A Billionaire's Redemption - By Cindy Dees Page 0,37
of steps leading down into the ballroom. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable after—”
She turned to face him and pressed her fingers against his lips. “Don’t apologize. No one’s ever called me sexy before. That’s all.”
“Are you kidding?” he burst out.
“I don’t exactly run around in slinky gowns with
X-rated underwear and my hair down and wearing come-hither makeup that often.”
“X-rated—” he broke off sharply, and his arm immediately went around her waist protectively. He happened to slip his hand under her wrap as he did so, and his warm palm slid across her bare skin. A strange look crossed his face. “I think I’d better see the back of your dress before I let you take that shawl thing off.”
On cue, a bellboy stepped forward and reached for her shoulders to remove the wrap. Gabe glared the kid off, though, and stepped behind her to lift away the garment himself.
“Sweet baby Jesus,” he breathed.
She looked over her shoulder in quick alarm. “Is something wrong with my dress?”
“I’m only going to have to snarl off every man in the room tonight. Wouldn’t be surprised if I end up having to fight a damned duel over you,” he grumbled.
A slow smile spread across her face. “You like it?”
“Merciful God, woman. I’ve never seen anything like it. I can’t take my eyes off you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, more grateful than she could express at his gratifying reaction. It was just the confidence boost she needed to face the lion’s den of Vengeance society.
They started down the steps once more, Gabe’s arm firmly wrapped around her waist. “Good thing I box a couple of times a week,” he muttered in her ear. “I have a feeling I may need a solid right hook before the night is out.”
She leaned in close to murmur back, “Why’s that?”
“Because every damn man in the place is staring at you like they’d like to eat you up.”
She glanced up at the crowd closing in around them. Good grief, he was right. She was so used to being invisible, to trailing along in her father’s wake and picking up the spare bits of attention thrown her way as a matter of courtesy, that this concentrated attention by everyone was badly intimidating.
She might have shrunk back from it or even turned around and left were it not for Gabe’s arm anchoring her at his side and lending her strength.
Jacquelyn Carver, chairwoman of the charity fund-raiser committee closed in on her and Gabe like a guided missile. “Why, Gabe Dawson. To what do we owe this pleasant surprise?”
Willa’s teeth ached to grind together at the syrupy purr the woman aimed in Gabe’s direction.
He answered drily, “I’m merely attending as Senator Merris’s escort.”
“Senator—” Jacquelyn looked over Willa’s shoulder as if searching for John Merris. “Oh. Of course. Why, yes. Willa, congratulations on your appointment. It must have come as quite a shock.”
“Why do you say that?” Gabe asked immediately and a little aggressively.
“Well, everyone thought Larry Shore would be named...” Apparently, it dawned on Jacquelyn a little late that Willa might take offense at not having been on the short list to replace her father.
Willa took pity as the woman’s face turned red. After all, she was on Gabe Dawson’s arm tonight; she could afford to be generous. “I was more surprised than anyone when the governor called me, Jackie. But it wasn’t like I could say no to my father’s last request.”
“Will you go to Washington?” the woman asked hopefully.
“The police have asked me not to leave town.” As Willa watched avid curiosity about the charges she’d made against James Ward cross Jackie’s face, Willa added drily, “It’s in case I can help with my father’s murder investigation and the kidnapping of Gabe’s ex-wife.”
Jackie turned to Gabe, placing a solicitous hand on his arm. “You poor man. You must be so distraught over that. Such an impressive and brilliant woman, your wife.”
“Ex-wife,” Gabe retorted.
“Why, yes. Of course,” Jackie gushed.
Willa’s gaze narrowed. So that was how it was going to be, huh? The good ladies of Vengeance were going to snipe at Gabe for being out in public while his ex-wife was missing, and they were going to come after her for trying to replace Melinda Dawson. She supposed that was better than turning on her for charging James Ward with rape.
But then another woman strolled up, this time landing a snide barb about Willa certainly having come out of mourning in a big way. As that particular cat strolled away,