The dress was breathtaking. It was sleeveless, pale pink satin with an overlay of sheer organza weighted with art-deco patterns of tiny crystals. It was backless, draping down to a very immodest position just above my tailbone. Reflections of light bouncing off the crystals of the dress appeared as a starburst on the walls. The fabric brushed my calves, falling in elegant shreds as if it turned into feathers.
“Miss Sanger, you’re the most beautiful woman here,” she whispered as I turned to her. She handed me a small beaded purse on a gold chain.
“To carry tonight…and you will find something inside,” she informed me as she gathered my discarded clothes. “I will put these in Mr. Covington’s car. I hope you have a pleasant evening,” she said.
“Thank you so much,” I breathed as I turned back to the mirror. She nodded and slipped out the door. I turned back to check the finishing touches.
The jeweled and lace head band fit perfectly, with the feathers and broach brushing my right eyebrow. My side-swept bun looked good with the hat and I was glad I didn’t have to redo my hair. Finding lipstick and blush in the purse, I freshened both. As I dropped the cosmetics back into the purse I spotted a tag in the silk lining. Chanel! Liam bought me a vintage Chanel bag!
I looked sophisticated, but I was jelly inside.
What about the blonde in the black dress? He was obviously with her. He’d probably asked her before he found out why I cancelled on him. Well, I wouldn’t let the dress go to waste. At least I could mingle now, and visit with some of the VIP guests with whom I hoped to cultivate business relationships.
I rounded the service tent outside and entered through the guest entrance.
“Hello, Ms. Sanger. Here is your catalog of the autos and art to be auctioned later. Would you care to purchase a bidding paddle?” I recognized a friend of Crawford’s working the registration table.
“Oh, no thank you. I won’t be bidding this evening.”
“Very good, Ms. Sanger. Have a pleasant evening.”
I stopped by the champagne fountain while I perused the catalog of auction items. The marketing students at UT had produced an eye-catching booklet. I smiled satisfactorily. This would have cost a fortune if we’d gone with an outside publisher. I looked up, scanning the tent for a glimpse of Liam. I didn’t spot him, but a gentleman who joined a group gathered around a ’38 black Lincoln touring car caught my attention. I was sure I’d never seen him, but something about him was familiar…the way he moved, the curve of his neck, his short, choppy dishwater-blonde hair. I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before. For some reason, apprehension washed over me, dulling my mood.
“Kelly Cat! Wow, your dress,” Tana’s voice rang out to my right. I turned as all three of my roommates rushed me. “You were holding out on us! You look…hot.”
I felt the rush of blood to my cheeks.
“I nailed it. The dress looks amazing on you,” Jen gushed, circling me with a glass of champagne in her hand.
“You picked it out?” I gasped.
“Yep. Liam called Tana when he overheard something about you wearing a man’s suit. Tana gave him my number at the shop, and he instructed me on what he wanted.”
“Yes, and about that! Why didn’t you let me help you out? Has he seen you yet?” Tana asked, a devilish look on her face.
“When he came in, I was still in the suit,” I shrugged as I nervously scanned the room, searching through the dancers.
“Kel, he spent a ton of money on that dress. He fretted over all the details--how to surprise you, what accessories you would need. He’s in love with you,” Jen said, matter-of-factly.
My heart skipped a beat. I quickly fought it down to a normal rhythm. “Jen, he’s here with another woman.”
“That’s not possible. No way,” Tana insisted.
“I saw them. She even came over after he pointed me out, and wanted me to wait on her. He probably just bought the dress out of pity,” I sighed as I caught sight of them across the room. They were on the parquet dance floor across the tent, dancing to the soft music the band played in the background.
“He is really a bastard of rats,” Sunni whispered under her breath. Tana turned to gape at her, and then broke into laughter. “Sunni, you’ve really broadened your vocabulary to incorporate western vulgarity. Somehow, it loses its effectiveness in that thick, nasal Indian accent.”
Jen tried to contain her mirth. “And it’s rat-bastard, cowgirl.”
“Isn’t that what I said?” Sunni asked, confused.
“More or less,” I muttered as grabbed Tana’s glass and downed the champagne left in it. Tana and Jen exchanged worried glances.
“What?” I demanded. Tana held her hands up as if I was holding her at gunpoint.
“No judgment, Cat. It’s just we hardly ever see you drink,” she replied as I stopped a waiter passing by, snagging another full glass of champagne. After taking a drink, I whirled to catch a glimpse of Liam again. He looked breathtakingly handsome even from this distance. My stomach flipped over strangely, the hair standing up on the back of my neck at the sight of his arms around the blonde girl. I was jealous. I couldn’t remember ever being jealous over a guy – um, man. Liam was definitely a man.
As I stared across the room at the couple, Carter and some of the men from the office joined our little group.
“We did a good job, Kelly. I think it’s going to be all right,” Carter breathed out as if he’d been worried about how the event would go.”
“All right? It’s awesome! I think she should go into party-planning or bridal consulting business. I’ll hire her myself, if I ever find anyone to marry,” Jen interjected.
