The Taming of a Wild Child(14)

“Make a run for it. No one will notice you’re gone.”

“My mother will.”

Donovan snorted. Mrs. Morgan was a true dragon of the old order. “Sucks to be you.”

“Tonight it does.”

“… Lorelei LaBlanc,” the director announced.

That got his attention, snapping his head toward the stage so fast his neck cramped. His first thought—What the hell is Lorelei doing here?—was rebutted by remembering the remark she’d made Wednesday about stepping in for Vivi and Connor while they were on their honeymoon. Still … he’d seen her more in the last week than he had in the last five years.

Then Lorelei emerged from the crowd to climb the steps to the stage, and he nearly dropped the drink he held in his hand.

Wrapped in a curve-hugging deep purple dress, she looked like a princess addressing the motley masses. Lorelei was the epitome of elegance, style and class, a product of extremely good breeding. She wore it easily, confidently. That black hair curled around creamy shoulders and tendrils snaked over her breast like a caress. Want streaked through him like a flash, and the low whistle he heard from beside him proved he wasn’t the only one feeling it.

“Damn,” Jack muttered. “Little sis grew up nicely.”

He considered Jack more of an acquaintance than a friend, so it was tough to allow him to keep his teeth as the compliments continued.

Lorelei’s smile was blinding as she took the microphone from the director. “Vivienne hasn’t missed one of these events in years, and she didn’t want to miss this one, either, but she hopes you’ll forgive her since it’s her honeymoon.” Lorelei paused as polite applause moved through the crowd. “And before you ask … yes, I do know where they are. But, no, I won’t tell you where they went. You’ll just have trust me when I tell you it’s fabulous and they’re having a wonderful time.”

A laugh rippled through the crowd. He had to admit Lorelei knew how to command a crowd’s attention.

“I’m not just here tonight on behalf of my sister. I’m here for Connor and ConMan Studios, as well.”

At the mention of Connor’s name the low rumble of conversation in the crowd died instantly.

“As you can imagine, music and music education is a cause very close to Connor’s heart. CMP has focused, by necessity, on in-school programs for younger children …”

Lorelei looked comfortable up there, and if public speaking was one of her fears it certainly didn’t show in her speech or body language. She had that same presence that Donovan had seen in her sister—that confidence that could only come from the security of knowing exactly who she was. Unlike her sister, though, Lorelei had a low, hypnotic timbre in her voice that sounded like pure sex to him.

It did bad things to his equilibrium.

“It’s my great privilege to announce tonight that ConMan Studios is partnering with the CMP to expand its summer programs for the area’s youth by providing not only funding, but space and access to some of the city’s best musical talent.” She paused for the applause, and then said with a laugh, “We have big plans in the works, so rest assured you’ll all be hearing from me very soon. And often.”

There was shock that Lorelei was going to be so involved with whatever plans Connor had cooked up with Vivi for his project, but it didn’t cancel out the slice of desire that cut him at the sound of that husky laugh.

In broad strokes Lorelei outlined the basics of the plan, preparing folks to open their checkbooks. It took a moment for him to realize she kept saying “me” and “I.” She’d started this speech as a Vivi substitute, but it was now becoming clear that Lorelei would be playing an active role. That was new. Lorelei hadn’t had much involvement with anything beyond the periphery until now. And she seemed genuinely excited about it, as well. The universe was slightly askew.

To more applause, Lorelei handed back the microphone and left the stage, quickly being swallowed into the crowd.

Jack let out another low whistle, jerking Donovan’s attention back since he’d long since forgotten Jack was even standing there. “I never had a thing for either of the LaBlanc girls back in high school, but I’m rethinking that now.” He pushed away from the bar and patted Donovan on the shoulder. “See ya.”

“Where are you going?”

Jack grinned. “To gather my thoughts, of course.”

There was that need to punch Jack again. It made no sense whatsoever, but he was starting to get used to the feeling.

Why do I care?

“Well, hello there.”

He turned and found Jessica Reynald flashing a broad smile and ample cleavage. He did not need this now. After listening to Lorelei’s straight-sex voice he was primed—but not for Jess Reynald. He’d been caught by her smile and her cleavage in a brief moment of insanity six months ago, and it had been nothing short of disastrous. Jess’s family had made their money in commercial properties, and they’d initially bonded over their similar still-not-good-enough circumstances. But Jess was desperate to eventually break into those circles that excluded her, and that desperation to be accepted had turned him off. Jess, though, wasn’t one to give up. She was looking to marry into the upper class—he wondered how long it would be before she realized that just wasn’t going to happen—but until then she was willing to make do with him.