Unmasked (Godmother Security Book 1) (4 page)

When her aunt had told her about tonight’s detail, Cindy had thought it was unnecessary.  What point was it to do recon at a masquerade?  Her aunt’s plan to take pictures of guests as they left so that Cindy could identify spoke to Prince had one major flaw in Cindy’s mind.   If Prince wore a mask like everyone else at the party, then no one would know who he was, rendering her surveillance useless.  Barely five minutes into the party, she realized how wrong she’d been.

They had just started sipping champagne when the first man approached.  He was average height, silver haired, and was wearing a thin black mask, like most of the men in attendance.  Cindy judged him to be in his sixties, but it was hard to tell with the mask.  He strode directly up to them, clapped Sebastian on the arm and said, “Prince, how are you?  Great party.”

Completely unfazed, Sebastian turned to the man and smiled.  The two engaged in conversation for a moment or two until another man approached, and the first went off in search of someone else.  For the next twenty minutes men, women, and couples drifted in and out of the circle that had formed around Cindy and Sebastian, each calling Prince by his name.  Cindy stood quietly to the side, adopting a slightly bored air.  She smiled and nodded when appropriate, but didn’t really follow the conversations.  She was busy noting the masks and clothing of each of the people that approached them, though it seemed useless.  Just as they all knew who Sebastian was, he seemed to know each of them. 

Finally, the last couple in the circle excused themselves leaving Cindy and Sebastian alone.  He grabbed her hand. “Quick, before another hoard descends.”

As he pulled her the middle of the dance floor, the wafting sounds of the orchestra nestled in a second floor balcony across from the entry stairs, shifted from a fast tempo waltz into an instrumental version of a modern pop song that was slow and sensual.

Placing one hand on her waist he pulled her close.  “That’s more like it.  You don’t mind dancing this close with someone you just met, do you?”

“Not at all,” Cindy replied with what she hoped was a seductive smile.  She was surprised how true statement her statement was.  She didn’t mind it at all.  Warmth slid through her as she put her free hand on his shoulder.  This whole seduction ruse was easier than she thought, though she wasn’t so sure which one of them was doing the seducing.

“So, Ella, what do you do?” he asked as they moved slowly to the music.

“I’m in human resources,” she replied, remembering and sticking to the cover she and Faye had planned.  “I don’t really have to ask you what you do, Mr. Prince.”

He laughed.  “So much for being mysterious.  I was looking forward to being known as ‘Charming’.”

“Oh, you are certainly charming, and I’m sure I’m not the first to say so.”

“No, you aren’t, but you are the only one that matters right now.” His voice was a low, seductive whisper as he leaned in, his mouth close to her ear. 

Cindy knew it was a line.  She knew he’d probably said the same thing, in the same way, to a dozen other women.  Yet, she couldn’t help the electric thrills of excitement that coursed through her at his words.  There was something bewitching about this man.  His very presence did something to knock her normally very balanced equilibrium off kilter.

Or perhaps the giddiness in the pit of her stomach, and the warmth that radiated through her from every point where his skin touched hers, had nothing at all to do with Sebastian Prince. 
Perhaps this would have happened no matter who my mark was tonight.  I haven’t been on a date in ages
, she mused as she and Sebastian glided gracefully around the dance floor.  Work had been steady over the summer, and she’d often gone straight from one assignment to another, as she had this time.

The only male company she’d enjoyed in months—oh lord, she couldn’t remember how many months—had been co-workers and clients.  Of course, Sebastian was a client as well, even if he didn’t know it.  But this was the first time a job had required her to be in such close, personal contact with a target.  Besides, she’d had bullets whizzing past her head a couple of days ago.  There was some sort of psychological crap going on; something about nearly dying and feeling alive, which could explain why being near Prince made her insides turn to melted chocolate.  She just needed keep that in mind, and stay focused on the job at hand: surveillance.

