Page 121 of Bad Influence
“Doesn’t hurt that you’re sickenly hot,” I tease.
He scowls at me, which makes me laugh.
A few people glance at us as we walk in, and I try not to feel self-conscious in my new dress which is completely out of my comfort zone. I have to carry it with confidence.
“Here’s how we’re going to do this,” Killian says. “We’re going to make one round around the room if we must. We’re not going to talk to anyone for more than five minutes. If someone continues past that, fake an emergency. We can be out of here in thirty minutes.”
“Killian, we can’t do that,” I say with a laugh.
“Who’s going to stop us?” He raises an eyebrow.
I open my mouth to respond, and close it. He’s right. No one is going to stop us, and no one is going to say that people expect us to stay for longer than thirty minutes because we have a name to uphold in society.
“Let me be a bad influence, Caroline.”
With a wink, Killian leads me into the thrum of people.
Here’s the thing about best laid plans. There’s always something you don’t see coming. The proverbial curveball. In this case, the proverbial curveball is Broadway star Dawn Morgan. She’s ethereal, glittering under the chandelier lights. There’s this old Hollywood glam about her, drawing attention from everyone without even meaning to.
And shelovesKillian. She latches onto him as soon as we’re introduced. Not in a bad, creepy way. She’s thrilled at the prospect of his art and being an artist herself, she wants to know everything and introduce him to everyone.
“I won’t take no for an answer,” Dawn says, smiling up at Killian. “Let us walk around the room and meet interestingpeople, or I will be forced to throw a party in your honor at my humble abode.”
From the diamonds dripping from her, I’m guessing her humble abode is worth millions and is somewhere on the Upper East Side with a view of the park.
I see Killian calculating what will be worse. Letting her show him off tonight, or having her throw a party for him,in his honor.
“I think we can stay a little longer,” I say. “It’s for a good cause.”
Dawn’s eyes light up. “She’s smart and beautiful. You should marry her. Your children will be beautiful.”
I swear the blood drains from my face and my body grows cold. Why does everyone want me to marry him? Killian’s eyes narrow at my stricken expression.
“I’m not sure Caroline is ready for that,” he says to Dawn.
Before I have the chance to explain, Killian turns to look at Dawn. “I’ll give you thirty minutes.”
“Challenge accepted.”
I let her whisk him off while I go get myself a drink and a moment to breathe. Why doesn’t anyone consider that maybe I don’t want to get married? Actually, that’s not true. Idowant to get married, but on my own terms. When someone mentions it, it automatically brings flashbacks of my mother telling me that Beckett will make a good husband and it’s what I should want.
“Caroline, right?”
I turn to find two women standing beside me. They must be my age or a little older, both dressed in black Chanel dresses and Cartier earrings. I’d met them earlier, but forgotten their names.
“Rachel and Tanzie,” the blonde one, who I think is Rachel, says.
“Hi! Yes, of course, I’m so sorry. You meet so many people you start to forget the names.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Rachel says, waving a hand. “Once you start coming to these things more than once, you remember everyone.”
“I know what you mean,” I say. “I’ve been to a lot of these back home and it’s always the same crowd.”
“Is that how you know Killian York? You’re from California, right?” Tanzie asks.
“Yeah, we grew up together.” I take a sip of my champagne so I don’t say more. Sometimes, when I start talking there’s no stopping me, and I’d rather not say much about Killian and me.
“That explains it,” Tanzie says, with a forced sigh.
