Red Orchard had several events going on at once, the rest holiday parties. Guests were milling in and out of the rented rooms, talking loudly.
My name was called again behind me, and I searched around frantically for a place to hide, anywhere they wouldn’t find me.
I couldn’t face anyone right now. Shame and embarrassment were starting to rise and I was seconds away from a full meltdown.
My gaze landed on a red Santa suit that was poking out of a bag near the tree. I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but I knew damn well I couldn’t leave in this sleeveless dress.
“Sorry to whoever’s this is,” I muttered as I snatched the bag and hurried into the women’s restroom nearby.
It took far too long to wiggle myself out of the dress that had taken three people to help me into, the one that never really fit me after my final fitting, as if someone had changed the measurements.
The Santa suit was huge, but the pants had suspenders. I tightened them as much as I could to hold the pants up and slid my feet into the costume’s faux leather boots. Next was the coat. It had a sash at the waist, and I tied it as tight as I could before donning the hat. It wasn’t going to hide my dark hair, but it would have to do for now.
Instead of running out of the building and risking drawing attention, I simply walked, stepping out of the bathroom and heading for the main entrance.
Everybody was too absorbed in their own conversations and navigating the enormous venue for me to worry too much. Not a single person noticed as I continued through the building.
“Aspen!”
Or, maybe they did.
My name was so close that I nearly jumped, but I kept walking. Frantic footsteps echoed behind me, and I recognized the voices, my bridesmaids Victoria and Lacey, along with Sadie.
Maybe she’d seen me leave in a panic. Either way, she couldn’t see me now or this would be over before it started.
I wasn’t going to letanyonetalk me into going back in there.
As far as I was concerned, I was single now. They’d made that decision for me and I wouldn’t tolerate being treated like that.
Holiday music spilled out of a room up ahead, mingling with the loud chatter of people. The room was packed, which would make it easy to get lost in the crowd.
This party must’ve been going on for a while, people were talking loudly. Some were singing off-key karaoke to one side, and the booze was flowing at the open bar.
The click of heels caught my attention, and I turned, spotting Sadie stepping into the room and looking around. I was still wearing this ridiculous Santa suit, but I couldn’t let her see my face.
With no other choice, my eyes landed on the closest man. He was wearing a tailored black suit and a dark green tie that made his dark eyes stand out even more.
“Are you single?” I asked him.
“Excuse me?” His features, already sharp, seemed even more intense now.
I swallowed hard. This alpha wasveryintimidating, the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.
“I said, are you single?” I repeated quickly.
I don’t know if it was the urgency in my voice or the fact that I practically hissed at him, but he simply quirked an eyebrow and gave a single nod. That was all I needed.
Before I could second-guess myself, I hopped into his lap.
The click of heels was still following me, my name being called out, pushing me to act quickly before she ruined everything.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he questioned, but when Sadie’s furious footsteps drifted closer, I did the only thing I could think of.
I locked my lips to his.
Aspen
Clearly, I’d been possessed. Maybe it was finding my pack fucking the girl they told me not to worry about, or maybe I was just plain crazy, but either way, here I was, kissing this gorgeous alpha in front of me.
