Page 126 of Wild Love
He shrugs. “Get used to it.”
I smile shyly and slug back the rest of my champagne. I don’t know how this became my life.
“All right, what’s this fundraiser for again?”
“You’re the one who fielded the invite.”
“I know, but I was just looking for reasons to harass you via email. You’re lucky I didn’t forward you the one fromPeoplemagazine asking for a rundown of your dating history for an article they were going to do.”
He huffs out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “What did you tell them?”
“That you were a virgin and a hermit and in an exclusive relationship with your yacht. They asked why you’re never seen in public with women, and I was like… have you tried taking a boat that big out on the town? Just plain cumbersome.”
Now I get a glare.
“Okay. I didn’t respond. I just deleted it.”
He nods. “Good. And it’s a fundraiser to rebuild after last year’s big forest fire. They reached out because I told Bash he could give the organization my email.”
“Well, that was alarmingly nice of you.”
“Rosie, stop running your mouth and get your ass over here.” He pats his lap, and old Rosie wants to tell him to go fuck himself.
But new Rosie gets up, straddles her boss’ lap, and kisses him eagerly while smiling, because she is indeed wearing a skirt.
“Are you sure it’s all in? Don’t close the door until you’resure. If this gets damaged in any way, I think I’ll barf.”
Ford drops his head in through the open car door. “If you barf on that dress, you’ll damage it. Hold yourself together.”
“Ford, this dress is worth as much as I make in a month.”
His brows scrunch together. “Is it?”
“Yes.”
“That’s appalling,” he says as he stands. “Remind me to give you a raise when we get back home.” He slams the door and rounds the vehicle to the other side.
When he slides in, I start to protest yet another raise, and he pulls his phone out to check if there are any messages. “Don’t even open your mouth to argue with me about this, or I’ll shove something in it to keep you busy.”
The driver starts the engine, and I press my lips together as I stare out the window over the arid mountains and sloping vineyards that lead to the lake’s edge, trying not to laugh at how rude Ford can be and how scandalized this poor older man looks.
Rather than take the seat behind the driver, Ford slides over into the middle and buckles himself in next to me without even glancing up from his phone.
Ford’s thumbs tap endlessly as he sends message after message. He hasn’t said it out loud, but I can tell he’s nervous about leaving Cora. He texted his mom asking about her, and she told him to take a Xanax and go enjoy himself. Basedon how quickly his fingers are flying over the screen, that was the wrong thing to say.
I reach for him and slide a hand over his muscled thigh. He looks edible in a tuxedo. I’m so used to seeing him in jeans, chunky sweaters, and rugged plaid shirts that I nearly fainted when I walked out of the bathroom to see him in this midnight blue getup.
Then when I saw the receipt for my dress in the trash bin, I almost passed out all over again. The dress is… otherworldly. I feel like a glowing Greek goddess wrapped in dusty, pale pink silk. The neckline dives deep, and the fabric gathers at the waist, where it ties in a knot, the ends of the sash tumbling to the floor like waterfalls. It has long sleeves, but the wrist cuffs stretch high up my forearms, dotted with round silk buttons.
The dress screams femininity and the nude suede pumps with ankle straps and a bow over the toes don’t hurt either. I’m wearing simple gold hoops and my hair is half up in loose waves. This dress needs nothing else.
I’veneverbeen this dressed up before. But even I wouldn’t ruin this outfit with socks and Birks only to piss Ford off. It would be an affront to all that is right in the world.
I squeeze his leg gently, trying to reassure him that Cora will be fine. “She’s going to have a blast with them.”
“I know.” He sounds tense, and my lips twitch. Watching him in dad mode is a kink I never knew I had. Like, Ford was hot before, but make him all concerned and hyper-protective of a little girl who I’m also a huge fan of, and he becomes downright irresistible.
“They raised two really amazing humans.” I squeeze again. “She’ll be lucky to spend time with them too.”
