Shirley Jump - Escape for New Year - Amnesiac Ex, Unforgettable Vows / One Night with Prince Charming / Midnight Kiss, New Year Wish

Bishop’s palm settled on her back. “We don’t have to go in if you’d rather not.”

The pocketbook lowered, her shoulders squared, and she pinned on a smile. He guessed that at some deeper hidden level where memories waited to be restored, she was as worried about this evening as he was.

“I want to go in,” she told him, but then rolled her teeth over her bottom lip. “I’m just a little anxious. I don’t know many of the people you work with.”

Bishop straightened his tie. She’d know fewer of them tonight.

They climbed the stairs, entering through tall timber paneled doors decorated with colorful leadlight, and a DJ’s music, underlined with general chatter, grew louder. There must’ve been a hundred people talking, drinking, laughing at anecdotes and discussing politics or the latest Hollywood gossip. Bishop’s gaze swept over the group. No Willis in sight. In fact, he couldn’t see anyone he knew. But then a familiar, animated face emerged from the crowd.

Ava Prynne worked in Bishop Scaffolds’s administrative section. Tonight she wore her platinum-blond hair in cascading ringlets that bobbed past the shoulders of a snug-fitting aqua-blue dress that barely covered her thighs. When she saw him, Ava, champagne glass in manicured hand, sashayed over.

“Mr. Bishop! I was hoping you’d come.”

“I’ve said before, Ava, call me Sam.”

He didn’t agree with those formalities in the office.

Ava’s gray eyes sparkled beneath the chandelier light and she breathed out his name. “Sam.”

Bishop cleared his throat. He hadn’t been aware that Miss Prynne had a crush on him until this moment.

Laura leaned across and introduced herself. “Do you work at my husband’s company, Ava?”

The blonde’s gaze slid across. Her smile disappeared at the same time Bishop’s stomach kicked and he bit his inside cheek. Already it begins.

Ava looked Laura up and down. “Husband?”

Bishop waited for the answer, then the next question, then the next. He might feel sick to his gut, but what else could he do?

But before Laura could speak and confirm that the man to whom this woman was so obviously attracted had been married three months, a uniformed waiter with a tray appeared.

“Drink, sir, madam?”

Thankful for the intervention, Bishop grabbed a juice—he was driving back—and collected a champagne cocktail for Laura.

He nodded at Ava Prynne’s glass. “Top up?”

Ava’s curious gaze, swinging from Laura back to her boss, lightened a little. “Uh, no, thank you … Sam. ” But the smile she had for him fell as she looked back to Laura, then she manufactured an excuse to leave behind an awkward situation. “Katrina from accounts has just walked in. I’ll see you both later.” Ava and her blue micro dress hurried off.

Laura’s brow quirked at an amused angle. “Lucky I’m not a jealous woman.”

“You have nothing to be jealous of.”

He’d said the words before he’d thought, but it was true. Laura had never had reason to think he had eyes for anyone but her. She still didn’t. Ava Prynne, Annabelle … no one compared.

Tables set with gleaming cutlery and fragrant multicolored centerpieces occupied the far end of the room. To their left, waitstaff manned a line of bains-marie filled with steaming dishes. The tantalizing aromas of roast beef, mornay and Chinese cuisine seeped into his lungs.

Ready to set off toward the food and avoid any more awkward introductions for the moment, he tipped his chin at the spread. “The buffet’s out.”

Her nose wrinkled. “I’m not that hungry yet. Are you?”

“I can wait.” In fact, he could wait until they got home. He’d thought they could handle whatever came from tonight but now, whether it might seem rude or strange, God how he wanted to leave. But he could delay … keep them alone and together for a time.

“Would you like to dance?”

Laura’s emerald eyes lit up. “You recognize it, too.”

“Recognize what?”

“That song.” She sidled up to him, toying with the silk knot at his throat. “It’s our bridal waltz.”

He concentrated and the memories the tune stirred left a warm place in his chest. He cast a glance around for a dance floor, but couldn’t find one.

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