Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“What about Hayes?” I asked. He’d left the family.
Huck tensed at the mention of his brother, and I instantly wished I hadn’t brought it up.
“Our parents were dead. Different situation,” he said. Huck nodded his head toward two men. “Garrett needs me. Walk around, explore. I’ll find you later.”
He was leaving me alone? I opened my mouth, but Huck was already striding away.
It was clear which one was Garrett Hughes. It wasn’t the fact that he was very handsome. As in movie-star attractive. That aside, power seemed to radiate from him. It was as if his mere presence demanded respect. Was Blaise like that? Trev definitely was not. He was easy to be around. He made me laugh. Nothing about Trev Hughes was like the man Huck was now speaking to.
Garrett turned to walk back toward the house, and Huck followed him, along with the other man. I felt lost. Glancing around, looking for a familiar face, I took several more sips of my drink.
“We’ve not been introduced,” a male voice said to my right.
I spun around, startled to see a very clean-cut, tattoo-free, shaven blond man smiling at me. He had no rough edges, much like Trev. He could have been a former frat boy. Privilege and money oozed from him.
“Uh, no, we haven’t,” I replied, forcing a smile.
He held out his hand. “Jasper Dillard,” he said. “Hughes Farm boards our thoroughbred horses.”
I slipped my hand into his. “Trinity Bennett,” I replied.
“Are you just here as a date? Or do you have a connection to the Hughes family?” he asked.
We shook hands, and I pulled mine free, although he’d tried to hold it a moment longer than was necessary.
“A date,” I replied, not sure how to explain how I was connected to the family. Did I say my fiancé had been a Kingston or that I cooked and cleaned for three of Garrett’s men or that I was fucking Huck Kingston? Yeah, I wasn’t going to get into any of that.
“Huck, correct? I saw you with him when you arrived. You’re hard to miss.” Jasper was flirting.
“Yes,” I replied and took another sip of my champagne.
“Since it seems he’s occupied, would you do me the honor of a dance?”
Oh crap. What did I do here? Was I supposed to accept this or turn him down?
A hand touched my waist, and I turned my head, expecting to see Huck, but instead, Trev stood there with his charming smile aimed at Jasper.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he said to me. “I see you’ve met Jasper.”
Jasper’s gaze was now on Trev, and I could see the confusion in his expression. I’d arrived with Huck, but now, Trev was acting as if I belonged with him.
“Yes, she was alone, and I hated to see a beautiful woman standing all by herself,” Jasper replied.
Trev looked at me and winked. “She’s not alone, I promise. It was good to see you, Jasper. Have some of the punch. It’s got an extra kick,” Trev said. Then, with his hand on my back, he led me away from Jasper.
“Punch? Is there really punch here?” I asked. This did not seem like the type of event that would have punch.
“Fuck no,” Trev replied with a smirk. “Jasper thinks he’s more important than he is. His father is new money. Bought into an internet business that ended up exploding about six years ago. They purchased some thoroughbreds from us and pretend to know what the fuck they are doing on the track. They’re also not in the realm of the know when it comes to the family. To them, we are a successful racehorse farm. Nothing more.”
Interesting. I would have thought everyone here knew.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked Trev as we walked away from the main party.
The veranda wrapped around the massive home, and soon, we were out of the twinkling lights.
“To the better party,” he said, leaning down near my ear.
“Better party?” I asked, curious.
A waterfall was the first thing I noticed, but as we got closer, I realized the waterfall was the focal point of a pool. Not just any pool, but one that belonged on some tropical island resort. There was music playing back here, too, but it was over a speaker system, and it was current hits. I looked around and noticed this was a younger crowd. They were dressed just as elegantly, and there was a bar set up back here too. Along with servers walking around with fancy finger foods on their trays.
“That shit back there is torture. I show face throughout the party to keep my father happy, but he allows me to hold my own party back here. Many of them have parents at the stuffy shit that you were being forced to endure, but some are just my friends.”