“I’ll marry you,” one of the junior executives gushed as he held his arm out. “But will you dance with me first?”
“Holy crap, that has to be one of the worst pick-up lines I’ve ever heard. Now I have to dance with you out of pity,” she retorted, taking his arm.
“How about it, Kelly? Dance with the boss?” Carter asked as he held his hand out. Dan Carter was the last person I thought would ever ask me to dance. I nodded, and he led me across the room to the dance floor.
It was apparent the minute we stepped on the floor he was drunk. I knew there had to be a reason why he was being civil toward me. He pulled me in clumsily as the band played a slow jazz number, and it was awkward as hell.
Dan, on the other hand, acted as though he thought I was thoroughly enjoying myself. He began humming in my ear as he swung me around the dance floor, his lips close to my neck. When his hand slid down into my dress on my bare back, I tried to pull away. He was clearly making a pass at me.
“Come on, Kel, it’sss a party,” Carter slurred, pulling me tight against his chest again.
I pushed against him, clutching my new Chanel bag as I retorted, “I thought you weren’t that fond of me, Dan. I’ve even overheard you telling someone at the office I got on your nerves.”
“All the women in the off-iccce get on my nerrvvess,” he replied with a grin as he slid his hand down my bare back.
“I think it’s high time I cut in, Carter,” Liam’s voice was close behind me. Carter allowed me to pull away as I whirled to see Liam’s face. A muscle twitched in his jawline, making him appear agitated. “It’s time I danced with my date,” he finished, taking my hand and pulling me into his arms.
I stared at him. He was absolutely gorgeous, and definitely the most handsome man in the room. Everything slowed around us as I studied his face. The lines of his finely-chiseled profile, his lightly-tanned skin, the deep-blue of his eyes…even the slight crook in the line of his nose…all combined to make the Adonis who was Liam Covington. And I was dancing in his arms in a room full of insanely-wealthy Texas royalty. In his arms, I totally forgot about my irritating boss.
The light dawned as I stared at him. He’d said “my date.”
“Your date? I thought your date was across the room,” I nodded toward the tall blonde in the black beaded dress.
“The tall, elegant girl in the black dress. You were just dancing with her. I saw you come in together,” I whispered, my voice suddenly sounding husky. He turned and glanced in her direction, and then looked back down at me.
“And were you jealous, when you thought I brought her?” he smiled smugly as I tried to pull away. He tightened his grip, swinging me around and maneuvering us toward the back of the tent.
“Didn’t you?” I asked more forcefully, my pride in danger.
“No. You’re my date, baby. I asked you, remember?” he whispered, pulling me back against him. “She’s a friend of my brother… Texanne Estes. Her family is big into real estate in the Hill Country.”
“And she seemed to be big into you,” I muttered. He pulled back to look down at me.
“You are jealous,” he replied, incredulous. Pausing a beat, he studied my face, causing me to look away in an attempt at indifference. His face broke into a broad grin. “Kel, you’re beautiful. Breathtakingly beautiful,” he breathed, placing his lips in my ear. I shuddered, more from the contact of his breath on my neck than the chill in the night air.
As irritated as I was at his poking fun at me, I had to acknowledge his act of charity.
“Thank you for the dress and accessories. You shouldn’t have spent so much on me, but they’re beautiful,” I looked down at the dress and then back up into his eyes. They sparkled, the deep blue reflecting the millions of tiny twinkle lights draped in the silk tent.
“They’re only beautiful because they’re on the most stunning woman in the room,” he said. When the music stopped, we parted to clap for the band. I took a few steps toward the tables and then stopped when he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back to him. The orchestra began to play an old love song from the 1930’s. He wound his arms around me and molded my body to his.
The very thought of you…and I forget to do…those little ordinary things everyone ought to do…I’m living in a kind of daydream…
“Why didn’t you tell me you needed a dress for tonight?”
“It wasn’t your responsibility to buy me a dress, Liam. It was my fault I didn’t call the costume department before everything was taken. And I hate that you think I’m a charity case.”
“You don’t need to wear hand-me-down clothes, Kelly. You were made for beautiful clothes and designer labels. And you aren’t a charity case. I loved buying you this,” he murmured, sliding his hand down my side. “Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?” I asked, pulling away again to stare up into his eyes.
“For making me the most envied man here tonight,” he answered, nodding back to the crowd of people milling around the antique cars and art. Several people gathered close to the dance floor, watching the dancers as we flowed past, many of whom seemed to be staring at us.
“There certainly are a lot of female eyes on you tonight. You look hot,” I said as he smiled at me.
“I’m glad you think so. And here is the paparazzi, right on cue,” he said as he whirled me around. Sweeping me low in a dip toward the cameraman, he lowered his lips to mine in a passionate kiss when the song ended. Applause and the flashbulb exploded, and whoops erupted. I recognized the whistles of my roommate.
Tana could place her index finger and thumb in a circle between her upper and lower teeth and emit the sound of a train whistle on an old locomotive. Not really a lady-like gesture, but it always drew the admiration of any male within a mile radius of her.
