Page 22 of Pursued By My Grumpy Fiancé
“It’s not for you, it’s for my mom. She wants you to wear it,” he says and takes the lid off the box.
“Oh.”
He gestures for me to turn around. I do as instructed and lift my hair. I feel the cool metal of the necklace on my chest. Once it’s clasped, I use my phone to look at my reflection.
“It’s gorgeous,” I whisper as I admire it.
It has diamonds all the way to the clasp, with the central focus being a cluster of diamonds descending down my chest. This is likely the most expensive thing that has ever and will ever touch my body.
“You like it?” Landon asks, and he seems surprised.
“I love it, to be honest,” I say, a blush rising on my cheeks.
“Hmm. I wouldn’t have thought it’d be your style,” he responds as he studies me for a moment.
I’m suddenly self-conscious, and feel the need to escape the limo. He seems to sense this and opens the door.
“Come on. Let’s get this show on the road,” he says.
Just like at the first event, there are a multitude of paparazzi here. Landon reaches for my hand as I step out of the limo. The cameras go crazy, blinding me with the flashing lights. Landon leads me down the walkway towards the doors, ignoring all the questions being thrown at us as we pass by.
“Landon, Landon! Have you and your fiancée made any wedding plans yet?”
“Hailey Dunn! How did you and Landon first meet?”
“Hailey! What designer are you wearing?”
Just as I start to feel overwhelmed, we’re in the doors and have escaped from all the press. I release a breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
“Are you okay?” Landon asks.
I nod.
“You may also have to pay for a pair of sunglasses for me, but I’m otherwise fine,” I joke.
Landon gives a pity chuckle for my lame joke.
A tall man in an eggplant-purple suit strides up to us.
“Mr. Gould, Ms. Dunn, it’s so lovely to have you here at the vineyard for this charity auction. You both look stunning. Could I interest you in a glass of our finest cabernet sauvignon? It’s made in house from our very own grapes,” he gestures to the bar, which is being manned by a woman dressed in all black.
“Yes, thank you, Mr. Langley. We will certainly take you up on that.” Landon leads me to the bar where the bartender pours two glasses of wine.
I spot Landon slip her a couple bills before we step away. Judging from the look on her face, they weren’t ones. Or fives. Or even twenties.
I’m slightly surprised that Landon is a generous tipper. But, I suppose that I shouldn’t be—I mean, considering how much he’s paying me.
Landon guides me by my elbow through the crowd. I finally spot our destination, a group of women, with Eleanor in the center.
“Oh, Landon, Hailey, I’m so happy you’re here!” She kisses me on both cheeks in greeting, then looks me up and down.
“Oh, you look absolutely marvelous. That shade of blue compliments your skin so well.”
Eleanor turns to the women surrounding her as Landon puts a hand on the small of my back.
“I’ll be back momentarily,” he says in a low voice before he darts off into the crowd.
I crane my neck to try to see where he went.
