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She looks around, breathing in deeply, soaking up the ambiance of the limo one more time. “Bye, limo, I’ll miss you.”
Letting myself out first, I hold my hand out for Charlie, then for Spencer. She winces as she steps out. I glance down at her shoes, wondering if they’re the cause of her sour mood. These heels really don’t look much different in size and shape than the ones she wears to the office. That can’t be it.
With Charlie strutting boldly in front of us, I hang back and hook Spencer’s arm in mine as we approach the hotel doors. “Are you hungry?”
“A little,” she answers.
“They’re serving hors d’oeuvres, but I arranged a late dinner to be delivered to our room.”
Spencer freezes, halting us both. “You got us a room?” She nods toward Charlie and lowers her voice. “What do you possibly think can happen with my sister here?”
I smirk. “I reserved the penthouse suite. Three bedrooms. We can eat, watch a PG movie together, then go to bed. All innocent.” I grab her hand and run my thumb over her knuckles. “Or, we could leave one of those rooms untouched.”
She scrunches her face. “I thought we weren’t crossing that line. Yourrulesand all.”
I lean back, admiring her from head to toe. I duck down to put my lips to her ear so no one else can hear the grizzly desire in my tone. “It’s your fault. The way you look tonight… I think we’re bound to break some rules.”
“Julia,” I bellow so loudly, I startle several guests. I’ve been looking for her all night. Finally spotting her in her gold, sparkling gown, I weave through the crowd, making my way to the host. Eyes wide in surprise when she faces me, she ends the call she’s in.
“Nate! Sorry.” She puts her palm to her forehead. “I mean Nathan. Your dad said you prefer?—”
“Nate is fine.” I hold out my arms, feeling awkward as fuck, but I’m forcing myself out of my comfort zone. “May I?”
“Of course.” She hits me hard in the chest like a lineman. She’s sturdy for her petite frame. I thought she’d bounce off of me, instead she sends me backward one step as she wraps her arms around my waist in a bear hug. “I’m so surprised you came. Thank you.”
“It’s a beautiful event.”
She pulls away, a wide smile on her face. “Everything is falling apart.” Her Vanna White smile is confusing. “I wanted tonight to be perfect, but—” She throws her hands in the air. Oh. I see now. She’s smiling so hard so she doesn’t cry.
I guide her by the elbow out of earshot of guests. “What’s wrong?”
“I couldn’t decide between the silent auction or selling tables. I opted for hors d’oeuvres and auctioning jewelry, but everyone’s wallets are apparently glued shut. Everyone walked by the jewelry cases, yet no one’s bid yet. I should’ve just done a five-course meal and charged per plate.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much. Once the liquor starts flowing?—”
“We’re already out of champagne,” she admits.
Shit.“What else?”
“I promised everyone a performance.” She glances behind her to the stage. There’s a piano and four chairs. “There’s supposed to be a string quartet from the New York Philharmonic and the opera singer Italia Lucci. I just got a call that all we’re getting is a second-chair violinist.”
“What happened?”
“Lucci got a better gig evidently. And I’m still waiting to find out why I only got a quarter of the strings I ordered.” She forces out a deep, anguished breath.
“Anything else?”
“I ordered escargot with the caterers. The snails went bad, so they substituted Rocky Mountain oysters. I realize that’s low on the list of concerns, but this is a fancy event. I didn’t want to serve?—”
“Cow balls. Got it. Where’s my dad?”
Her eyes snap to mine. “Please don’t tell him. I told James I had it under control. He offered to help so many times. Evidently your mom hosted events like this in her sleep. I’m failing at this.”
I pat her shoulder, trying to provide reassurance. Then, I pull out my phone and text Byron.
Me
I need you to hit every single liquor store in a ten-mile radius and buy every bottle of Dom Perignon in stock. Bring them to the back of the hotel.