"Hold on," he said, rushing up the steps.
I smiled to myself at the sight. The man was in a hurry. Because of me. Maybe he wanted that dance as much as I did. If only I could figure out who he really was.
But that wasn't what this evening was about. Tonight was all about anonymity, and I needed to keep it that way.
He began inspecting the banister, subtly though, as I watched. Glancing around the ballroom, I noticed quite a few couples examining the myriad of mirrors that reflected all this magical light. And then a man and woman began to head this way, their strides determined.
Oh, crap.
Turning back to the stairs, I studied the area, a small blue spotlight suddenly standing out. I rushed up, past my new man, and looked to the illuminated space. Gliding my hands under the wooden banister, I felt something there, along with a jolt of excitement. There was something immensely satisfying about being the one to discover the next clue.
Triumphantly, I managed to peel it away, going up a few more steps, hoping to conceal what I was doing. A large hand at the small of my back should have surprised me. But I knew who it was. And it felt right, like it had always belonged there, even though it also felt like a warm brand. Yeah, I wouldn't mind being branded by this man.
At the top of the grand staircase, we turned to the left, and I found myself backed up against a wall once more. I didn't mind. This man could repeat that maneuver an infinite number of times, and I wouldn't grow tired of it.
There was a gleam in his eyes as he caged me in with one arm. "Sexyandsmart..." he said. "So what'd you find?"
"Um, right." When he looked at me like that, I kind of forgot everything else. I unfolded the clue and read it aloud.
Amid frosted tales where secrets lie, the clue you seek hides cold and shy.
"Frosted tales..." he repeated. "Tales. Sounds like stories or books... or..."
"A library!" I filled in. "I know where it is. I've been here so many times, starting as a kid, and then later when my sis—"
I stopped talking abruptly, realizing I was giving away far too much while I was supposed to be concealing my identity. My oldest sister Annalise had recently done something similar, and she'd already warned me to not let myself babble. Keep things close to the vest, she'd said.
He cocked a brow. "Your sister? What about her?"
"Oh, nothing. Never mind. I was just... well, we don't have time for all that." I was the one to grabhishand this time around. "Let's go."
Leading us down the hallway, I wondered if my memories were accurate or if they'd become distorted and hazy with the passage of time. The sounds of the party faded behind us, the only noise the soft clicking of my shoes.
Holding hands with mystery man was sublime, and so was the feeling that we had become an instant team. "What should I call you?" I asked him, needing something more than just mystery man in my head.
He hesitated, and it dawned on me that maybe he didn't want to reveal his real self any more than I did. I knew my reasons, but I had to wonder what his were.
Was he really a criminal? Maybe a celebrity? Or a politician? Perhaps all three in one. He certainly wouldn't be the first.
"Why don't you call me daddy?"
I burst out laughing, the sound loud in the otherwise quiet hallway. "Please tell me you're joking." Never in my life could I call a man daddy, not with the real-life father I had.
"Totally joking," he said with a breath-taking smile. "How about something dark and mysterious, like Phantom or Midnight..."
I had to laugh again. This guy had a sense of humor too?
"Or better yet, you can call me Wolf."
Now I was downright giggling. "I can't. Oh, my God. I think it'll have to be Phantom then. That's the least worst."
"When in doubt, always go with the least worst. That's a good life philosophy."
The twinkle in his eye as he squeezed my hand was irresistible.
We practically ran into the library's door because this man was way too distracting. Taking a breath, I tried to stay focused on the task at hand and the ultimate prize—that midnight dance—which would hopefully lead to the ultimate,ultimateprize...
Oh, my. Could I really go through with my plan? Now that I'd met a living, breathing, handsome, incredibly sexy man, it seemed terrifying.
