocle-wearing seniors.

But this was no cartoon snob society event. It was an outdoor dance party, complete with a big-name DJ, sponsored open bar and lots of muscly security guys who could’ve passed for heavyweight fighters themselves.

Jess had hitched a ride with Bella and Kyle in the limo. She explained she would be adjusting people’s hair, makeup and wardrobe throughout the night in a special VIP salon. She peeled away as soon as the car stopped in front of the entrance, waving her fingers. “You two have a good time. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Thanks again, Jess,” Kyle called after her, genuine warmth behind his gratitude. Bella stepped onto the red carpet and was met by a blinding explosion of light. The media and paparazzi were gathered at the entrance, snapping photos and footage of the guests as they arrived. She squinted and shaded her eyes, trying to remember Joel’s advice. Smile. Wave. Let the crowd love you.

Kind of hard to do when her armpits were suddenly drenched. Panic struck when she couldn’t recall whether she’d applied deodorant.

“C’mon.” Kyle took her arm and gently guided her forward. People shouted her name, asking about her outfit. She parroted what Jess had told her—glad that Kyle’s sister had been so specific and had drilled her on the car ride to make sure she gave the designer’s name correctly. Apparently, sister and brother shared that compulsion for perfection.

After posing and studiously ignoring the questions thrown her way, Kyle escorted her into the party proper.

She wiped her brow. “Remind me to thank Jess. I don’t know what I’d have done if it weren’t for her. Good thing you bumped into her at the press conference.”

“Sheer dumb luck,” Kyle agreed lightly, a thoughtful look flitting across his face.

They made their way through the horde of dancers. It seemed every horizontal surface had been transformed into a dance floor. She spotted one barefoot girl gyrating between two guys perched on the rim of a planter. None of the security guys seemed inclined to stop them.

Joel and some of the fighters were clustered together on a dais at the other end of the party. As they got closer, they saw why it wasn’t so crowded around them: a ring of security guards two deep kept the regular party folk away from the beautiful people who’d found refuge on the raised island.

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