Adore Me (Austin Singles 3)

Nodding, I slipped into the car. He was right. My parents knew Rich. Nash knew Rich. It wouldn’t be a big deal if we showed up at the dinner together. We had been off and on for a while now. Everyone knew we were still friends. The only one I had to worry about was Kaelynn. She had asked me about Blake yesterday, and I had managed to change the subject when I saw the cutest outfit for a baby. The one thing about Kaelynn lately was that she was like a dog seeing a squirrel when it came to baby things. It was easy to shift her focus when I needed to.

Rich made small talk as the limo drove to the hotel.

“How’s work going?”

“Really well. I’m slowly building up my patients. Some days are harder than others. But I really feel like I’m making a difference.”

“That’s amazing, Morgan. I’m so proud of you.”

I grinned. “Yeah, I’m happy it’s going well enough to pay the bills. Some cases are tough, though. They don’t want to talk, and I can see their hurt in their paintings. I feel helpless sometimes.”

He reached for my hand. “You know if you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m here for you.”

I squeezed his hand and replied, “I know. And thank you.”

After a few moments of silence, he spoke again. “So what is this event for?”

“It’s a charity event for a Habitat for Humanity project that the Austin Builders Association does every year. I’ve been pretty involved, and with Dad and Nash being on the Austin Builder’s board, I have to go. Honestly, I’ve been going to the Austin Builder Association’s balls almost every year.”

He smiled. Rich had gone to a few Habitat for Humanity projects with me. “I still say you’re the only woman I’ve ever met that can swing a hammer and use a saw.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. It felt good to laugh. I hadn’t really felt myself feel much of anything since Saturday when I walked out of that hotel room, leaving Blake behind.

Soon we were pulling up to the front of the Four Seasons Hotel. The limo pulled up and let us out. Rich said something to the driver before he took my arm, and we made our way through the hotel and into the grand ballroom.

“How much are the plates at this thing?” Rich asked as we walked into the ballroom.

“It’s all based on donations, but some of Austin’s wealthier people are invited. I’ve seen donations as much as five thousand a plate.”

“What?”

I laughed. “Yep. The rich like to out-donate the rich.”

As we walked into the ballroom, I glanced around, searching for Nash and Kaelynn or anyone I might know. I knew the family hosting the dinner. Tina and Scott Franklin and their daughter, Raine.

“I don’t see Nash and Kaelynn anywhere,” I said, lifting on the toes of my high heels.

“Is that your parents over there?” Rich asked, pointing to the left.

As I scanned in the direction he was pointing, my breath caught in my throat. Blake was standing next to my parents, talking to Tina and Scott with his arm around Raine. Scanning through my memory, I tried to think of Raine ever mentioning Blake.

Was Blake here with her? As her . . . date? For the love of all things, this was not happening to me again. It was like Tucker and Charlie’s dinner all over again.

I tried like hell to push the jealous feeling that was creeping in away. Blake had said nothing was going on with Rose. Maybe that was the case with Raine? My head spun as I stared at his arm around Raine.

“Hey, don’t you look beautiful.”

The sound of Nash’s voice caused me to jump. Turning, I saw him and Kaelynn.

“Hey. Hi. Sorry I’m late.”

Nash reached his hand out and shook Rich’s hand. “Y’all back on?”

Rich and I both laughed. “No. He has a girlfriend and offered me a pity date so I didn’t have to come alone.”

Nash grinned. “Rich, you remember Kaelynn?”

“Yes. We met at Morgan’s birthday party.”