“The babysitter had arrived and Katherine was in her element, explaining what she was required to do and showing her in no uncertain terms who was boss.”
Liam chuckled. “We really should put on more household staff so Katherine can exercise her management skills.” Then his face sobered. “I’m glad you came.”
She felt a tremulous smile form on her lips. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you making it a masquerade so I could be here.
Frowning in concentration, he picked up her hand and held it between two of his. “Jenna, I know you’re going home soon.” He paused, cleared his throat. “I have the key to the hotel’s penthouse room in my jacket pocket, and both the babysitter and Katherine are at the house all night with the babies.”
Her breath was trapped in her lungs and she couldn’t get her voice to work, but he didn’t wait for her to reply.
“Stay with me tonight.” His hands tightened around her fingers. “Being with you again...it’s all I think about.”
“Yes,” she whispered before she’d thought it through.
His eyes flared, then he checked over his shoulder and winced. “I’m sorry, I have to help Danielle with some arrangements, but I’ll be back.”
Frozen to the spot, she watched him walk away. How would she ever make it through the night now she knew how it would end?
Eleven
Liam took a glass of white wine from a passing waiter as his eyes scanned the crowd for Jenna. The event had been in full swing for a couple of hours and he was only just getting a chance to catch his breath. Future events would likely be the responsibility of Dylan’s or Adam’s offices, but because the idea had come from his office this time and Danielle had been coordinating everything, he’d been the point man for the night. He wouldn’t be sorry to lose the role—it had been hectic, especially when he’d only wanted to spend the time with Jenna.
Then he saw her, not too far away, chatting with his parents. Her silver dress shimmered; the fitted bodice drew his eye to her exposed collarbone, down over the slope of her breasts, to where the fabric tucked in at the waist then floated down to her ankles. His heart thumped erratically.
From the moment he’d seen her enter the room on Dylan’s arm, he’d been mesmerized. He’d never wanted a woman more. He was well aware that part of this need was a factor of the forbidden—not only was she his daughter’s nanny, but also she was leaving. Tonight would be simple and pure, away from the complications of reality, as if away from time itself. Like Cinderella at the ball—except, of course, she was the princess and he was no prince.
A man walked into his field of vision, so Liam moved to the left and found Jenna again...and his movement made it obvious she was watching him from under her lashes. His entire body heated. Drawn as if by magnetic force, he found himself moving through the crowd until he reached her side. Their shoulders brushed and his heart all but stopped its beat.
“Liam,” his mother said. “There you are. I was just telling Jenna,” the subtle emphasis showed that she knew Jenna’s real identity, “that if she needs to leave before you have a new nanny in place, I’d be happy to fill in.”
Liam stiffened. She was thinking of leaving before they’d even employed a new nanny?
“There’s no need,” Jenna said quickly, her blue eyes shifting to him from behind the mask. “I have enough time to help Liam interview for the next nanny.”
His mother nodded, smugly satisfied. “Have you noticed there’s a dance floor over there? No one’s using it yet. Perhaps you two should get it going.”
He couldn’t tear his gaze from Jenna and had only been half listening to his mother, but there was a pregnant pause in the conversation, he realized he must have missed something. “Sorry?”
His mother patted him arm. “Take Jenna over to the dance floor, Liam. Someone needs to start the dancing.”
He grinned. That was a great idea. Danielle had been particular about having a dance floor, but no one was using it yet, so she’d appreciate him doing something about that. In fact, it was practically his responsibility as the point man to stand on that dance floor with this woman in his arms.
“Jenna,” he said, holding out a hand, “would you like to dance?”
A slight blush tinged her cheeks as she laid her hand in his. “I’d love to.”
Anticipation simmered in his veins as they threaded their way through the crowd to the two stairs leading to the raised parquetry platform set aside for dancing. He prayed the deejay didn’t play a fast dance number first up. He wanted to be able to hold Jenna close.
The deejay saw them step onto the dance floor and changed the track to a Righteous Brothers ballad. Liam nodded his thanks.
As he put his arms around her, he sighed and pulled her close, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. She felt so good against him, as if she were made for exactly that spot.
He dropped his head to whisper in her ear. “I’ve barely been able to think of anything besides meeting you after this is all over. Tell me you haven’t changed your mind.”
“I have,” she said and drew in an uneven breath. “About thirty times.”
Another couple joined them on the dance floor, and, heart in his mouth, Liam navigated Jenna away from the interlopers so they couldn’t be overheard. “And where do you stand right now?”
The tip of her tongue darted out to moisten her lips and it almost undid him. “I...” she said, then swallowed. “I want to be with you one more time.”
He closed his eyes and groaned. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.” She would be gone soon, which was how it had to be—she didn’t belong in his world and he didn’t belong in hers—but in the meantime, they could make magic.
Two more couples began to dance, so she leaned up to whisper in his ear. “In fact, if you tried to lead me out of this room right now, I’d probably let you.”
A shudder ripped through his body. “Don’t tempt me. The official part of the evening is in half an hour and Danielle will murder me if I leave before then. She’s putting me up on the stage.”
“Half an hour isn’t long,” she said, tracing a finger down his lapel.
Not long? Incredulous, he looked down at her. “It’s an eternity.”
She smiled softly at him, her blue eyes dark. “You’re right. It is.”
* * *
More than forty minutes later, Jenna stood in the crowd as the well-known actor Danielle had arranged to appear cut the ribbon and a dark blue satin curtain fell, revealing the Midnight Lily. The audience cheered and clapped, but Jenna couldn’t take her eyes off Liam, who was standing to the left of the group on the stage.
As the emcee explained how the flower was the work of Liam Hawke and his research team, Jenna finally turned to take in the audience’s wonder and approval. She also admired the seamless presentation that Danielle had organized for the formal proceedings. But mostly, she was aware of Liam’s gaze resting on her.
A message. A promise.
Her skin quivered deliciously.
After a witty final comment from the actor that sent the crowd into fits of laughter, the music began again, and Jenna’s heart picked up speed. Liam would come for her now. She didn’t take her eyes off him, willing him to walk faster.
As he threaded his way through the throng of people to her, he was waylaid every few steps by well-wishers. He spoke a little to each person, smiled, nodded and moved on, all while keeping her within sight.
Her hands trembled as she watched his approach and she put her water glass on a waiter’s tray before she dropped it.
When he finally reached her side, he whispered in her ear, “Are you ready to go?”
The brush of his lips against her earlobe turned her insides to melted honey. “I was ready two hours ago,” she said.
He took her hand and led her out into the foyer, then into the elevator. As soon as the doors swooshed closed, he put a hand at the nape of her neck and kissed her. She gave herself to the kiss, wanting nothing more than to be in his arms, to feel his lips against hers.
His breathing was heavy as he leaned his forehead against hers. “Jenna, I have no idea what I just said to those people. All I could think about was getting to you.”
“I would have died if one more person stopped you.”
The elevator doors glided open and he dropped his hand to her waist and inserted the keycard to the door of the penthouse suite in front of them.
When they entered the room, Liam didn’t turn the lights on. There was no need. Every surface, from the coffee table to the side tables, was covered in flickering candles. Her heart tripped. The bed was a four-poster, with white diaphanous material draping the sides and tied back, and the white comforter was strewn with rose petals. A wave of goose bumps shimmered over her skin. It was even more magical than the ballroom.
Liam stood behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist and nuzzled the side of her neck. “What do you think?”
She slipped her mask off and let it drop from her fingers as she leaned her head back onto his shoulder. “When did you have time to arrange this?”