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“Your table seems a little too crowded already,” she said as she dropped my hand. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”
“Bye.” Angelica waved as the mystery woman hurried through the crowd like an Olympic sprinter who just heard the starting gun. So much for the borrowed shoes being too high.
“Who the hell was that?” Angelica snickered. “She sticks out in this crowd. Doesn’t she?”
“She does.” In the most perfectly chaotic way possible.
The only thing I wanted more than that last property right now was her. I might not be able to do anything about acquiring that old inn at the moment, but I could definitely figure out why my heart beat so fast for a girl who just outran a room full of socialites.
Little Miss Awkward had managed to escape me twice. I wasn’t about to allow a third getaway to happen. Even if I had to trade my Louboutins for running shoes.
The chase was officially on.
TWO
Ivy
I accepted Jay’s invitation tonight because I wanted to put my current problems aside and have one night where I didn’t have to stress about what I was going to do to keep a roof over my head. Not just any roof. My family’s legacy. The only thing I had left of my grandparents.
“Ivy.” Jay poked my arm. “You promised you would smile tonight.”
“I am!” I grinned as he took a seat next to me at the bar. “See.”
“Hmm…” He set a plate of chocolate-covered pretzels in front of me. “I dipped these in the chocolate fountain for you.”
“Thank you.” I picked up a mini-pretzel from the plate and nibbled off some of the chocolate. “That’s delicious.”
“Premium chocolate, honey.” He popped a pretzel into his mouth. “Pairs well with the expensive champagne. Should we have another glass?”
“I better not.” I held up my hand. “I’ve had too much already.”
“So? My aunt gifted us a suite tonight. We can drink as much free, top-shelf booze as we want.”
“Why not?” I giggled. “One night of fun can’t hurt anything.”
“I’ll order the champagne.”
“You’re a bad influence.”
“That’s the best kind.”
As Jay ordered the drinks, my gaze drifted to the staircase. The intriguing stranger in the red suit held a conversation with a small group. They hung on his every word. What are they discussing?
His silver hair glistened beneath the twinkling lights cascading from the ceiling. A sculpted jawline, and manicured stubble flowed into high cheekbones hidden beneath his mask. There was something magnetic about him. I didn’t know many wealthy people, but he radiated importance. Desirability. Why did he want to have dinner with me?
“Why are you so captivated with the sexy Santa?” Jay sipped his champagne. “He’s pretty steamy, isn’t he?”
“What?”
“You’ve been staring at him all night,” Jay said.
“No, I haven’t.”
“We’re so close, I can almost read your thoughts.”
That’s true. We had been friends since fourth grade. We were there for one another through every major milestone in our lives. He was there for me when I lost my mother, my grandfather, and then my grandmother.
“He asked me to sit at his table earlier, but I declined.”
