Serves Me Wright (Wright #9) - K.A. Linde Page 0,55
really outdid himself.”
“He really did. Wow. I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe this exists in Lubbock.”
We passed through to the main part of the hall. Three tiers of balconies overlooked the main stage. The curtains were closed, and a projector displayed the Lubbock Volunteer logo against the heavy drapery. Circular tables filled the perimeter, and an open space for dancing was already occupied by many of the guests. Twinkling lights made it look as if we were open to the cosmos.
Everything was glamorous and sophisticated. It almost felt like being back home in Vancouver. Jordan was the one who had been the face of the company with Dad and attended most of these sorts of events. I’d never had any real interest even though I’d worked there for several years right out of college. It hadn’t been my passion. Not like the vineyard was. I’d gone to events with Ashleigh, but it had always been a chore. I’d forgotten how much fun it could be.
“Well, well, well, look who showed,” Ashleigh said, materializing before us.
I wanted to clench my jaw, but I didn’t. I stayed as calm as I could. This was why we were here to begin with. This was why I’d asked Jen for a fake date. I had to deal with Ashleigh today, and that meant putting on a happy face and not pissing her off. I didn’t put it past her to sabotage this distribution agreement if she was pissy.
“Evening, Ashleigh,” I said politely.
Her eyes crawled my body. She loved when I dressed up.
She stepped forward, tugging slightly on the collar of my jacket. “This is new.”
Jennifer stiffened next to me.
I took a step out of her reach. “It is.”
“Well, what do you think?” she asked, unperturbed. She twirled in a circle. She’d gone all out in a pink silk number that flowed over her like water. It was a great dress. Too bad it was on a such a terrible person.
“I think it’s lovely,” Jennifer said before I could respond.
I glanced at her, but she was just smiling.
Ashleigh’s eyes narrowed. She’d been trying to pretend that Jen wasn’t there. “Don’t you clean up nicely?”
Jen’s smile widened. “I could say the same thing about you.”
Ashleigh arched an eyebrow. “Look who got some teeth.”
I was just as surprised that Jennifer was even talking to Ashleigh. Last time we’d seen her, she’d frozen up and then run out of the room. Was the difference that we were dating?
Jennifer shrugged. “No reason to be catty. We’re all here to have a good time.”
Ashleigh looked like she wanted to say something else with venom, but I stepped between them.
“We’re going to go get drinks. Have a nice evening.”
“I planned to introduce you around,” she said. “But if you’d rather play with your pet, then…”
“Ashleigh, can we just have a civilized night?”
She clenched her tiny little clutch until her knuckles went white. “Can we speak in private?”
I sighed. I really didn’t want to do this, but I worried if I didn’t have this out with her now, then the entire night, she’d hound us with her bullshit.
My eyes swept to Jennifer. “Will you be all right?”
“I’ll get in line for drinks,” she said easily.
She had her hands clasped together, but I could still see them shaking a little. She didn’t like this, and I hated putting her in an uncomfortable position.
“It’ll just be a minute,” I promised.
Then she did something that I never anticipated. She reached up onto her tiptoes and brought her lips to mine. It wasn’t a long kiss. Nothing more than that one perfect press together. But she looked up at me with such intimacy that my entire being shifted toward her.
“One minute,” she said with a smile.
I heard Ashleigh huff in front of us. I nodded at Jen, and then she headed for the line for the bar.
“That was unnecessary,” Ashleigh spat. She whirled on her heel and stalked out of the room.
A smile tugged at my lips as I followed her. Damn bold of Jennifer to kiss me right in front of Ashleigh. I liked this side of her.
We ended up in a mostly empty area of the lobby. Nearly everyone had moved into the concert hall already. The last thing I wanted was to be alone with Ashleigh. As furious with her as I was, we’d still dated for two years. And she knew how to get to me.
I crossed my arms over my chest and waited. “What’s this about?”