Save the Date Read Online Free PDF Page A

first lady of South Carolina, shimmered in her long gown and matching jacket. Though the state still revered her as the Queen Elizabeth of the South for her stoic ways and upper-crust decorum, Lucy thought the woman was about as low-class as you could get. One summer long ago, she had single-handedly insured that Lucy’s mother would never get a cleaning job in Charleston by blacklisting Anna Wiltshire. Who would ruin a poor, working single mom like that?
    Lucy had been around Mrs. Deveraux a few times at these events, and the woman usually did nothing more than offer Lucy a mute stare. Maybe Clare Deveraux reserved conversation only for those whose blood ran blue.
    “Clare, you look beautiful tonight.” Alex took both of Clare’s hands in his and kissed her unnaturally smooth cheek. “Are you holding up okay?”
    “It’s hard to believe Steven’s been gone three months.” Clare looked into the crowd. “My son would have enjoyed tonight very much. I’m glad I have my work on the board to keep me busy.”
    Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but Alex’s hand came to rest on her shoulder, his fingers giving a light squeeze of warning. That man needed to keep his bossy ways and his hands to himself.
    “My sympathies to you.”
    Lucy had read in the paper of Steven Deveraux’s passing. Cancer at the age of fifty-four.
    “I’m sorry as well,” Lucy said as her manners kicked in.
    Clare narrowed her eagle eyes and let them roam over Lucy’s dress. “Black is not your color.”
    And politeness was not Clare’s forte. “I’m actually glad to run into you, Mrs. Deveraux. I feel like we might’ve gotten off on the wrong foot somehow.” Though Lucy had probably exchanged ten words total with her. “If I’ve done something to offend you, or if there’s something you don’t understand about our mission at Saving Grace—”
    “I understand all I need to know,” she said evenly.
    “I would love a chance to talk about whatever it is that seems to be between us.” Had Clare voted against Lucy because of her mother? “My girls are the ones enduring the consequences. Would you like to step over—”
    The pressure on her shoulder increased. “Lucy, you mentioned earlier you wanted to dance.”
    “Maybe if you saw what we did at the home, how we—”
    “Not necessary,” Clare snipped.
    “Listen, Lucy.” Alex tilted his head. “They’re playing your favorite song.”
    “What do you have against me?” Lucy asked. “First you tried to sabotage my mother and then—”
    “Okay, you talked me into it. But just a few turns around the floor.” With a yank, Alex pulled her to him. “You know how sensitive my insteps are.”
    “No. I need to—”
    “Dance. Now.” He took Lucy by the hand, his fingers a pressure against her wrist as he guided her through the crowd, past Clare and the wide-eyed Carters.
    “What are you doing?” she said as he stopped in the middle of the dance floor.
    “Avoidance.” He set one of his hands on her hip and put them into motion. “A tactic I use with you women on a regular basis.”
    “I was about to get some answers.”
    “You were about to get a face full of her chardonnay.”
    “Mrs. Deveraux practically ruined my mother. That woman is toxic, and I would think your father would require his board members to possess at least a modicum of decency.”
    “Would you quit leading?” He adjusted his hold on her, his fingers splayed on her back. “You can’t go charging through this ballroom. If you’re going to be here, then calm down and pretend to have a good time. No one is going to negotiate with you tonight.”
    The band played a jazz version of a Sinatra song, but all Lucy could hear was the blood rushing through her head. Despite being an oversized athlete, Alex didn’t miss a step. He spun her out with a flick of his wrist, then slowly reeled her back in. “I’m Alex Sinclair, by the way.”
    Oh, if she could wipe the arrogance off that face. “We went to the