Over the next three hours Cindy did her best to ignore Sebastian’s attempt at subtle seduction and the sexual tension that crackled between the two of them.  It wasn’t easy.  She tried to stay focused on her task, but Sebastian kept her out on the dance floor or nestled at a small table in the corner as much as possible.  This was a plus as far as his safety was concerned, but it gave her little opportunity to gauge the intentions of other party goers. 

In order to play her part well, she had to pretend to pay attention to Sebastian.  As the night wore on, that became easier and easier.  At first they talked about generic, small talk things like the weather, music, and movies.  But then he started talking about the foundation the ball would be funding, and the other charities he helped with and donated to.  It was clear he was passionate about helping others. 

When Cindy pulled her phone out of her small handbag to check the time she was dismayed to see it was eleven already.  The party, or at least her time at it, was almost over.   She was actually sorry she didn’t have longer to spend with Sebastian.  She would be seeing him again soon, but it would be in a completely professional capacity.  And she was sure he wouldn’t be at all happy that his date this evening had been deceiving him the entire time.

They were standing near the food table again, and Sebastian was surrounded by several people he’d talked to throughout the evening.  Cindy wasn’t paying attention to what they were discussing.  Instead she was scanning the crowd, as she had done periodically all evening, trying to decide when and how best to extricate herself from the party in time to rendezvous with Frank and the limo.

As Cindy swept her eyes around the room she noticed a blond woman in a fuchsia ball gown with a matching fuchsia and black feather mask at the end of the table, just a few feet from Sebastian.  She had noticed the woman before, it was hard not to in that bright dress. But, as the woman hadn’t displayed any suspicious behavior, or even come close to Prince, Cindy hadn’t paid much attention to her.  Until now. 

Even now, the woman wasn’t doing anything noteworthy; she wasn’t even looking towards Sebastian.  She was standing with her side to Cindy’s group, sipping champagne and engrossed in a conversation with a masked young man.  Yet there was something about her that kept drawing Cindy’s eye back to her.  There was something about the line of her aquiline nose and the set of her rounded jaw that seemed familiar. 

The woman put her glass on a passing waiter’s tray and took her companion’s arm.   As the two strode past on their way to the dance floor, the woman’s head turn and her gaze briefly locked with Cindy’s.  A strange sense of familiarity swept over Cindy, but she had no idea why.  The woman didn’t seem to have any reaction to Cindy at all.  She offered a stiff, polite smile like one would when meeting eyes with a stranger, then looked away and continued walking.

Cindy watched as the two began to dance.  She tried to place where she’d seen the woman before, but without being able to see her whole face, it was impossible.  Everyone at the ball was rich, or worked for someone rich or in politics.  Since those were the people that made up Godmother Security’s client list, it only followed that Cindy might recognize some of the guests.  It was likely she’d met the woman in bright pink at some point while on the job.  Yet, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling the woman invoked.

“Ella.”

“Wha…Oh!  Oh, I’m so sorry!”

Cindy turned when she realized Sebastian had called her name and knocked her arm into his.  Champagne went flying all over his shirt.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, grabbing a napkin from a nearby table and blotting at the large wet spot covering his chest.  “I don’t know where my mind was.”

Mortification slammed through her, heating her cheeks. Swiping at the wet spot only seemed to be spreading it.  “I’m so clumsy.  I’ll pay the cleaning bill.”

Sebastian’s large hands covered hers on his shirt, sending trickles of heat through her.  “Ella, it’s okay,” his tone was warm and laced with amusement.  “Luckily I have a suite upstairs.  I can just run up and put on a new shirt and jacket.”

“You just happen to travel with a couple of tuxedo jackets?” she asked, even though she knew he lived in the hotel.   That was not something ‘Ella’ would not know. 

He laughed.  “I actually live here when I’m in the city.  And I happen to own four tuxedos.  You aren’t the only one prone to spills.”

He punctuated his last sentence with a wink that had Cindy’s heart leaping into her throat.  She extricated her hands from his, and tossed the used napkin back on the table. 

“Okay, I don’t feel so bad.  But I’ll still pay for your cleaning bill.”

“What if, instead, you accompanied me up while I change, and we’ll call it even?”

