Page 9 of A Seductive Beauty
"Because I want to make sure you're safe. My accident wasn't an accident. This condo has been all redone," she says as she swings her arms around.
"Yeah, I noticed it wasn't the same as before. What do you mean it wasn't an accident?” I want to ask if she’s selling the condo and if I’m losing her, but that would seem childish.
"We didn't tell anyone, but I was shot. That’s what caused the accident." She acts like it’s no big deal.
"You need to tell me these things. Father wants me to go out with this man he knows. And then a friend, well, someone I thought was a friend, has been acting really weird."
"He's not a friend. He only sees you as a ticket to Mikayla," Moira says from behind me.
"Who?" Kayla asks.
"Patrick. He and I met right after I got back from culinary school. Don't you remember him?”
"Yes, sorry I forgot. He's the guy we had dinner with one night."
"Yes. But he's only a friend."
"Who is the man your father wants to set you up with?" Wesley asks me.
"I think his name is Landon or something like that." I barely listened when they were bugging me about going out with him.
"Bloody hell. How did your dad say he knew him?" Kayla swings on me again. Her eyes flaring wide, and I can’t help it, I step back.
"Actually, he didn't. Why?"
"That's the man who is going after my grandfather's lordship. He's claiming to be Uncle Durwin's illegitimate son." I’ve heard the rumors, but I don’t read the gossip rags because I know most of them are lies.
"Yuck," Brigid says, and I turn to nod at her. That’s wrong. I don’t want to go out with a man old enough to be my father.
The bell rings, interrupting our conversation. Wesley answers the door, leaving me with Kayla to stare me down.
"Hey, Hound," a deep voice says from the doorway.
"Hey, Colossus," Wesley says. He steps back and in walks the man I saw.
"That's the man."
"She saw me," he says, his voice gravelly. He’s huge. Like six-foot-eight with brown hair and a beard.
"Yep."
He walks across the room to me.
“I’m Andrew Edwards, you can call me Andy. I was assigned to protect you. I’m sorry if I scared you.” He holds out his large hand to me and I shake it. Now that I know who he is and why he was following me, I’m no longer scared of him.
I think about the letters I’ve received and the fact that Kayla was shot as the stylists get us ready. With my mind preoccupied, I’m not prepared for the reflection in the mirror when they are done with me.
“OMG, Fi, you look amazing,” Brigid exclaims as she stares at me.
The strapless trumpet style dress is white with a black stripe down my left side. My breasts look like they are about to spill out of the bodice. The slit up my left leg gives just a glimpse of the garter tattoo on my thigh when I walk. The artwork was an act of rebellion that I’m glad I did. The band of black flowers is delicate and beautiful. Normally no one can see it unless I’m in a swimsuit. The dress isn’t a style I would wear, and I don’t think I can pull this off. The black satin ribbon platform heels with a red bottom are sexy and bring me up an additional five inches. I’d be afraid to walk in them if my mum hadn’t made me wear heels from a young age. My hair is up in an intricate messy bun style with wisps of hair strategically pulled out. The stylist did a heavy eye and brow for my makeup with a very pale lip, making my fuller bottom lip look to be pouting.
I tried to get out of going again. I really did. I tried to have Moira or Brigid wear the dress and go in my stead, but that didn’t cut it, so now I’m sitting in the back of the limo across from Kayla and Wesley. They look perfect together. He’s in an all-black tux and she’s in a long black shimmery barely there slip dress. She has a long black cape on while I only have a thin shawl.
Good thing we are going straight from the car to the venue, otherwise, I’d freeze.
As the limo pulls up to the hotel where the banquet is taking place, I see all the press and know they are here for Wesley and Kayla. Just don’t trip and fall, I say to myself.
The door of the limo opens and Wesley steps out. He reaches back in to help Kayla, then pulls her into his body. I wait until Andy reaches in and I take his hand. My nerves get the best of me and I tremble slightly. As I step out of the limo, I take a deep breath and follow Kayla and Wesley inside. Andy follows behind me. I feel like a third wheel next to their obvious couple image. We check her cape and my wrap before we enter the large banquet room. My body instantly comes alive. Little shocks of awareness cross my skin. I look around the room and my eyes find him immediately. In the weeks since I last saw him, I’ve thought of him often.
