I miss Dad.
I wish he was here.
He would know how to handle this. He would put Gabriel in his place.
I sigh as I pick my head back up and continue pushing forward.
Ninety thousand for a DJ, eleven thousand for a red carpet rental, nine hundred thousand to rent the extravagant venue.
He’s going to ruin my father’s legacy.
But I won’t let him.
I’ll preserve it. I’ll grow it. I’ll make him proud.
I don’t need a ton of riches and all of this fancy stuff. When I picture happiness, I’m in a small house in the countryside surrounded by a loving family.
That’s all I really want. That’s all I need.
A man who loves me and some children that I adore.
My mind wanders from my peaceful little fantasy and goes to Westin Cline.
I get a shiver all over when I remember the intense way he was looking at me from across the conference table. It was the same possessive look he had on his face when I introduced myself at the wedding.
I’ve never had a man look at me like that before and I can’t seem to get it out of my mind.
I could tell what he was thinking this morning as he stared at me with that territorial look. I could almost see it playing in his mind…
I could hear the force in his voice as he kicked his brothers out of the room and then slammed the door closed. I could feel the tension in the air as he stormed over and threw me down on the table, ripping off my clothes as his hungry eyes feasted on what no man has ever seen before.
My phone buzzes and jerks me out of my fantasy.
Wow… I’m hot all over and this time I can’t blame the broken elevator.
I undo a button as I glance at my phone.
It’s just a Facebook notification. Another one of my friends from high school is having a baby.
I sigh as I flip my phone over to hide the happy yet depressing news. When is it going to be my turn?
I haven’t had any luck in the love department. I’ve never had a serious boyfriend and my virginity is still intact.
No one has ever lit that fire in my belly the way a soul mate does. Crazily, Westin is the only man who’s come close to that feeling.
I hid it well, but I was feeling it. The warmth from his gaze was flowing from my chest down to the area between my legs. It’s still flowing down there now.
And I have a date with him.
Thursday night, it’s going to be me and him at the fashion show.
I want to hate everything about this horrible event that’s another financial kick in the balls to our already hurting company, but I’m excited.
I’m already thinking about what I can wear.
But there’s nothing in my closet that would be suitable for a hot date at a fashion show, even one as garish as the one my brother’s throwing.
“I’ll buy something new,” I whisper to myself. “Something sexy.”
I grin as I hit the intercom to my secretary. “I’m heading out. I’ll be back after lunch.”
I have some shopping to do.
I’m going to buy something that’s going to blow Westin’s mind.
Chapter Three
Westin
The plastic bags are digging into my palms as I walk off the elevator and head to the conference room for my families’ weekly Thursday night dinner.
“You’re not Brooke,” Luke says when I walk into the room with the food.
“Great observation,” Eli says with a laugh. “I’m so happy you’re finally learning your siblings’ names. What’s my name again?”
“Dead meat,” Luke answers in a low warning voice.
“How come you’re bringing the food?” Nolan asks as I drop the Chinese food onto the table.
We’ve been having Thursday night dinners in this conference room for years and Brooke is always the one who brings the food.
“She’s bringing something more important tonight,” I say as my stomach rolls with nerves.
“What could be more important than food?” Luke says as he and Eli dive into the bags, pulling out the greasy containers.
“He has his date tonight,” Nolan says as he grabs the Kung Pao Chicken. “The one he hasn’t shut up about all week.”
I’ve been going crazy all week waiting for this night to come. I have a date with an angel.
The elevator dings open and I hold my breath as my younger sister Brooke walks into the room holding some bags.
“Did you get it?”
She nods at me with a smile. “Your little sister always comes through when it comes to fashion, don’t you know that by now?”
She starts pulling out all kinds of outfits—shirts, jackets, pants, shoes—all with the tags on.
There are too many to choose from and I don’t know what Victoria would like.
“This is my pick,” Brooke says as she holds up an oversized shirt that looks like a Jackson Pollack painting. “Hold that.”