Page 34 of See You Maybe
“Kyle,” Richard reproved quietly.
Olivia ignored him, excitement building inside her. Couples dressed lavishly in gowns and furs climbed the stone steps in front of her before entering two large wooden doors flanked by torch light.
“I feel like I’m in a movie,” Stuart murmured close to her ear, and she gave him a smile. “Let me.” He extended his arm as she used one hand to lift her skirt to ascend the stairs.
“Thanks. I’m glad you’re here. I’m feeling a bit like Cinderella right now.”
“Let’s just hope we don’t turn into pumpkins at midnight.”
Olivia giggled, Stuart’s attempt to make her laugh dissolving the rest of her nerves.
Who cared if she didn’t know anyone here? When would she ever attend an event like this again?
When they cleared the foyer, Olivia’s mouth fell open, and she heard Stuart let out his own startled exhale.
At the far end of the marble foyer, the room opened onto a massive ballroom below. Just beyond an elaborate wrought iron landing, a dual-sided, marble staircase descended into the vast room.
Everywhere Olivia looked was candlelight. Candles of varying heights were set in heavy gold candlesticks, and multi-armed candelabras, placed atop tables lining the perimeter walls, dripped with crystals refracting the light into rainbow prisms on the surfaces below.
Reaching the railing, Olivia looked up at the massive crystal chandeliers hanging over the space, their lights dimmed to not distract from the candlelight effect.
Two twenty-foot Christmas trees decorated with white lights and ribbons book-ended the room. Arranged across the marble floor between them were elegantly set tables with crisp, white linens, silver, and crystal, surrounding tall vase-centerpieces filled with sprigs of evergreen and white roses. A string ensemble quietly played classical music in a corner.
It was magical.
With one hand on the banister and the other on Stuart’s arm, Olivia carefully descended the steps, conscious of her higher-than-normal heels.
“Olivia.” Chris stepped toward them as they joined the crowd. He raised her hand, and there was a moment, when his lips lingered on the back of her hand before he made eye contact, that made her wonder if he was trying to flirt with her. “Stuart.”
Olivia was forced to drop her friend’s arm so that he could shake Chris’s outstretched hand.
“I want to introduce you to Lawrence Talbot.” Chris angled his body to include an older man behind him. “He’s our chief counsel at Bloom Communications. Lawrence, this is Stuart Pruitt, head of Research and Development for Armstrong Electronics.”
The men shook hands. Lawrence asked Stuart something about his opinion on intellectual property rights, and Chris moved between her and the men. With a hand on the small of Olivia’s back, he turned her away.
“While they’re talking shop, let me get you something to drink.”
Olivia cast one last glance at Stuart, who had narrowed his eyes as Chris steered her. Was Kyle right? Was Chris actually interested in her, or was this his way of trying to influence her?
“You look gorgeous tonight,” he said, as they approached the bar. “I hope that’s not inappropriate.”
“Thank you.”
“What would you like? Champagne? Wine?”
Olivia’s eyes scanned the bar as the scent of pine decorations on the bar reached her nose. “Jameson and ginger ale with lime, please.”
Chris raised an eyebrow at her as the bartender fixed her drink, setting it and a short glass of scotch in front of Chris. What made her order that? Nostalgia?
Because you can’t stop thinking about Declan.
She mentally shook herself.
“A whiskey drinker. I thought southern girls drank bourbon.”
Olivia arched a brow at him. “Southern girls drink whatever they like.”
“I stand corrected.” Chris watched her speculatively for a moment, his eyes dipping briefly to her breasts before meeting her eyes. “I have to admit, you aren’t what I expected?”