Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Dane’s here?” I was surprised.
“Yeah. Apparently when he saw his wife leaving the house, he decided he didn’t want her out unescorted.”
“But once they got here, Aja realized that Dane was the one who needed protecting.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to see them both,” I told him, taking another glass of champagne that was offered to me.
“Do you want a drink from the bar?” Duncan asked his husband, as Aaron had declined the flute he was presented with.
“We can go together in a second,” Aaron said, and I noted his arm in Duncan’s.
“I can get you a drink by myself,” Duncan teased.
“I forgot that these parties were stupid,” he told him, and I watched his eyes map Duncan from head to toe and then back. “And no, we’ll go together.”
Duncan snickered. “You afraid someone’s gonna steal me away?”
“No. I’m afraid someone will hit on you, and then there will be a scene when I have whoever had the audacity to proposition you escorted from our home.”
“Can you do that when they paid to get in and all the proceeds are going to different youth shelters all over the city?”
“I can make up the difference if anyone throws a fit,” he stated adamantly. “But I promise you, right now, that the next person who checks you out, head to toe, is getting booted.”
Duncan leaned in and kissed his cheek, lingering near his ear to whisper something that apparently pleased Aaron, if his sudden flush was any indication.
“Yes, well,” Aaron muttered, before turning to me, “where is your husband?”
“At home handing out candy and keeping an eye on the kids.”
“Your kids no longer require watching, so I have to wonder why he didn’t show up.”
“You know he hates this kinda stuff.”
Aaron made a noise of agreement. “Well, I think we’ll skip this next year, so you can let him know that we’ll be at your house.”
“But these get-togethers are great for networking,” I reminded him, “and this kind of thing is expected of you.”
“Speaking of people keeping an eye on their mates,” Duncan said with a smirk, “did your husband see you leave the house dressed like that?”
“Of course,” I said dismissively. “Now where are Dane and Aja?”
The last time Aaron had seen them, they were near the massive fireplace, so I went on a hunt. I had been surprised when I first arrived that no one was wearing a mask, but Duncan explained that everyone there had to RSVP with a copy of their vaccination card and their plans for getting the booster. I was glad Sam hadn’t come, though, as vaccination cards weren’t enough for him; he preferred everyone behind a mask.
I was stunned when I finally found my brother and his wife.
Aja was gorgeous in an off-white gown in silk crepe that hugged every curve, finally spilling to the floor in a mermaid skirt. The cowl neck was beaded pearl, as were her elbow-length gloves, and there were hundreds of pearls in her hair as well. She looked like a queen.
“What the hell?” I groused at her. “You’re supposed to be a courtesan like me.”
“I tried,” she explained, “but it just looked bad, and then I thought, if you were dressed like one, then I could be your mistress, and how cute would we be?”
I nodded. “We’d be very cute.”
“Right?”
“But? I hear a but.”
“Well, it turns out my husband is ridiculous and very, very adorable, and basically said the only way he was letting me out of the house was if he came with me.”
“And since that’s what you wanted to begin with––”
“Exactly,” she said with an evil cackle. “We threw some things together and he came with me, though––” She bit her bottom lip. “––I might have miscalculated.”
“How so?”
“Mmmmm.” She made a face. “He’s getting a lot of attention.”
“Why?”
She tipped her head, and I turned to look where she was.
My brother, Dane, tall, dark, and handsome, was cutting through the crowd with a drink in each hand, and people were moving for him so they could watch him walk by.
My conservative, always-in-a-suit-and-wingtips brother, was in an ornate cavalier vest, black jodhpurs tucked into his shiny black riding boots, and that was it. The vest fit like a glove, showed off the chiseled muscles in his biceps and chest, and the pants hugged his ass and thighs. There was guyliner, much more subdued than mine but still noticeable, and his hair was coiffed into an artful pompadour. He looked like he should have been walking a runway somewhere, and no one could take their eyes off him.
“Wow,” I said as he got closer.
“I know. I should have had him put on his tux, but I thought this would be more fun, but let’s face it, if he was in his tux, it would be just as bad. The man looks like a movie star, in clothes or not.”