He shot me a puzzled frown. “You already have permanent clearance. And you know the code to my house.”
His trust brushed my doubts into a corner, leaving me feeling elated. “I didn’t know.”
“Did you think I’d rescind the invitation once you went back to Humptulips?” He studied my face, not liking what he saw. “Why would you think that? If I had my way, you’d be with me always.”
I shrugged, looking at the floor. “I wasn’t sure. We never talked about what would happen after I left.”
Finding myself in his arms a few seconds later, I held him tight, leaning my cheek on his chest. “You can stay at my house whenever you want. Hell, if you want to move in, I’d be overjoyed. I want to be with you whenever I can.”
Moving in together? Is he insane? We’ve barely reconnected after not speaking for five years.
And did that mean I’d have to go to his thing tonight as well?
“I’m okay waiting at your house,” I was quick to reassure him.
He released me to grab his phone and keys off his desk, then interlaced our fingers. “I’m not. Now let’s go so we can find you a dress to wear for tonight.”
* * *
If I thoughtthe last venue was over the top, then this one took the cake. The theme was crystal. Despite my reluctance to accept the dress Grayson insisted on buying, I was glad he did.
I was surrounded by opulence and…doves? A closer inspection confirmed the elegant white cages hanging from the ceiling indeed held real doves.
Whatever happened to party props that weren’t alive?
The diamonds adorning the guests were blinding. I was so out of place there was nothing I could do but stay next to Grayson and watch him work the room. He always introduced me when someone new approached him, but it quickly became glaringly obvious that no one wanted to waste their time on a nobody like me.
Grayson always touched me, either holding my hand or putting his arm around me. But he was here for work, and I didn’t want him to feel like he had to keep me happy, so I excused myself and went to explore the room.
There was a lot to look at, including a wall that was draped in little crystals, illuminated by a gold light. The effect was stunning, but all I thought about was the poor person having to stick them all on and then take them down again.
After getting a drink called the Princess, which was a pink cocktail that tasted like cotton candy, I wandered to a wall with photographs. They were of the different projects the charity had funded in the past.
Grayson had explained to me that fundraisers were the place to network. This one was for a good cause—as I was sure they all were—and he must have also donated a large sum of money by the way people fawned all over him.
He oozed charm in spades and had such a way with people that I wasn’t surprised he was popular. I couldn’t imagine a worse job than having to network all the time. I enjoyed hiding away in my kitchen. I wondered if Grayson truly liked socializing or if he only tolerated it as part of his job.
“You’re still around? I have to say I’m impressed. I thought you’d be gone by now,” Wynona’s cutting voice interrupted my explorations.
I sighed, wishing I didn’t have to have this confrontation now. Or ever. I could have happily gone on with my life without ever seeing Wynona again. And what was it with the women in Grayson’s life ambushing me?
“Sorry to disappoint you.” I didn’t turn from my study of the images, hoping she’d get the hint and leave.
“If you think you’re special, you’re mistaken. He always comes back to me.”
I couldn’t help but wonder how many times there had been.
Despite my better judgment, I glanced at Wynona. Her silver dress reflected the light, making it look like waves flowing over her body. The bodice was skintight, and the attached short skirt flowed around her legs in perfect ripples.
And I didn’t even want to look at her hair, coiled into perfect little curls that framed her delicate face. Ugh. I’d feel so much better if she at least had one imperfection. Well, besides her personality—or lack thereof.
Not wanting to give in to the urge to test if her hair was real or if she wore extensions, I turned to walk away. Didn’t Sun Tzu say, “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting”?
And if I stayed, I didn’t think we’d be able to have a civilized conversation. She not only got me kicked off the show, but she also tried her hardest to make me feel worthless. I wouldn’t take any more of her shit.
Unfortunately, Wynona wasn’t done with me.
She put a hand on her hip, looking down at me. I was tall, but she was taller, and wearing impossibly high sandals. “Did you really think a small-town baker like yourself would ever make it on a show like this?” She shot me a withering glare. “Pathetic.”
