He knocked again. Impatient.

She opened the door and he sucked in a breath. “You look magnificent.”

She blushed but got a load of him while she did. “Says the gorgeous man in the tux standing in my doorway.”

He handed her roses. “Just because. I saw them and knew you needed them.”

She took them, burying her face, inhaling. “Thank you. Come in while I get them in water.”

She grabbed a vase and got the roses settled, taking one, trimming it and adding it to her hair.

“Oh, I like that.” He took her hand, kissing it. “Do you have a wrap?”

“Yes. Thank you for the dress and shoes, by the way.”

He looked her up and down. “I really have to take credit here because you look so good. I had to guess on the sizes.”

“You know women’s bodies well. Though that’s not really a surprise.”

He took the wrap she’d picked up after she’d unwrapped the dress and put it on her shoulders.

Outside, at the curb, a sleek black car waited with Daisy and Levi already inside.

“Hey, Raven. Wow, you look fabulous.” Daisy smiled and Raven couldn’t help but smile back.

“Thanks. You too.”

“I think it’s necessary to say just what good taste the Warner men have.” Levi tipped his chin at his brother. “Evening, Raven.”

They drove to the hotel where the benefit was being held. “We can get a drink here. The bar at the top is quite lovely.” Jonah helped her out and then kept his hand at the small of her back as they went up.

“I’m really glad you’re here tonight.” Daisy sipped her martini. “These things were fun before I got together with Levi. But usually I was working at them.” She laughed and Raven relaxed a little. “Being here as Levi’s fiancée is different. It makes me nervous because they’re always sizing me up.”

Jonah and Levi had excused themselves to hit the men’s room so it was just the two of them at the table.

“Who sizes you up?”

“All the women who figured they’d be making a play for Levi.”

“So there you are all vibrant and young and really hot. My god, they must flip out.”

“You’re really good for my ego.” Daisy grinned. “The artist thing helps. I know many of these people in my own right. But the whole society thing? That’s Levi’s neck of the woods.”

“Which makes you . . . What do they call it? A power couple. I mean, he’s the money and you’re the talent. Both of you are easy on the eyes. You’re all charming in that way only a very few people are.”

“I am?”

“Um, yes. Unlike me. I’m just going to try really hard not to say anything at all tonight.”

Daisy’s eyebrows flew up. “For god’s sake, why?”

“Look, I like Jonah. He’s a lovely man and he’s good to me. I know I’m . . . an acquired taste. I don’t want to embarrass him.”

Daisy’s expression softened as she reached out to pat Raven’s hand. “You’re who you are. More than anyone else I’ve ever met. And that’s a good thing, believe it or not. I’m just saying, sure, sure, don’t blurt out that such and such has clearly had her lips done no matter how much she tells you she’s just got that youthful glow or whatever, but you’re not going to embarrass Jonah. He wouldn’t have invited you if he’d had any worries at all.”

The ballroom was glittery and lit with what seemed like a zillion candles. The awesome thing was that candlelight hid a multitude of sins and made everyone look lovely.

Jonah handed off her wrap and his overcoat to the person at coat check and they waited for Daisy and Levi to do the same. She’d never admit it out loud, but having Daisy there made it better. Oh, not by comparison, because Daisy wore a bright smile and waved at people who seemed delighted to see her.

That wasn’t Raven’s wheelhouse. At all. But she knew Daisy, and Daisy had been very nice to her. Raven didn’t feel so totally alone.

People did look though. In fact many of them did a double take when they noted she was on Jonah’s arm. Inside she told herself, “You are Raven Smith. You are beautiful and amazing and these people can f**k off sideways.” As affirmations went, it was useful and one she used more than once. It helped her keep her back straight and her eyes up off the floor. She’d vowed a long time ago that she’d never let anyone make her avert her gaze again.

Daisy seemed to float through the crowd and Levi followed, nodding and saying hello.

“Usually Carrie is my date for these things. It’s nice because I can use it being a school night or something like that to leave early. But there are definite plusses to you being my date instead.”

She paused as he grabbed a glass of champagne for each of them. “Yes? And those would be?”

“Well, when I get bored and start to daydream I can imagine all the things I’m going to do to you later. Also, I can laugh inside and be smug every time one of these men looks at you and has to stop themselves from drooling. Oh, and I like to imagine your mental dialogue. I’m guessing it’s priceless.”

Off balance, she laughed. “You’re trouble.”

“I am. I didn’t get kicked out of as many schools as Levi did but I had my share of trouble.”

“And yet you went to college and law school and now you drive a sleek black car with heated leather seats.”