Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
I’d been in a limo once with Arnold when he took me to Vegas for the weekend. I could rate that experience as a one on a scale from one to ten compared to this. I’d never known precisely what I was missing by not having friends like this. And here, in the back of the limo, drinking champagne and enjoying the gentle ribbing about Whitt and me, I could see how my entire life could have changed had someone accepted me.
I finished a glass of champagne and passed it back to a giggling Nora as we drove up to the front door. It was strange to step out onto the familiar pavement. Wright Construction was a staple of the community, and until I’d started working here, I’d never been inside. Now, I was here as a guest for a fancy dinner. All of it felt surreal.
“You ready?” Whitt asked, holding his arm out.
I took a deep breath and then nodded, agreeing to so much more than he could know. “Let’s do it.”
The group piled into the elevator and took us up to the restaurant that Wright was famous for. It took up the entirety of the top floor of the building with windows around the entire perimeter for a spectacular view of the sunset as it fell over the Texas Tech campus.
Nora sighed in delight next to me. “The campaign event planner is spot-on.”
The place had transformed from the business locale it typically was used as to an elaborate and elegant dinner party, complete with a dozen circular tables decorated with fresh flowers. Waiters, dressed in black suits, carried trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Hollin snagged a little finger sandwich and held his hand up to stop another waiter carrying champagne. Piper rolled her eyes at him, but she took the proffered glass.
The rest of our group took drinks, too, and then headed across the glossy hardwood floor to the table with our names written in calligraphy on small white cards. I swayed lightly to the soft classical music coming from a string quartet. My stomach flipped as I looked around the room—the fancy party, the abundance of florals, and all the important people in town. I couldn’t believe I was here.
“This is incredible,” I told Whitt.
“Jensen knows how to throw a party. That’s for sure.”
“I need to go talk to the planner,” Nora said with wide-eyed wonder.
West laughed. “I’ll go with you.” He grinned at his brother before disappearing after her.
“He’s smitten,” I said.
“No shit.”
I laughed. “Why do you sound disappointed?”
“I’m happy for him. He’s like a lost puppy when he’s in love.”
“It’s cute.”
“I think so, too,” Harley said. She smacked Whitt’s arm. “You could use a little more lost puppy in your life.”
He grinned at his sister. “So could you.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m nineteen. I don’t need to fall in love.”
“College guys suck anyway,” I told her.
Her eyes roamed the already-busy dinner party. “Tell me about it.”
“Whitt!” a voice called over the increasing chatter.
Whitt turned to find Jordan and Julian standing in a group with other people from Wright Construction. They waved him over. He glanced down at me in concern.
“I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine. Harley and I will get to know each other.”
Whitt paled. “That’s what I’m worried about.”
Harley and I laughed at the same time. But Whitt shook his head and walked over to his brothers.
“Well, I like you already,” Harley said. “Though you’re waaay too good for him.”
It was my turn to give her a skeptical look. But Harley barreled on, like she hadn’t said something entirely unbelievable.
“I mean, look at you. You’re hot as fuck.”
“Thank you.”
“Drink?” Harley asked, snagging champagne for the both of us.
“Aren’t you underage?”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Harley winked at me.
I laughed. “Just don’t let your brothers see you.”
“Trust me, my entire life is getting around my brothers seeing anything I’m doing.”
We chuckled at that. I wasn’t going to parent her. I had done worse at her age. If a few glasses of champagne were the worst she could do here, then I thought she’d be fine.
We were chatting about her trip back to Seattle for the summer when a tall figure appeared before us. He was all tall, blond, and undeniably handsome. He looked so much like a younger version of his father. Charming and relentlessly good-looking. My heart beat in my throat at the sight of him—Chase Sinclair.
This was a problem that I hadn’t foreseen. Of course the Sinclairs were going to be in attendance. Did Chase’s appearance mean that Arnold would be here as well?
“Hello, Eve,” Chase said. His voice was only slightly strained at the edges when he said my name.
He knew that I’d been with his dad. Everyone knew. Great.
But his gaze slipped from mine to land on Harley, and something shifted in them. From discomfort to desire, like a light switch. An almost-hypnotic, restrained look to him. With one hand clenched at his side, as if he needed to physically hold himself back.