Chapter 12
Blake
Sighing, I slip into the silkiness of the gorgeous dress, show off my baby bump, and smile. The woman in the mirror looks nothing like me because this afternoon, I had my own personal fairy godmother. My hair is swept up, my nails are Christmas red, and professionally applied shadow makes my eyes pop. This is what I might’ve looked like if I’d had a big wedding, the one all little girls dream of.
Instead, Jack and I were married in a drab cinderblock room. That night, pretending to have sex, things got out of hand real fast. We had amazing, yet unprotected sex.
My hand goes to my belly.That’s how you were made, baby girl.
After, your daddy felt guilty which was pure hogwash because I wanted him just as bad. Me not taking the morning-after pill triggered the start of our big fight, the one landing him in DC and me in New York.
I shake away the ancient history, walk out of the bathroom, and Jack’s mouth drops open
Then, it turns into a sexy smile. “I can’t let you go out like that.” He crosses the living room, his cock pushing on the slacks of his tux.
Pulling me into the hardness, he nibbles my ear and stares at my bright red lips. “You are way too damn beautiful.”
I’m ready for his kiss but he backs away and shakes his head. “I don’t want to muss up your makeup but later, babe, later.”
I straighten his bow tie and help him slip his jacket over his holster. “You clean up pretty good yourself, Mr. Taylor.”
Suddenly, there’s a bleep on his cell phone. He looks down, his face turns serious, and he checks his gun. “Okay. They’re ready for us. Remember to stay close.”
“I will.” My heart pounds in my ears as we head into the lobby. Out in the open, danger appears more real than just a minute ago.
Jack checks up and down the street, grabs my upper arm and places me in the limo.
Inside, Lucky grins and turns around in the front seat, “You like the pumpkin carriage, Cinder-sheila?”
“It’s lovely.”
Instead of sparring with Jack, Lucky is unusually quiet on the way to Capitol Hill. Both men have eyes everywhere, communication devices in their ears. This is even more serious than I thought.
The limo stops under the hotel marquee where Grayson waits with Isabella. Even though I was just with her, I’m still stunned. She looks amazing. You’d never believe she’s a working mom with a two-year-old. She looks more like a cover girl.
“Wow.” I shove over so she can crawl in next to me.
“Thanks. Thank God, Grayson called the owner of that boutique or who knows what we would’ve worn.”
“Wait, I thought you picked out the store…”
“Me? Designer dresses? No way.” When she giggles, Grayson raises a brow from the front seat and I’m a little jealous.
Will Jack and I ever share secret looks like that?
I want her to explain more but Lucky is slowing to a stop in front of an ancient maple tree. Each and every branch sparkles, tightly wrapped in strings of white lights.
Our husbands jump out with fingers pressed to their earpieces as they check our surroundings. It must be okay because Jack puts his hand to my lower back and Grayson has Izzy. Together, they hustle us through a side door. Slow in my high heels, I wobble behind the billionaire and his wife.
At the top of the landing, we enter a large banquet room and stop at the coat check window. After getting tickets, Isabella and I head to the bar, the men close behind.
I grab a seltzer, sit, and reach for her hand. “Thank you, for getting us an invite.”
“Thankyou. I wasn’t going to attend until you told me about your plan. This is too exciting to miss.”
We sit and chat for a while, staring beyond the open hardwood dance floor. Each table is covered with a red or green tablecloth. In the center, there’s a snow globe lit from within depicting Washington over a hundred years ago. Horse drawn carriages carry passengers in the style of Currier and Ives.
An ice sculpture of a wagon, a three-foot horse and a realistic-looking Santa takes center stage on the seafood bar.
