Page 8 of Irredeemable

“Test?” Madeline frowns, looking between us.

I sip, nodding my head. “Oh yes. It’s how she feels you out; see if you’re a good fit for her son.”

Jasmine snaps her fingers. “Remember that one Kiera planned? Tanner disregarded her before the night was over.”

Madeline looks visibly rattled, but she shakes her head. “I don’t think Tanner puts much emphasis on his mother’s events.”

I exchange a look with Jasmine and then lean forward. “Tell me, Madeline. Has she mentioned anything about me?”

Her cheeks flame red, and I can see her throat bob as she swallows.

Laughing softly, I smirk. “Before my acting career, I was well-known for my event planning under my real name in our little world. Jasmine, did Mrs. Roberts ever ask me to help with her charity events?”

“Nope.” The pop of the word from Jasmine's glossy lips is the extra flare I was seeking, and a slight appreciation of her friendship flows throughout me.

I shrug. “Because she prays for the day that Tanner stops even acknowledging me.”

Madeline’s disheartened expression has me rolling my eyes.

“Chin up, sweetheart. You knocked it out of the park with this one. Now you just have to keep Tanner’s attention, and you’ll bag the ring.”

“Of course…You’ve already blown any other girlfriends out of the water by months,” Jasmine’s smile turns dark, and she leans forward. “If we’re going to be honest, I never expected someone like you to hold it down for so long. But I guess what they say must be true.”

“What do they say?” Madeline says expectedly, pressing closer to us.

“A lady on the street, freak in the sheets. Good for you, girl. I’ve heard the rumors of how often he wants it.”

That was a bald-faced lie. I would claw anyone’s eyes out if they spoke about Tanner in bed. I’m sure he’s been with other women since our virginities almost a decade ago, but I didn’t need that confirmation. I almost knew from eavesdropping on a few of Madeline’s closest friends at brunch last week that Tanner was not getting anything. Madeline believed in purity before marriage. The only thing I was uncertain about was whether that was a personal choice or a religious belief. The former would be easier to manipulate her into throwing away.

Her face is pale, and her mouth is open like a fish.

Jasmine pats her arm, stroking it compassionately. “Look, our lips are sealed. We won’t say anything; just wanted to congratulate you on hooking that man. Other women have definitely tried and failed.”

Madeline looks like she's going to be sick when she excuses herself from us. We wait till her blonde hair has disappeared from view before we start cracking up. I kiss both of Jasmine’s cheeks. “Have I told you how you’re one of my favorite people?”

She shakes me off and rolls her eyes as she steps away. “Remember that when I become your sister-in-law.”

“Ew, you guys are still going?” I hadn’t heard anything after the first date the night after I sent him her number last month.

“I think?” She says shyly and I want to comfort her, but I had already warned her that my brother didn’t fall far from our father’s tree. Monogamy just wasn’t in our genes.

“Excuse me.” Jasmine makes her way out of the ballroom, I can only assume to sneak a glance at her phone in the restroom.

Holding my champagne close to my chest, I walk slowly around the room and survey the crowd to find the man I’m searching for. It was time to enact the second plan of the night. I find my target among a group of rambunctious men at the far side of the room, away from the prying eyes of donors for Mrs. Roberts' event.

I make my way over as stealthy as I can. I don’t want to draw the attention of his mother or girlfriend.

“Hello, boys,” I purr. I shift to the side, making sure the slit up to my hip is visible in my deep plum dress.

Dean and Tanner chuckle, amused as the other men surrounding them gawk at my bare skin at such a pristine event. Dean pulls me into a side hug, his dark hair slicked back and his muscular body hidden nicely under his suit.

“Sam, you always did know how to make an entrance.”

I smile, kissing him on the cheek and rubbing the lipstick off his chiseled jaw. “It’s my specialty.”

Moving to Tanner, I slide my hand down from his chest to rest on his lower stomach, smiling inwardly when I feel the flex of the muscles. He grabs my wrist, redirecting it back to his chest. “Careful with those wandering fingers. Someone might get the wrong idea.”

Raising an eyebrow, I smirk. “And what idea would that be?”

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