“Vanessa, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” a smooth, deep voice said from a few feet away.
I jerked my gaze away from Con’s direction and looked up into the face of Lucas Titan.
Several inches over six feet, with thick, inky black hair cropped close to his head, Lucas Titan was an attractive man, especially when you added in his mossy green eyes, wide shoulders, and narrow hips. A diagonal scar slashing upward through his left eyebrow into his hairline gave his face character and kicked it from being classically handsome to dangerously gorgeous. His billions and philanthropic nature had made him a darling of the New Orleans charity scene, even if the old money crowd almost universally hated him. He didn’t play by their rules, or anyone else’s.
It was one of the things I admired most about the man.
He’d also bought himself a seat on the board of directors of the L.R. Bennett Foundation about six months ago.
“Mr. Titan, I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight.”
After all, the only name on the guest list Elle had bothered to mention had been Con’s.
“Then I’m guessing you didn’t read your invite beyond the plate price.”
I laughed politely. “You’re probably right about that.”
His smile revealed perfectly straight, white teeth. “I’m the keynote. I’ll be talking about the importance of getting technology into the hands of underprivileged youth at early ages to help level the playing field, and how organizations like this one are perfectly suited to accomplish that goal—if only it had the funding.”
“Well, hopefully between your speech and the open bar, people will give generously. It makes sense to have the tech guru sell it.”
His smile broadened. “I’ve yet to leave my nerd days behind.”
My face must have shown my surprise at his admission. “I would’ve never guessed. The nerds from my youth weren’t quite so suave, nor did they wear black tie quite as well as you do.”
A dimple I hadn’t previously been aware of winked. Damn, the man really was attractive.
“My growth spurt and tuxes came late in the game, Ms. Frost. It’s much easier to know who your friends are when you’re the least popular kid in school than when you’re sitting on billions.”
I nodded. I knew all about people befriending you for reasons other than your sparkling personality.
“I understand completely.” Wanting to move off that uncomfortable subject, I added, “I’m sure your keynote will be interesting.”
“Well, I’ll try to keep from putting you to sleep anyway. And it’s short, which is probably the best quality any keynote can have.”
I lifted my wine. “Cheers to that, Mr. Titan.”
He clinked his highball with my glass, and his eyes dropped to my shoes and made a lazy perusal up my body. “You look stunning tonight, Vanessa.”
I waited for the flash of heat I’d felt when Con’s gaze took the same path. And I got… a warm breeze. It was pretty much the same reaction my body gave when Simon complimented me. Here was a gorgeous man, richer than Croesus, and my body decided it wasn’t interested.
It was probably for the best. Despite his money and business prowess, my father was firmly in the Lucas Titan is the spawn of the devil camp. It had something to do with Lucas’s sustainable energy agenda and the lobbyists who were pushing it in the state legislature. As a steel man, my father didn’t want anyone telling him how he needed to power his mills.
“Thank you,” I replied.
He looked down at my drink. “And you need a refill. Would you like me to get you another?”
My polite smile smoothed across my face. I didn’t like to explain my one glass limit, so it was easier if I just got my drinks myself. I’d be switching to club soda with lime after this one.
“How about we head that way together?”
His hand somehow found its way to the small of my back, and I wasn’t sure how to graciously remove it. After a long wait and small talk in line, I had my club soda, and our impending dinner service was announced.
“I’m assuming you’re also at the head table?” I asked Lucas.
“Indeed.”
“Would you mind taking my drink? I need to excuse myself for a moment.”
Lucas accepted my glass. “Of course. I’ll be waiting.”
I pushed open the door to the powder room and stepped into the lobby. A large hand wrapped around my upper arm.
I turned and opened my mouth to protest, but was silenced when I saw the tattoos peeking out from beneath the shirt cuff.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, shocked that Con would manhandle me in public, although maybe I shouldn’t have been.
He tugged me toward an unused coatroom, and shut and blocked the door.
“Are you crazy?” I’d wanted to get him alone, but not like this. This was dangerous.
Con stalked toward me. I backed away, feeling very much like a rabbit facing off against a wolf.
“I decided I’m not done with you yet.”
The words were so low and quiet; I felt them more than I heard them. I tried to keep my breathing steady as I asked, “So you accost me outside the ladies’ room and drag me into a coat closet?”
“Would you rather I’d approached you while Lucas Titan was eye-fucking the shit out of you?”
So that was what this was about. “First, that kind of language is unnecessary. And second, Lucas is an acquaintance. He’s on my board of directors. And… I don’t even know why I’m explaining myself to you. It’s none of your business.”