Megan

Megan’s fairytale night continued as she emerged from the limo onto the red carpet with Zander. Flashbulbs erupted as the mob of media snapped photos and shouted Zander’s name. Megan even heard her own name a few times. It made her grin, knowing Rita had done her job. Megan couldn’t wait to read the headlines.

Boston belle on the arm of Ireland’s most eligible bachelor. It had a nice ring to it.

Megan gave her best smile as she struck pose after pose on the red carpet, clinging to Zander’s steady arm. His smile was easier than she’d seen it in days as he answered questions for the press about the fundraising potential of the gala. Megan was enjoying seeing him in his element. For someone who said he didn’t enjoy the spotlight, Zander was certainly made for it. The cameras loved him and he had the press eating out of his hands.

When they’d finally run the media gauntlet, Megan and Zander went to join Sam and Devon inside the ballroom.

Megan’s mouth fell open as she stepped inside the transformed room.

“It looks like the Yule Ball in here,” she exclaimed, taking in the breath-taking room.

Zander laughed. “Then we’d better have a dance.”

Megan felt like she’d stepped from fairytale to Hollywood as Zander led her through the crowded ballroom packed with Ireland’s elite. The room pulsed with a pale blue glow emanating from the dozens of glittering chandeliers. Swathes of white fabric had been draped to each of the massive stone pillars, giving the impression of walking into an elegant Arabian tent. Gargoyles guarded each corner of the vast black and white checkered dance floor, and fairy lights danced with life beneath the sheer fabric adorning the cocktail tables. The room shifted continually between hues of blues and whites, making it feel alive.

Zander pulled Megan close to him on the dance floor and swayed to the barely existent beat of what was most definitely meant to be background music.

Megan giggled. “I had no idea you were such a Casanova.”

“Are ye criticizing my dance moves, doll face?”

“I’d hardly call this dancing.”

Zander pressed his mouth close to Megan’s ear. “Alright, ye caught me,” he replied. “Maybe I just wanted an excuse to be closer to ye.”

“I told you we should’ve stayed in the limo.”

“Remind me to listen to ye more often,” he murmured, sending a delicious tremor through her.

“I will,” Megan whispered against his neck. “Now let’s go get a drink so everyone stops staring,” she said, doubting her bright pink dress for the first time.

Sam had been right, everyone in the room was in full-length dark gowns. Megan felt like a glowing pink gumball in her short poufy dress.

“One more song,” Zander begged, making all of Megan’s doubts vanish.

Zander O’Leary wanted to dance with her—and she didn’t give a damn about anything else.

Zander

Zander gave the DJ a thumbs up and the trance-like house music morphed into a real song. Jose Gonzalez’s haunting melody filled the room and Megan reeled back, blinking up at Zander, here blue eyes aflame with wonder.

“You planned this?” she accused, sounding astonished.

“Maybe.” He gave her a crooked smile, admitting nothing.

“You expect me to believe the DJ just happened to play my favorite song?”

“I was thinking maybe it could be our song?”

The smile that lit Megan’s face had been absolutely worth Zander’s scheming. Her dimples made his heart melt and he had an urge to bite the delicious apples of her cheeks.

“I like the sound of that,” she replied.

Zander pulled Megan to him and danced slowly, savoring the feeling of having her in his arms. The heels she wore made her the perfect height. Her cheek rested against his chest and he never wanted to let her go.

“We should’ve picked a longer song,” Zander complained when the song ended, fading back into typical cocktail party music.

Megan laughed. “Come on, Romeo. Let’s go enjoy the party.”

Zander sighed, knowing the minute he left the dance floor his fun would be over and the work would begin. The ballroom was full of potential investors, clients and VIP’s that he needed to impress. But sadly, all he wanted to do was snog the adorable girl in the pink dress that was beating down his defenses.