Talk about sensory overload. Ruby glanced around the large, ornate ballroom. The glitterati were out in force—women decked in expensive furs and dripping with diamonds, men in expensive-cut suits. Cristal champagne flowed. Waiters moved seamlessly through the crowd, refilling empty glasses and offering hors d’oeuvres on china plates. She looked down at her dress, thankful she’d allowed Joshua to provide the pretty blue crepe. The fifties Audrey Hepburn style hung perfectly on her curves, skimmed her waist and flared slightly. She looked like a starlet. Classy and sexy. Joshua stood beside her. His comforting presence eased some of her trepidation. The pressure at the base of her spine urged her forward. “It can be a bit overwhelming.” She swallowed her nerves and said, “A bit?” He smiled. “Just remember to smile until your jaw aches, sip the champagne and nod at the appropriate moments.” “Is that what you do?” He guided her through the crowd. People parted as he cut through them like a warm knife through cold butter.
