Cassie wa
sn’t the only one who was in danger of stammering at the sight of him.
She was pleased that her voice came out steadily. “Hello, Bryan.”
She should have been prepared for his next move—but she hadn’t been. She was in his arms with his mouth on hers before she could brace herself for the impact.
The kiss didn’t last long, but it still turned her knees to gelatin. She had to cling to his right arm for support when he finally drew back. She knew her cheeks were flaming. He’d kissed her right there in front of everyone—including her mother and her old history teacher!
She could tell from his wicked smile that he knew full well what he had done to her. “Hi, darling. Miss me?”
“Of course.” She lifted her chin and gave him a look that ordered him to behave. “How was your trip?”
“Much too long.” He turned his high-voltage smile on Mrs. Kinnelly, who was watching them avidly. “Hello. I’m Bryan Falcon.”
Proving that even seventy-year-old women weren’t immune to his charms, the retired teacher tittered a little as she replied, “I know who you are, of course. And I’m Helen Kinnelly.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
Mrs. Kinnelly smiled at Grace’s mother. “Both of your daughters have found such polite young men, Evelyn. But I knew they would. You raised them well—even if Grace did raise a few eyebrows when she was a teenager.”
His arm around Grace’s shoulders, Bryan chuckled. “I’ve always admired women with spirit. I bet you raised a few eyebrows in your day, as well.”
Mrs. Kinnelly blushed like one of the hundreds of schoolgirls she had taught during her career. “I got into my share of mischief.”
Bryan winked at her and then turned to greet someone else who was trying to get his attention, leaving the older woman smiling and fanning her face with one hand.
“Can you believe this guy?” Grace asked her sister a short while later. “All he has to do is walk into a roomful of strangers and he suddenly has everyone eating out of his hands.”
Chloe looked across the room to the refreshments table where Bryan and Donovan had gone to fetch drinks. “He really is amazing.”
Following her sister’s gaze, Grace studied the two men. They made an impressive sight as they crossed the room, Bryan so sleek and polished, Donovan so solid and powerful. She doubted that many would have the courage to take them on.
There was no mistaking, in her opinion, who was the leader and who the second in command. Donovan seemed to walk a half-step behind Bryan, as if constantly guarding his back. Grace had never thought of herself as particularly drawn to powerful men—but she was definitely drawn to Bryan.
She wasn’t the only one.
Cassie Barnum clutched her arm from behind. “Oh. My. God,” she murmured, staring at the men who had been delayed by conversation. “You were right. The photos don’t do him justice.”
Grace smiled. “I know.”
“And he’s obviously just crazy about you. You’re so lucky.”
Grace’s smile faded. Bryan was a very talented actor, she could have said—but, of course, she didn’t. Bryan joined them before she had to come up with a reply. “You aren’t talking about me, are you, darling?”
Grace shrugged. “Actually we were talking about balloons and other things that are filled with hot air. I think your name might have come up in the conversation.”
Cassie gasped, then giggled.
Knowing full well that he’d just been insulted, Bryan grinned and lifted his punch cup in an implied “touché.” He turned then to Cassie, whom he’d met earlier. “Someone told me you’re responsible for the lovely decorations this evening.”
She beamed, then said modestly, “Of course it’s nothing like you’re used to seeing in New York and L.A.”
Bryan assured her that he much preferred simplicity to ostentatiousness. Grace simply stood back and watched in resignation as he made another fan for life.
The more Bryan impressed Grace’s friends, the more they seemed to become convinced that she should make sure she didn’t let him get away. Donovan was unanimously approved as a mate for Chloe; and everyone seemed to agree that Bryan suited Grace.
She lost count of the number of times she was asked if Bryan had proposed to her yet. She found it especially ironic that many seemed convinced they were waiting to announce their engagement because they didn’t want to draw attention away from Chloe and Donovan. She wondered what those same people would have said if she informed them that she and Bryan were together specifically to draw attention away from the other couple.