Fast & Loose by Elizabeth Bevarly (best classic books to read txt) 📗

there would be anyone here tonight that she knew. Doubtful, she thought as she scanned the room. Louisvillians might be able to embrace Derby in a way that was theirs alone, but affairs like this one were more for Derby insiders—or people who could buy their way into the Derby insider crowd. When all was said and done, much of what went on for Derby was a rich man’s—and rich woman’s—game. Commoners like Lulu rarely saw this side of the event. If she did see someone she knew at the Brown tonight, chances were good that person would be working the event, not attending as a guest.

“Looking for someone?” Cole asked when he saw her gaze traveling around the room.

She shook her head. “Just thinking that you probably know more people here than I do, and I live here.”

He smiled. “Thoroughbred racing is an international sport. And the Kentucky Derby is the most famous Thoroughbred race. Naturally it’s going to bring people in from everywhere.”

“I know.” She smiled. “But even though it’s international, Kentucky horses are the best.”

He opened his mouth to argue, obviously realized it was pointless, so only said, “There’s a lot to be said for California horses, you know. Some people are rather partial to them.” He smiled, too. “And one’s going to win the Derby this year, so you better get used to that right now.”

Oh, no, Lulu thought. She’d forgotten Cole’s horse would be an out-of-towner when she told him she’d bet on it. She always bet on Kentucky horses. Once, you know, she picked one whose silks and name she liked.

“I’ll still bet on your horse,” she told him. “But I’m going to bet on one from Kentucky, too.”

His smile broadened. “You don’t even know who’s running yet, do you?”

She deflected her gaze to a point over his left shoulder, saw the crowd coming at her again, and met his gaze once more. “No,” she admitted. “But I will by gate time.”

He laughed, a soft, relaxed laugh that crinkled the corners of his eyes and turned his mouth up higher on one side than the other. Something inside Lulu shifted a little at seeing it. It was as if, one minute, she was unsteady from all the people and buzz around her, and the next, she was standing on solid rock, her equilibrium restored. Which was weird, because usually when Cole smiled, it made her think of that panties and silver platters thing. This smile was different from the other ones, though. The other ones had been bold, brash, and arrogant. This one was soft, slow, and intimate. Instead of knocking her down this time, Cole shored her up.

“Come on, I’ll get you another glass of champagne.”

She shook her head. “Oh, no. I’ve already had—”

“One,” he interjected. “You’ve been nursing that same glass ever since we got here. It’s got to be warm by now. I’ve never seen anyone nurse champagne. Especially champagne as good as this.”

As if to illustrate that, he downed what little was left in his glass, pried hers from her numb fingers, and set both carefully on the tray of a passing waiter. Just as deftly, he swept up two freshly filled ones from another server passing by, as if he’d called ahead to orchestrate the whole thing.

Amazing, she thought. Where she seemed to have absolutely no control over what happened in her life—case in point, here she was, drinking champagne in a room full of millionaires where, scarcely a week ago, she’d been wrestling with the bartender at Deke’s for control of the TV remote—Cole Early seemed to make things happen just by willing them to. She’d never met anyone who was so sure of himself. She wouldn’t be surprised if his horse did win the Derby. He could probably make it happen just by being somewhere in the solar system when the race took place.

“Here you go,” he said as he handed one of the frosty flutes to her. “Really, it’s okay to drink the whole thing. They always have plenty of champagne at these things.”

Lulu gazed at the tiny golden bubbles effervescing in the tall, graceful glass. “I know, but…”

“But what?”

She looked at Cole again. “I’m just not much of a champagne person, that’s all.”

He looked like he was going to say something, but hesitated. He took her glass from her, said, “Don’t move from this spot,” and then turned and took a few steps before dissolving into the swarm of people behind him.

The moment the crowd swallowed him up, Lulu felt her heart rate quicken. The only thing worse than being in a crowd like this was being in a crowd like this alone. She did her best to smile at people and greet them pleasantly, but she felt so conspicuous that she just wanted to disappear the same way Cole had. Except that would mean getting swept up by a massive, writhing tentacle attached to an enormous, bloodsucking, brain-eating, liver-loving—

“This should do the trick.”

At the sound of Cole’s voice behind her, Lulu spun quickly around. He was holding two champagne flutes filled with what looked very much like beer, and he was smiling. At least, he was smiling until he got a good look at her face. Then the smile fell and was replaced by a look of concern.

“What’s wrong, Lulu? Are you okay?”

She nodded quickly, took one of the glasses, and enjoyed a healthy taste. It was indeed beer. And never had she been happier to see one.

“Thank you,” she told him when she swallowed.

“Hey, is everything all right? You don’t look so good.”

Before she realized what he intended, he took a step forward and cupped his hand over her forehead, then her cheek. Then he surprised her by tucking his hand under her hair and curling it over the nape of her neck.

“You feel warm,” he said.

Well, duh, she thought. That was because he’d cupped his hand over her forehead, then her cheek. And because he’d then surprised her by tucking his hand