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for me?” she asked.
    Stuart cringed. The humane society dinner dance was a nightmare of society women and their spouses who made it their mission to offer up single granddaughters to every eligible bachelor who had the misfortune of attending. Those without granddaughters used their time to strong-arm donations. The last time Ana had convinced him to attend, he’d left four figures poorer and with a pocket full of unwanted phone numbers. But the organization was Ana’s pride and joy. Accepting her award was the least he could do.
    “Of course I will,” he told her.
    His aunt and Patience exchanged an odd look. “What?” he asked.
    “I think she meant me,” Patience said.
    The blush coloring her cheeks couldn’t be as dark as the one heating his. “Oh. I didn’t...”
    “I had no idea you’d be home this week,” his aunt said, her eyes looking deeply apologetic, “and you know how I hate to attend alone.”
    “You’re more than welcome to go in my place,” Patience added. “I don’t mind.”
    No kidding. Her eyes were practically begging him to say yes, they were so hopeful-looking.
    Unable to see the silent exchange, Ana waved the offer away. “Nonsense. You never go out. This is your chance to dress up and have a good time. Stuart will go with you.”
    “I will?” The painkillers had to be making Ana loopy again. Take Patience to an event where holding her in his arms would be encouraged? Bad idea.
    “Someone has to keep the men from pestering her,” Ana said. “You know how persistent some of those people can be.”
    Yes he did. In that sea of gray hair and pearls, Patience was going to stand out like a star. A welcome distraction for every senior man there.
    Stuart wasn’t sure if what he felt was jealousy or wariness on their behalf. “Ana’s got a point,” he said. “There is no reason why we shouldn’t go together.”
    “See, dear? Stuart’s on board.
    He could see the moment Patience accepted her fate. Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly and she nodded. “All right.”
    “Good, it’s settled. Stuart will go with you to the dance, then tomorrow you can both fill me in on all the gossip.” Ana relaxed a little more, the smile from earlier returning to her face.
    * * *
    “If you don’t want to attend together, I’ll understand,” Stuart said when they stepped into the corridor a short while later. “I know Ana backed you into a corner. I’ll be glad to deal with these people on my own.”
    Why? Was he trying to do her a favor or did he think she wouldn’t fit in at the society function? Patience had to admit the second question had crossed her mind more than once.
    She also had to admit that Ana hadn’t backed her into anything. As soon as she suggested Stuart go along, her entire body broke out in excited tingles. Which, now that she thought about it, was a far bigger problem than not fitting in. Unfortunately...
    “It’s too late to back out now. Ana’s expecting a report from both of us.”
    Patience wished she could read what was behind Stuart’s long sigh. He ran a hand over his features, and when he finished, the face he revealed was an expressionless mask. “Very well,” he said. “We’ll go, collect her award, and make it an early night. That way, neither of us has to spend more time at this party than necessary.”
    Good idea, thought Patience. Less time for her to get into trouble.
    So why did she feel disappointed?

CHAPTER FIVE
    P ATIENCE SMOOTHED THE front of her dress, then smoothed it again. Why hadn’t she gone shopping this afternoon when she had the chance? The little black dress she pulled out of the closet was too short, too tight and too tacky. Everything about her screamed
cheap
.
    It hadn’t mattered when she’d thought she was attending with Ana. Or maybe it hadn’t mattered
as much
. While naturally she wanted to please Ana, the older woman didn’t make her stomach tumble.
    Stuart shouldn’t either, remember?
    A knock sounded on her