Man with the Muscle by Julie Miller Page B

laughed. “You don’t ask for much, do you? Just promise me you won’t be so hard on the boys and focused on success that you wind up all alone.”
    â€œThat formula worked for you, didn’t it?”
    â€œYes, I found success. But I also found someone to love. I married your mother and had a family.”
    â€œI will, too, Daddy.” Audrey stretched up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “I promise.”
    As he excused himself to speak with the Bishops, Audrey turned and fixed a smile on her face for Harper’s benefit.
    â€œWere you and Rupert talking about me?” Harper asked, his lawyer’s voice smooth and concise. Audrey hoped he couldn’t feel the flinch that came withautomatically steeling herself against the possessive touch around her waist. “I thought I heard something about marriage?”
    â€œDon’t flatter yourself, Romeo.” Maybe her father was right. Was Harper rebounding from his relationship with Gretchen and setting his sights on becoming more than friends again? Their dates in high school seemed like a lifetime ago and, as far as Audrey was concerned, that was where any romance with him should stay—in the past. Subtly twisting to move his hand to a less intimate position, she pointed to the front door at the far end of the foyer. “I see the Hunts are leaving. I’d better go thank them and say good-night.”
    â€œI’ll come with you.”
    Audrey endured a half hour of kisses and handshakes before the ache from her constant smile got a welcome relief from Jeffrey Beecher, the assistant who worked for tonight’s event planner, Clarice Darnell.
    â€œAudrey?” Pushing his way through the dwindling crowd, he hurried from the back of the house to join her. The earbud he wore, and wire running down the back of his collar, made her assume the interruption was related to the party. “Audrey, do you have a moment?”
    â€œSure.” She worked the muscles on her face, trying to relax them. “Is there a problem?”
    â€œCan’t this wait, Beecher? And you’re to address her as Miss Kline.”
    She stiffened at the unwanted and unnecessary defense on her behalf. “Audrey’s fine. What is it?”
    He reached inside his suit jacket and pulled out an envelope. “This just came for you.”
    â€œAt this hour?” Audrey frowned and took the letter.
    â€œMaybe it’s another donation.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” said Jeffrey. Harper harumphed at her side while the hired help monopolized her attention.
    â€œA courier delivered it to the service entrance—said to bring it to you immediately. I gave him a five-dollar tip.”
    Jeffrey pushed up his narrow-framed glasses onto the bridge of his nose and cleared his throat. That was when she realized he was waiting to be reimbursed.
    Normally, Audrey would have given him the money herself, but with nothing on but gray silk and lace, and no cleavage to speak of, she had no purse or pockets or hiding place to stash any cash. She turned and rested her hand on Harper’s sleeve, dredging up one more smile. “Do you mind?”
    â€œNot for you.” Although Harper’s enthusiasm faded as soon as he turned his attention away from her, he pulled out his wallet and took Jeffrey aside.
    For a delivery that sounded so urgent, the envelope was curiously devoid of red flags or clues as to what the contents might be. A glance through the guests gathering in the foyer indicated an easy exit to the kitchen was out of the question. Staying here meant she’d have Harper looking over her shoulder. Audrey opted for the quickest route to uninterrupted quiet by following the next couple to depart out the front door.
    The night air instantly whipped through her hair, giving her senses a reviving shock and raising goose bumps along her arms. There was a dampness to the December breeze, hinting that they’d have a