Susan Mallery Page 0,81

to stay where she was.

She could feel the imprint of his fingers and the heat from his body. He applied slight pressure and she found herself leaning into him. He slid his hand from the small of her back to her hip, an intimate gesture that caused her heartbeat to suddenly accelerate.

He and Merelyn talked for a couple more minutes, then the other woman excused herself. As soon as she was gone, Alec released Margot.

“I’m sorry if that was inappropriate,” he began. “I reacted without thinking.”

While she regretted the loss of his touch, she wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it. Not when she was still feeling unexpected desire and longed to throw herself into his arms. The reaction was confusing and a little unsettling. Yes, she liked Alec, but she hadn’t noticed that somewhere along the way she’d also started wanting him.

“No, it’s totally fine,” she said, hoping she sounded normal. “I’m happy to protect you from ex-girlfriends whenever necessary.”

“I want to say it wasn’t like that, only it was. Thank you for understanding.”

“You’re welcome.”

His dark gaze locked with hers. For a second, she was sure he was going to lean in and kiss her. In fact, she was so convinced that she took a half step toward him in anticipation of—

“What if I make it a hundred thousand dollars?”

The familiar male voice carried over the crowd and had Margot spinning around, searching frantically for Bianca.

“Where are they?”

“Over there.” Alec grabbed her hand and led the way.

Margot hoped they got there before Brandon made the offer too tempting. Or too fun.

They maneuvered around a small group of people in time to see Bianca nod her agreement.

“All right. A hundred thousand dollars to Children’s Hospital.” She turned slightly, offering her backside to Brandon.

He reached out a hand, then pulled it back. “I’ll make it two hundred and fifty thousand if I can touch under the dress.”

“No,” Margot said, trying to make the word loud enough to be heard without yelling and attracting attention. But it was like being in a dream. She opened her mouth and thought she spoke, but there was no sound. No anything.

Time slowed until she knew there was no way to stop it from happening. Whatever “it” was. Bianca tilted her head as she considered, then casually pulled up her skirt. Her thigh came into view, then her hip and her left buttock. Because, of course, she was only wearing a thong.

Brandon groaned and put his hand directly on Bianca’s skin. Margot stared in disbelief as she heard an odd clicking sound. Too late she realized the annoying photographer was back and had captured the entire incident. And just like that, the picture of a man touching Bianca Wray’s bare ass became a thing.

* * *

The next morning the photograph was on the front page of the Los Angeles Times and USA TODAY. Margot hadn’t bothered to go check where it was online, mostly because she didn’t want to know. She sat across from Bianca, at the dining room table, wondering where she’d gone so wrong.

“I still don’t see the problem,” Bianca said, covering a yawn. “It’s no big deal. So a man touched my behind? I raised a quarter-million dollars for charity.” Her smile was smug. “You know, a studio once tried to get my behind insured, but no one would do it. I would imagine those executives are feeling a little foolish right about now.”

“You let a man touch you on your butt,” Margot said, trying to keep her tone reasonable and not shrill. “You pulled up your dress and let him touch your butt while you were wearing a thong.”

Bianca studied her. “Are you all right?”

“Not really, no. I’ve totally failed you. I thought we were making progress. I thought I was getting through to you.”

“This isn’t your fault,” Bianca told her. “And it’s not a bad thing.”

“It’s your bare ass on the front page of the Los Angeles Times. I’m pretty sure that’s not the kind of publicity you need right now.” She looked at her client. “Do you really think this is okay?”

Bianca studied the picture. “I look fabulous, so yes, I’m fine with it.”

“And Wesley? Is this what he wants? What about the government back in Cardigania? What are they going to think? Or say? What about the prime minister? How do you meet the prime minster after that? What do you say to him? This picture will live online forever. Wesley has adult children from a