Allyn drew in a startled breath when he saw Ransom enter the lobby of Mystère Mansion. Ransom had always been a man who dressed casually when Allyn had known him all those many years ago. Tonight, in a tux, with his hair styled instead of looking as if he'd just run his hand through it, he was…incredibly handsome and sexy. Stop there, Allyn immediately cautioned himself. This is business. We're here to stop a kidnapping and catch the person doing them.
"You're quite impressive," Ransom said, once he joined Allyn. "But then, you always did manage pull off the playboy look very well."
"Thanks, I think," Allyn replied. "You look, to coin a phrase, 'to the manor born' as well."
Ransom shook his head. "That'll be the day."
Even as they were talking, Ransom was scanning the influx of people arriving for the fundraiser. So Allyn did the same, while suggesting they go into the Grand Parlor. "We can find a good vantage point to watch everyone."
The parlor was already beginning to fill, even though it was early. Since it was a warm evening, Allyn wasn't surprised to see the doors to the courtyard were open. People were already mingling outside, as well as in the two large interior rooms given over to the party.
"This is not going to be easy," Ransom muttered.
Allyn laughed. "You expected it would be? This is one of the premier events of the season."
"There's going to be dancing?" Ransom asked, glancing at the bandstand set up at one end of the Parlor.
"Yep. The theme for the evening is 'Midnight Tango', although I suspect they won't stop anyone from doing other types of dancing." Allyn looked mischievously at Ransom. "You do tango, don't you?"
"Yeah, right. I think, if pushed, I can still do the box step. That's the limit of my dance skills."
"You don't go to clubs?"
"Rarely. They're not my thing."
Allyn nodded. Now that he thought about it, they hadn't been. Of course fifty years ago, two men going to a club together, other than as pals out for a night of drinking, had been unheard of. When he and Ransom had done that, as part of finding the men targeting shifters, they had been very circumspect, even though they were in the beginning stages of their personal relationship. At least that's no longer necessary. I should drag him to one of the clubs on Bourbon, just for the hell of it. Allyn knew it would never happen. They weren't even friends now—not really. They were just two men on a mission to save another person from vanishing.
"Would you gentlemen care for a drink," a young man carrying a tray of champagne asked, bringing Allyn back to the present.
Allyn picked up a glass, while Ransom declined, telling Allyn when he looked questioningly at him, "I have to keep a clear head." Allyn almost put the glass back on the tray, then decided if he wasn't carrying one, people who knew him would wonder and comment.
Slowly the rooms and the courtyard began to fill with guests. The band appeared and began playing, after the leader invited everyone to "Dance to your heart's content".
"How many of these people do you know?" Ransom asked, after being introduced to yet another couple.
"Most of them?" Allyn replied with a grin. "After all, I do, as you so unsubtly put it the other day, spend my time living the life of the idle rich."
"Yeah. Sorry about that. I didn't know…" Ransom spread his hands.
"No problem, since it's what I do when I'm not," he chuckled, "off saving the world."
Ransom laughed. "Are you trying to emulate Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne?"
With a sudden insight, Allyn realized, No, just you. Not that he would ever say it to Ransom. In spite of everything that had happened between them, he had always admired Ransom's dedication to protecting those who needed it most.
"Not hardly," Allyn replied to Ransom's question, just as another couple came over to greet him.
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