“Yes, sir,” Victor said, his eyes morphing to a vivid blue as he swept his arm toward the door. “Shall we?”

“Whatever,” Desiree said, dismissing Victor with a flick of her wrist. “This is a pitiful excuse for a party, anyway.” After firing off several looks to kill to all who dared to make eye contact, Desiree bulldozed past Max and barreled her way through the partygoers like they were bowling pins.

“Well, that was fun, wasn’t it?” Max said, mustering up a grin before he eyed the arm Lisa was now cradling. “May I take a look?”

“Oh, it’s…um…it’s fine.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

The finishing touch for Lisa’s evening attire was a pair of long, black leather gloves, and as much as she didn’t want to see the damage, she knew it was there. With a sigh, she allowed Max to roll down the glove covering her left forearm.

“Damn. I am so sorry,” Max said, grimacing at the bruise already forming. “I truly am.”

“It’s okay. I don’t think anything’s broken.”

“Maybe I should take you somewhere and get you checked out,” Bennett said, unable to tear her eyes away from the reddish-blue handprint on Lisa’s skin.

“Nonsense. We can do that here. I just need to find someone.” Max saw Victor emerging from the crowd and waved him over. “Victor, I’m glad you're back. Are they gone?”

“Yes, sir. I have some of your sentries making sure they leave the property.”

“Good. Not to monopolize your evening, Victor, but would you mind finding Wilson and have him meet us in my study? I’d like him to look at Lisa’s arm.”

“Of course I wouldn’t mind,” Victor said, his forehead creasing with concern as he looked at Lisa. “Shan’t take but a minute.”

“Max, seriously, I’m fine,” Lisa said, tugging up her glove. “It’s only a bruise.”

“Nonsense. You were just accosted in my home, so it is most assuredly not fine,” Max said, motioning for Lisa to walk with him. “And I can’t possibly enjoy the rest of the evening until I’m sure you’re okay. Don’t you agree, Bennett?”

More concerned with Desiree and her antics, Bennett hadn’t noticed Lisa’s dress, and now she couldn’t stop noticing it. Curve-hugging, velvet, and midnight black, the gown had an off-the-shoulder neckline that exposed the sharp line of Lisa’s shoulders, the creaminess of her neck, and skin, flawless and radiant. The notch in the bodice dipping low between Lisa’s breasts laid bare even more of Lisa’s skin, and not to be outdone, the off-center slit in the front was more than halfway up Lisa’s thigh.

“Um…yes,” Bennett said, forcing herself to look at Max. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Thirty-Two