“What’s this?” I asked.
“They were just delivered.” Her eyes were glued to the shoebox. “They’re for you.”
“Me?” I asked in confusion.
She passed me the shoebox, and I realized why she was in awe. Written in beautiful white letters across the top was one word—Louboutin.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “Who…who are they from?”
Piper handed me the card that had come with it. I flipped it open.
For my real girlfriend.
—Julian
Tears sprang to my eyes as emotion washed over me.
“No crying!” Blaire said, waving her hands at my eyes. “You’ll ruin all my work.”
I laughed at her ridiculousness. “He sent me a dress and shoes.”
“Two-thousand-dollar shoes,” Piper said pragmatically. “He must really like you.”
“Well, open it already! We’re dying here,” Blaire said.
I popped the box on the shoes and felt as if I were having a full-blown Cinderella moment. The shoes appeared to be glass-encrusted with rhinestones that made them glitter in the light. And of course, the signature red-lacquered bottom brought the entire shoe together.
Blaire and Piper oohed and aahed at them.
“Damn,” Blaire said. “Boy did good!”
Piper nodded. “Damn good.”
I set the shoebox down, unable to process my feelings about the most beautiful shoes I’d ever seen in my life. Then I pulled the zipper on the garment bag. And inside was the designer dress that I’d tried on with Annie in Malouf’s. It was the dress. And here it was, in all of its glory.
My throat closed up. “I can’t believe he did this.”
“I can,” Piper said. “He adores you. Don’t you see the way he looks at you?”
“Seconded,” Blaire said.
“It’s too much.”
Blaire waved her hand. “Who cares? He wouldn’t have done it if he couldn’t afford it. He wants to see you in it.”
“So, let’s get you ready. I cannot wait to see his face,” Piper said.
Blaire nodded. “He’s going to die. Seriously.”
Piper picked up the dress, and I hugged the shoebox to my chest like a prized treasure. I didn’t know how the hell this was happening to me. But when a guy bought you shoes, he was a keeper.
24
Julian
“Looking sharp, Wright,” Blaire said when she answered the door.
“Thanks.” I smirked at her and stepped inside in my custom-tailored tux. Fashion had always been a part of who I was, but this tuxedo blew most of my closet out of the water.
“I’ll get Jennifer.” She hustled around the corner and out of sight.
I stuffed my hands into my pockets and waited. I’d never thought that I’d be looking forward to this gala after what happened with Ashleigh. It had seemed like such a chore. Part of the business side that I would have to adjust to. If I wanted that distribution contract, then I’d have to play nice.
But now, I was going with Jennifer. My real date. Nothing fake about what was happening anymore. Which meant I’d gotten to be a bit extravagant. I’d worried the dress and shoes might be too much, but Annie had assured me it wasn’t. I was going to do it regardless.
Then Jennifer walked out into the living room in the light-blue dress that I’d purchased for her. She was more than stunning; she was effervescent. The bodice clung to her like a second skin with an iridescent plunge neckline. The dress gathered at the waist and shimmered in a metallic silver to the ground. She lifted the hem slightly, and I caught a flash of the Louboutins, which were probably a bit over the top but I couldn’t help myself.
Seeing her beam at me, looking like a goddess, made it all worth it.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Wow yourself,” she said. “Look at that suit.”
I ran my hands down the front of the tux and smirked. “You like?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Don’t be coy. We both know you’re vain.”
I burst into laughter. I couldn’t help it. “We do know that, yes. Now, get your ass over here.”
She giggled and stepped up to me. I threaded a careful hand up into her perfectly curled hair and brought her lips up to mine. She tasted divine. Suddenly, I was having second thoughts about leaving.
“Maybe we could stay in,” she said breathlessly.
I chuckled. “And miss the chance to show you off? Never.”
“You two are kind of disgusting,” Blaire said. I’d forgotten that she was still standing there. “Go to your gala and take lots of pictures. I want to live vicariously through you.”
Jennifer laughed and held up her purse, which was much larger than the dainty little clutches most women brought to such events. “I know it isn’t gala appropriate, but I brought a camera. No lens, so it fits.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” I held out my arm. “Shall we?”
She looped her arm through mine. “Definitely.”
We got into Milli and drove downtown to Buddy Holly Hall, a new performing arts center that Wright Construction had worked on. Jordan had been the mastermind behind the construction job. I’d been on dozens of tours of the place while it was in development, but I hadn’t seen it all done up.
The charity gala was in conjunction with Lubbock Volunteer, an organization dedicated to helping those in need right here at home. Ashleigh was on their board—she sat on a dozen all around town so that she would be invited to every major event—and had helped plan this one. When she’d had it in the works, she had considered how best to help the vineyard—or so she’d said. She’d invited everyone who was everyone in wine to be involved. It still amazed me that she had been doing this kind of thing while at the same time trying to tank the winery. It was like she had a contingency to every plan. I didn’t know who she’d really been the whole time we were together.
I valeted the car and then helped Jennifer up the walkway and into the venue. Her breath caught at the interior of the gorgeous, new concert hall. I’d been to locations like this all over the Pacific Northwest, and even I had to admit that this was picturesque. Nothing else like it. The Wrights were bringing class to this burgeoning town.
“It’s amazing,” Jennifer whispered.
“Jordan 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.