Until Death by Cynthia Eden Page A

blinked. “Uh, in my pocket?”
    Bennett let him go. “Give it to me.
Now.”
    Hugh pulled out his phone. “You’re a crazy SOB, you know that?”
    “You had this phone all night? You never let it out of your sight?”
    Hugh looked around. His cheeks reddened. “You interrogating me,
now
?”
    Ivy pushed against Bennett. “The man we’re after is getting away!”
    Was he? Bennett wasn’t so sure…
    ***
    “Hugh?” Shelly Estes rubbed her arms as she walked across the balcony on the west side of Melton House. It was dark back there, with only a few couples hiding in the shadows. Kissing. Sharing their secrets in the night.
    The balcony on the east side had been a totally different story—the crush out there had been unbelievable. Probably because the band was playing closer to that balcony. It had been the place to see and be seen.
    Maybe Hugh doesn’t want to be seen, though. Maybe he is out here.
    She put her hands on her hips. When she found Hugh, the jerk was going to get it. He didn’t get to cut out in the middle of the ball, not when it was her night. Sure, she understood that he was worried about his sister, but that didn’t mean the guy got to pull a vanishing act on her and—
    “You’re looking for Hugh DuLane?” A dark, deep voice queried from her right.
    Shelly spun around. A tall, handsome man stood just a few feet away. He smiled at her, showing off perfectly straight, white teeth. “Or is there…” he murmured. “Another Hugh gone missing tonight?”
    “Ah, no, I am looking for Hugh DuLane.” She took a step toward him. “Have you seen him?”
    “I have.” His smile stretched a bit. “Want me to take you to him?”
    Relief rushed through her. “Yes.” Then she’d give Hugh a serious piece of her mind.
Jerk.
    He held up his hand to her. White gloves covered his fingers. She put her fingers in his. They headed back into the house.
    He glanced over at her as the bright lights fell on them both and appreciation lit his gaze.
A brilliant, blue gaze.
    Shelly hesitated. “Have we met before?” Because he seemed familiar. Maybe… “Didn’t I see you at the ball last night?”
    His smile seemed to tighten. “Did you?”
    She lifted her hand and her fingers brushed against her mask. She pulled it up so that he could see her face.
    “I don’t think I’d forget a lady as lovely as you.”
    That was nice. Hugh should say nice things like that to her.
    The man’s gaze seemed to linger on her hair as he said, “No, I wouldn’t be able to forget a woman with hair like yours. So dark and beautiful.”
    She laughed at that. “Well, actually, I was a redhead last night. But I like to change things up.” She’d wanted to look extra special for the ball, so a change had seemed like a good idea.
    “Do you now…” He put his hand at the small of her back. Because her dress had a deep, plunging back, his gloved hand slid against her skin. A tingle of awareness pulsed through her.
This is why Hugh shouldn’t abandon me at a ball. There are plenty of other handsome men who can appreciate me.
    Her smile stretched a little more. “How do you know Hugh?”
    “I actually met him through his sister.” He steered her toward a closed door. He opened the door, but kept his other hand on her back. “Are you well acquainted with Ivy?”
    She nodded. “Why, yes, I—”
    He shoved her inside and shut the door behind him.
    She stumbled and nearly fell as her high heels wobbled. “Wh-what are you doing?”
    He turned the lock on the door. She realized they were in some kind of storage room. And they were alone.
    He reached inside of his coat and pulled out a white mask. Staring at her, he put that mask over his face.
    “This isn’t funny,” Shelly snapped. She tried to surge around him. “I’m going back to the party.”
    He grabbed her, held her tight and—something sharp pressed under her chin. “You aren’t going anywhere,” he told her.
    Her breath heaved out.
    “I wasn’t going