Page 76 of Sweet Possession
She had an accent to her voice, I didn’t know what kind. Europeanperhaps?
“Dominique, good to see you,”Fox said, dropping my hand to wrap itaround my waist and pull me closer to his side.“Let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Cora.”
The woman turned her focus on me. I’d been prepared for them to becold and calculating, but there was nothing but warmth in her hazel eyes. She reached for my hand, grabbing it, and cupping it in both of hers.
“Ms Cora, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you. I have ‘eard somuch about you from Nash and Savannah.”
Before I could brace myself, she lunged forward, kissing both mycheeks.“Oh, it’s nice to meet you too,”I replied politely, feeling like a tiny ant under her scrutinizing gaze.
“Baby girl, Dominique is a friend of Nash and Savannah’s. Shehelped Sav launch her fashion brand,”Fox said.
Relief washed through me. Savannah had told me lots aboutDominique over the past few days. She’d said she owed Dominique everything for giving her an opportunity to showcase her designs at a show in Paris.
“Tut tut,”Dominique said.“I did not help Savannah launch her brand,she didthatall by herself.Thatwoman has a talent for design,justlike you ‘ave a talent for baking. Your cakes were,”she paused as if she was trying to find the right word before she kissed the tips of her fingers.“Magnifique!”
“Thank you,”I replied, my cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson ather exuberant flattery.
“And girlfriend, Monsieur Fox?”she said, turning her attention back toFox, her eyes glittering with affection.“I am so pleased for you, it is about time you found a woman who makes you ‘appy.”
“Thanks, Dom,”Fox replied, grinning down at me.
I smiled back at him, but when I returned my gaze to Dominique, Ithought I saw a hint of a scowl on her lips before they pulled into a smile.
Or maybe I imagined it.
“Cora!”Savannah called, appearing out of nowhere.“Can I borrowyou for a second? There’s another guest who wants to talk to you. She wants to hire you to bake a cake for an engagement party!”
Fox squeezed my side.“That’s amazing news, baby girl.”
Excitement rushed through me. How was this my life right now? Afew months ago, I had no friends, no prospects, and a father who made it clear no one loved me, including him.
Now I was here, partying with friends, the man I loved by my side,and people I’d never met before wanting to hire me to bake cakes for them.
Savannah grabbed my hand.“I’ll bring her straight back,”she said toFox before gently tugging me out of his grasp.
“Make sure you do,”Fox replied, reluctantly releasing me.
Savannah led me through the crowd, never letting go of my hand.“Are you enjoying yourself, Cora?”she shouted over the din of the music which had grown louder as we neared the band.
“I really am,” I replied, beaming at her.
I’d never been to a party before, notevena kid’s party when I wasyounger. But I listened with envy when the kids at school would talk about the parties they went to, wishingthatI would be invited tojustone.
Of course, it never happened. Who’d want the girl who barely spokeand wore dirty clothes at their party?
Savannah opened her mouth to reply but someone cut her off byhollering her name. She paused to look through the crowd, before waving maniacally at a short, balding man wearing glasses.
“I need to say hello to Bill real quick, he’s a designer fromEngland, and I’m showing a new collection at his event in a couple of months.”
“Oh sure,”I replied.“Actually, I could do with going to thebathroom,thatchampagne has gone straight through me.”
I glanced around looking for the toilet, only for my heart to leap into mythroat when my gaze landed back on Fox and Dominique. The two of them were laughing, with her hand resting on his arm. But it was the way she was looking up at himthathad jealousy igniting under my skin.
She was looking at him the way I did. Like I wanted to feel his hands,mouth, and tongue all over my body.
“Okay, I’ll meet you out here when you’re done,”Sav said, drawingmy attention back to her.
She turned and headed over to the man who’d called for her. When Ilooked back at Fox, Dominique had taken her hand off his arm, but they’d moved closer together and Fox was leaning down, whispering in her ear with his hand on her waist.
