I’ve heard the mutterings and hushed whispers of his name and magazine ever since leaving him standing in the hallway, but I haven’t been able to pay too much attention to them because everything about him still surrounds me. The familiar scent of his aftershave has been following me like a shadow since leaving him standing there in the hallway. I can still feel his body hovering over mine as his deep blue eyes peered straight in to my soul. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more exposed than in that moment. It was as if Holt had cut my chest open without even trying.
I’m touching my grandmother’s necklace, hoping it will bring me resolve to the heat stirring in my body, but it’s of no use. Nonetheless, I welcome the distraction because Adam is here… somewhere. I saw him earlier near the men’s restroom, after Holt saved me from becoming an unwelcomed decoration to the marble-lined floors of the Omni Plaza Hotel.
Tonight’s auction sponsorship banners hang from either side of the ballroom, displaying those who are bidding in tonight’s largest fundraising charity in years. Or so Julianna claims. For someone whose claim to notoriety has been her interior design business alone, Julianna seems to have a knack for pulling out all the stops with her event organizing, too. The Omni Plaza hotel is already one of New York City’s luxury hotels and event centers, but she’s managed to amp it up to another level. With it decked out in glitz and glam, the mystery of tonight has caught the attention of celebrities and high-level politicians throughout the city.
“I ran this idea by Julianna earlier but wanted to see what you both think,” Charleigh says, glancing between London and me. Asher, her fiancé, is standing beside her with his hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her as close as possible to him. Charleigh is wearing a form-fitting pink ball gown decorated in tiny, black sequined flowers scattered like polka dots. Her hair is twisted into a side braid, revealing her gorgeous face.
“What’s that?” London asks, lifting her glass of champagne to her plum-painted lips. Her equally dark purple gown blends into the shadows. London’s fiancé, and my future brother-in-law, West, is staring at her with hearts bubbling in his eyes. He’s so enamored with her, even when she isn’t paying him any attention. He’s the perfect complement to her in his black suit, complete with dark navy-blue lapels.
“Now that Asher and I have set an official date for the wedding in the spring, we’ve started planning all the other events leading up to it, including the bachelorette party.” Charleigh beams, practically bouncing on her heels.
“You want a bachelorette party?” I furrow my brow. “I didn’t think you were into that.”
“I’m not, and I wasn’t really thinking of this as a bachelorette party as more of a girls’ pre-wedding retreat.”
“Oh.” London perks up. “A retreat? I like the sound of that. Where to?”
Charleigh swallows a mouthful of her cocktail. “At first, I was thinking somewhere close to home, but I only plan on getting married once, so I’m thinking we go a bit bigger, which brought me to think of a place known for their flowers. Paris.”
“Paris?” London’s jaw drops. “I’ve never been before. I love that idea.”
“Yeah?” Charleigh’s eyebrows rise, then she’s looking at me. “What about you, Selene? What do you think?”
I grin at my best friend-slash-boss and chuckle at her seeking of our approval, when the truth is I’d go wherever she wanted me to go if it made her happy. “I would love to go to Paris.”
“Yes!” She squeals. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun.”
“Hopefully, Charleigh will fall in love with Paris so much she’ll agree to get married there.” Asher wags his eyebrows playfully.
“Is that what you’re wanting to do?” West asks. “Get married in Paris?”
Charleigh shifts her attention between West and Asher, uncertainty marring her expression. “I’m considering it.”
“Honestly, I’d get married to Charleigh anywhere.” Asher laughs. “Hell, we would have been marriedyearsago if things had gone our way. But since this will be the only time we both plan on getting married, I’ll give Charleigh whatever wedding she wants.”
Charleigh’s mouth splits into a grin that stretches from ear to ear as she looks up at Asher. She has the same hearts in her eyes that West has for London. My stomach somersaults, wanting only the best for them. Hoping for it, in fact.
Originally high school sweethearts back in Connecticut,Charleigh and Asher haven’t always had it easy. They were forced apart after a family tragedy for years, and only recently did they happen to find each other again by chance, when Julianna and Holt connected Charleigh with a realtor that would help her find a bigger flower shop. Seeing her before Asher came back into her life compared to the way she is now has been beautiful to watch. She’s genuinely happy.
Asher kisses her deeply, and then Charleigh begins rattling off the rest of her ideas and other pre-wedding plans. My mind wanders to Holt and the situation that unfolded in the hallway. I’m still thinking about his blue eyes when I spot him across the ballroom, standing close to the door, immersed in conversation with the woman I saw him with earlier. I’ve never seen her before, but knowing Holt, it isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility that she’s here with him tonight.
Holt knowsmanywomen.
My gut clenches at the sight of him, the low lighting of the ballroom highlighting his features thanks to the shadows cutting across his face.
Everything about Holt screams money.
He’s tall and fit, clean cut, sharp jawed, with defined muscles straining under his black Armani suit.
My gaze drops to his black Armani shoes, and I bite back a chuckle, thinking back to what Adam said to me earlier.
Holt’s heavily cedar-scented skin still lingers in the air, fogging my mind. Ridiculous, considering he hasn’t even come over here yet. He’s standing nearly fifty feet away from me, but his presence is dominating. The room is quickly filling with more attendees, and the air grows increasingly stifling. I press my hand to the back of my neck and inhale a steadying breath.
While animatedly talking with the woman in front of him, Holt’s gaze flashes in my direction.
I suck in a sharp burst of air, his attention striking me like abolt of lightning. Heat blooms inside me, radiating down to my lower stomach, then between my thighs. How is it that I’m physically reacting this way to my best friend’s brother? Ishouldn’tbe feeling like this.
His mouth curls, and he barely lifts his hand in the air, his long fingers relaxed as he gives me a small wave in acknowledgement.
