Parker led Skylar off the dance floor. “As much fun as I’m having, I think you should start introducing me to the others.”
Parker caught the look of annoyance Skylar tossed his way, but ignored it. He was certain she thought he was being sarcastic. He wasn’t. If he didn’t have a very strong suspicion Raptor was here tonight, keeping this beautiful woman in his arms for the whole of the night would be his first, last and only priority.
The way she looked at him during the dance…If she were acting, she was a lot better than he gave her credit for being. Holding her in his arms, he had the strong urge to lead into any of the dozens of dark corners he could find in a hotel like this. Or get a room.
No. No room. Not yet, anyway.
Raptor first.
He let Skylar lead him to a small group of people. One of the men looked at him strangely before he spoke.
“Hey, Sky. Have you met my girlfriend, Chelsea Varner?” he asked.
Skylar smiled, but Parker could tell it was forced. “No, I haven’t, Trevor.” She turned to the blonde next to him. “You must be her.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh, this is my good friend, Jonathan Price,” Skylar said.
Parker studied the couple as they made the usual small talk. Chelsea Varner. He knew her from somewhere, but he couldn’t quite place her. There was a terrified look clouding her hazel eyes as she looked at Parker, almost as though she knew who he was.
And then he knew.
Raptor must know, too. Her new look wasn’t much of a disguise and her tight red dress was made to draw male attention. Not smart on her part. Not smart at all.
When Parker knew her, she kept her hair a short bob at her chin in the natural brown it really was. Now, her hair was past the middle of her back and bleached white-blonde. She must wear contacts as well because she used to wear glasses at all times.
“Trevor, I’m going to get a drink.”
Parker realized she knew she’d just been made. After she left, Skylar turned to him as if to ask what that was all about, but he shrugged it off. He couldn’t keep the thought away that Trevor couldn’t be Raptor. There was no way Chelsea would hang on his arm if he were.
Would she?
They mingled for another half hour before someone else caught Parker’s eye and he began to look for a way to sneak away from Skylar’s side. There was a man present he needed to talk to, but couldn’t risk doing with Skylar around. It was too soon.
Slipping away proved more difficult than he hoped. They got caught in a rather long and pointless conversation with Suzanne Wyndham once she learned he was an antiques dealer. Her husband wasn’t a treat either. He glanced at Parker once as if to size him up before dismissing him and walking away from the conversation.
Just like Raptor did during their first meeting…
It was unnerving to Parker to be out in the open and still not have an idea of who the man he was looking for was. He had his suspicions about the man he knew, of course, but it could just as easily be either of the other two men. His old friend had the ultimate poker face; he hid his reaction to Parker well.
Parker got his opportunity to slip away during the next set of introductions.
“This should be fun,” Skylar muttered under her breath as another couple approached. “Agent Caldwell, when you said you would be in touch I had no idea it meant in a social setting.”
The agent didn’t seem any happier about running into Skylar than she was to see him. “I’m not here in an official capacity tonight.”
“Then I hope you’re an invited guest.” Skylar’s tone was pure ice. “Oh, where are my manners? This is my good friend Jonathan Price.”
Parker accepted the agent’s hand and sized him up. Caldwell was studying him as well, but he knew he wouldn’t have to worry about this guy. They never met and Parker was more than positive the only picture the Feds had of him was an unflattering surveillance photo.
Before he could learn the name of the agent’s curvy companion, Skylar continued her verbal assault on the agent, so Parker too that as his cue to slip away.
© 2010, Sydney Katt. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of content will result in dragon attacks.
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Ok…for a mo there, I thought perhaps Trevor was Raptor – but you have pretty much dismissed that……..Mmmmm….Drake Wyndham……???
Ahhhhh!!! Hun, my brain is trying to tie itself in knots, trying to figure this out…lol…..
I’m in my element though – all these updates – I’m off to read the next one…..
See ya there…xxx
I dismissed Trevor as Raptor? Did I? No comment.
Sydney Katt´s last blog ..What 32-371 Words Taught Me About Myself