Page 32 of Out of the Shadows

Bean turned to the woman who was now standing beside her and Gavin. She fought a shiver while goosebumps tore across her skin. Inhaling, she allowed that long-forgotten feeling of detachment to settle over her.

Straightening her spine, she donned a smile—not too big as to appear gauche, but not too small to appear rude—and air-kissed the other woman.

“Good evening,” Bean said, proud of how her voice was serene and steady. “It’s so lovely to see you.”

Huh. Would you look at that? Itislikeriding a damn bike.

Gavin wasn’t sure what the hell was going on, but the tension pulsing from Bean was at complete odds with the pleasant smile on her face.

He didn’t like it. Not one bit.

The fake smile. The air-kissing. Hell, even Bean’s tone had changed. It was one he’d never heard from her before. Like she was indeed some socialite.

AndFlorence Sabrina?

What. The. Fuck?

“We haven’t been in Seattle in eons, so imagine my surprise when I saw you walking by. Andhereof all places.” The other woman’s laugh was grating. And fake as fuck. “What are the chances of running into you?”

His eyes narrowed. The woman looked to be anywhere from her early fifties to late sixties. She was slim and slightly taller than Bean—even though B wore sky-high heels—and had straight, shoulder-length salt-and-pepper hair. There was something familiar about the older woman, but... he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“I’m equally shocked as well,” Bean said, stepping to the side and moving them all out of the drink line. “What brings you to Seattle?”

“Oh, well, your—” The woman glanced at him and laughed that shrill laugh again. “Pardon me. Where are my manners?” She shot Bean a disapproving look—one he would have missed if he hadn’t been studying the other woman so intently—before holding out her hand to him. “I’m Dr. Flora Buena Ventura.”

He shook her extended hand, and trepidation crawled up his spine. “Gavin Frazier.”

“Gavin’s my partner,” Bean said, linking her arm with his. She leaned into him in a way that made no mistake that their supposed partnership was of the intimate sort.

Interesting.

He’d play along.

“That’s lovely,” Dr. Buena Ventura said, eyeing him up and down before meeting his gaze. “And what is it you do for work, Mr. Frazier?”

Gavin immediately sized her up. Though, truthfully, it wasn’t difficult. The woman thought she wasfarsuperior to him. “Corporate security, ma’am.” He had zero desire to provide any further information.

“That’s nice,” she said, her nose scrunching as if she’d smelled something foul. She gestured toward the general area of the tables. “My husband, Dr. Leonardo Buena Ventura, is a guest speaker at the University of Washington this week. We were invited by Herbert and Julia Croft to attend this evening as they’re very large donors to the McClintock Family Foundation. We’re heading off to London on Tuesday as I’m a guest lecturer at the University of Oxford.”

He was surprised she didn’t pat herself on the back.

“Well, it was fortuitous we were able to run into each other,” Bean said with that smile he was beginning to hate still on her face.

“Fortuitous, indeed.” The woman glanced around before waving at someone across the room. “The Crofts are waiting for me. They’re enthralled with my latest research. If we don’t see each other the rest of the evening, it was lovely seeing you again.” She turned to Gavin with her hand extended. For Bean’s sake, he shook it. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Frazier.” When she released his hand, she turned back to Bean and air-kissed her. “Shall I give your regards to your father?”

“Please,” Bean replied. “Be well, Mother.”

As the other woman pranced away, Gavin’s mouth fell open. He prided himself on his poker face, on masking hisemotions, on always being professional. But holy fuck. Had he heard that right? Thatwas Bean’smother?

He steered Bean toward the edge of the room until they stood next to a giant eight-foot vase that would give them some privacy. “B, what was?—”

“Change of plans,” she said in a low voice, looking out at the ballroom. “I’m no longer Sabrina Darcy, your high society friend from London. It’s Florence Sabrina Buena Ventura now. Daughter of Drs. Leonardo and Flora Buena Ventura.” Continuing to watch the various guests milling about, her lips pursed. “They’re kind of a big deal in academic circles. Six years ago, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics. The following year, she won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.”

He frowned. That was fucking great and all, but... “B, what’s?—”

“I promise I’ll explain. But later.” She finally met his gaze, and the turmoil swirling in her blue eyes stopped his heart. “Please, Gavin.”

His chest squeezed as it resumed beating. “Of course, honey.” His lips quirked immediately after the endearment slipped out.

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