Wednesday is synonomous with words in my mind after so many postings of snippets based on a #1lineWed theme. Today’s prompt is **GRACE**. As in “full of,” “fall from,” “saving,” and grace “period.” Or in today’s snippet, Princess Grace. As a set up, there’s a big charity deal. Ronan is there to keep an eye on some enemies. And then he sees… Well, you can read for yourself.
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J. D. “Danny Boy” Moore was a jovial man. His eyes twinkled with humor. He got the joke and it was on everyone else. He wore expensive suits, drove fancy cars, and managed to always have a stash of Cuban cigars despite the embargo. He threw lavish parties for all the movers and shakers in the state and was a frequent guest of the governor.

He was also a scumbag. He was a bootlegger, gambler, and he ran a stable of call girls that put the models in “girly” magazines to shame.

Ronan hated the man. He watched Danny Boy from a shadowed corner as the man glad-handed the rich bastards who thought they were the movers and shakers in Boston. Brian and his wife, Glenna, were there, sitting at the head table, chatting with one of the city councilors. This event was a fund-raiser for some park or another. He didn’t know and didn’t care. He was here to keep an eye on Brian and Danny Boy. Another presence nudged his awareness. A blonde, looking as regal as Princess Grace of Monaco, walked along in the wake of Alex Crenshaw, the District Attorney. If she was his date, the man was being an even bigger arse than normal. Crenshaw approached Danny Boy. Ronan moved within hearing distance while still remaining in the background. He got into position just as introductions were made.

“J.D., have you met my…assistant, Maura Brannigan?” Crenshaw’s insinuating tone made the woman’s job description sound salacious.

Danny Boy lit up like Times Square. He grabbed the woman’s hand before she offered it and made a show of smoothing and squeezing her fingers as he lifted the hand to his mouth for a kiss. Ronan smiled as the woman’s eyes narrowed in both anger and revulsion. She didn’t jerk her hand away but she very deftly extracted it.

Crenshaw and Danny Boy launched into a robust conversation about nothing. Maura Brannigan stood, appearing to be enthralled by the conversation but Ronan knew better. Her mask was a good one but he could see through the cracks in her shield. She no more wanted to be here than he did. Her gaze shifted and focused on him like a laser. He stared back. Her nostrils flared slightly, her eyes widened just a tiny bit, and a look of interest flashed over her features before she hid it. He’d bet tonight’s take that her heart was beating a little faster and her breathing was a little shallower. He smiled. She didn’t smile back. That was okay. He had her in his sights now.
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And there you have it. Ronan will tack the next step and it will send him reeling and falling and oh I do love it when a Wolf meets The One. Also, caveat, first draft so there will likely be typos, etc. Ignore, read between the lines, please and thank you. Writers, any grace to add? And readers, who’s your favorite real-life princess?