Read Online Kismet: A Serendipity Novella by Carly Phillips - Free Book Online Page A

wanted to make a good impression—and not just as a reporter
doing a story. Though it was silly, if Trevor was going to bring
her as his date, she wanted him to feel proud. Last night had been
easier. Dressed in a ballgown and feeling like a princess, she’d
almost been able to believe she belonged at the event.
    But now, as Trevor helped her out of the
limousine, nerves assailed her. Though he hadn’t taken his hungry
gaze off her, and though he clearly approved of the way she looked,
her insecurities came rushing back. After all, if her husband, the
man whose baby she’d borne and who’d married her, hadn’t seen her
as country club material, why would Trevor’s business associates
and friends see her any differently?
    When she’d attended as Trevor’s
reporter/date, she had been able to put those feelings aside, but
now that he was looking at her possessively, she was petrified
she’d fall short and embarrass him.
    Unaware of her inner turmoil, he placed a
hand at the small of her back. “Ready?” he asked.
    She let out a deep breath. “Of course.” She
walked toward the waiting doorman, who opened the door for
them.
    “Good evening, Mr. Dane. Mr. and Mrs.
Wittman are expecting you,” he said, nodding politely to Lissa and
acknowledging her with a smile.
    “Thank you, George. See you on our way out.”
Trevor steered Lissa away from the bank of double elevators and
toward a separate single lift down the hall. “This way,” he
said.
    Once they were alone outside the small
elevator, Trevor turned to her. “What’s wrong?”
    She shook her head and forced a smile.
“Nothing. Why?”
    “You’re uptight and your spine’s so rigid
I’m afraid it’ll break,” he said, grasping both her hands in his.
“Are you nervous about meeting Emma? Don’t be. You’ll love
her.”
    Lissa shook her head, feeling stupid, but if
she didn’t let out her fears, she’d definitely screw things up even
worse. “I don’t belong here,” she said on a rush.
    “What?”
    “The private elevator, a dinner party where
we’re dressed nicer than any dinner I’ve ever been to ...” She
shook her head and swallowed over the lump in her throat. “If you
were bringing me here as the reporter to cover your story it would
be one thing, but—”
    He squeezed her hands tighter, forcing her
to meet his gaze. “But what?”
    Just say it
, a small voice in her
head insisted. “But my own husband didn’t want to be seen with me
at formal events. These people you love so much are going to take
one look at me and know I’m so far out of my league—” She cut
herself off, horrified by the truth she’d blurted out.
    She’d meant to be honest. Just not that
honest.
    An angry muscle twitched in Trevor’s
jaw.
    “I didn’t mean to upset you.” She was making
a mess of a night that meant a lot to him.
    “You didn’t upset me. That asshole you
married did.” Trevor took a minute to breathe and let go of the
rage simmering inside him.
    No matter how opulent the apartment, he and
Lissa came from the same world. He’d had the same insecurities,
probably more so as he’d had to navigate alone. She had him by her
side.
    “I’m sorry Brad made you feel inadequate in
any way. You are spectacular and the people upstairs will know it
the second they lay eyes on you. Because they’re real and nothing
like the Bankses of the world.” Speech finished, Trevor cupped his
hand around her cheek and pulled her in for a kiss.
    One light enough not to ruin the makeup
she’d obviously spent so much time applying, but one sincere enough
to make his point. “Do you believe me?” he asked.
    Eyes wide, she merely nodded.
    He hoped she meant it because he sure as
hell had. “Ready?” he asked her.
    “Ready,” she said, her voice hoarse.
    Trevor nodded. “Good.”
    The night went better than Trevor could have
hoped. Alex and Emma clearly liked Lissa and made her feel at home,
as did their small group of guests. By the time ten