Page 86 of Halstead House

“Do you think they’re looking for an assistant event coordinator?” I playfully stroked my chin as I looked over his shoulder at the house itself.

He reached for my hand. “I had no idea you were so mercenary.”

I happily laced my fingers through his, overjoyed once again to simply be with him. I didn’t care where we were or what we were doing. The feeling of his hand in mine was all I needed.

“I’ll be the first to admit that we’re probably too old for this, but I propose we play a little game tonight,” Lucas said.

Pulled out of my thoughts, I glanced his way. “What kind of game.”

“A getting-to-know-you game.”

“With who?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Of course. Who else?”

“I thought you meant the people seated at our table.”

He pulled a face. “Why would I want to play a getting-to-know-you game with them?”

“I don’t know. Why would you want to play one with me?”

“Because... I’m trying to get... to... know... you.” He enunciated each word slowly, and I was so caught off guard by his dry sarcasm that a laugh burst out of me. “I’ll go first. Would you rather wear yellow or orange?”

“Um, orange.”

“Why?”

“Yellow makes me look sickly,” I replied.

He glanced over me in an intimate way that caused my face to heat. “I’m not sure you have a bad color.”

“Liar,” I said, pleased in spite of myself. “My turn. Dog or Cat?”

“Dog, for sure.”

“Why?”

“They’re just so happy. I’d worry a cat was trying to run a coup.” His eyes crinkled at my laugh as we rounded a corner into an expansive courtyard.

If it hadn’t been for his hand pulling me along, I would have shuddered to a stop. It was the most lavish scene I’d ever participated in. The arched and columned walls of the mansion surrounded three sides.

Plants were everywhere, and lights strung from balcony to balcony. The red roof tiles, white-washed walls, and greenery blended into a beautiful backdrop for the black and white design of the tables and centerpieces.

“Wow,” I breathed as Lucas guided us into the fray. “This is major.”

“I know. It’s a big one. The Alzheimer’s Disease Research people do not mess around.”

“I don’t know where Eliza found my dress, but I’m terribly grateful she did,” I said quietly. Nothing I owned would have worked at all.

“I’m grateful too, but probably not for the same reasons you are.”

I was startled out of a response by the look in his eye. I recognized it as a look of masculine admiration, only I’d never had it directed my way. The tingles were back as he led us around the edges of the tables to an area off to the side where drinks were being served. I couldn’t quite find my voice to compliment him back, even though I wanted to.

“Coke or Pepsi?” he asked, interrupting my thoughts.

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