Page 156 of His White Moonlight
The gown Miranda selected might have been “off the rack,” but it was exquisite with beaded embellishments and outshone what Lindi was wearing.
“Did you need something, Lindi?Makeup tips, maybe?You have a little lipstick on your teeth.”
Her fake humor vanished, and her stare hardened.
“Do you even know who you’re talking to?”the woman next to her asked with a condemning tone.
“A friend.Right, Lindi?Isn’t that why Bennett invited you to lunch?”
Lindi’s brittle expression softened.It always amazed me how she could slide into the “sweet girl” role so quickly.
“I meant to ask how you’re acquainted with Bennett Wulf.Are you one of the scholarship recipients the Wulf Foundation for the Underprivileged supports?”
I knew for a fact there wasn’t such a foundation, thanks to all the expenses and reports I’d reviewed since coming home.
“A charity recipient?”If only I were so lucky,I thought.“My connection to the Wulfs is much closer than that.Why else would Bennett hand over his credit card to me?By the way, do you like my earrings?They’re from Zellon’s.One of a kind.Spent a fortune on them.Where did you get yours again?”
Did I enjoy pulling a rich person flex on Lindi?Absolutely.I didn’t hate money.Money was nice.It made things easier.What I hated was pretentiousness and fakeness.The boarding school had been filled with people like that, people who’d all followed Lindi.Once I’d known Mom and Dad would never let me come home, I’d understood any flex I made at school would be pointless and only make me a bigger target as the unwanted and abandoned foster kid—the charity case.
But that wasn’t the case anymore.
“One word from me and you’ll be kicked out of here,” Lindi said.
“Doubtful.We both know the Shane name doesn’t carry nearly as much weight as the Wulfs, the Steeles, and the Zellons here.But, by all means, give it a try.”
“Is there a problem?”Bennett asked from behind her.
Lindi turned to smile at him.“Nothing that can’t be resolved later.It’s nice to see you again, Mr.Wulf.I saw we’re assigned to a nearby table.I look forward to talking to you some more later.”She nodded at me, then left with her friend.
I snagged the champagne Bennett was still holding and drained it.He frowned at me.Konni, who’d tagged along with him, grinned as he looked between us.
“I think I’ll need to change my seat.Tonight is looking to be very entertaining.”
“How do you know I’m already planning on a second glass to numb the pain of enduring a four-hour charity dinner?”
Konni laughed and clapped Bennett on the back.“She’s everything you said she was.”
“I’ll tell you what I think about Bennett, too, if you get me another glass,” I said, holding out my empty one.
“As you wish, princess.”He took my glass and left.
“He won’t be back, will he?”I said, looking at Bennett.
“He will.What were you saying to Lindi?I caught the last bit about whose name carries more weight, but not what led to it.”
“She was questioning my relationship with the Wulfs.I deliberately provoked her.It was a good distraction.”
“Tonight I’ll prove to you that being associated with the Wulf name isn’t all bad.I promise.”
He took my hand and wrapped it around his arm.
“Why does it feel like you just cursed me?”
His fingers stroked over mine.“Because I made the wrong choices in the past that hurt you and lost your trust.I’ll show you I can do better.”
I didn’t try contradicting him.
He pulled out my chair for me when we reached the table, and his fingers grazed my neck.I looked up at him.
