Page 29 of Second Chance Savior

“Who is it?” Brynn asked.

I checked my screen, half expecting to find River calling me. But it wasn’t him.

“It’s Jud.” My ex-boyfriend. When we’d broken up months ago, I’d made my feelings clear. As in,don’t ever contact me again. But my parents had mentioned him just yesterday. If he hoped to get back together, I didn’t want to know. “I have no idea what he could want, and I’m not interested in finding out.”

“Ex?” Rainey asked.

“Yep.” I switched the phone off and stuck it in my clutch.

Brynn smirked. “You’ve been having a lot of ex issues lately. Who knew our lieutenant governor was such a man-eater?”

“Hey!” I didn’t know if that was a tangential reference to River, or to my former relationship with his brother, or all of the above. “That’s exactly why I’ve sworn off men for the foreseeable future. No more drama, please.”

“Same here,” Agent Torres said from the front. “I’ve got a list of toxic exes. Men are more trouble than they’re worth.”

“Not all of us,” Agent Rainey complained.

Brynn held up her hands, palms out. “I’m staying out of this.”

Laughing, I held out my fist, and Torres bumped it.

At the public entrance to the botanic gardens, off-duty cops were checking IDs to make sure only invited guests were allowed inside. We pulled up to the private side entrance. Agent Rainey got out first to double check that thearrangements were in place. Then I got out with Brynn. She and the other agents were dressed in an upscale version of FBI fashion: sharp dark suits and dour expressions. Brynn had added a pair of stiletto heeled boots to spice up her ensemble.

I’d worn a sleeveless, dark blue dress that almost brushed the ground and flowed around my legs as I walked. And beneath? My favorite pair of combat boots. It was my nod to comfort and my personality. I’d learned a while ago that if I didn’t insist on being true to myself, even in small ways, I would lose my mind. Especially at an event like tonight’s, which was for an important cause yet was all about elegance and catering to wealthy donors.

“You do your thing,” Brynn murmured to me. “I’ll be sure to have eyes on you.”

“Thanks. You’re going above and beyond.”

Everything would be fine. Like she’d said. No more time to stress or worry.

The private entrance took us through a building the staff used as office space. After emerging on the other side, I spotted the event coordinator. I smiled and lifted my hand in greeting.

I was ready to mix and mingle and squeeze a few more dollars of donations to benefit trafficking victims. Those survivors were the reason I was here tonight.

Stillwater could kiss my combat boots.

The fundraiser was being held on a large open-air patio across from a reflecting pool. Smaller paths branched off in all directions, leading into different areas of the gardens. Along one side of the patio, tables were set up for a silent auction. I made my rounds, shaking hands, meeting new donors and reconnecting with local philanthropists I already knew well. Around us, the botanic gardens were in the full bloom of summer.

A band played subdued rock ballads beside the open bar. I wouldn’t be drinking tonight, but I longed for an extra dry martini. Especially when I got cornered by a retired Wall Street type who had just bought a third home in Colorado. The man had a nasally voice and a bad habit of tugging at his white goatee. He was talking my ear off about tax incentives.

“Charlotte,” the head of the charity said. A woman named Jessica. “So sorry to interrupt.”

I wasn’t sorry. Not in the least. I started to turn away from Mr. Wall Street, hoping Jessica would save me from death by boredom.

“I justhaveto introduce you to our newest Champion-tier donor,” she said, ushering someone forward through the crowd.

Then I caught sight of the handsome man beside her. Dapper tailored suit, slicked-back dark hair. A smirk I knew far too well.

“This is River Kwon. Mr. Kwon, Lieutenant Governor Charlotte McKinley.”

You have got to be kidding me.

“Lieutenant Governor,” River said. “I’ve been dying to meet you.” He held out his hand. I didn’t take it.

“Champion-tier?” I snapped. “Really?” That was the highest donation level that this charity had. Over thirty thousand dollars. No wonder Jessica was ecstatic to introduce me.

What thehellwas River doing?

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