“You won’t need it. I’ll be watching you,” he whispered.

He released her abruptly, pulled off by the security guards. Already, they were escorting him from the ballroom, from the hotel, probably from the Strip.

“Iris, what was that all about?” Despite any irritation David might feel, he escorted her from the dance floor and handed her a fresh glass of wine.

“He was looking for Cosmo.” She sipped the chilled wine to cool herself. Damn. Chardonnay, again. Determined to salvage the evening, she smiled, back in control.

And then her cell phone chirped from within her tiny handbag.

“Now what?” Forcing a smile, David took her glass. “I ask for one night with you, and I get a circus.”

She pulled the phone from her bag and silenced the ringer. “Sorry.” Normally she’d put it on vibrate, but there was no way to wear the phone with this clingy dress.

“If it’s your father, don’t answer it.”

Puzzled by the number on the little screen, she shook her head. “It’s my security company for the shop.” She flipped the phone open and covered her other ear to block out the party noise. “Iris Fortune.”

“Ms. Fortune, this is Belinda with SecureLink Systems. We need to verify that you entered your premises after hours.”

“What happened?”

“Your pass code was entered into the security system to shut off the alarm at eleven-fifteen. The system was reset at eleven-twenty. Was that you?”

Iris blinked. The only other person who knew her pass code was Cosmo. He’d gone into her store tonight, but why? And how did Mickey fit into it all? “Yes, Belinda, that was me.”

“You know you’re supposed to call the data desk and tell them when you make an after-hours entry.”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I was in a hurry. I appreciate you following up with me.”

“Very good, Ms. Fortune. We’re here to serve you.”

“Thank you.” Great, now she was lying to her security company. Iris closed her phone, grateful David had turned away to watch the orchestra. She thought of calling Cosmo, but no, there was no point in overreacting to some stranger and his version of what Cosmo might be up to. Tomorrow would be soon enough to sort out this whole mess.