She could feel her skin heating, like she’d been in the sun too long. Eyes were everywhere, silent and judging, but she forced herself to ignore them. One night. You can do it. She clutched his arm and began leading him inside. “That was quite an entrance,” she murmured.
“They were going to stare no matter what I did. Besides, cowering by the side of a building isn’t really my style.”
“I was not cowering.” Not really, anyway. More like enjoying her last few minutes of solitude.
“If you say so.”
She ignored him and focused on the impending crush. The inside of the opera house bustled with activity. Patrons hurried to their seats while ushers assisted. Keeping her face down, Justine tugged him up the stairs and toward the bottom tier of boxes.
“May we slow down?” he asked. “I wasn’t aware this was a race.”
“They’ll cease staring once we are in the box.” Maybe.
“I had no idea you were so eager for us to reach your family.”
She stopped suddenly, nearly causing the couple behind them to collide into her back. Oh, heavens. Her family. In moments, she would walk in with Mulligan. How strong was her grandmother’s heart?
Offering a smooth apology to the other patrons, Mulligan neatly moved her out of the fray and into a small alcove. He leaned in, the hint of cigar and mint clinging to him, and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She froze, tingles shooting down her legs all the way to her toes. The unexpected touch had been gentle, so different from her fantasies. But she liked it. A lot.
“Breathe, Justine. The part about being eager was a joke.”
“Are you certain you must attend tonight?”
The side of his mouth hitched. “I am, chérie. But I promise, you’ll emerge unscathed. I swear my life on it.”
Ha. He had no idea how vicious society could be, how this would affect her family. Justine would end up very much scathed. “Let’s get this over with.”
He stared down at her, his blue eyes startling even in the dim light. “Do you trust me?”
“Absolutely not.”
That caused him to throw his head back and laugh. “Smart girl. Considering the thoughts running through my head at the moment, you’d be wise not to.”
“What do you mean?”
His head tilted as he perused her from head to toe. Something about the slow examination made her feel both hot and cold at the same time. “Impure thoughts,” he rasped. “About you.”
Oh, heavens. He’s having impure thoughts about me. The idea was dizzying.
Yet, this was not the time or the place for her fantasies to come to life.
Exhaling, she struggled not to reveal how much he affected her. “After tonight, you will never see me again.”
“Do you honestly believe that?”
“Of course I do.”
“We shall see, I suppose. Come on. Let’s face the dragons together.” He presented his arm and, after she sucked in a deep breath for courage, she accepted it. They departed the alcove and moved along the corridor to the Greene box.
“Prepare yourself,” she warned as they drew near. “We may be asked to leave.”
“Not a chance in hell. This is a fundraiser. No one wishes to lose my generous donation.”
She almost groaned. How could she have forgotten? “I suppose that guarantees you won’t be asked to leave.”
“Mon ange, if anyone hurts or disrespects you, I shall grow very angry. Then they will have to deal with me.” He bent closer. “I will protect you.”
“Do not call me that.” She was no angel, nor did she belong to him.
Looking up, she noted they’d arrived. Oh, sweet mercy. He had distracted her with his flirting and nicknames, and now they stood in front of the Greene box. More like Pandora’s box, considering all the trouble they were about to unleash.
“Go on,” the devil urged over her shoulder. “If I know one thing it’s that you are no quitter, Miss Greene.”
A little burst of confidence filled her. He was right. She was no quitter. Resigned, she pushed through the velvet curtains at the back of the box.
Mamie and Granny were in the salon sipping cocktails when Justine stepped in. “There you are,” her grandmother said. “We were wondering—”
The words disappeared and silence descended as her escort entered behind her. She cleared her throat. “May I present Mr. Mulligan? Mr. Mulligan, this is my sister, Mrs. Tripp. My grandmother, Mrs. Greene.”
He strode deeper into the room and performed a bow worthy of a prince. “Good evening, ladies. Mrs. Tripp, it