Page 13 of Risk

“Why am I here?” Her big brown eyes looked at me with confusion. “I could have stayed at the hotel and unpacked.”

I didn’t have a good excuse as to why I’d asked her to come with me. Only that I didn’t want to part company with her quite yet. “You won’t find any better food than these sponsorship dinners.” I leaned close until my lips were only a couple of inches from her ear. “And it’s free. You can’t get any better than that.”

Leaning her head back on her headrest, she turned to face me. She looked worn out, and I almost felt bad for dragging her with me. “Even though I’m sure I’m going to feel out of place, thank you for inviting me. I think I’m too tired to navigate a foreign country.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be your own personal tour guide. I know all the best restaurants.”

The car came to a stop, and before the driver could open Aspen’s door, I jumped out and held my hand out to her. Slowly she extended one leg out and set her black stiletto heel on the pavement and then repeated the action with her other leg.

It was a simple moment and yet the hottest thing I’d ever seen. When she walked out of her hotel room, I couldn’t tell her that her footwear was inappropriate for being on a boat. She looked too damn sexy in those heels, her tight-as-sin jeans, and her black halter top that showcased her breasts in the best way possible.

I knew that if I asked her to change her shoes, she’d probably end up coming up with an excuse and stay back at the hotel while I suffered through this boring as hell dinner.

Holding my elbow out for her to hold, I kept my steps unhurried as we followed the line of people making their way to the yacht owned by Galaxy energy drinks, which was the main sponsor for our team.

“You should have told me these were not boating shoes,” Aspen hissed as we walked up the ramp onto the boat.

“And miss how hot you look in them? Not a chance.” I smirked down at her by my side. “But if you need to take them off, I’ll carry them since I didn’t tell you to change.”

“It’s the least you can do since you failed to mention how difficult it would be for me to walk.” She narrowed her eyes at me but then gave me a shy smile. A smile I found way too endearing and wanted to see more of.

“How was I to know how hard it would be? I’ve never worn a pair of heels in my life.” I laughed at the annoyed look on her face.

Aspen’s hold on me tightened as she muttered. “Why are they looking at me like that?”

I took my gaze off her and turned to notice that almost everyone was looking our way. “Probably because I’ve never brought anyone to one of these.”

“Never?” she questioned with tight lips.

“Why would I? I’m not into prostitutes or escorts, and I don’t have time for a girlfriend.”

Stepping into me, Aspen whisper-yelled, “Are you saying the women here are prostitutes?”

“Some.” I placed my hand on her waist and was about to pull her closer when I saw Colton staring at me from the other side of the room. Taking a step back, I answered, “It’s pretty common for the guys to hire a woman for the night at events like these.”

Aspen looked down at herself and then at a few of the women that were affixed to their men. “These heels were definitely a bad idea,” she mumbled to herself. She chewed on her bottom lip before she narrowed her eyes at me. “They think I’m a prostitute,” she gritted out.

“That’s not it. It’s all me. They think it’s funny that I don’t have any friends, and now here you are on my arm.”

“You can’t know that,” she said with a downturn of her soft pink lips.

Lifting one shoulder, I responded with my own frown. “That’s what I think. All of these guys are assholes, and they’re always trying to get a reaction out of me. Don’t pay them any mind.”

Placing her hand on my arm, Aspen looked up, and her eyes searched my face. “Neither should you, you know.”

Someone rang a bell and announced it was time to eat. It was then I realized I hadn’t offered to get Aspen a drink. I mentioned I wasn’t going to have anything, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want something. Hell, if I was her, I would most definitely want a drink or three.

“Do you want a drink before we sit down?”

“Oh no,” she hid a yawn with the back of her hand. “If I have anything to drink, I’ll likely fall asleep at the table. I’m sorry I’m such a party pooper.”

She was far from what she described. Aspen would be what made my night tolerable.

We sat down at a table next to each other with Colton and Rylee across from us, and a couple of others I didn’t know. Luckily, Udo and Eduardo were at a different table.

“Ms. Belle, I’m Rylee Donavan.” She leaned over the table and shook Aspen’s hand with a wide smile on her pretty face.

“It’s nice to meet you. Mr. Donavan, it’s good to see you again as well.” Aspen nodded formally at her new employer.

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