Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
I lifted the lid from the box, and inside were a pair of matte-black heels with the traditional red-lacquered bottoms. I pulled one out to a chorus of oohs and aahs. My old shoes had nothing on these.
When I slipped it onto my foot, I felt just like Cinderella.
“Damn,” Harley said. “I need a pair. Think Whitt will buy me some?”
The girls laughed, and Harley grinned. She might be younger than the rest of us, but she liked being part of the group as much as I did. I was glad that I’d invited her to get ready for the auction with us. Even though she’d said that she had homework to work on instead. She’d still donned a Wednesday Addams-esk black chiffon dress and shown up with thick makeup for the occasion, ready to dance the night away.
“Man has good taste,” Blaire said.
“Hollin would never,” Piper said with a snort. “I’m trying to imagine the hulking, tatted cowboy ordering designer heels.”
Blaire cackled. “Never. And Campbell would absolutely get me some, but he’d probably hand it off to his publicist.”
“Sounds right,” Piper agreed.
Harley shrugged. “I’m going to be the girl who buys her own damn shoes.”
“Fair,” Piper and Blaire said in unison. There was appreciation in their eyes.
Harley was a force, and I looked forward to seeing her take over the world.
“Okay, okay. Finish getting ready so we can go!” Piper said, dragging Blaire toward the door. “The boys should be here soon.”
I pulled on the splurge black dress that I’d gotten for the occasion. It had tiny spaghetti straps and a scooped neckline with a soft shimmer to the shiny material. The dress just hit the floor in my new heels. I’d styled my hair in long waves down to the middle of my back and donned my signature red lipstick.
The look on Whitt’s face when I opened the door was worth all the effort.
“Do you like?” I did a twirl.
“Like?” he asked, mesmerized. “Love. You look incredible.”
“Thank you. And the shoes.” I stuck one tanned leg out toward him. “They fit perfectly.”
He slid his hands around my waist and pulled me in close. “I’m going to fuck you in them later.”
I squirmed against him. “You’d better.”
“Guaranteed.” He pressed a kiss to my shoulder and then tugged me out the door.
I groaned, wanting nothing more than to take him up on that offer before and after the event tonight. Whitt laughed at my protest and helped me into the car, smacking my ass before I took my seat.
Jensen had rented out a ballroom at a downtown hotel, conveniently located only a block from Wright Construction. Whitt pulled his Lexus into valet, and I was assisted out of the car. Whitt held out his arm and escorted me inside.
“I have another surprise.” Whitt removed something out of his pocket and held up the key card.
“You got us a room?” I asked with a laugh. “I live five minutes from here.”
“But neither of us has to drive home if we drink.”
“Safety first.”
He squeezed my hip and winked at me. “Something like that.”
Whitt handed off our tickets to the man at the door, and we stepped inside. The ballroom had a sky-high ceiling with a second-story balcony that wrapped around the room. Chandeliers dotted the room, emitting a soft glow upon the festivities. A dozen round tables were decorated with fresh flowers for the dinner portion of the event. And along the back wall was a row of auction items to bid on.
“I heard that Morgan is offering a trip on the private jet,” Whitt told me as we found our seats.
“Jesus, how much is that going to go for?”
“Who knows? A small fortune.”
I still couldn’t believe that people could afford anything like that. Let alone that the Wrights had a private jet on standby for them. That Jensen would be using it on Sunday to take Colton back to New York City.
“What else do you think they have?”
“I know that Jordan said they were going to do a limited vintage wine, named after the recipient, from the vineyard.”
“That’s cool.”
“We can go look if you want.”
“Drinks first,” I insisted.
I wasn’t buying anything. I’d need a drink and some food to mingle with people who could.
We ran into Jordan, Julian, Annie, and Jennifer at the bar. We grabbed drinks and stepped away from the congestion of free booze.
“Did you ever hear from Dad?” Jordan asked.
Whitt shrugged. “I told him we weren’t interested, but he said he was going to come up anyway, just in case.”
Annie wrinkled her nose. “Typical.”
Jennifer put her hand on Julian’s arm. “Your dad is coming into town? You didn’t tell me.”
“I only knew he wanted to,” Julian said. “Maybe we should all plan a trip out of town.” He gestured to the first auction item. “We could all get away to Vegas for the weekend if we win this item.”