ever you’re doing, please don’t stop. We’d like to see him happy.” He stops suddenly as if

he’soverstepped the mark. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

I shake my head. “I’d like to see him happy, too,” I mutter, unsure of what else to say.

“Well, I’m very glad you came this evening. It’s been a real pleasure seeing the two of

you together.”

As the final strains of “Come Fly with Me” fade away, Carrick releases me and bows,

and I curtsey, mirroring his civility.

“That’s enough dancing with old men.” Christian is at my side again. Carrick laughs.

“Less of the ‘old,’ son. I’ve been known to have my moments.” Carrick winks at me

playfully and saunters into the crowd.

“I think my dad likes you,” Christian mutters as he watches his father mingle with the

crowd..

“What’s not to like?” I peek coquettishly up at him through my lashes.

“Good point well made, Miss Steele.” He pulls me into an embrace as the band starts

to play “It Had to Be You.”

“Dance with me,” he whispers seductively.

“With pleasure, Mr. Grey.” I smile in response, and he sweeps me across the dance

floor once more.

At midnight, we stroll down toward the shore between the marquee and the boathouse

where the other partygoers are gathered to watch the fireworks. The MC, back in charge,

has permitted the removal of masks, the better to see the display. Christian has his arm

around me, but I’m aware that Taylor and Sawyer are close by, probably because we’re in

the crowd now. They are looking anywhere but at the dockside where two pyrotechnicians

dressed in black are making their final preparations. Seeing Taylor reminds me of Leila.

Perhaps she’s here. Shit.The thought chills my blood, and I huddle closer to Christian. He

gazes down at me as he pulls me closer.

“You okay, baby? Cold?”

“I’m fine.” I glance quickly behind us and see the other two security guys, whose

names I forget, standing close by. Moving me in front of him, Christian puts both his arms

around me over my shoulders.

Suddenly, a stirring classical soundtrack booms over the dock and two rockets soar into

the air, exploding with a deafening bang over the bay, lighting it all in a dazzling canopy of

sparkling orange and white that’s reflected in a glittering shower over the still calm water

of the bay. My jaw drops as several more rockets fire into the air and explode in a kaleido-

scope of color.

I can’t recall ever seeing a display this impressive, except perhaps on television, and

it never looks this good on TV. They’re all in time to the music. Volley after volley, bang

after bang, and light after light as the crowd answers with gasps and ooohs and ahhs. It is

out of this world.

On the pontoon in the bay several silver fountains of light shoot up twenty feet in the

air, changing color through blue, red, orange, and back to silver—and yet more rockets

explode as the music reaches its crescendo.

My face is beginning to ache from the ridiculous grin of wonder plastered across it. I

glance at Fifty, and he’s the same, marveling like a child at the sensational show. For the

finale a volley of six rockets shoot into the dark and explode simultaneously, bathing us in

a glorious golden light as the crowd erupts into frantic, enthusiastic applause.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the MC calls out as the cheers and whistles fade. “Just one

note to add at the end of this wonderful evening; your generosity has raised a total of one

million, eight hundred and fifty three thousand dollars!”

Spontaneous applause erupts again, and out on the pontoon, a message lights up in sil-

ver streams of sparks forming the words Thank You From Coping Together,sparkling and

shimmering over the water.

“Oh, Christian . . . that was wonderful.” I grin up at him and he bends down to kiss me.

“Time to go,” he murmurs, a broad smile on his beautiful face, and his words hold so

much promise.

Suddenly, I feel very tired.

He glances up again, and Taylor is close, the crowd dispersing around us. They don’t

speak but something passes between them.

“Stay with me a moment. Taylor wants us to wait while the crowd disperses.”

Oh.

“I think that firework display probably aged him a hundred years,” he adds.

“Doesn’t he like fireworks?”

Christian gazes down at me fondly and shakes his head but doesn’t elaborate.

“So, Aspen,” he says, and I know he’s trying to distract me from something. It works.

“Oh . . . I haven’t paid for my bid,” I gasp.

“You can send a check. I have the address.”

“You were really mad.”

“Yes, I was.”

I grin. “I blame you and your toys.”

“You were quite overcome, Miss Steele. A most satisfactory outcome if I recall.” He

smiles salaciously. “Incidentally, where are they?”

“The silver balls? In my bag.”

“I’d like them back.” He smirks down at me. “They are far too potent a device to be

left in your innocent hands.”

“Worried I might be quite overcome again, maybe with somebody else?”

His eyes glitter dangerously. “I hope that’s not going to happen,” he says, a cool edge

to his voice. “But no, Ana. I want all your pleasure.”

Whoa. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Implicitly. Now, can I have them back?”

“I’ll think about it.”

He narrows his eyes at me.

There’s music once more from the dance floor but it’s a DJ playing a thumping dance

number, the bass pounding out a relentless beat.

“Do you want to dance?”

“I’m really tired, Christian. I’d like to go, if that’s okay.”

Christian glances at Taylor, who nods, and we set off toward the house, following a

couple of drunken guests. I’m grateful when Christian takes my hand—my feet are aching

from the dizzying height and tight confinement of my shoes.

Mia comes bounding up to us. “You’re not going, are you? The real music’s just begin-

ning. Come on, Ana.” She grabs my hand.

“Mia,” Christian admonishes her. “Anastasia’s tired. We’re going home. Besides, we

have a big day tomorrow.”

We do?

Mia pouts but surprisingly doesn’t push Christian.

“You must come by sometime next week. Maybe we can hit the mall?”

“Sure, Mia.” I grin, though in the back of my mind I’m wondering how since I have to

work for a living.

She gives me a quick kiss then hugs Christian fiercely, taking us both by surprise. More

astoundingly still, she places her hands directly on the lapels of his jacket, and he just gazes

down at her, indulgently.

“I like seeing you this happy,” she says sweetly and kisses him on the cheek. “Bye. You

guys have fun.” She skips off toward her waiting friends—among them Lily, who looks

even more sour-faced without her mask.

I wonder idly where Sean is.

“We’ll say goodnight to my parents before we leave. Come.” Christian leads me

through a gaggle of guests to Grace and Carrick, who wish us fond and warm farewells.

“Please do come again, Anastasia, it’s been lovely having you here,” says Grace kindly.

I am a little overwhelmed by both her and Carrick’s reaction. Fortunately, Grace’s par-

ents have retired for the evening, so at least I am spared their enthusiasm.

Quietly, Christian and I walk hand in hand to the front of the house where countless

cars are lined up and waiting to collect guests. I glance up at Fifty. He looks happy and

relaxed. It’s a real pleasure to see him this way, though I suspect it’s unusual after such an

extraordinary day.

“Are you warm enough?” he asks.

“Yes, thank you.” I clasp my satin wrap.