Afterburn & Aftershock: Afterburn / Aftershock. Sylvia Day

the receiving line went quickly, with brisk handshakes from the men and slightly warmer handclasps by the women. All of them were perfectly groomed, without a hair out of place, and all had big practiced smiles with blindingly white teeth.

      I was glad to get through and accept a glass of champagne from the tray of a smiling waiter. I was even happier to see Chad, who looked as uncomfortable as I felt. His face brightened when he saw us, familiar faces in an unfamiliar crowd, and he headed our way.

      “I took the liberty of pairing Chad with you, Lei,” Ian said, his gaze sliding over her.

      I searched the room for Jax. I didn’t see him, but then there were so many people milling around the ballroom we’d been shown to. A ballroom, for God’s sake, in someone’s house.

      Who lived like this?

      I swallowed a large gulp of the cool wine in my glass. Jax lived like this. The sleek businessman I’d seen at Savor fit in here, but not the lover I’d known.

      You only thought you knew him....

      Chad came up to me, sliding one finger beneath the collar of his dress shirt. “Can you believe this? I just met the governor of Louisiana. And he knew who I am!”

      Ian’s smile was smug. But I still didn’t get it.

      “How do politics and the food-service industry mix?” I asked him.

      “Strange bedfellows, I admit.” He took my empty glass and swapped it for a fresh one as a waiter walked by. “But everyone eats.”

      “Not everyone votes,” Lei said, catching her own glass.

      “You were always much more conscientious about that than I,” Ian agreed. “What about you, Gianna? I can call you Gianna, can’t I? Do you exercise your right to vote?”

      “Isn’t politics one of those topics it’s wiser not to discuss?” I eyed a passing tray of hors d’oeuvres and realized my nerves were too shot to even consider food.

      “Why don’t we dance instead?” he suggested.

      Figuring it might be a rare chance to speak to him alone, I agreed. Chad took my glass of champagne and downed it.

      “I’ll warn you that I’m not a great dancer,” I told Ian as he led me over to the area reserved for dancing. I’d taken a few classes to build my confidence, but I never had a chance to dance formally outside of the studio and little time to practice anything beyond the basic steps. I had definitely never danced to a live orchestra before.

      “Just follow my lead,” he murmured, pulling me close.

      We blended into the few couples on the floor.

      I was so focused on not stepping on his feet that I didn’t say anything for the first minute or so.

      “Tell me how you know Jackson,” he said.

      “I don’t know him.” And that was the truth, in every way that mattered.

      Ian’s brows rose, his blue eyes searching my face. “Yesterday wasn’t the first time you’d met.”

      “Since I’m sure you knew that before you brought him into the mix, I’m more interested in how you two know each other.”

      “I know his father, Parker Rutledge. He introduced us.” He looked past me. “Speak of the devil.”

      My spine stiffened. I turned my head, my steps faltering as I watched a man who looked eerily like Jax dancing with a very pretty younger woman.

      The urge to leave the event was insanely strong. I had no business at a political fund-raiser, no place in a world that had nothing at all to do with my own. I couldn’t figure out how a pair of twin chefs had led me to this point in time and didn’t really care to puzzle it out at the moment anyway. A sinking feeling that the night would go from bad to worse was getting stronger.

      “What was the reason you brought us here, Ian?”

      He countered with a question of his own. “How ambitious are you, Gianna?”

      “I’m loyal to Lei.”

      He smiled. “I was, too. Unfortunately, you won’t find her to be as faithful in return. You know as well as I do that it’s not in Chad’s or Stacy’s interest to break up. They need each other.”

      “They can make it on their own. They’re both talented in their own right.” My feelings of irritation grew. “Why couldn’t we have discussed this in New York?”

      “I’m fighting for my livelihood. You have to expect that I’ll pull out all the stops.”

      “Lei’s in your league. I’m not.”

      “You feel out of place here,” he said softly, soothingly. “I know these people. I would love to help you make connections and find your way.”

      I stared up at him. “Why are you offering me that? Because of Jackson? If you think I want to insinuate myself into his life, you couldn’t be more wrong about me.”

      The song ended and I pulled back, ready to find Lei and see if she wanted to leave, too.

      Pembry wisely got the hint and guided me off the dance floor. I was almost home free when a tall figure stepped into my path. I looked up and caught my breath, thinking for a split second that Jax had shown up after all.

      Then I realized it was his dad.

      “Ian,” Parker said, thrusting out his hand in greeting. His voice carried power in it, just as his posture did. The Rutledge patriarch controlled a family with serious political clout. His reach and influence were staggering if you thought about it, which I couldn’t help doing when he turned those dark eyes to me. “I don’t think I’ve met your lovely companion before.”

      I was startled to hear his slight accent, one I couldn’t place.

      Ian did the honors. “Parker, this is Gianna Rossi. Gianna, Parker Rutledge.”

      “Hello,” I said.

      “Miss Rossi, a pleasure. This is my wife, Regina.”

      I looked at the blonde beside him, the one he’d been dancing with, and thought she couldn’t be much older than me. She certainly wasn’t old enough to be Jax’s mother. Even a great plastic surgeon couldn’t preserve someone that well. “Hello, Mrs. Rutledge.”

      Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Regina, please.”

      “Dance with me, Regina,” Ian said, holding a hand out to her with a flourish.

      She looked at Parker, who gave a nod. She looked back at Ian. “I want you to tell me about that new chef you brought with you tonight. What type of food does he cook?”

      “Modern Southern.”

      “Really?” They moved off. “I’m having a dinner party in a few weeks. Do you think...?”

      “You’d never know it from looking at her,” Parker said, setting his hand at my waist before I could decline. “But she loves to eat.”

      “I have a hard time understanding people who don’t.”

      Parker swept me into the dance with a flourish and I held on, forcing myself to breathe.

      “Regina also loves a great party,” he continued. “But then she’s young and beautiful. Like you.”

      “Thank you.”

      “Your interest is hospitality, isn’t it? I believe that’s what Ian told me. You must enjoy a great party, too. What do you think of this one?”

      “It’s...” I scrambled for an answer. “I’m still taking it in.”

      He laughed and the sound wasn’t anything like Jax’s warm chuckles. Parker had a booming laugh, one that drew attention. It was oddly infectious. I felt my