Seduced The Unexpected Virgin - By Emily McKay Page 0,40

where you were really impressed by the party planner?” Emma asked.

“Yes, I did.” She gave her temple a quick tap, trying to pull up the woman’s name. “She was just starting her own business and looking for work. She would be perfect for the job. Paige something. Adams maybe.”

Emma smiled triumphantly. “If she’s looking for work, this will be a dream job.”

“I’ll give her a call,” Ana agreed. “But first we should put out some feelers. See what the rest of the staff thinks.”

Emma, never one to give up a fight easily, reached over to finger the dress. “And the dress?”

“I’ll think about it.”

In fact, she was afraid she’d think about little else.

As they finished talking about the fundraiser, Ana gave the fabric of the dress one last touch. It was as light and airy as dragonfly wings.

Then she led Emma from the room and resolutely shut the door on the dress. She didn’t want Emma to know how heartsick the sight of it made her.

She just didn’t know how to feel about this new twist their relationship was taking. The Valentine’s Day party, the dress…it all seemed so intimate.

Emma wouldn’t understand. But then, Emma didn’t know about Cara’s sunglasses.

Nine

When she didn’t say anything about the dress, Ward wondered if she would wear it. So he was pleased when he stopped by her house to pick her up and found her dressed in it. She looked exactly as he’d imagined. And, yes, he’d even imagined the frown.

“I’m glad you wore the dress,” he said, leaning in to brush a quick kiss across her cheek. Of course, he’d seen her at the wedding just that morning. At the time it had been all he could do not to pull her fully into his arms and stake his claim on her where everyone could see. But he was trying to respect her wishes to keep things quiet.

Besides, stirring up gossip wasn’t the best idea at someone else’s wedding, when everyone was supposed to be focusing on the bride. The ceremony had been simple, yet lovely, as elegant as the bride herself. Ana had cried openly during the ceremony and the small reception that followed. Though he’d been curious about her parents, who’d also attended, he’d stayed firmly on the groom’s side of the celebration, well away from temptation. Even now, he had to force himself to put some distance between them.

Her frown deepened for an instant. “How did you even know about the dress?”

“I asked CeCe.”

“This wasn’t a Hudson Pictures movie. I’ve never worked for them.”

“True, but CeCe grew up in Hollywood. She knows everyone. She told me this was the most gorgeous dress she’d ever seen. She said this was the dress you’d want to wear at least once, even if you’d worked your fingers to bloody nubs sewing it.”

“Well, at least she has excellent taste.” Ana smiled a bit reluctantly. “And I’m glad you followed my advice and didn’t rent a limo.”

He guided her down toward his Lexus. “It’s an hour and half drive into Beverly Hills. If we were alone in the back of a limo, I couldn’t promise to keep my hands to myself.”

Ana didn’t know what she expected from the Hudsons’ bash. Obscene displays of wealth. Check. Obnoxious paparazzi. Check—though they were barred at the door. A dazzling array of stars. Check.

What she had not expected was to be blindly welcomed into their midst. As a costume designer, she’d mostly lingered on the fringes of Hollywood society. Tonight she was escorted into its upper echelons.

The Hudsons’ annual bash was held at Hudson Manor, a sprawling Elizabethan mansion that ate up acres and acres of prime Beverly Hills real estate. The entire first floor of the manor had been lavishly decorated in red hearts and pink ribbons. The kitschy decorations contrasted sharply with the elegant surroundings.

Ward fit right in among all the stars and seemed to know nearly everyone. She did her part to talk up Hannah’s Hope to anyone who displayed even the tiniest smidge of interest and she had several people who seemed genuinely intrigued. She found she was better at the schmoozing than she thought she’d be.

But she was nowhere near as good at it as Ward was. Listening to him talk up Hannah’s Hope was almost as impressive as watching him play on stage. He was a genius. And his passionate enthusiasm for Hannah’s Hope only made her feel more vulnerable. Why couldn’t Ward be shallow and self-serving?

Ana excused herself to find the bathroom