Her gold silk dress shimmered under the lights.
God, she was so damn beautiful. Yet he couldn’t make his feet move toward her. He was glued in place, paralyzed, stunned by her beauty.
Beauty that he’d always seen.
But tonight it was perfectly highlighted: her hair was pulled into a low ponytail, the front was braided to the side, covering part of her ear where single diamond earrings twinkled.
The gloves she wore went past her elbows.
Everything about her was—magical.
Her lips widened into a shaky smile as she took a few more steps toward him.
“Well, don’t just stand there,” Nadine hissed. “You need to speak.” Had she just clapped at him? “Go on, shoo!”
Jane bit her bottom lip and then let out a laugh as she finally made it to his side. “There’s something really strange about that woman.” She pointed her auction paddle in Nadine’s direction.
“Don’t point. She’ll think it’s an invitation to come over.”
“Too late,” Jane whispered. “Sorry.”
“Hello, dear!” Nadine spread her arms wide. “I’ve heard so much about you!” She gave Jane an overly obvious wink, as if asking her to play along and pretend they hadn’t already met at the door. “Why, Charles just won’t shut up about how you cleaned his home and slept with his grandson when we’re—”
Brock’s eyes narrowed in on his grandfather, who’d started tugging at his tie like it was choking the life out of him.
The crowd gathered around them.
Good, that’s what he needed. He needed people to think Nadine had absolutely no association with Jane whatsoever—though she didn’t need to yell all the gory details.
“When you’re what?” Brock asked innocently.
“Discussing business,” Nadine said brightly. “Why, sometimes it takes all day and night to get just the right contract negotiated.” Her eyes lit up. “In fact, Charles, I was hoping to steal you away this evening.”
“Leave the rape whistle, the gun, and the Swiss army knife at home, and we’ll talk,” He nodded to her purse. “Oh, and I wasn’t born yesterday. The pens stay, too.”
“You know, for being nine years younger, you sure aren’t very adventurous in…” Her eyes went from Brock to Jane. “Er, the charity board meetings we’re both on…and such.”
“Maybe because I prefer for the focus of board meetings to be singular, on one person, rather than…objects.”
“Oh, Charles.” She sighed.
“Should we leave you two alone now? With the pens?” Brock asked. “Because things just got really weird and I’m pretty sure you’re talking about sex with my grandfather, which by the way, is totally fine, as long as you never talk about it again in front of me or Jane, or any other object that may or may not be scarred for life.”
“The cock.” Jane nodded.
“Yes, I’m going to have to ask you to refrain from speaking about it, even in front of the ass and the rooster.”
Nadine’s lips twitched. “You remind me so much of my grandsons. Should we set up a play date?”
“Sure…” Brock backed away slowly. “Let me just see if I can find my Legos.”
“Perfect!” She winked and looped her arm with Grandfather’s. “Now, we’ve embarrassed you enough. Enjoy the ball.”
Grandfather walked off then paused and turned. “Brock, you promised that you would still participate in the auction.” He eyed Jane. “I don’t know what she’s doing here, but unless she bids on you—”
Brock stared down his grandfather. “I told you I was choosing both. Maybe it’s time you let me decide the course of my life.”
Grandfather eyed him and then settled his gaze on Jane. When he finally walked away Brock could have sworn his grandfather was laughing, but what did he have to laugh about?
When he looked back at Jane, her face was tight.
“Trust me,” he whispered in her ear. “And you look beautiful.”
She exhaled then pressed her hands to her hips, smoothing her dress as if she was nervous. “It’s not too much?”
“It’s perfect.” He reached for her hand and pulled her into his arms. “Now, you have the shoes, the dress, the pearls.” He grinned. “But you’re missing one thing.”
She frowned. “What?”
“We need to find you a prince.”
“Hmm, I don’t think I know any princes.”
He twirled her in his arms. “I can always go get Bentley. I’m sure he’d step in.”
“I don’t want Bentley.”
“Brant then?”
She smirked. “Nah, he’s too handsy.”
“Then I guess you’re stuck with me.” He bent over her hand. “May I have this dance?”
She curtsied low. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Brock’s smile melted all her defenses, making her feel beautiful and secure—although she was still a bit nervous. She still hadn’t seen her sisters and she feared that they’d approach her and say something hurtful or embarrassing. Probably both.