Free The Taming of a Wild Child by Kimberly Lang Page A

mouth.
    He cleared his throat and shifted slightly. “Damn, they must be good. That’s the face you make when—”
    She frowned at him and he stopped. Nodding thanks at his belated discretion, she sipped at her wine. Chasing a pizza roll with a glass of excellent wine—and very expensive, based on the label—was almost surreal. But it fit with the situation somehow.
    Tonight, as a whole, seemed outside the bounds of reality. The fund-raiser seemed like ancient history. Even taking the stage on Vivi and Connor’s behalf no longer seemed like a monumental achievement etched in time. Time, for all intents and purposes, had stopped. It wasvery late—or possibly very early; she had no idea—she’d had a long, stressful day and a longer evening of downright gymnastic sex that would test anyone’s stamina. She should be exhausted.
    But she wasn’t. And she was having a good time. It didn’t bear close scrutiny, but she was, nonetheless.
    They ate in silence for a while, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable one.
    “I meant to tell you that you did a good job tonight. At the fund-raiser,” he clarified.
    The compliment wasn’t the most effusive ever, but coming from Donovan it seemed like very high praise. “Thanks.”
    “You’re a natural when it comes to working a crowd.”
    Wow. Really high praise
.
    “How much money did you get commitments for?”
    “Some,” she hedged, “but not as much as I’d like. How much can I put
you
down for?”
    Donovan laughed. “See—a natural.”
    “Thank you.” She gave him a regal nod. “But I’d still like a firm commitment on a dollar amount. I’m constantly amazed at how cheap rich people can be. The population of that room tonight probably has over half the wealth of the entire city, but you’d think I was taking food straight out of their children’s mouths.”
    Donovan laughed. “Very true.”
    Too late she realized she’d opened a door, and braced herself for Donovan to come back with one of his scathing remarks about “elites” and “class.” But he didn’t go there. Instead he reached for one of the pizza rolls.
    “I’m sure Jack will write you a fat check, though. He seemed keen on impressing you.”
    If anyone other than Donovan had said that she’d think that odd tone was jealousy. “Here’s a newsflash: Jack Morganwill pinch a nickel until the buffalo burps. He promised me a contribution, but it’s practically pocket change. If he’s trying to impress me with his largesse, he’s failed pretty miserably.”
    That earned her another laugh from Donovan. Then he casually tossed out a figure that nearly had her choking on her carrot. The St. James family—or maybe just Donovan—certainly put the riche in nouveau riche. When she could breathe again, she tried to sound just as casual. “Let’s say I’m starting to feel impressed.”
    Donovan’s white smile flashed in the moonlight. “Good.”
    “Now I’ve got to come up with another speech for tomorrow night. A similar yet different way to get a different set of people to open
their
checkbooks.”
    “Which group?”
    “I’d have to check. The homeless shelter, maybe? It’s at the convention center.”
    He shook his head. “That would be the Arts Association awards dinner. Not a fund-raiser for the homeless shelter.”
    Damn it. How did Vivi keep up with all of this?
“Are you sure?”
    “Quite. I’m supposed to be there.”
    Then when
was
the homeless-shelter event? She tried to picture Vivi’s schedule …
Wait. Another
event where they’d both be there? That added a whole new dimension of conflict. It would be much easier to come to terms with her attraction to Donovan and the ramifications of that if she didn’t have to face him.
    “I guess I might see you there, then.”
And sometime between now and then I’ll figure out how I’m going to handle that
.
    Donovan nodded before tossing a pizza roll into the air and catching it in his mouth. He looked at her expectantly.
    It was