The Man I Thought I Trusted - E. L. Todd Page 0,25
the air and snapped my fingers. “I don’t need a knight. All I need is my shoe.” I walked to the front door and straightened my posture before I opened it.
Dax stood there in a black tuxedo with a freshly shaved jawline. His hair was combed back, and he looked just as sexy as always. His eyes dropped down as he looked me over in my little black dress. A quiet whistle came from his lips the farther down he went. “Damn, you look fine.”
A smile crept onto my features because it was the reaction I’d been looking for; I’d just been looking for it from the wrong person. “Thanks.” I wanted to grab the front of his suit and pull him into me, but I didn’t want to wrinkle his pressed clothing, so I moved into him and kissed him.
His hands automatically squeezed my ass.
When I pulled away, I saw Charlie was looking in the fridge, like he was trying to find something to stare at instead of us. “Now that’s how you compliment a lady.”
Charlie didn’t turn around. “You’re a lady?”
“Oh, shut it.”
“Ready to go?” Dax asked.
“Yeah.”
Dax looked around as if he expected me to bring something. “Where’s your bag?”
I held up my clutch. “No big purse for this.”
“I meant your overnight bag. I was hoping you would stay with me for the weekend.”
“Oh…” I nodded in understanding. “I just figured we’re not gonna wear any clothes or go anywhere, and I could always use your toothbrush, so…do I really need anything?”
The affection in his eyes matched his handsome smile, and he visibly melted right before my eyes.
“And I don’t care about doing the walk of shame. I own that shit.”
His arms wrapped around me, and he kissed me again, this time harder, like wanted to skip the dinner and just go home instead. “I love you.”
Every time he said it, I couldn’t just hear it, but feel it, feel it in the energy around us. His beating heart was safe inside his chest, but I could see it clearly, see it thudding through the skin. He was sincere and harmless, the kind of man that would never hurt me. “I love you too.”
The charity party was held at the Four Seasons. It was just as pretentious and stuffy as I’d imagined it would be, all the women wearing gowns, flutes of champagne being carried on trays, along with fancy hors d’oeuvres. Dax kept his arm around my waist as he guided me around and mingled with people. I was on my best behavior, acting like a classy woman who belonged there. I wasn’t ashamed of who I was, but I didn’t want to embarrass Dax with my bluntness.
I knew he liked me for who I was, but not everyone felt that way. Sometimes I was described as a lawless bitch.
It was fine. Took it as a compliment.
We eventually found Renee and William, and it was nice to see two familiar faces.
William leaned in and embraced me. “You look lovely.” He was such a kind man, the kind who could compliment a woman without seeming sleazy.
“Thanks. You too.”
Renee hugged me next and gave me a fake kiss on the cheek. “My brother has been really happy lately. Always smiling. Always in a good mood. I know you have something to do with that.”
Dax immediately sighed in embarrassment. “Could you not share everything with her?”
“I think it’s cute.” I moved closer into his side and hooked my arm through his. “I’m happy too, you know.”
He leaned down and kissed me. He didn’t have to bend his neck down when I was in these sky-high heels, so that made embracing much easier.
We moved farther along until we met his circle of friends. I recognized them from a mile away, not because I knew what they looked like, but because I could tell by their behavior that they were a bunch of rich playboys. For one, they were all drinking scotch or gin, when everyone else was enjoying champagne and wine. Two, their eyes constantly wandered, and they spoke louder than most people, talking about money and even women.
I couldn’t picture Dax hanging out with these types of men, but at the same time, I could.
When Dax walked up, they greeted him with pats on the arm and back.
Dax made the introductions. “These are some of my boys. Clint, Joel, and Brad.” He turned back to his friends, “Guys, this is the woman I told you about.”