Page 128 of Wingwoman
“The Hermès scarf for one!”
“The… Hermès scarf?” I repeated.
I didn’t put an Hermès scarf in the auction. Maybe my assistant slipped it in there? But that was doubtful. She never acted on anything with the rescue without running it by me first.
“Yes!” Bitty clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, the designer items out there are to die for. Don’t get me wrong, I love a pair of Levi’s as much as the next girl, but there’s just something about Prada, isn’t there? Even if itisfrom last season.”
Hermès… Prada. My eyes narrowed in thought. Hope wouldn’t have…
Oh who the hell was I kidding? Of course she would have!
“Excuse me a moment, Bitty.” I forced a smile on my face and despite the desire I had to sprint over to the auction room, I kept my footsteps to a brisk, but easy stroll.
The scent of Chanel No 5 perfume clung to the air—no doubt the preferred scent of half the women here tonight.
“Son of a bitch,” I rasped to myself as I scanned the silent auction room.
All of the items I had picked out were here at the auction, of course. But there were dozens more within the room. Usually our silent auction was sparse. A few high end things here and there. A week’s stay at my house in Tahoe. Some signed records and guitars from musician friends of mine. That sort of thing.
But there were added podiums this year… filled with designer clothes and shoes.
More specifically, filled withHope’sdesigner clothes and shoes.
“Surprise.” I recognized Hope’s reluctant whisper immediately. When I turned around, she was watching me carefully, bottom lip tugged roughly between her teeth.
I refused to acknowledge how my heart kicked up a notch at the sight of her. Or how my inner organs felt like they were shrink-wrapped with Saran Wrap when I stood this close to her.
Nope. Not gonna acknowledge it.
“It certainly is,” I said, crossing my arms.
“Please don’t be mad,” she said. “I wanted to help… to contribute… and so I did it in the only way I knew how. By donating some of the amazing gifts you’ve given me.”
Her nervous smile faltered, the sight punching me right in the ribs.
“How could I be mad at that?” I whispered.
I tried to mask how tight my voice was. This night was turning into a disaster… and none of it was Hope’s fault. But if I wasn’t careful, she’d be collateral damage. Like Jenn.
I couldn’t let the shrapnel hit her. Not this time.
I forced a smile on my face, then drew my fingers into her hair. “You didn’t have to do any of this, but…” My words faded as I took the moment to collect myself.
Because what she did? No… not just what she did, but the core of who she is, touched something buried so deeply inside of me, I’d forgotten it was even there.
“But?” she prodded.
“But the fact you did means so much to me. I’ll never forget it.”
Her grin widened, blindingly beautiful.
The sight intoxicated me in the space of a tenth of a second.
“There’s more,” she said, but standing there staring at her, she sounded a million miles away.
“There’s more?” I mumbled, repeating her as I hooked a finger into the waist of her skirt and tugging her into me.
With her body pressed against mine, there was no denying the thrumming tension radiating between us. From the moment I first saw her, it existed. And now, getting to know her better? Knowing her heart and brain as well as her body as well as I did, it only intensified that tension, rather than diffusing it.
