Queen For A Night (11 page)

Authors: Jennifer Blake

BOOK: Queen For A Night

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They had reached the low dais in front of the gazebo that was also the bandstand. Now it was time to take their places front-and-center to receive the final plaudits of the crowd. They turned, standing in regal splendor as the spotlights played over them.

Cameras were rolling, clicking, immortalizing the moment, sealing it in endless media bits and bytes. Only a little more, a few precious minutes, and it would be over.

It was then Ross swung toward her. He circled her waist with his arm and drew her to him. Bending his dark head, he pressed his lips to hers.

Astonishment held Caroline rigid. Behind her closed eyelids, she saw the brilliant flashes of cameras as this extra entertainment was recorded. Somewhere the movie camera whirred as it zoomed in for the close up. The guests in evening gowns and tuxedos were whistling and hooting. The applause rose higher, echoing off the walls and ceiling. The heavy crown on her tilted head began to slide, and she reached up to grab it with one hand.

Oh, but then the noise and the crowd receded as she relaxed against the braced form of the man who held her. She knew nothing except the warm, sweetness of his mouth and the promise of his kiss.

A small gasp escaped Caroline as he released her. For endless moments, she stared up into the fathomless blue of Ross’s eyes. Breathless, searching for some sense of control, she demanded, “What are you doing?”

“It's Mardi Gras,” he said with a raffish grin. “I'm doing exactly what I wanted, what I longed to do from the moment I saw you.”

“I thought you didn't care for public displays!”

The band was striking up a waltz. It was time to open the ball. Ross released her and stepped back. Taking her hand, he turned to lead her toward the floor. “So I prefer private ones, but I’ll take what I can get.”

“I’m flattered, I think, especially when I halfway expected you to make a run for it instead of showing up tonight.”

“A run for it?”

“I thought
L’escapade
might be poised for a getaway. I certainly never dreamed you might have a kidnapping in mind.” In the center of the dance floor, she turned with grace in her heavy skirts, and then picked up her train to loop it over her arm.

“Yes, well, I do have a pirate’s blood in my veins.” He kicked his own train out of his way.

“But who can tell when it will show up?” Her eyes were beginning to sparkle, though she allowed complaint to color her voice.

“It seems to surface whenever I’m close to you.”

“Really?” she asked, tipping her head back to give him an audacious look as he whirled her into the waltz. “Every time?”

“Let's get out of here the minute we're able. Once on the boat, we can find out.”

She considered it a scant second. “As soon as the ball is over?”

He leaned and whispered something in her ear. She pretended to be shocked, but the soft chime of her laughter could be heard above the music.

About the Author

A
New York Times
,
USA Today
and international best-selling author,
Jennifer
is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, RWA Hall of Fame honoree, and recipient of the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. She holds numerous other credits, including the Maggie, Holt Medallion, Reviewer’s Choice Awards, Career Achievement Award from
Romantic Time
s
Book Reviews Magazine
, and Frank Waters Award for Literary Excellence. She has written over 65 books with translations in 23 languages and more than 35 million copies sold worldwide.

Jennifer is president of Steel Magnolia Press
,
LLC, founded in 2011. She and her husband reside in a lakeside Caribbean-style home in North Louisiana.

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