“Not when dancing. You’ve always worn flats before. This business about needing a more professional image has made you putty in my hands,” he said triumphantly.
“I’m glad my stressful lawsuit made your life better.” I rolled my eyes at him.
“Me, too, doll face. Me, too.”
A horn honked, and I lurched forward, expecting to see one of the guys’ SUVs pulling into the parking garage. A high-pitched noise emanated from my mouth I didn’t even realize I could make. It was a sound of delight, followed by a similar sound from Todd. Arch’s grin answered me, but I asked anyway. “Is this for us?”
When Arch nodded the affirmative, Todd and I ran over to the stretch hummer pulling in. Rick and Arch chuckled behind us.
A chauffeur in a tuxedo bowed slightly as he opened the door for us. I dove in as gracefully as I could. My excitement bubbled over even more when I spied the occupants of the limo. Gray and Wes sat inside. “My gosh, you’re already here! I’m as happy as a pig in mud!”
Wes threw his head back and laughed. “I haven’t heard that expression since I left Atlanta!”
“My grandmother used to say it.”
“She repeats her grandmother’s sayings when she gets excited and forgets to filter her mouth.” Todd and Rick settled in beside the bar and prepared champagne to hand around. “It’s cute the first four thousand times one slips out, but it gets old.”
“It doesn’t happen often!” I said, indignant. My grandmother used those old southern expressions so often they became a part of my vocabulary for years. She passed away when I was eleven, but the expressions remained. By the time I entered high school, Mitch and Michelle told me repeatedly it was weird, so I stopped. I only used them around Todd.
I accepted a glass of champagne and sat opposite Rick and Todd. The handsome trio sat on the bench seat. “And why shouldn’t I be excited? It’s not every day we get a limo. When was the last time we rented any sort of car?”
Todd sipped his bubbly and winked. “Senior prom. We got a regular limo.” He became distracted by Rick tickling his neck. I turned my attention to the lawyers.
“You look amazing.” Gray lifted his glass to me with a smile.
Wes also toasted me. “He’s not lying. You’re phenomenal.”
I tried to look down demurely because that was the appropriate response to such compliments, but it was difficult to restrain my joy. For once, it was possible I did look amazing. “Thank you both. You’re pretty phenomenal yourselves.” The excitement of the night overwhelmed me, and I bounced a bit in my seat. “Where are we going?”
“First, we’re going to eat. The second stop, I’m not telling. It’s is a surprise. After we leave there, a club.” Arch scooted across the limo to speak to the driver, and we were off.
Gray moved seats to be beside me. “Hermosa, I’m excited to be going out with you tonight, even if it’s not an official date.”
I smiled at his use of the Spanish pet name. “I know I’m overly excited, a bit, but it’s been a long time since I’ve gone out like this. We’re going to have a blast!”
“We are. I can’t wait to get you in that dress out on the dance floor.” He leaned in, voice soft in my ear. “You’ve never danced the way I’ll lead you.”
“Geez,” I breathed. Goosebumps erupted all over my body. Gray didn’t fail to notice my discomfort.
“What did you do to Ellie?” Wes asked, sliding over to sit on the other side of me.
“Nothing she didn’t enjoy.” He winked and moved to sit beside Arch.
“He’s a flirt,” Wes commented.
“And you’re not?” I asked, a challenge in my voice.
“He’s got me beat.” He laughed and threw his arm around me.
The brief kiss Gray and I shared sprang into my mind, causing more goose bumps to erupt. “Do you know where we’re headed?” I asked in an attempt to change the subject. I’d never attempted puppy dog eyes on anyone but Todd before, but I was still euphoric over finally besting my stepmother. I decided to take a shot, hoping to sway him to tell me.
He stared at my pouting face, unruffled. “I do. And I’m not telling.”
That didn’t work out. But it didn’t diminish my euphoria. I chatted with Wes about our favorite books until we pulled up to a famous high rise in the downtown area. I pretended to be a real celebrity as I slid out of the limo. Unfortunately, the society reporters were camped in the area waiting on the possibility of an actual celebrity appearance, because as soon as I set one heel-clad foot on the ground, flashbulbs blinded me.
My body froze, blocking the view of the other people in the Hummer. I didn’t expect to be recognized and hoped they didn’t realize who I was—opposite of my normal, casual self. They’d been obsessed with me since the trial started, but I managed to avoid them more often than not.
One of them recognized me, dashing my hopes of anonymity. “Ellie, over here! Smile for us! Who are you wearing?”
