Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Congratulations again, sir,” Elliott said, shaking Roland Brooks’ hand and holding on for too long. “I can’t think of a more deserving attorney to receive the Leadership in Law lifetime achievement award.”
“Thank you.” Her father beamed, soaking up the attention and praise. “Keep up the good work, and you’ll be the recipient yourself someday.”
Elliott smiled wide, then turned his attention to Georgia’s mother, Nina. “You look stunning tonight, Mrs. Brooks.”
Suck up, Georgia thought, but swallowed back the retort.
Her mother blushed, and Georgia wondered if she could conjure her red cheeks at command. Nina Brooks enjoyed being fawned over by a younger man. “It’s good to see you, Elliott. We must have you over to the house for dinner sometime soon.”
He gave her a nod. “I would love that.”
As Georgia expected, Elliott shifted his gaze, giving her a too-intimate stare that did nothing to stir any kind of sexual response inside her. “Of course, you look equally as lovely, Georgia. It’s such a pleasure to see you, too.” He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles in a too-possessive gesture.
She did her best not to gag as the touch of his mouth made her skin crawl. If not for her parents watching the exchange—her father with pride and her mother with hope and anticipation—she would have yanked her hand back and possibly followed with a slap across his arrogant face.
At least in her dreams, that’s what she would have done.
With no choice, she endured the unwanted attention and murmured a polite, “Nice to see you again, Elliott.”
He moved on to say hello to Courtney, the warmth in his gaze cooling. They’d met before, but her sister didn’t even pretend to be impressed by Elliott, and given her unconventional looks, he clearly felt the same way.
Courtney’s gaze flicked over his designer suit. “Don’t you look dapper tonight,” she said in a cheeky tone.
His gaze narrowed as he obviously tried to decide if the old-fashioned term was a compliment or an insult. “Thank you,” he replied…cautiously.
“Though you do have something on your nose,” she added, and Elliot automatically rubbed two fingers over the tip before realizing what Courtney meant.
Georgia choked on a laugh at her sister calling him what he was. A brown-nosed, ass-kisser.
Georgia cleared her throat so her laugh couldn’t escape while Elliott stiffened, his face flushing in embarrassment when he realized the subtle insinuation in Courtney’s comment.
“You know, I’m sure there’s a bottle of Corona at the bar with my name on it,” Courtney said, clearly ready to separate herself, while Georgia knew she was stuck with Elliott.
“You know there are waiters walking around with glasses of champagne,” their mother said, looking horrified at the thought of her daughter strolling about with a bottle of cheap, low-class beer at a high-society banquet.
Her sister wrinkled her pert nose. “Too refined for my tastes.”
“Courtney, behave yourself,” their father chided, though there was affection in his voice.
“Always, Daddy,” Courtney said in a sweet tone, then walked over and kissed him on the cheek.
Courtney always got away with her outrageous behavior, her father finding it cute while expecting Georgia to be the epitome of the perfect society princess. It was so unfair, but she didn’t blame her sister for their parents’ attitude. Georgia adored Courtney and always would.
“I’ll meet you all at our assigned table in a little bit.” Courtney waved and strode off, many eyes in the room on her as she made her way through the crowd.
“Well.” Her mother’s gaze encompassed Georgia and Elliott. “Why don’t you two go ahead and mingle. We’ll see you at the table when it’s time for dinner.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Elliott said, obviously pleased her mother wanted them together.
Georgia resisted the urge to object to her mother’s meddling suggestion. It would make her appear rude, and it was just easier to go with Elliott than deal with her mother’s disapproving attitude for the rest of the evening.
Her parents moved in one direction, and Elliott lightly pressed his hand against the small of her back and guided her toward a younger group of people.
“Is your sister always so horrid?” he asked, clearly still peeved over Courtney’s “nose” comment.
Georgia held back her smile, certain that Elliott wouldn’t appreciate her finding the joke funny. “She’s definitely her own person. She’s an…acquired taste.”
“Certainly not mine,” he muttered beneath his breath, then seemed to visibly shake off his irritation. “So, let me introduce you around.”
As if they were a couple. Ugh.
She’d already committed to this ruse and the last thing she wanted was to cause a scene at an event honoring her father, so she followed Elliott’s lead. She told herself it was just for the one night as he introduced her to a few of his colleagues…then promptly ignored her as he launched into a heated debate with one of the men in the group.