“Kelly-cat, if you don’t make a fabulous flapper,” she gushed as Liam escorted me toward my group of friends.
“Ah, Kel’s roommates. Tana, Jen, Sunni…you ladies look lovely tonight,” he said, his best attempt at charm wildly successful. My roommates melted into one big puddle of mush. Tana recovered quickly, however, as she dropped the grin and cocked an eyebrow in his direction.
“You’re forgiven, Cassanova…it was romantic the way you snuck around to surprise her. But if you ever send her home in tears again and then storm in like you own the place, you’ll be wearing your balls for earrings.”
He held his hands up in a show of surrender. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen…may I have your attention please.” The loudspeaker crackled to life as the band quieted. “The entertainment portion of the evening has commenced, and so has the fundraising. There will be a silent auction in this tent and the winners will be announced at the conclusion of dinner. For the high rollers in the room, a casino tent is located in the east corner of the parking lot. For our art lovers, an auction of local Austin artwork will commence promptly at 9:00 in the art tent. And for a grand finale, there will be an auction of the five wonderful vintage vehicles displayed in the main tent. Dinner will be served promptly in fifteen minutes, if everyone will make their way to their tables.”
“Kelly, would you like to go with me to view the silent auction items?” Liam asked. He leaned close to me. I nodded as Tana elbowed me with raised eyebrows.
He placed his hand at the small of my back, guiding me through the tent to the back where velvet draped tables were laden with fine jewelry and small gifts donated by some of Austin’s most exclusive jewelry stores and boutiques. Pointing out several items, he seemed to pass the time with trivial remarks. My mind wandered, feeling like I needed to be mingling with some of the guests who I’d targeted in my notes.
“Hey, where are you? You’re a hundred miles away,” he admonished as he tried to pull me into the here and now.
“I’m sorry, what?” I replied, a bit embarrassed.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked again, with a slight grin to soften the remark.
“I was just wondering if I should be mingling with some of the more high-profile guests. I haven’t seen Mrs. Leighton since I changed clothes,” I murmured, trying to tiptoe to see over all the men gathered around us.
“Kel, I promise I will take you to meet everyone you need to mingle with. Right now, I’d like your attention.”
I smiled up at him. He was really making an effort to make it a pleasant evening for me, and I was being ungrateful.
“You have my undivided attention, Mr. Covington,” I said, placing my hand intimately on his forearm.
“Good. Now, are you a diamond sort of girl, or do you like pearls?” he asked, fingering the pearls around my neck.
“I never had a choice until tonight. The pearls are beautiful. You shouldn’t have, but they’re the most elegant thing I’ve ever owned,” I breathed, reaching up to touch them.
“You have choices with me, Kelly. And I’m anxious to find out your preferences in all things. We’ll start with diamonds. What do you think?”
Liam picked up an elegant black velvet case with a pair of diamond stud earrings.
“Those are an excellent choice, sir,” the hostess behind the table gushed. “They’re from the premier jeweler in Austin. Custom-cut stones, a one of a kind pair of diamonds. Four carats total weight, the earrings are set in a square setting surrounded with baguette diamonds totaling another carat in total weight.”
He glanced down the list of names and bids beside the earrings. I gasped, the last bid on the list was fifteen-thousand dollars.
“Kelly?” He raised an eyebrow as he held the case for my inspection. I touched one of the earrings…it was the closest I’d ever been to a real diamond.
“You aren’t bidding on those for me?” I whispered disbelievingly.
“I’m certainly not bidding on them to give to my mother. Who else would I give them to?” he asked, our faces almost touching as I inspected them.
“Liam, no…” I began.
He considered my reaction for a moment, then leaned down and jotted his name and paddle number on the last line, followed by a number I couldn’t see. As soon as he’d fin
ished bidding, he took my elbow and guided me down the table, passing several shopping sprees to boutiques, gift packages to day spas, and various other outings around Austin. My head was still spinning from his bid on the earrings when we reached the end of the table. In all, he’d bid on at least eight items. As he visited with a man at the end of the display, I concluded he’d only made a show of bidding, there were several other rich Texans making their way down the table bidding as they went. Surely someone else would outbid him on most everything.
“Come on, Kelly. Are you hungry? It’s time we were seated for dinner,” he informed me as he guided me through the throng of people. “It looks like they’re starting to serve. Do you know where we’re seated?”
“Yes, your place card plus guest is at the Leighton’s table at the front.”
When we finally managed to work our way through the crowd being seated, we found Mr. and Mrs. Leighton, Stuart Drake and his wife, and two other Austin CEO’s and their wives already seated.
“Why Miss Sanger, you look stunning,” Mrs. Leighton called out excitedly. “You were holding out on me. You’re the epitome of roaring twenties, and such a breathtaking beauty,” she gushed. I began to blush. Turning to Stuart, she remarked, “This young lady has been an absolute dream to work with. I’m convinced there isn’t anything she can’t do or any string she can’t pull!”
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