“Look at this bed!” she said, gesturing toward the king-size mattress with the massive carved wooden four-poster bedframe that dominated the far wall. The sheets were dark brown silk, like the color of Rose’s eyes. The comforter was a delicately stitched patchwork of silk, leather, tapestry and velvet in shades of brown, beige and blue. A large mahogany credenza at the foot of the bed hid away a fifty-inch flat-screen television that would rise up with the push of a button.

“It’s just a bed. It might be fancy, but in the end, it serves the same purpose. I recall your bed being most excellent for lovemaking and sleep. What does it matter when my eyes are closed?”

Rose sat down on the edge of the bed and groaned aloud. “It matters. It sure as hell does.” She flopped back against it and sighed. “This is like sleeping on a cloud of velvet. Even with my eyes closed, I can tell this is better.”

Xander set her bags over near the small seating area and made his way over to where she was lying. “I don’t know,” he said. He eased onto the bed beside her and propped his head up on his elbow. “I think I need a thorough comparison before I can make a judgment. We should do everything on this bed just the same as we did on yours.”

Rose chuckled and turned her head to look up at him. “I thought I needed my rest for the big day ahead.”

Xander placed his hand on Rose’s stomach and stroked over her blouse to play at the edge of the underwire in her bra. “Sleep is overrated.”

Ten

Rose felt like an impostor.

She certainly didn’t look like one, thanks to a luxurious private shopping spree at Neiman Marcus and half a day at an upscale salon having her hair, makeup and nails done. She supposed if you threw enough money at the cause, you could transform anyone’s appearance. Tonight she looked more like a princess than a waitress.

Her strapless gown was like something out of a fairy tale. It was a shimmering dusky gold, almost pinkish, with intricate beading on the fitted bodice that exploded out into layers of flowing, glittering tulle. It had movement and sparkle, ideal for dancing, and it went perfectly with the strappy gold heels with Swarovski crystals her shopping assistant had chosen.

Her hair was swept up into an elegant twist that highlighted the long line of her neck and décolletage. She wore a rose-gold choker studded with tiny diamonds at her throat and a matching bracelet on her wrist. She looked sophisticated and elegant—as though she fit in with the rich and important people all around her.

But that was on the outside. On the inside she was just a nobody from Cornwall. A single mother. A waitress. The daughter of a felon. Surely there wasn’t enough fancy clothing and makeup to cover that up. Eventually, someone would notice she didn’t belong here.

Walking into the ballroom on Xander’s arm, she’d felt like Cinderella going to the ball, minus the mice and the pumpkins. Her fairy godmother came in the form of a black American Express card with Xander’s name on it. Her prince had bought her entire outfit for tonight, plus a more casual dress she’d worn to his afternoon signing. Rose couldn’t look at the total when they were done, but he hadn’t even flinched, signing the slip with a smile.

Now he beamed with pride beside her. He’d wanted Rose to be confident and he’d given her every reason to feel as if she fit in. Every eye that fell on her was followed with a warm smile in greeting. Some of the men’s gazes were heated with attraction. Some of the women’s eyes were tainted with a touch of jealousy. But they all looked at her. Or at least, they looked at Xander and then wondered who the woman with him was.

“Are you okay?” Xander asked as they blended into the crowd.

Rose nodded, but it was a lie. She didn’t want him to know how nervous she was when he was so concerned about her enjoying herself tonight. She appreciated how hard he was trying to make this trip special. He genuinely wanted her to move to the area. She should be happy that he wanted to spend as much time with Joey as he could. That he was willing to support them in a town so expensive.

Instead she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. It always did.

“Would you like some champagne?” Xander asked. There were several bars set up along the edges of the ballroom and one nearby.

“Please,” she said, although she knew that meant being left alone for a few minutes. It was worth it to get enough of a buzz to relax her body and mind. Maybe then she could enjoy herself the way he wanted her to.

Xander squeezed her hand and then disappeared through the crowd of people to the bar.

Rose took a deep breath once she was alone to calm herself. There really wasn’t a threat she could see. Just a bunch of rich people mingling and sipping cocktails. Not exactly a dangerous situation, but still her heart was racing, her body tense and prepared for a fight-or-flight response.

Her entire life, she’d doubted that she would ever be able to make it in Xander’s fast-paced, glamorous world. When Xander had asked her to come with him to Georgetown, she’d been too afraid to go. Even if her mother hadn’t been sick, she would’ve sought out an excuse. Fate had forced her hand and here she was in D.C., testing the waters at last. She was certain that she would immediately be fingered as an outsider, but so far, so good. She’d gotten a few glances, but at least no one had called security on her.

At his book signing this afternoon, she’d sat beside him the whole time. She’d made herself useful by opening up the books to the correct page for him to autograph. There must have been at least two hundred people in line to see him, many with touching stories about their own foster experiences. Xander had been gracious to them all, making each person who came up feel important, even after three solid hours. He had an amazing way with people.

She had to admit that the clothes and the salon treatment were nice, but they weren’t what gave her the confidence to come to this party. They weren’t what encouraged her to stand taller and smile at strangers. It was Xander’s faith in her. He sincerely believed in her. He didn’t see the other people here as being better than she was. Xander inspired her to be the best version of herself she could be. She wanted to be the kind of woman Xander could love someday.

She glanced over her shoulder at the line for the bar. He was standing there, chatting with the woman ahead of him. His Valentino tuxedo fit him like a second skin, his black satin bow tie the perfect touch to his flawlessly starched white shirt. He looked so handsome with his light brown hair brushed back and his wide, charming smile. The elegant-looking woman talking to him seemed dazzled. She leaned in, placing a light hand on his lapel as she laughed at something Xander said.

Rose sighed and turned away. She didn’t want to watch anymore. She didn’t know anything about that woman, but it only took a moment for her to know in her heart that this woman was more suitable for Xander than she would ever be.

“Here you go. One glass of courage.”

Startled, Rose spun on her heels to find Xander standing behind her with champagne flutes in each hand. “Thank you,” she said, taking the one he offered. She took a healthy sip, closing her eyes and feeling the warmth spread from her stomach to the rest of her body. It did wonders to calm her. After a moment, she was finally able to focus on the party itself and not on that woman or whether or not everyone was looking at her. “So what is the schedule for tonight?”

Xander picked up a program from one of the nearby tables. “Looks like mingling, dinner, speeches and then dancing. Somewhere in there they’ll plug my book and ask for money. I’m sure they’ll be a lot more subtle, though.”

“Sounds like we have a long night ahead.” She eyed her mostly empty glass. “I’m going to need more champagne.”