Page 59 of A Little Bit Reckless
That was right. I was her escort.
I cleared my throat, then pushed forward toward my obligation. That was all tonight was,an obligation.
I took the steps quickly and intercepted Bow two steps from the bottom. With all the room’s attention on her, I didn’t think she noticed me there at first. She did now, and I didn’t miss the way her eyes followed each of my strides to the stairs. Nor how they glided over the fit of my tux before settling somewhere across my chest.
An obligation.
I drummed that into my head. Eventually, Thatcher’s little sister made it up to my eyes, and that was when her face managed to get even brighter. It was a natural tint in her cheeks this time when she opened her mouth. “Hi, Wells.”
My name was a whisper, and the sound drummed a beat into my chest that I ignored when I put an arm out for her hand. It was the civil thing to do to help her down the stairs, the proper thing. I cleared my throat again. “Hi. My car’s outside.”
I’d be driving her tonight, and her brother was coming with us. I was happy for that buffer.
Something twitched in Bow’s expression when I spoke to her. I didn’t know if that was because of my directness or my coldness.
Maybe both.
Regardless, I ignored her response, then, later, the heat of her hand on my arm when she touched me. That warmth pressed through my tux, but that was a physical response. It was a mistake.
And I wasn’t going to make anymore.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
Wells
The Vesperton Hotel was owned by the Costa family. They were some family based out of Chicago that was rumored to have serious ties to the Italian mafia.
No one around here really cared about that though. Especially with all the corruption that came through (and lived) here. Anyway, it was the nicest hotel in town, and the location was where Dorian’s parents chose to host his gala. The Prinzes basically shut the place down.
There was even a red carpet.
Thatcher, Squeak, and I had to stand out front for pictures, but I kept my distance from Thatcher’s little sister for the most part. I also hadn’t talked to her on the drive over, but that wasn’t unusual since Thatcher was there too.
Of course, Squeak looked like she wanted to speak to me at some points during the red carpet, but the thing about Thatcher’s little sister was that she was shy. She also wouldn’t say anything about what happened in front of Thatcher. Maybe she figured I already had.
I hadn’t, but I would. I was going to pull Thatcher aside when things were a little quieter anyway. The red carpet wasn’t the time, and neither was when we headed off inside.
Dorian’s parents filled this place with nothing but the most elite guests. The Vesperton was hoppin’, and there was even a charity auction. Dorian’s parents were really into giving, and honestly, so were mine. Mom and Dad gave back whenever they could to this town and the same went for my other friends’ parents.
“Hey, I’ll catch you later,” Thatcher said right before our small group was about to enter the ballroom. His parents were probably behind us, but we hadn’t seen them at the hotel yet. Thatcher lifted his phone. “It’s Aspen. I’m going to chat with her for a while.”
My buddy was such a sap now.
Someone might as well be happy.
I shook Thatcher’s hand. He was off after that, and I was left with his sister.
Bow chewed one of her painted lips. “Hey, um…”
“We should probably find the others,” I said offering my arm again. That was all I could give to her right now.
Squeak’s face colored. She once again looked like she wanted to say something, and when she chose not to, something in my chest settled.
We ended up parting in the ballroom.
Squeak had found my parents. Mom looked gorgeous tonight. I’d seen her in her pink dress before I left for the Reeds’, and she sparkled under the ballroom lights. Dad looked pretty fly with her, and even though I’d seen him in a tux many times, that wasn’t his chosen preference for attire. He liked to be pretty casual like me, and, after hugging them both, I had no problem leaving Thatcher’s little sister with them. Mom was speaking toBow anyway. Squeak had a great relationship with my parents, all the parents, really.