That was better than if he went up to his suite alone, but he didn’t know that.  She had to play this just right.

“Mr. Prince, you wouldn’t be trying to get me up to your room to take advantage of me, would you?”  Her flirty-but-cautious tone was only half faked.  If she were here as herself, and not ‘Ella’ she would be seriously taken with this man’s charms. 

His smile was a little wicked.  “Only if you ask me to.  So will you walk with me?”

Hell, who am I kidding?
  
I’m about half ready to jump into bed with him, on the job or not.  Could I be more unprofessional?  Stay focused, Ashe,
she scolded herself.

She gave him what she hoped was a brilliant and suggestive smile.  “I’d love to.”

She took his offered arm, and they started out of the ballroom.  As they, walked Cindy forced herself to focus on the job and scanned the room, looking for anyone who took particular interest in their departure.  She saw nothing out of the ordinary, but they were met at the doors by a slightly winded Gus. 

“The lady and I are just going up to my suite so I can change my shirt.  I’ll be back in ten minutes,” Sebastian told the bodyguard as soon as he saw him.

Cindy felt bad for Gus, he’d obviously ran the outer wall of the ballroom in order to make it to the door ahead of them.  But, as she wasn’t supposed to know him, she kept her face carefully blank.

“Yes, sir.  I still have to accompany you.  Protocol.”  Gus’s tone was polite, but firm.

Sebastian let out a small sigh.  “Okay, just give us a little space, please?”

Gus nodded and stood back to let them pass.

Feigning concern, Cindy asked, “Is there a problem?” 

Sebastian’s charming smile was back.  “No, not at all.  The insurance companies for the hotel and charity require tight security for the ball, especially for the Key Note Speaker.  It’s nothing to worry about.”

Cindy had to give it to him, he lied smoothly. Someone that didn’t know it was a lie to begin with wouldn’t have noticed the slight tightness around his eyes. 

They rode the private elevator up to the penthouse suite in silence.   They stepped out of the elevator to a foyer hall that was about the size of Cindy’s living room.  Sebastian turned to Gus.  “Can you wait out here, please?”

Gus hesitated for a moment, but Cindy gave him a slight nod from behind Sebastian.  His expression didn’t register any communication, but he immediately said, “Of course.”

Sebastian used his key card on the door and Cindy followed him into a large, airy room that greatly resembled a Victorian sitting room.  “Wait here, I’ll be right back,” Sebastian said, disappearing down a hallway. 

Cindy looked around.  While the decor went well with the buildings architecture, and was exactly what you would expect considering the lobby and ballroom, it didn’t exactly match Sebastian’s personality.  Not that Cindy really knew what his personality was, but she’d been expecting something sleek and minimalist.  Perhaps grey and black with clean lines and lots of glass and steel. 

Instead she was surrounded by antique furniture, damask fabric, and creamy paneled walls.  It was lovely.  The far had floor to ceiling paneled windows with French doors that opened out onto a wide brick terrace. 

Deciding fresh air sounded like a good idea, Cindy stepped out onto the terrace.  The warm, cozy feel of the living room continued outside with white wicker furniture with the chintz fabric, and potted plants around the outer wall. 

“Here you are,” Sebastian’s voice sounded behind her.

Cindy turned and her mouth went dry at the sight before her.  He was standing in the doorway.  He had put on a fresh shirt, but it hung open, exposing and expanse of well-muscled torso.  “I, um, the view is breathtaking,” she said, indicating the view of the city lights. 

“Yes, it is,” he said, but his eyes were on her, not the scenery. 

“Your apartment is lovely.”  She hesitated.  “But it doesn’t quite seem like your style.”

He laughed as he walked over to her.  “Thanks, and no it’s not.  When I first moved into the hotel the penthouse was occupied so I took a suite on the tenth floor.  I was perfectly happy there, and when the resident moved out here, I had no desire to move in.  The hotel was getting it ready to rent out again and I had to come up and speak with the contractor about some repairs when I saw this terrace and the view.  I fell instantly in love.”