an emotional relationship that would distract him from his work.
He’d tolerate her odd behavior for now, but it was countdown time. One week. Just seven more days and his world, and Jenna, had better return to business as usual.
Mac struggled to control his frustration as he searched the crowded ballroom for a sign of Jenna. Not that he’d expected her to remain glued to his side, but she’d been acting so odd lately, he really wanted to keep an eye on her.
He was in his element, so why couldn’t he relax? Attendance had doubled in the past three years since he’d become the sponsor of the annual Childhood Disease Research fund-raiser and moved the gala to the Congress Hotel, one of the oldest and finest in downtown Dallas.
He’d obviously chosen the right people for the decorating committee. The ballroom decorations met his standards of simple yet elegant, and the food appeared to be a hit as well. The band, set up in a rear corner, played just loud enough to be heard and not discourage conversation.
Reps from several local TV stations and the newspaper had arrived as promised with camera crews, so the event would get great coverage in both medias.
Where was Jenna?
“You sure know how to throw a party, McKenna.”
He turned to discover John Nashco. The district attorney had a reputation as a notorious, but harmless, flirt. “Anything for a good cause. Filled out that check yet?”
John nodded. “But I’d rather let your fiancée sweet-talk me out of it. Won’t hurt so much. Where is the captivating Jenna?”
Mac wasn’t about to admit he’d been wondering that himself. “You know her, she’s working the room.” He caught a glimpse of light green fabric. “I see her, John. Stay here and get your checkbook out. I’ll be right back.”
Mac made his way through the crowd toward Jenna. The closer he got, the more his senses came alive. Her tentative smile charmed, her feminine curves captivated. He was surprised by the warmth in her voice as she spoke to an elderly man he recognized but couldn’t place. She usually “worked” a crowd and rarely stopped for a lengthy one-on-one chat.
He put his arm around her shoulders. She immediately stiffened, looked up and smiled, then relaxed against him, their bodies a perfect fit.
Her soft hair tickled his chin and the subtle floral scent kicked his hormones into high gear. Had she recently changed shampoos or had he just somehow failed to notice before? “I need to steal you away for a minute, Jenn.”
“Sure.” She turned to the man she’d been conversing with. “Tell your wife I hope she feels better soon, Mr. Boreman.”
“I will, young lady.” He nodded at Mac. “Mr. McKenna, you’re a lucky man. Take care of her, you hear?”
“I intend to, sir.” Mac took Jenna by the elbow and weaved through the throng of dark suits and sequins. “John Nashco wants to arm wrestle you for a donation.”
“Arm wrestle? You’re kidding, right?”
Mac raised his eyebrows. “Of course. Just charm the check out of him like you usually do.”
“Um, sure. No problem.” She glanced around the room, as if looking for an escape. Or had his imagination kicked in again and she was just thirsty and simply looking for a waiter?
“Can I get you anything to drink or eat?”
“I couldn’t eat, but a soda would be great.”
“A soda?”
She nodded and placed her hands over her stomach. “My stomach is a little unsettled, so I’m going to pass on the wine.”
“There you are, Jenna.” John kissed her first on one cheek then the other. Her green eyes grew wide for just a second. “You look ravishing, as always.”
Those same eyes now sparkled with delight as she curtsied. “Why, thank you, kind sir. And you look rather dashing yourself.” She reached for his tie and straightened it. “Great tie.”
Mac clenched his jaw to keep from saying anything, then left to find a soda for Jenna instead of her usual Chablis. He needed something stronger for himself before he acted like a fool and wedged his body between theirs.
What was wrong with him? Jenna was just doing what she’d done many times before, stroking a man’s ego. Mac trusted her and had never felt the least bit jealous before.
Him, jealous? No. Not possible. They didn’t have that kind of a relationship. More than likely, Jenna’s weird reaction to the stress of the upcoming nuptials had rubbed off on him.
“How about a couple of pictures, Mr. Nashco, of you and Ms. Taggert?”
Jessie turned to find a young man wearing a media badge and carrying a camera. Her sister lived for these moments in the spotlight, so Jessie put all thoughts of the uncomfortable push-up bra and high heels out of her mind and smiled.
“Any excuse to put my arm around a beautiful lady.”
Jessie had to admit that she really did feel beautiful tonight. Before Mac had arrived at the apartment, she’d practiced walking in the high heels as she silently chanted, “Look at me! I’m glamorous. I’m sexy,” hoping she could at least fake it until she made it back home.
Of course, the sexy dress and a few drops of her sister’s expensive perfume helped to boost her confidence as well.
When she’d opened the door for Mac and observed the approval reflected in his gaze, she’d been relieved. But somehow Jessie had expected more. After all, men who were complete strangers lusted after Jenna, but Jessie didn’t detect any such blatant desire in her sister’s fiancé.
She just wished she didn’t find him so darned attractive. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d claimed just as many eyes would be on him as her tonight. The navy suit, along with his black hair, dark eyes and tanned face proved a striking combination.
His sexy banter had flustered her even more and she was surprised she had to keep reminding herself that he was flirting with his fiancée, not her. Since he wasn’t her type, she never dreamed that detail would prove so hard to remember, any more than she would’ve imagined that his constant, innocent touching would make her feel protected and cherished instead of controlled or possessed.
Then again, tonight she seemed like a stranger even to herself.
“Thanks for the pics. I’ll send you both copies.”
“Thank you, young man.” John gave Jessie’s shoulder a squeeze. “Jenna, honey, tell me the truth. Why do you want to tie yourself down to a man like Mac when I’m available?”
The guy seemed harmless enough, but she wasn’t used to being “on” for so many people and for so long. “John, I know you and Mac are friends so I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. It’s time to give it up. How much are you going to contribute this year to this extremely worthwhile cause?”
John pulled out a folded check from his pants pocket and handed it to her. “Will this suffice?”
She
