Page 40 of Dirty Money
“So, intelligent and how true,” Emily Snodgrass replied with a wide smile. “You’ve either made your parents very proud or they’re very disappointed right now. I know how parents can be. When I went to finishing school, and came out with the wild idea that I wanted to be a reporter, I was met with criticism. Unfortunately, I caved into it and went on to become the wife of Seville Snodgrass the Fourth, instead of pursuing a path my parents deemed unfit for my station in life.”
“Pity,” Weston said and looked at Aulora with a wide smile on his handsome face. “My Aulora would walk through fire to get where she needs to get in the art world. Isn’t that right, Aulora?”
She nodded and watched a tray of alcoholic beverages pass by. “My mother is proud of me. My father, not so much.” How she wanted to reach out and grab a glass of numbing juice but Weston wanted no alcohol to pass through her lips, lest she would get no taste of him on that day.
And she wanted a taste of him more than she’d ever wanted anything!
The day passed by and she managed to keep her cool and make new acquaintances. With so many promises to stop by the gallery to view and perhaps make purchases of her work, she knew she was going to need to get to work ASAP and with Weston as her muse, she was pretty sure things were beginning to look up for her.
The ride in his Mercedes as they went back to his place, had her dreamily looking out the window at the darkening sky. Perhaps she could make her own wealth one day as a real artist. Maybe she could make it all happen for herself.
She glanced at Weston as he took her hand and kissed it.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“I was just thinking about things. Thank you, West. I think you might be my golden ticket.”
His smile made her heart flutter and she found herself smiling too. He lifted her hand once more and turned it over, leaving a trail of kisses over her palm. “When we get home, I want to get you out of that pretty dress and into my arms. What do you think about that?”
With a shiver of pure lust, she said, “I think I want to kiss you all over and I’d love it if you’d do the same for me.”
She couldn’t wait to get back to his mansion and find out what made him tick. And when they pulled into the garage and he sighed as he looked at another car that was parked there, he looked over at her with a frown.
“Father’s home. We can’t get right to the good stuff.”
“Want to go to my place?” she asked him with hopes of hightailing it out of there before she had to be introduced to another person. And this one, the most important person in Weston’s life.
“No, I want you in my bed.” His eyes roamed over her with sheer lust. “I want to make you mine in my home and in my bedroom, Aulora.”
His voice was deep and demanding. And she was on fire.
“’K,” came her simple reply. She could hardly think, let alone form a whole sentence.
He came around and opened her door then took her hand and led her into the house. Laughter is what they heard and when they followed the sound, they found his father, a man who looked very similar to Weston, only his hair had gone silver. On his father’s lap sat a tall, willowy blonde with long red nails and dollar signs in her light green eyes.
“Weston, son! And who is on your arm?” his father called out and stood up, unseating the woman who now looked annoyed.
“This is my girl, Father. The one I’ve been telling you about. This is Aulora Greene. Aulora, this is my father, Joshua Calloway.”
“Call me Josh,” he said as he extended his hand and shook Aulora’s.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Josh. And your lady friend is?” Aullie asked.
“I’m Stephanie,” the woman said as she stepped up and held her hand out. Aulora shook it and found Josh not looking too enthused.
“Steph, how about you bring some drinks for the kids? Name your poison, Aulora.”
Weston was quick with the answer to that. “She and I are heading upstairs. There’s a movie we want to see and it’s about to start. We don’t want to get in your way. Night, Father.”
With a smile and a nod, Josh waved them away and Aulora felt relief at ending the day of meeting so many new people. As they headed up the stairs, she caught sight of the other woman looking up at them. A sadness was in her eyes and she knew why that was.
That woman wanted what Aulora had. A commitment. But Aulora knew something that woman didn’t. When dealing with rich men, one never knew when that commitment could end.
But she was going to ride this thing out with Weston and try very hard not to worry about that!
His eyes narrowed as he took her into his very masculine bedroom. “Strip.” He closed the door, ticking the lock, then stepped back a few steps until his enormous bed stopped him and he took a seat on it. Aulora felt like she was on display and when he grabbed a remote and music began to play, she felt like a stripper, there to please him.
It should’ve infuriated her. But it had the opposite effect. Instead, she was turned on. He’d taken her out and introduced her to his people. He wasn’t ashamed of his little waitress slash art student. He was proud of her.
