They pulled up to a beautiful old hotel where the driver stepped around to open her door. Alec had hired a car for tonight. It only illustrated the vast differences between them. She slid from the seat and stared at the building. Above a green awning, white stone and a wide, carved frieze rose to the sky. At street level, flower boxes were overflowing with color and variety.

Alec took her elbow and walked her forward, where an attendant held the door for them. “Showtime,” he muttered.

The lobby spoke of old money and prestige. A high crystal chandelier rose overhead and the floors beneath them were black marble. Mahogany woodwork was polished to gleaming and expensive art decorated the walls.

Her heels clicked on the floor as Alec directed her to a ballroom to their left. Her steps faltered when she noticed how many people were there. Two hundred, at least. To the left was a bar and to the right a buffet table. The spread looked too pretty to eat. Ahead, people walked around a display of Alec’s books.

So this was his world. Faith didn’t belong here. She’d never felt so out of place. Then again, she’d never felt particularly in place either. But this . . . this was way out of her element. She had the fancy dress and matching shoes. Her hair was up and her modest jewelry in place. Yet she wondered how quickly they’d see through her. These people with their diamonds and designer suits.

Alec took two flutes of champagne off a tray and passed her one. “Drink this fast. I’ll get you another one to sip slowly after.” His hand slid from her elbow to her waist and held her to his side. The move was possessive, a claim that she was with him.

She resisted the urge to rest her head on his shoulder and hide in his familiarity. “Why do I need to drink this quickly?”

He turned his head and offered the faintest of smiles. “You’re nervous. It’ll help.” To demonstrate, he downed his glass in one swallow and set it on a tray as a waiter passed. Without missing a beat, he swiped another full glass.

Knowing he was uncomfortable as well didn’t soothe her nerves much, but she did as he instructed and drank the champagne. The sweet bubbles floated down her throat and heated her stomach.

Alec took her empty flute and handed her a full one. “Just sip that one until we can get some food in you. Come on, I’ll introduce you to my editor.”

Over the next hour, she stood by his side, mostly quiet and feeling like arm candy, but that was fine. He was the star and she wasn’t comfortable in the crowd. If Alec was uneasy, he hid it well. He laughed and discussed literature with people whose names she’d never remember. Occasionally she piped in when cued, although the company appeared uninterested in her comments.

When he was distracted, Faith slipped away from Alec’s side and made her way over to the display to get some breathing room. Feigning interest in the books and posters, she eyed the items on the table and drew in a slow, deep breath.

While she was checking out some of the swag, a hand at her lower back startled her, and she whirled, nearly sloshing her champagne onto the man in front of her.

He held up a hand and chuckled. “Sorry, miss.” The man reeked of cologne and his girth was busting out of his blue pinstriped suit. A pudgy hand ran over his sleek black hair to smooth it down.

Faith slid a glance over at Alec, but he was deep in conversation and didn’t see her. Her stomach flopped and twisted, but she forced a smile. “That’s okay. You just startled me. Are you here for the signing later?”

He laughed without mirth. “I’m Alec’s agent.”

Her smile slipped a fraction at the condescending tone. She swore Alec had said that he’d fired his agent, but Faith kept that to herself. Maybe she was wrong. “Good turnout.”

“Winston draws a crowd, that’s for sure.” His dark brown gaze raked over her chest before traveling back to her eyes. “And who are you, exactly? Your accent is southern.” He made it sound like being from the south was distasteful.

The guy made her skin crawl. “I’m a friend of Alec’s.”

“A friend, eh?”

Before he could say any more, Alec sidled up beside her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “I see you’ve met Henry, my former agent.”

When Alec stressed “former,” Henry’s eyes narrowed. “You find another agent yet, Winston? Although I suppose that would mean you’d need to actually write another book.”

Alec stiffened beside her, and Faith had the overwhelming urge to defend him. Weren’t agents, even former ones, supposed to be supportive?

She lifted her chin. “He’s already more than halfway through the next book. He’ll be finished in under two months.”

Henry darted his gaze between them. “And how would you know that, miss? He doesn’t let just anyone read his manuscripts.”

“I never said I read it. But I have seen him working on it.”

Henry’s brows rose. “Have you?” He looked at Alec. “You let your newest plaything near your material? You’ve never let your toys anywhere near your apartment. What gives?”

Alec growled low in his throat. “Watch yourself.”

Henry took no heed of Alec’s warning. In fact, he looked at Faith as if trying to dissect her and find the missing element. “Not like you to bring a date to these functions. She doesn’t look like your usual.”

Alec took a step forward, but Faith gripped his arm and he got himself in check.

“I told you, I’m a friend,” she said.

Henry snorted. “Sure, sweetheart.” He waved his hand to dismiss her. “You’re all friendly until you learn he won’t commit. Then you run for the next wallet. Ain’t that right, Winston?”

The arm around her waist tightened further. “Enough, Henry. She’s different, not that it’s any of your business anymore. Leave her be.”

Faith watched the interaction, her unease growing. Alec’s agent was probably throwing barbs as a response to Alec letting him go. Between the books and movies, Alec had no doubt made the man a pretty penny. Losing that solid income would raise anyone’s hackles. There was no sense in feeding into his bitterness.

Slowly, she ran her hand under Alec’s open suit coat and rubbed a circle over the tense muscles coiling in his back. “Let’s go grab a bite to eat before your reading, shall we?”

Henry didn’t take the brush-off. “Different? How different can she really be with your fiancée still around? Odd threesome that would make.”

Alec went so still Faith thought he would snap. Panic rose in her chest. She’d never seen him angry, not like this. Irritated, perhaps. There was no way for her to gauge how he’d respond to this latest jab, or how he typically behaved when angry. His previous engagement was already a sore spot. Why did Henry feel the need to pick at that scab?

She struggled to diffuse the situation. “I think you mean ex-fiancée, Mr . . . ?”

“Swift. The last name is Swift.” His gaze narrowed before he harrumphed. “Ex? Is that the line he fed you?” He barked out a laugh. “I assure you, he’ll never leave her.”

The room froze. Or seemed to. Maybe it was just her.

As the words sank in, her gaze flew to Alec’s. His wince was confirmation enough of the accusation. Alec stepped forward, apology in his eyes, but at the same moment his editor crossed the room to intervene. Words were exchanged.

Faith barely noticed what happened in the next few moments. Voices blended together. Air trapped in her lungs. Her temples throbbed. She took several steps backward until she bumped into a waiter.

“Sorry, ma’am. Are you all right?”

She looked at the group of men in front of her, deep in a heated discussion, and then at the champagne in her hand, only half gone.

He’ll never leave her . . .

No. No, she wasn’t all right.

She placed a hand on her forehead to stop the spinning. What was she doing here? With Alec? A man who had so obviously lied to her. Had lied for several weeks. He’d told her the engagement was over. Had been for several years by the sound of it. Where was this woman if they were still together? Did she not care if Alec saw other women?