Jenna almost didn’t step into the ballroom. She felt as though she was cheap taffeta in a room full of silks. Of all the places to meet on a blind date why had she agreed to this event? This was the social elite of the city.
Not that she was poor, she just didn’t make enough to be invited to this party on her own merits or money. Alise had insisted on setting her up on this date and had reveled at having her best friend and this mystery guy, Evan, meet.
At first the idea of going to a fancy event in a gorgeous formal dress and sleek new heels sounded incredible, like a princess fairytale for a night. Now that she was here, all the prepping and primping done, she dreaded the inevitable disappointment that was sure to appear in her date’s eyes. Unfortunately Alise, as a well-meaning friend, tended to talk her up. It was hard to recover from that sort of disappointment in the course of one date.
Braced for what was sure to come Jenna scanned the room again. Amidst all the men wearing tuxedos she had no chance of finding him. Instead, she would have to wait for him to find her. While she stood there, a horrible thought crossed her mind. What if he couldn’t find her? Or did and bailed before introducing himself?
“I’m going to be alone all night.” She muttered.
“Not if you don’t want to be.” A low voice right behind her rumbled with a chuckle.
Jenna swirled gracefully around in her shimmery cream ball gown, secretly loving how gracefully the skirts effortlessly spun.
Standing in front of her was a hulk of a man, all broad shoulders, narrow waist, and bulging biceps his tux couldn’t hide. Tearing her eyes away from all that muscle she found herself once again staring, but this time into amused green eyes framed by short tousled hair the color of burnt sienna. Her heart stirred.
Met with silence he deferred, “Unless you wanted to be alone?”
She shook herself out of her obvious ogling with a blush. “I…no…sorry. I was just looking for someone I was supposed to meet here.”
The smile he beamed her way pulled at her. He cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe I can be the one you are looking for?” With a formal bow he announced. “My name is Paul Carson, of Carson Tech.”
Disappointment marred her smile for only a second but he noticed.
“You are looking for someone in particular? Do you only know their name?” At her nod he smiled. “May I escort you while you search?” He leaned in. “I can be an invaluable help. Introductions and all that.” He looked so beseeching she couldn’t help but relent with a laugh.
“Deal.” She nodded. “Where to first? I am all yours.”
“Tempting.” He smirked. “If you were mine, I would be keeping you all to myself.”
A blush flushed to her face in a flash. “I didn’t mean that. I meant… I should have said…”
He interrupted. “I know what you meant. A man can dream. Now, I will need to know who we are looking for if I am to be of any help.”
She smiled. “I am beginning to wonder if you are actually going to help me find my date or if you will purposely keep me from him.”
“The thought had crossed my mind I confess but I quickly chose the honorable thing so I would have a shot if your date didn’t go as planned.” Once again he let loose his smile, leaving her dazed. “So how do you not know what your date looks like? Did he not ask you out?”
“It’s a blind date.” Jenna admitted.
“Ahh. If only I had the right name then.” He smirked. “He should have picked you up.”
Jenna inwardly agreed but didn’t say it aloud. They stood there looking at each other in silence with happy contented smiles until he leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially. “His name? And while we are on the topic, your name?”
“Oh yeah. I’m Jenna.” She blushed and gave herself a shake to focus her brain as she nodded. “His name is Evan Cranston.”
He did a double take. “And you don’t know what he looks like?” Surprise and doubt covered his face and tone.
“No.” She confided softly. “Should I?”
It took a few long seconds of him studying her face for him to answer. “It’s just that most people do.”
“Hmm. Well” She shrugged, “I trust my friend who set me up to not set me up with a psycho.”
He nodded, appearing thoughtful and oh so charming. “How are you supposed to know it is him when you find him?”
Promptly she hooked her arm in his, secretly thrilled to be so close to so much gorgeousness. “That’s why I have you!”
In a low rumbling growl he admitted, “I’m finding it difficult to stay motivated in locating your errant date.”
“Why?”
“The longer it takes, the more time I get with you.” The smile he shot her way was nothing short of devastating.
It was her turn to study him. “You do know what he looks like?”
“Ah yes. I assure you. I know all too well what he looks like.” His eyes scanned the crowd before them.
“And you’re sure you’re not the Evan I’m looking for?” She asked.
“I wish.” He inclined his head to her. “Shall we begin our search?” With a nod from her, they stepped into the press of people.
Over the next hour Paul took the time to introduce her to everyone they passed, and kept her laughing and distracted from the fact that she hadn’t found her date.
“Where do you propose we look next?” She sighed. Her date was officially past late. “Or have I been ditched?”
“It seems your persistence has been rewarded.” He pointed over at the door leading into the grand ballroom. “Evan has made an appearance.” Paul sounded disappointed. She stopped to glance his direction before turning to get a look at the man who was her date.
When she didn’t move toward the man Paul had pointed out, he nudged her.
“Jenna?”
Jenna startled at the sound of her name. She fidgeted with her dress. Here she was, over an hour into this grand event, had met dozens of very important people and still she was nervous. With a sheepish smile she shrugged, “Now that I’ve found him I find I am regretting it.”
“Already?” Surprise was apparent in his tone. “Not many people are ever disappointed finding Evan.”
“Not because of him. He’s handsome enough.” She flushed.
“Then what’s wrong Jenna? We’ve spent all this time looking for him.” Paul pulled her close with the slightest touch of his hand to hers.
Her silence and inability to meet his eyes suddenly made it obvious. Leaning down till their noses touched he snared her gaze smiling, “Save me a dance?”
Jenna’s relieved sigh was answer enough, but he chuckled when she straightened and looked boldly up at him. “Deal.”
