Heart of Ash by Sabrina York Page A

area and grabbed three glasses. She handed one to Kaitlin and another to Emily. “A toast. To a successful fund-raiser.”
    Emily raised her glass, but before she could take a sip, Kaitlin touched her wrist. “I don’t think you should drink,” she murmured.
    Emily blinked. “What? Why?” But Kaitlin just fixed her with that crooked, unfocused stare and shook her head.
    “No alcohol.”
    It was damned annoying having a friend who was privy to the secrets of the universe and wouldn’t spill the beans. But Kaitlin was nearly always right, so Emily asked the waiter for a club soda instead. Besides, she had a lot of work to do before the night was over.
    The true reason for Kaitlin’s insistence became clear before long. Halfway through the lively event, Jamie, at her side, bristled. “What’s he doing here?” she spat.
    Emily followed her glare and her breath seized as her focus landed on an achingly familiar face.
    Ash.
    He was here.
    She’d considered not sending an invitation to the Bristol Foundation, but they had always been generous benefactors in the past. In the end, she’d decided against letting her petty feelings stand between the Teen Waystation and a large cash infusion. Besides, Ash had never actually attended a fund-raiser. It had always been his father or one of the other Directors.
    She was shocked to see him here.
    A part of her wanted to run and hide. She told that part to shush.
    This was her event. Her world. She’d be damned if she’d let him chase her back into her hidey-hole. She’d spent enough of her life in that cave, isolated from the world.
    That was over now.
    Her gaze flicked to the man Ash was talking to and her gut clenched. Her breath stalled. Her heart lodged in her throat.
    Kaitlin laid a hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”
    “Mmm hmm.”
    But she wasn’t. Because the two men in the world she least wanted to see, ever again, were chatting amiably by the bar. Ash said something and Roman threw back his head and laughed.
    Roman.
    He was tall, lean, handsome. The years showed on his features, but that silky charisma, the charm that had trapped her once, had not faded. He turned in her direction and he froze, drink halfway to his lips. He looked her up and down and they curled then, those lips. The mask slipped, just a tiny bit, and his true nature showed through the cracks.
    Fairy tales might not be true, but ogres did exist, and Roman was one.
    “He’s coming this way.”
    Emily didn’t need Jamie’s warning. Her survival instinct snapped to attention as Roman headed toward her, a predatory glint in his eye. Ash didn’t follow. Thank God. He hadn’t even noticed her.
    Regardless, the urge to run hit her again, and hit her hard.
    Ash glanced up then and their gazes clashed. His muscles tightened. Some unfamiliar expression flickered over his features and he started making his way across the room as well.
    “Oh God.” She swallowed.
    “We’re here.” God bless Kaitlin. She always knew what to say.
    It helped, a lot, having her friends at her back. Because her worst nightmare was heading toward her, and Ash Bristol wasn’t far behind. She wasn’t sure which encounter she dreaded more.
     
    Society events like this had never been Ash’s thing. Pressing the flesh, talking to overblown socialites, forcing himself to smile and be charming to complete strangers—all of whom knew him— set his teeth on edge.
    It had been a relief at first, seeing Roman Carstairs’ familiar face at the fund-raiser, the first one he’d agreed to take on in his father’s stead. But it hadn’t taken long for Ash to remember how much he disliked the man. But they were fraternity brothers, and this was a charity event, so Ash disciplined himself to be civil.
    It rankled, laughing at his jokes and making small talk. Roman had a crude sense of humor, and didn’t shy away from making rude comments about the people around them. He seemed to know everyone, and all their dirty little secrets,