Then I look at my sweet, pretty wife who’s goddamn radiant tonight, I might add, and I realize I don’t want to do anything to put her—us—at risk. I want her safe.
I need to stay safe too. For Charlotte.
“Are we ready to go?” she asks, her sweet voice knocking me from my thoughts.
“Yeah.” I snag her hand, pulling her in for a quick kiss. “Let’s do this.”
***
The party isin full swing by the time we enter the ballroom of the hotel where we hold the annual party. There’s a woman sitting behind a piano on a small stage playing Christmas music, the gentle tinkling pleasant among the dull roar of the chatting crowd. New York’s wealthiest elite are in this room. If a bomb went off right now, many of the titans of Wall Street, real estate investors and various politicians would be erased from the planet.
I smile at a local senator and pause when he asks to meet my wife. I introduce him to Charlotte, hating the way the asshole leers at her, and steer her away from him as quickly as I can.
“You don’t like him?” Charlotte asks as we move through the crowd.
I pluck a glass of champagne from a passing server’s tray, taking a healthy sip. “He was staring at your tits.”
She glances down at herself, tugging on the front of her dress to try and cover them. “I should’ve worn something else.”
“No. You look stunning.” I rest my hand at the small of her back, leading her toward some coworkers who are currently clustered together. “I’m the jealous fuck who doesn’t want anyone looking at you so that’s on me.”
Her smile is giant as I introduce her to my employees—most of them I consider my friends. They’re all friendly and not a one of them stare at my wife’s chest so they all passed the test.
Lucky fuckers.
It goes on like this for hours. Lots of smiling and introductions and plenty of hand shaking. We eat some food—a few appetizers that make me hungry for something more substantial. We speak to my mother, who watches Charlotte with an extra sharp gleam in her eye.
“You two seem well,” she says to me at one point, while I’m shoving a stuffed mushroom into my mouth. “Your wife is glowing with vitality.”
I almost choke on my food, grimacing as I force it down before I drink from my champagne glass. “She’s looking extra beautiful tonight,” I rasp in agreement.
Her shrewd gaze meets mine. “She’s not drinking.”
My mother is too smart for her own damn good. “She’s not twenty-one yet.”
“That hasn’t stopped her before.” She studies me for a moment, not saying a word and out of habit, I start to squirm. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say, keeping my expression neutral.
The silence between us grows and I almost want Charlotte to come save me, but she’s too busy talking to my sisters. Besides, Mom would turn her appraising gaze on my wife and get our little secret out of her. I can’t risk it.
“I’ll wait for the announcement at Christmas,” Mother finally declares, leaning in to brush a quick kiss to my cheek. “Congratulations, darling.”
I watch her walk away, exhaling loudly before I take yet another big swig of my champagne.
Probably should slow down, but fuck it. Haven’t gotten this drunk in a while and we’re at a private party. I won’t get shit-faced, but I can let loose. Have a little fun.
“So is it true?”
I turn to find Ash standing in front of me, wearing a sleek black dress with her hair up. She has completely transformed into the perfect, elegant Constantine wife, and it’s a good look for her.
“Is what true?”
“That you’re going to be a daddy.” Her eyes fill with a devilish sparkle and I almost choke on my champagne.
“Shh.” I glance around the room, but no one is paying any attention to us. “Who told you that?”
“I told Winston that at Thanksgiving, and I know he mentioned it to you. Has it been confirmed yet?” She lifts a delicate brow, waiting for my answer.