Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 32776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Why the hell hasn’t he called…
Like a desperate girl I didn’t recognize, I pulled my phone from my clutch in hopes of finally getting a reply.
Hey…Can we talk for a second?
Can you just RESPOND?
Once?
Nothing.
We made our way to the sea of white-clothed tables that were standing under a canopy of trees—all dressed in fairy lights. Matching white tents and black glass domes dotted the forest, adding to the supposed “Life in the Woods” theme.
Our table was right next to the stage, but there was no waiting nameplate for Hudson. Just his executive assistant and Anthony.
I swallowed my disappointment and forced a smile as Marie insisted we walk around and mingle with the celebrities.
While we were in the middle of listening to the governor tell a story, I spotted Dante out of the corner of my eye.
With a beautiful blonde in a bright red dress at his side, he was slowly becoming the center of attention. The woman smiled up at him, blushing, and I sucked in a breath when he smiled back at her.
“See?” Marie asked. “He has an entire secret life you know nothing about.”
I nodded, feeling my heart ache in my chest. “I need to go get some air.”
“We’re outside already, Chloe.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah...” She shot me a sympathetic look. “Text me if you end up leaving, okay?”
“Okay.” I took one last look at Dante smiling at the other woman in the same way he smiled at me all these weeks.
I let myself feel the humiliation of getting attached to a man like him, let my chest experience the ache of getting its hopes up, and before I could turn away, Dante’s eyes landed on me.
His gaze swept over me slowly—his lips parting as he took in every part of my sleeveless cream dress.
I could practically feel him pulling down the sparkling top, grabbing the cinched waist, and pushing up the trailing fabric to make me feel him again.
Suddenly, it was just the two of us here, and that naive feeling of him possibly being into me returned.
I refused to let it stay, though.
“Fuck. You.” I mouthed, obliterating the moment and making his eyes widen.
“I’ll be back, Marie.” I turned away and weaved through the growing crowd, looking for somewhere—anywhere—that I could be alone.
I managed to find a standalone glass dome that was set up for the silent auction and closed the flap behind me.
Dante’s name crossed my screen with a phone call a second later, but I hit ignore.
He called again and I treated him to the same response.
It’s what you deserve, asshole…
Taking several deep breaths, I debated listening to the special celebrity guest band or abandoning the event altogether so I could—
Knock! Knock! Knock!
“Someone’s in here!” I called out. “Be out in a second!”
KNOCKKKK. KNOCKKK. KNOCKKKK.
I shrugged and continued silently debating to myself.
Within seconds, the door opened, revealing a red-faced Dante. He slammed it shut, glaring at me.
“You want to talk?” He hissed. “Let’s fucking talk then.”
“Go talk to your fucking date,” I said. “She looks like she’s seconds away from slobbering all over your cock in front of everyone.”
“Are you projecting?”
“No, I’m protecting myself.” I crossed my arms. “Leave me alone and go be with your secret girlfriend.”
“She’s not a secret girlfriend.”
“I’m aware,” I said. “I’m just the last to know apparently.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Chloe?”
“You invited someone else to be your date instead of me and I honestly thought—”
“You thought what?”
“It doesn’t matter. I should’ve gotten the hint when you just stopped talking to me these past few days.”
“Jesus Christ…” He sucked in a breath and strolled toward me. “For the record, you are the most difficult woman I’ve ever met, and I don’t appreciate you—once again—trying to make me look bad in public.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You made me run off out of nowhere and dodge through fucking trees and bushes so no one could see where I was going.”
“Sounds like you did that to yourself.”
“Stop fucking talking.” He slammed his hands against the glass above my head. “I’m not done yet…”
I swallowed as he caged me between his arms, as the glare in his eyes made it clear that I shouldn’t press my luck with him tonight.
“That woman is one of the other guests of honor, Chloe,” he said, speaking slowly. “There are four of us, and it’s typical for us all to arrive together.”
“Lusty ‘I want to fuck you’ eyes and all?”
“I’m not responsible for the effect I have on other women.” Heat radiated off him in waves. “And I could’ve sworn I made it crystal clear I wanted you to be here tonight with me. Did I not?”
“By sending me dresses and putting me on the guest list?”
“Yes.” He hissed. “That’s a glaringly obvious sign.”
“I…” I didn’t have a good comeback for that one.
“If I’d known you would get this jealous, I would’ve handled this differently,” he said, pressing his forehead against mine. “Trust me.”