Page 11 of Moonlit Colorado

She was already behind me, placing the mask over my face. “You’re doing me a favor. Your mask breaking was as clear a sign as I’m likely to get. This isn’t my night. I should just cut my losses and go.”

“Do you have a ride?”

“I’ll figure it out.” She shrugged as she secured the ties. “You should get to the party. Have fun. It’s liberating to wear a mask. You can be whoever you want, even if it’s just for a night.”

Just for a night. I did like that idea.

“Would you take my number though?” I asked. “In case you need a ride later or…anything?”

“I’ll be fine. You’re helping me out already.”

I didn’t see how. But if I was making her feel better, that was a win. Right?

Ms. Scarlet held onto my shoulders and gently steered me toward the exit. But just as I opened the door, she said, “Wait a second. You forgot your purse.”

“Oh. Thanks. That would’ve been bad.” I took it from her hand. “Have a safe night, okay?”

She flinched, such a small movement I almost missed it. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

We both left the bathroom, dodging a cluster of women just heading in. Then I watched, still bewildered, as Ms. Scarlet turned a corner and disappeared. I hoped she would be all right.

That had beenreallystrange.

Yet the glittery red mask gave me a new burst of confidence. I could pretend, for one exciting night, that I wasn’t some nerdy bookkeeper with an abysmal dating history and zero trust in the male species.

Tonight was about feeling good in my skin and nothing else.

Ready or not, here I come.

FOUR

Dane

Just as Ifinished knotting my bowtie, my phone buzzed with an incoming text.

Margot

You’re late to the party.

Me

How the hell do you know that?

My spies are everywhere.

The hotel manager just called me in a panic, wondering where you are. I told him you probably looked in the mirror and lost track of time.

Ouch. A palpable hit.

Accurate though.

I grinned at my phone.

Margot had been my assistant for years, since back when I’d been running my own company. But I had known her for longer than that. Her son had served with me and Ashford, and he’d died in an insurgent attack in Kandahar. After I came home, I got to know her and eventually, after I left active duty, wound up hiring her to work for me. When I joined the family business two years ago, I insisted on bringing her with me.

Margot was one of the few people I trusted completely. She never let me get away with anything.

Me

---