Page 5 of The Verdict

My heels clicked on the floor, announcing every step as I smiled and moved fluidly through the crowd, snagging a glass of champagne off a passing tray and quickly downing a healthy sip.

Velvets and silks swarmed around me. Men in tuxes, women in gowns. Everyone dressed to make a statement. Meanwhile, my life had been my best-kept secret for five years, living in the shadows of simplicity.In peace.

Natalie belonged here more than I did. These guests were from the same class of high society as her parents, which was why I’d borrowed everything from head to toe from her tonight.Including this dress that seemed to grow shorter by the step.My fingers itched to pull at the hem, but I left it.

“You’re not a teacher tonight, Mer. Not his son’s tutor. Remember that.”

I could’ve argued with her—on so many levels. First, I was only asubstituteSpanish teacher at Havenhurst Academy, the prestigious prep school where Dr. Wheaton’s—Les’sson, Max, went. And Iwastutoring Max outside of class because he struggled with the language. But that wasn’t the reasonLeshad invited me tonight.

From the moment we’d first met, I knew he was attracted to me. Over the last year, his respectful compliments and flirting had grown steadily bolder each week that I saw him for Max’s after-school tutoring session. I wasn’t that interested in Les. I should’ve been. The man was classically handsome, even if he was two decades my senior. He was kind and a caring father. And rich.Very, very rich.

In fact, I would venture to say that Les had personallyreconstructed the faces of at least half the women in this room to remove any evidence that they’d aged in the last decade.

“He’s a jackpot, Mer. Not only can the man buy you anything, but he can literally buy you eternal youth.”

I almost rolled my eyes again at the memory when I saw Les in the far corner of the room amid a circle of people. He was tall. Salt and pepper hair slicked back stylishly. He had on a black tuxedo, but the bow tie he wore was striped like a candy cane; that was Max’s doing. Max loved when his dad wore playful ties. I would’ve waited to greet him, but he saw me first and motioned for me to come over.

Great.A herd of eyes focused on me like I was the lamb being led to the lion, and I felt every hit of my heels on the floor like a rap on my knuckles.

“Merritt.” Les’s smooth voice reached for me an instant before he did, pulling me straight to his side. “You look incredible,” he murmured as he leaned in close, completely ignoring the swarm of people watching our interaction.

“Hi.” I shifted awkwardly when I felt his hand on my back and his lips press to my cheek. I shivered, meeting his gaze as he drew back and smiled.

He’s a good man,I told myself. A doctor. A good father. Donates to charities. Travels.After what I’d been through, I could do worse than fall for him.

“I’m so glad you could make it.” He smiled and finally turned his attention back to the rest of the group.

I caught the sour look on one woman’s face before she masked it with a smile. “And who is this, Les?” She placed her hand on his arm, wordlessly signaling that he was hers.

I held back my smile when he shrugged off her touch and reached for my hand. “This is Ms. Merritt Manning, the lovely and incredibly talented miracle worker?—”

“Please—” I tried to stop him.

“Who has managed to not only get Max a passing grade in Spanish but made him enjoy the subject.”

“Ahh. A teacher.” Her tone called me a peasant. The up-and-down scan of her eyes—lingering on the length of my dress—called me worse. “I’m Melinda VanBuren, a longtimefriendof Les.”

I kept my smile placid.Don’t make waves.Five years later and I was still diligent about keeping a low profile.Or I had been until I’d agreed to come to this party tonight.

For five years, I’d been on the run, then in hiding, and finally, living under the radar for the last year here in San Francisco. Teaching. Saving money. Slowly making new friends.One new friend.

Five years was a long time to think they’d still be after me, I reminded myself. I needed to live… just a little.Like for one night.

Les interrupted and introduced me to the rest of the circle. A senator. A bank president. Two other surgeons. The CEO of an investment group. And then me. A substitute teacher.

I’d been a lot of other things in the past, but out of all of them,teacherwas still the most respectable.

I smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”

The group resumed their conversation about the upcoming election next year, and Les turned to me.“Have you seen the cake?” He tucked my hand into his elbow.

“Cake?” I blinked. “I saw the gingerbread house in the lobby.”

“You have to see the cake,” he said with almost childlike excitement. “Please, excuse us.” He led us away from his friends, Melinda’s venomous stare pinned to my back until there were enough people between us that she couldn’t see me anymore.

After a series of introductions along the way, Les broughtme in front of the giant cake shaped like stacked peppermints and decorated with candy canes.

“Wow.” I was pretty sure I’d seen royal wedding cakes that were less ornate.

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