Murder at Wayne Manor

Chapter 14

Giordano Botanical Gardens; June 24th, 19:10 EST

"So I says...I says to him, 'it's my yacht and I'll do what I want'."

A burst of raucous laughter erupts from the men around me and I force an amused chuckle even though I've heard the story at least a dozen times by now. Paul Fitzpatrick slaps me on the back and nearly causes me to spill my untouched drink. I smirk at him as he continues with his bloated tale, entertaining me and a handful of others who have migrated to him.

I've been here for a full fifteen minutes and I'm already looking around for the exit, but I know that I can't leave yet. I'm here to support the anti-drug program, but, more than that, I'm here for Diana. She's put a lot of hard work into this and I want her to know that she has my full support.

I know, however, that it's steadily developing into much more than just that. Ever since we talked in the cave four days ago, I've felt an even stronger connection to her, an intense pull that I cannot begin to break free from. I'm starting to discover that I don't want to be free from the magnetic pull that continues to draw us closer and closer to one another.

I know she has to feel the sparks too. I've seen glimpses of that connection shining in her eyes at times before she tucks it safely away deep inside. I'm not sure if it's because she's scared of starting a relationship with me or if she's afraid of what her mother and sisters would say if she discovered she was dating a man.

Either way, I'm determined to win her heart no matter what. I'm tired of fighting my feelings, feelings that I've been harboring for far longer than I care to admit, an attraction that has subconsciously been lingering inside of me, waiting for me to acknowledge and finally embrace it.

While I can no longer ignore these feelings that are intensifying with every passing day, I know that I need to tread carefully and deliberately. I don't want to scare her away or make a fool of myself. I'm not ready to say what I feel for her is truly love, but it's undeniably gone past the boundaries of just friendship. The things that I think when I look at her are definitely not sisterly in nature.

I survey the room, searching the crowds for her. I'm more than anxious to find her. I haven't seen her all day and have been looking forward to spending some time with her tonight. I plan on filling her dance card for the whole evening if things go my way, but I know I'll have to share her for at least a portion of the night.

I finally spot the raven-haired goddess talking with Commissioner Gordon and Mayor Hill. She looks stunning in a gossamer dress of gold that practically glitters under the numerous Christmas lights that are strung about the gardens. She has done an amazing job of arranging the decorations as well as the food, leaving no doubts about tonight's success.

A hand on my shoulder breaks me from the spell that Diana has cast on me. I turn to find Paul grinning at me like the fool that I know he is. "You really found a stunner in that Diana Prince, Bruce," Paul leans in close and tells me, the alcohol on his breath almost nauseating. "She's the best looking thing you've ever found."

"Diana and I are just friends, Paul," I remind him.

He makes a noise that's a cross between a grunt of disbelief and a groan of disapproval. "Not for long if I know you...and I do," he replies, wiggling his eyebrows knowingly at me. "I have to admit that I'm very tempted to steal her away to come work for me."

"Don't you dare," I warn him. I know Paul and he's a pig in every sense of the word. He'd steal her from me over my dead body. "She's fully vested in the drug coalition."