I lean in and whisper in her ear, “You are breathtaking.”
She just winks at me, and we slowly start to move.
I wish I could see her. These are definitely pictures that I will be paying attention to. I usually don’t. I ignore all theemails from the event photographer who wants to make sure that I know he caught shots of me. Usually, the emails are just forwarded to Cindy and she does her thing. This time, I’ll be making sure to comb through them and get one that I can frame. This is a night that I want to remember.
I’m sure she looks like she’s floating down the carpet in her sexy-as-hell dress. I can tell that she feels more comfortable as we move toward the building. I steal a glance in her direction, and she’s grinning from ear to ear. It’s a genuine smile too. There’s no tightness in it like I expected. It puts a bit of pep in my step to think that she’s enjoying herself and that maybe she’ll want to do this again.
We reach the end and the lights of the cameras have died down. I can see that off to our right stands the chairwoman of the event. She is waiting there to greet all the guests entering the ballroom.
“Madam Chairwoman,” I say, walking over to Elise McDonald, who works at Tampa Bay Memorial as the CEO. “It’s so nice to see you, thank you so much for having me.”
It’s the polite thing to say to her because even though she needs me here tonight, I will need her when it comes time to hunt for sponsorships for the Blaze.
“August,” she says, extending both of her hands so that she can cup the hand that I have extended to her. “It’s always so nice to see you. I can see that you have brought a beautiful young woman with you tonight.”
“I have.” I leave it at that because I know it’s a surefire way to guarantee that she doesn’t ask any questions about who she is.
“Well, your father and brother are already in there, so I’m sure you’ll be seeing them soon. Great to have the Cromwell family with us tonight.”
I nod and slowly release my hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Elise, really. I appreciate all that you do for us.” I flash her agrin, hoping that she will remember my friendliness when my sponsorship request comes her way.
“Enjoy yourself tonight, August,” she says, patting my arm before moving on to the next couple in line behind us.
“So that’s how you get all this money for the Blaze.” Hendrix turns her head towards me.
“What do you mean?” I ask her.
“You whore yourself out for it,” she replies, shooting me a teasing grin.
I throw my head back, laughing. “Well, whatever it takes to get you ladies what you need.” I slip a bit of innuendo in my tone, hoping that she picks up on it.
“Just so that you’re only giving me what I need,” she says with a wink.
“Always, baby.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
~HENDRIX~
The nerves from earlier have faded. I try to relax and let myself have fun. I was genuinely worried about coming here. There’s no one here that I know, other than August and Drew. But more importantly, Maxwell Cromwell is here and he is not a fan of me. Nor would he appreciate August bringing me here. So many scenarios are running through my head of him exposing me and pointing out all of the ways that I do not fit in here.
I could tell all of my concerns and fears were really making August worry. I think he must have thought at one point that I was going to run screaming from the town car or from his apartment. But I managed to pull it together. I was glad he gave me a bit of whiskey; it did calm me down and make me feel a bit more at ease. His kisses didn’t hurt either. Although, that last one made me want to rip his clothes straight off of him.
Oh god, does that man know how to fill out a tux. I love the way he looks like James Bond. The only thing missing is the martini, which he doesn’t seem to need, judging by the way he drinks me in when I catch him staring at me. It sets me on fire.
The night is more fun than I expected. We’ve walked the auction tables. I recognize the Blaze Jersey and tickets to theupcoming game exhibition game that the coaches have set up between us and the Orlando Pride.
I’ve had a few glasses of champagne so I’m feeling a lot more comfortable being around here. I grab a mini quiche from a tray that is being brought around by a waiter.
“I keep forgetting that this is what your life is normally like. This is so surreal to me,” I tell him when we stop at one of the high-top tables that are set up around the outer limits of the room.
He just looks at me and grins as he picks up a pulled pork slider like he is trying to figure how to eat it without getting it all over his jacket and shirt.
“Bold choice,” I say, eyeing the sandwich. Although, it looks like absolute heaven. I would have loved to grab one too, but I fear that it would have ended up down the front of my dress.
“These are amazing. I keep saying to Watts that we should bring this vendor in for a team meal, but apparently, this is not what you girls should be eating,” he says, chuckling, taking a bite and outright moaning when the pork hits his lips. “But it is so worth it.”
I grin and lick my lips, just staring at the juicy-looking meat on his plate. He eyes me carefully and then pulls a bit of the bun away, bringing some of the pork with it. I notice the juice is running down his fingers a bit.
