Chapter Seven
This was the pretending part, Chynna reminded herself groggily, yet it was hard to keep that in mind when Trent's mouth was so hot and his tongue was searching for a response from hers. The room faded and all she could concentrate on was the sense of him, so large, so strong, and so very delicious.
But all that came to an end as the music died away and those watching crowded closer. A tall, redheaded woman with a superior air was the first to speak.
"Is this true, Trent?" she demanded, stepping forward. "Are you really engaged?"
Trent draped an arm around Chynna's shoulders in a protective gesture. "It's true, Karyn. I'm finally spoken for."
The woman was furious. "I flew all the way out here from Boston for nothing!"
"You poor dear. Your arms must be killing you." A pretty woman in scarlet joined them, giving Trent a grin and the complaining woman an arch look. "And you really ought to go wash those bugs off your teeth, Karyn. Such an ugly sight." She pretended to shudder, but all the time she was looking Chynna up and down.
The woman named Karyn retreated, outraged, but the newcomer stayed, offering her hand.
"Hi. I'm Julie. And I must say, you look almost as good in my dress as I do."
"Your dress?" Chynna turned to Trent in alarm, but he was smiling at the woman named Julie with obvious affection. "Meet my kid sister, Chynna," he said. "Sorry about the dress, Julie. It was an emergency situation. I shanghaied her to come to this party and she didn't have time to go home and change."
"You mean, this is your sister's dress?" Chynna was finally getting the picture.
Julie laughed, reading her mind. "You thought it belonged to one of his old girlfriends, didn't you? It's mine. I keep a few items of clothing at Trent's office for the times I'm in town and need a quick change." She patted Chynna's arm. "Don't worry, Chynna. His reputation as a womanizer is highly overrated. I've seen him home with a book to keep him warm many a night and..."
"Julie is quite a little storyteller," Trent interrupted, taking Chynna's arm and maneuvering her away from his sister. "Which reminds me. It's about time to tell some stories to my mother."
"Do I have to?" Chynna dreaded this. "We really didn't plan anything and..."
"Just tell her the truth," he said.
She frowned, not sure what he meant by that. "That we met tonight and fell madly in love?" she asked helplessly.
His crystal-blue eyes were hard to read. "Is that the truth?"
She hesitated, not sure if he was mocking her, or just teasing. But it was too late to find out. He was presenting her to his mother again.
