“Let’s get one thing straight. If I ever went to prison, someone would be my bitch.”
“Oh, so you’re implying—”
I shake my head. “Next topic, please,” I say before I do talk myself into a corner. “Back to you. So, I take it from your story you’re a daddy’s girl?”
A pained look crosses her eyes, and instantly I know I said something wrong. The investigative side of me says, “That look is the reason your dad is interested in her.” Something is going on with her family.” When my dad smells weakness, he draws blood.
“I’m definitely a daddy’s girl.”
The vehicle comes to a stop, and when I look out the window, I see that we’re parked in front of the museum. The front of the large stone structure was recently refurbished thanks to last year’s fundraising gala, the dark columns rising high into the air and flanking the row of heavy solid wood doors that have designs intricately carved into them.
Langley makes his way to the curbside and opens the car door. I nod at him as I exit and turn to offer my assistance to Isla. She shuffles over on the seat and takes my hand as she steps from the car, holding eye contact with me.
I don’t move once she’s standing so I have her pinned between me and the car. The scent of her perfume reaches me, and I lean closer to her neck and inhale. She smells like a combination of rosewood and something woodsier and muskier, but it’s unexpectedly sultry and has a direct line to my dick.
“You smell delicious,” I whisper.
She sucks in a breath, and rather than pull back to see the expression on her face I turn on my heel and step up onto the curb.
“I’ll call you when we’re ready, Langley.”
He nods and returns to the driver’s side.
“Does he ever speak?” Isla jokes as she accepts my outstretched hand to lead her inside.
“Only when necessary.”
We make our way out of the cold and I help Isla remove her jacket.
“Give me one minute. I’m going to check these.”
“Okay.”
I leave her and check our coats, tipping the attendant generously. When I return to the foyer, Isla stands by herself, waiting. The woman who arrived on Ford’s arm weeks ago isn’t there. This version of Isla is nervous and fidgety.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” I ask.
“I’m just realizing that I may run into some society people I haven’t seen since I returned.” She plays with her earring. And just like that I’m back in science class, watching her fiddle with her earring during an exam.
“And you’re worried they’re going to judge you or bring up the past?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Pretty much.”
“First, the only thing people are going to be thinking when they look at you is how was a lucky bastard like me able to convince you to join me this evening? Second, I guarantee you these hypocrites have more secrets than you or I would know what to do with in their closets. Lastly, you’re with the king of not giving a fuck what other people think. I can show you how it’s done.”
She blinks at me. “Do you?”
My forehead creases. “Do I what?”
“Have secrets?”
I hold her gaze for a moment. “We all have secrets. Come on, let’s go make people jealous.”
She loops her arm through mine and we head through the foyer to the event space. If she only knew the secrets that weigh so heavily on me.
17
Chapter Seventeen
Isla
Garrin is right. He is the king of not giving a fuck. When people come up to talk to him or even kiss his ass, if he doesn’t like them, he doesn’t bother with the pleasantries polite society dictates. No, he gives them the full weight of his stare and disdain until they retreat.
You could say a lot of things about Garrin, but he is unapologetically himself.
There’s something comforting about spending time with someone who is so honest and upfront about who he is. Even when it reflects poorly on him. What you see is what you get, and after years of worrying whether men had ulterior motives or were being honest with me, it’s refreshing.
“Would you care to dance?” Garrin asks.
We’ve spent the past hour talking to people and bidding on some of the silent auction items. No one has said or done anything untoward with regards to me being here, but I’ve spotted a few curious glances from afar. Not sure if it has more to do with Garrin