Free Queen of Diamonds by Sandra Cox Page A

They’re the committee co-chairs for raising money for the pediatrics wing at the hospital.”
    She held out her hand first to Grace then Charles. “How nice to meet you.” Grace’s touch was brief and limp. Charles lingered.  His smile turned puzzled. “Have we met?”
    “I don’t believe so.”
    “You look so familiar.”
    “Just one of those faces.” She laughed.
    He shook his head and let go of her hand. “There’s nothing ordinary about that face of yours, my dear.” He snapped his fingers. “The Queen of Diamonds.”
    “Excuse me?” Her stomach dropped and her ears began to ring. She looked around for exits to make a quick getaway.
    “I happened to be in a store that she robbed about a year ago.” He squinted his eyes, studied her and laughed. “It’s obvious you aren’t the same woman. She had black curly hair, a smaller mouth and narrower eyes.  It was just a momentary illusion. “
    “Thank goodness. I’d hate to be hauled off to jail.” She forced herself to breath evenly and willed her pounding heart to slow.
    Everyone laughed, but Logan’s speculative glance did nothing to calm the skitter of nerves under her skin.
    “Charles, the Smiths are here.” Grace pointed to the door where an older couple had just walked in. “Logan, I’m counting on a healthy donation.”
    “You’ll get it.”
    The pair moved away.
    A waiter passed by and Logan snagged two flutes of champagne and handed her one. “Queen of Diamonds, huh?”
    She forced a laugh. “Fancy you not figuring that out.”
    He gave her a quirky grin. “I must be slipping.”
    Keep it light . “It’s the age thing.”
    “I’m thirty-two, not sixty.” He took the glass from her hand, set it down and led her to the dance floor.
    “I really don’t think…” she began.
    Ignoring her feeble protest, he pulled her into his arms and waltzed her around the ballroom. He had a good sense of rhythm and led her with strong sure steps, their bodies a perfect fit. 
    The other dancers faded into the background. The music softened. Her silk dress clung to her and whispered as she moved. Lights shimmered around them liked crystalized prisms. As everything else receded, Logan’s blue eyes glittered, mesmerizing, drawing her in, sucking every rational thought from her head, leaving her aware only of the way they glided across the floor in total silence, their eyes locked, heat rising from their bodies, his carrying the scent of musk,  spice and lime.
    It was a moment before Kendall realized the music had stopped. She cleared her throat and stepped out of his arms. And she, who was used to standing alone, felt the chill of being alone.
    His gaze searched hers, “Kendall, I…” He pulled away and watched her. Her guard shot up and she went rigid. A look of disappointment crossed his features, but was gone so quickly, she thought she’d imagined it. A lazy grin spread across his features, belying his intense probing eyes. What? What did he want from her? “How about another glass of champagne?”
    “Love some.”
    He glanced around for a waiter. Not seeing one, he shrugged and wove through the crowd toward the bar.
    "Kendall, is that you?"
    In the process of reaching to tuck back a wisp of hair her hand froze, her blood iced and the pulse in her legs thrummed, leaving her knees weak. She steeled herself to calm. The pleasant had just taken a turn toward nightmarish. Her dress rustled as she turned. "James, what a surprise.” What an understatement. Shock was too tepid a word.
    His warm gaze traveled over her, a look of delight on his face. "It is you. I didn't think it was possible but you’re more beautiful than ever."
    She dipped her chin. "You’re looking well." Another gargantuan understatement. James had been the handsomest boy she’d ever met, and was now the handsomest man. Or was pretty a better word? She studied him. No one wore a tux like James Roderick the third. Besides accentuating his slender form, the jetty color