Page 104 of Mr. Dangerous

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Rob

Icouldn't getNaomi to stay near me for more than a few seconds. Every time I found her, she moved on before I could say more than a few words to her. The charming smile she had for everyone else didn't look quite the same when she turned it on me. It didn't reachhereyes.

"Naomi," I said, catching her hand with mine. "What'sgoingon?"

"Nothing," she said. "I need to socialize. Thank all these kind people for coming. Work them over for futuredonations."

"Naomi--" I began, but her fingers slid through mine and she walked away. I crossed my arms, frustrated, and watchedhergo.

But when the party was fading, the musicians playing one last song, the wait staff in the kitchen beginning to pack up the tubs again, I walked through the foyer looking for her. I glimpsed her running down the steps in front of the house towards thevalet.

Running. Away from me. Like Cinderella, in her silver dress andheels.

I took off after her. "Naomi!Wait!"

She glanced over her shoulder at me, and her cool eyes chilled me. Then she was turning back, speaking to the valet, and there was an urgency in her posture. Like she had togetaway.

I felt a cold weight of dread in my stomach. Somehow she knew. But how could she know about that kiss with Kate? It had been a mistake. Something that should be forgotten, meaningless asitwas.

I started down the steps after her. Suddenly Alice was in between us, looking absolutely fierce for someone wearing a peach cocktaildress.

"Oh no," she said, shaking her finger in my face. "She needs somespace."

"Why?" I took a step forward and to the right, ready to dartaroundher.

Alice side-stepped with me, but I was able to duck around her after a moment's dance. She sighed in frustration and hurriedafterme.

The valet pulled up in Naomi's Jeep. She hurried around the side. I followed her, catching up as she swung into the driver's door. On the opposite side of the car, Alice clambered in and slammed herdoorshut.

"Talk to me," I saidimpatiently.

"There's nothing to say," Naomi said. Even though I'd caught her door and still held it open, she turned the key in the ignition anyway. "You are just like your father,aren'tyou?"

I stared at her. She had said the most hurtful thing she possiblycould.

She jerked the door out of my hand and slammed it shut. "Goodbye,Rob."

The mud-splattered Jeep pulled away down the circle, headlights washing over the twinkling-lit trees that lined the path back totheroad.

I went inside, said goodbye quickly to the last guests that I passed on the stairs as they headed to their cars, and made my way into the lonely quiet of thestudy.

I'd known things with Naomi were going to end. I was an asshole for being upset that she had been the one to endthings.

It was no big deal. It was always going to end like this. I just hated that she had looked at me with so much disappointment inhereyes.

I collapsed into the chair behind my father's desk with a sigh. I should have brought my Scotch in here. I could have been the picture-perfect second version ofMitch.

But then, maybe Mitch wasn't all bad. That was the thrust of what Kate and my grandmother had tried to get across. Maybe there was more to Mitch than what had appearedtobe.

That hope seemed remoterightnow.

There was a tap on the door, and then Joe pushed it open, stuck hisheadin

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "I didn't know that you were a catenthusiast."

"Not so much," Joe said. "I've been around the perimeter, just making sure the security was good. But also? Rook broughtusnews."

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