This Winter Night by Janice Sims

Author:Janice Sims
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kimani Press
Published: 2013-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Colton tried to shake off the madness that had ensued in the hallway as he strode back into the ballroom. His eyes went directly to his table where his mother and Lauren seemed to be deep in conversation. They were leaning toward one another, their heads nearly touching. The warm feeling he got from knowing how much his mother and Lauren enjoyed each other’s company almost dispelled the seed of doubt his confrontation with Adam Eckhart had planted in him.

Could Lauren still have feelings for Eckhart? He was at war with his conscience. On one hand he wanted to be completely honest with Lauren and tell her exactly what had transpired a few minutes ago. On the other, he didn’t want to ruin her evening by telling her about Eckhart’s lunacy. So he decided he’d tell her later.

His mother smiled up at him when he joined them. “Colton, did you know that both Lauren’s mother and I attended Shaw University? Now, I’ve got to go look in my old yearbooks and see if I can find a Virginia Beck. Beck’s her maiden name.”

Sitting down on Lauren’s left Colton said, “No, I didn’t. You two might have known one another.”

Veronica frowned. “Seems like I would remember a Virginia, but I don’t.”

Lauren smiled at Colton. She looked into his eyes and seemed, to him, to detect that something was amiss. Or maybe it was his guilt at deciding not to tell her about his encounter with Eckhart until later that was niggling at him.

A look of askance crossed her face. “Is something wrong?” she said, her tone soft but urgent.

Ever since Lauren had seen Adam again she’d had this sense of foreboding lying just below the surface, trying its best to rear its ugly head.

“No, no,” Colton assured her and rubbed her arm comfortingly. He leaned toward her, kissed her cheek and whispered, “It’s almost midnight.”

Around them, couples were returning to their tables from the dance floor. Tradition at the Black and White Ball dictated that at the stroke of midnight, champagne would flow like water and everyone would toast the New Year in.

Waitstaff entered the ballroom pushing trolleys laden with bottles of the bubbly spirits. On stage the host was counting down the seconds. “Ten, nine, eight, seven,” he intoned.

Promptly at the midnight hour the sound of corks popping filled the ballroom. “Happy New Year!” everyone exclaimed with joy. Those who had them blew paper horns. Silver and gold confetti rained on them.

At Colton and Lauren’s table, champagne glasses were filled and everyone offered toasts to one another. Colton looked into Lauren’s eyes and said, his voice husky, “I hope this year will be the best you’ve ever had.”

“It will be with you in it,” Lauren said, smiling happily.

They gently touched their glasses together, took sips of champagne and put their glasses on the table.

Colton leaned in, his gaze on her mouth. “Our first kiss of the year,” he said, his voice rife with longing.

“Make it a good

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