Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Look, I don’t really understand all the self-esteem issues you have or the abandonment crap you’ve bought into over the years. Sorry.” Jo’s tough-girl eyes softened and she quirked her mouth. “You want to know why I don’t understand it? I don’t get it because you are the most beautiful girl in this room. You are one of the most giving and sweet people I’ve ever met. I’ve known most of these girls most of my life, and I’d pick you over every one of them for Walsh.”
Stunned didn’t cover it. After the resentment Jo had expressed on more than one occasion since “the kiss,” even their last amiable conversation hadn’t prepared Kerris for that response.
“Wow, Jo. I don’t know what to say.”
“That’s probably for the best.” Jo smoothed her hands over her one-shouldered Hervé Léger bandage dress. The saleswoman had called the color alabaster. “Girls usually say stupid shit in moments like these.”
For a heartbeat, Kerris wasn’t sure how to take it, but Jo’s twitching lips gave her away. The twitch turned into a full-on guffaw and Jo, whom Walsh and Cam had more than once called “queen,” bent over laughing, arms folded over her trim waist. Not regal at all.
“Kerris, you should see your expression right now.”
Jo’s pretty face lit up with the laughter she couldn’t seem to stop. One moment Kerris wondered if Jo was hysterical and in need of a good slap, and the next she was laughing with her unstoppably, too. And for the first time, Kerris understood why Walsh and Cam would do anything for this girl. Why she was the rock. In the midst of a mini-meltdown, Jo had managed to make Kerris realize how silly holding on to her fears and reservations was. Had made her laugh uncontrollably when moments before she’d wanted to skulk off to the ladies’ room and hide in a stall.
“You’re good people, Jo.”
Jo slowly sobered, but her face held on to a mischievous grin.
“Don’t tell anyone, okay?” Jo’s smile fell away altogether. “Walsh is here.”
“Where?” Kerris scanned the room, looking for the proud dark head and wide shoulders.
Jo nodded her head in the direction just over Kerris’s shoulder.
“He’s over there.”
Kerris started to turn around, only to have Jo grab her elbow.
“Don’t turn around. Don’t look.”
“Well, how am I going to—” Kerris stood perfectly still, as if one movement would shatter something fragile. “Tell me what to do.”
“Okay, he’s got company, and he won’t be able to get away for a while, if I’m guessing correctly.” Jo cast a discreet glance across the room. “He’s with the chairman of the Bennett board of directors, Paul Garrison. Sofie’s father, Ernest Baston, is over there, too. He’s Uncle Martin’s business partner. And Sofie’s with them. She is the foundation’s goodwill ambassador, but I just didn’t think about her being here.”
Kerris’s blood congealed in her veins to a slow chug. This night was becoming a tape on rewind. Here she was again as the misfit Cinderella, dressed in unfamiliar finery, surrounded by a rarefied colony of people who had been reared to rule. And the queen of the ball was once again standing with the man she wanted.
“This is it, Kerris.”
“This is what?”
“I know these people look nice, and some of them are. But your man? He is the ultimate prize, honey, and you are swimming in a shark tank tonight. Be on the offensive. Don’t wait to defend your territory.”
“Are we still talking about me and Walsh?”
“Sweetie, we never stopped.” Jo mixed just enough compassion with the grit in her voice. “You are going to walk over there and show all these bitches why he chose you.”
But what if she still didn’t know why herself?
I want you to claim me.
Walsh had said it, and his words massaged the last knots from her composure, centering her. Reminding her of the peace she found when she was with him. Of the rightness no one could take from them, if she didn’t let them.
“Okay, I’ll tell you when to turn—”
Jo stopped mid-sentence because Kerris had already turned.
She said over her shoulder, “Thanks, Jo. I think I got it.”
She looked back at the beautiful girl, who reminded her of Kristeene the more time she spent with her. “Thanks for everything.”
Jo gave her a quick grin and a thumbs-up.
Kerris headed in the direction of the small group clustered around Walsh. She saw the two men Jo had mentioned. She could actually see traces of Sofie’s Nordic beauty in the tall man nursing a glass of champagne. The shorter gentleman must be the chairman of the board. And then there was Sofie. Her long red nails lay on Walsh’s arm. She reminded Kerris of a gorgeous python, trying to wrap any part of herself she could around Walsh, and Kerris watched as he kept discreetly pulling away. He turned, and Kerris walked toward his back. Sofie looked up at him and over his shoulder. She saw Kerris first, and her green eyes went glacial. The wide, soft mouth stiffened into a frozen line.