Page 31 of Secret Admirer
Rebecca wiggled into the dress, hoping no one noticed the slight pouch of her lunch that now showed up. No wonder models didn't eat. Other than the one flaw, the dress sparkled against her skin. Despite the red in her hair and her blue eyes, somehow the emerald was a pretty color on her. She twirled in the mirror to see how the dress allowed her to move, when behind her she heard applause. She turned and saw Bart.
The gleam in his eyes made her heart speed up and she smiled wide.
He crossed the room and bowed in front of her. “You look beautiful, Rebecca.”
Life with Bart was a dream. Her skin buzzed and she lowered her head, uncharacteristically shy. “I’m ready. I just need my shoes and we can go.”
He held her waist and she glanced up at him as he said, “First things first.”
“What?” She blinked.
She knew this party was important to him--would he give her instructions on decorum? He pulled her against him and smiled. “After the party, we’ll spend the evening, alone.”
That she knew how to do. “Sounds wonderful.” Bart's lips claimed hers and she let out a small moan while the rest of the world dissipated into nothing. Temptation had never tasted like this.
Chapter 10
This afternoon’s meetings had been promising. Bart had met Will, who had decent tech experience and a theory that needed more testing, but early figures showed the young man had the potential to cure global warming.
Bart could provide funding for testing in exchange for exclusivity if the technology worked.
He tucked his phone away and glanced around the limo until his gaze landed on Rebecca. She seemed… bubbly and sweet tonight.
He smiled at her as the limo stopped in front of a condo near the beach to pick up Aurelia for the party on Starr Island. She took his hand and he thought of all the fun things he had planned for later but said, “The party already started.”
She pointed to the sidewalk near the glass lobby and the small bench. “Melissa is here.”
The limo driver stopped and Aurelia popped her head in, dressed in all shimmery gold, and her hair done in a twist. She smiled brightly at them but focused on Rebecca. “Wow, you look gorgeous, and much nicer without your jeans you usually wear.”
Rebecca smiled like Aurelia’s words mattered and she’d just received an A on a test. “Thanks… Melissa?”
Huh, he wasn’t sure he could call his sister by any other name. He waited and Aurelia met his gaze with a nod. “We better start transitioning to Aurelia. I met Luke this afternoon. He said he’ll announce my DNA results at the party.”
Perfect. His heart recognized his sister, but it would be good to have evidence to back up the feeling. “That’s fast.”
Aurelia climbed in and sat back with a happy grin. “He said he’d rush it.”
His sister was the younger version of their mother, entirely. He scooted forward. “For the record, I already know you’re my sister.”
She patted his hand. “Good, Bart. I've missed you.”
She even felt a little like Mom, which was strange. She ended the touch and he said, “I wished you’d called.”
Aurelia tugged on the gold knot at her ear and then shrugged. “I thought… I thought I wasn’t wanted, and that I'd been thrown out. It was hard.”
He settled back next to Rebecca, who smelled like roses and lavender tonight. “And wrong. We all want you in our lives again.”
The limo drove onto Starr Island and soon they’d be at the party. Aurelia asked, “So what’s going on with Anthony and why does he need help?”
He glanced at Rebecca, who had no siblings. She was his and he’d keep her. He folded his hands in front of him to explain their brother. “He’s in love with a woman who doesn’t love him back. What’s worse is Jennifer is having, or has had, his child, without telling him where she is, and she's lied to him for the entire pregnancy about the paternity.”
Aurelia’s eyes widened. “That’s horrible.”
“You thought she was the love of Peter’s life when Jennifer is much more divisive than that.”
“I’ll never believe anything I read about her again.” The limo waited in line to bring them to Axel’s home on Starr Island.
He shifted on the leather seat. “The tabloids can't be trusted. The horrible part is that Anthony emulates our father.”
