pictures. Really nasty stuff, according to Ginny’s brother. People are talking about it all over town. His golf club membership’s already been revoked.”
“Wow. I had no idea. That’s disgusting.”
Billy’s father had always been a nasty man, but I’d had no clue he was into something quite so vile. Not the slightest hint.
“It’s always the men who appear the most respectable that have secrets, isn’t it?”
“It certainly seems that way.”
“Are you okay about this? I know you were close to Billy, but he was a real asshole.”
“I’m more than okay. And it may be wrong, but knowing those two are out of the picture’ll help me sleep better at night.”
“Karma has a funny way of coming back to bite people in the ass.”
When I walked back into the living room, I found Nick waiting, dressed in a made-to-measure tuxedo I wanted to peel him right out of. He crushed me against his chest and kissed me, ignoring the whistles from around the room.
“Stop!” Bradley shrieked. “You’re ruining her make-up, and that dress’ll crease.”
“Get a room, guys,” Jed muttered.
I blocked them out. All that mattered was Nick and his lips, and he didn’t step back until I was well and truly breathless.
“Sure you want to go tonight?” he asked.
“Ignore him.” Emmy jabbed a finger in his chest. “You’re both going. I promised Diana.”
“I want to go,” I murmured, trying to smile. Inside, I was still reeling from Missy’s call.
“What’s up, baby?”
“Missy just phoned. Billy’s dead. He fell down the stairs and broke his neck. And his father’s been arrested for having child pornography.”
Nick wrapped me up in a hug. “How do you feel about that?”
“Honestly? Relieved. Nothing else, just relieved.”
“Good. Then don’t waste another second thinking about either of them. That part of your life’s done. Finished. From now on, you’re going to enjoy yourself, starting tonight.”
He was right. I darn well would have a good time. It wasn’t every day a girl got to have dinner in the same room as the president, was it?
I loved my new life. I had Nick, a fabulous new home, friends, and no debt since Nick had admitted he’d paid off Momma’s medical bills and refused to take a cent from me. When I’d tried to insist, he told me the price was me naked in his bed every night. Those were repayments I was only too happy to make.
The column of limousines that left the hotel on our way to the dinner venue was something to behold. I no longer felt like a complete impostor, but I was still nervous as all heck.
“If I speak to him, what should I say?” I asked Nick.
“The president?”
“Yes!”
“Just introduce yourself. He’ll do most of the talking. He’s used to it.”
“Does my hair still look okay?”
“It looks beautiful. You look beautiful.”
“I’m terrified.”
“Don’t be. It’s just dinner.”
That was easy for him to say. He knew what to say and how to act. I settled for clutching his left hand as he circulated with a flute of champagne in his right. I’d quaffed one glass of wine, but I didn’t want to get any wobblier than I already was in these pumps.
“This is Senator Rutherford,” Nick told me.
The senator shook my hand, and I grimaced at my sweaty palm. “Pleased to meet you, Miss…?”
“Reynolds. Lara Reynolds.”
“Miss Reynolds. Are you enjoying the event?”
“Uh, I think so. I mean, yes. It’s all a bit overwhelming.”
He patted my hand in a fatherly way. “Between you and me, I felt the same at the first few of these dinners I came to.”
“Really?”
“Everyone does. They’re always a circus.”
“As long as I don’t end up the clown.”
He chuckled. “I doubt Nick will let that happen. Good to have made your acquaintance, Miss Reynolds.”
Nick drew me close as the senator moved on to the next person. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“I sounded like an idiot.”
“No, you didn’t. You’re doing perfectly.”
And then came the moment I’d been both hoping for and dreading. We found ourselves standing next to the president. Dan was right about the heat factor—up close, he exuded power, and his emerald eyes were mesmerising. He grinned at Nick as he shook his hand.
“Nick Goldman. It’s been a while.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“I can see that. Is this the lady I’ve heard so much about?”
The president knew who I was? My knees went wobbly at the thought. Nick gave me a gentle push, his hand hot on the small of my back, and I tripped forward.