Billionaire Protector - Alexa Hart Page 0,27

a wink. “Try to keep this kid outta trouble. He’s quite the rebel, this one.”

Anne let a laugh out. “Is he really?”

“No. Oh my God, no.” Turning back to me, “I gotta go. I have magic to work.” He took off immediately, and I almost felt like I should go warn the brunette he’d pointed out.

But that would be pointless, because regardless of Preston’s never-ending arrogance, he also had loads of charm. And apparently, he had just the right ratio of both to make him irresistible to most women.

“My apologies,” I said, giving a mock bow.

“Is he always like that?” Anne seemed to have found the encounter entertaining, if not a little alarming.

“Always.”

“Wow. That’s a handful. I feel bad for your mom.”

It was my turn to tense now. I hadn’t mentioned my mother’s passing to Anne yet.

Add it to the list.

I turned to her awkwardly and got the words out as fast and simply as I could. “My mom died about ten years ago.”

Anne’s face went white. “Oh my God, Penn. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said –”

“You didn’t know. It’s fine. It’s absolutely fine, Anne.” I gave her a huge smile, because it really was okay. I’d coped – adjusted. My mother’s death certainly wasn’t a fresh wound, although I couldn’t imagine a day when it didn’t hurt at all.

What was bothering me more – what wasn’t fine – was the fact that Anne and I really did know hardly anything about each other. Granted, we’d only met two days ago. It wasn’t abnormal to slowly learn more and more about someone you had just met.

But I felt a certain impatience in my chest. I wanted to know everything about this girl. Everything.

“Do you wanna see the rooftop? The view is insane.” I hoped Anne wouldn’t take the words as some sleazy code for just wanting to get her alone. I simply wanted to ask her a million things and actually be able to hear the answers.

Anne peeked up at me. “Yeah. That sounds beautiful.”

My heart skipped a little bit. What would be beautiful was seeing Anne surrounded by all the city lights.

I grabbed her hand and began leading her again. This time I wasn’t searching for any of my brothers. I was hoping to avoid them. And my father... Well, there was plenty of time for Paul Lincoln to meet Anne. Plenty.

We’d almost made it to the back of the ballroom, where I knew there was a shiny elevator waiting just outside of the door, when I heard my father’s voice behind us.

“Penn Hardick! Aren’t you going to introduce me to your lovely friend?”

Anne’s eyes were huge and unsettlingly fearful yet again, and I was beginning to wonder if that was just her default reaction to all things unexpected. It was possible.

But why?

I sighed and resigned myself to the impending conversation.

“Dad! How’s your party going?” I spoke as cheerfully as possible, dutifully turning around, and Anne following suit.

“It’s brilliant. Some of my favorite faces are here tonight.” Paul Hardick was beaming. As reclusive as my dad could be, he did enjoy a good party. Aside from Preston he was the only Hardick male who enjoyed a good party.

“I’ve been trying not to look people straight in the face.” It was a joke, but I was still dead serious.

“Well, how about this face?” My dad nodded toward Anne, who stood stone solid beside me.

Here goes nothing. Or everything. We’ll see.

“Dad, I would like for you to meet my date for the evening, Anne. Anne, this is my father – the man of the hour.” I felt a strange confliction, because on the one hand, I was psyched to introduce Anne to anyone and everyone that knew me well. But I was terrified that my father would ask her the one question I myself hadn’t yet asked.

With good reason.

“Anne, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you. Penn doesn’t often bring girls around us Hardick folk. You must be very special, indeed.” Dad shook Anne’s hand while she turned varying shades of pink.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Hardick,” Anne replied, shyly looking up to meet Dad’s gaze.

“Might I inquire your last name? Perhaps I’m familiar with your family.” My father’s voice was kind, and I knew he genuinely meant no harm. But he had literally just said the exact words I’d been praying he wouldn’t say.

One glance at Anne told me I’d been completely correct, intuition-wise. This wasn’t a question she wanted to answer. That inkling was