“Of course.”
“Great. I’ll send you my new address and see you tonight.”
“See you tonight.” I ended the call and collapsed onto the bed.
I needed a lot more time to think about Dane and I didn’t want to do it when he came back to the hotel for me. I wanted the next few days by myself—hot sex be damned, so I could figure this out.
I sat up and made a new reservation at the hotel across the street—placing it under a different name, and then I packed my things and headed to the elevator.
As the car was moving down, my phone buzzed with several screenshot messages from my Dad.
Unknown user: I wish you would stop posting so many pictures of your family every day. WE GET IT! You and your husband fuck like rabbits and pop out baby boys like you’re trying to start your own army.
Unknown user: That duck-face lip thing that you do in your photos makes you look even less attractive than you already are.
Unknown user: Your husband’s lips look greenish-brown in this picture. I wonder if you know all the places that they’ve been.
Ugh, Mom.
THIRTEEN
Christina
The moment I stepped onto my father’s newest estate, I rolled my eyes. He was clearly living far above his means, because there was no way in hell that he could afford a place like this unless he hit the lottery without telling me.
His sprawling crème-colored mansion sat at the top of a hill, flanked by a private twenty-acre lake and a guest house that was as big as his former, three-story home.
Focus on getting away so you can get back to your hotel, Christina. Get in, get out, get back to the hotel.
I silently repeated those directions as my stilettos clacked against the winding stone steps. In true over-the-top fashion, my father set sparkling silver lanyards outside the door for all of the guests.
I picked up the one that bore my name and placed it around my neck.
“Ah, the original Miss Grover.” One of my father’s colleagues smiled at me as he opened the door. “Your father knows you very well. He said that you’d be fashionably late.”
“I wasn’t trying to be.”
“It’s not a big deal, don’t worry.” He smiled. “Everyone is out by the terrace, but feel free to take a private tour.”
“Thank you.”
I walked past him and into the colossal foyer that was outfitted in marble. The grand, spiral staircase stood in the center of the room, adorned with small white lights that twisted around its iron railing.
The house became more obnoxious in its wealth with every step I took, so I didn’t bother taking a private tour.
My mom would have a field day with this.
I made a beeline for the glass doors on the other side of the room, and they glided open as I approached.
Thankfully, my father was right in my line of sight.
Standing next to a brightly-lit stone waterfall, he was telling one of his usual bad jokes.
“Hey Dad,” I said, walking over to him once his employees stopped laughing.
“Hey there, Chrissie.” He pulled me into a hug. “I still can’t believe you didn’t let me know that you were in town. You could’ve at least sent a text message.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“Sure, you are.” He laughed and let me go. “I guess I may have to start believing in fate now. Crazy how Dane happened to see you at the airport, on the same weekend when you get a new brother, huh?”
“Yeah, total fate.” I cleared my throat. “Where’s Eliza??”
“She’s upstairs sleeping with the baby since she has a headache,” he said, then he lowered his voice. “She’s faking it. She hates my work parties as much as you do, but I’m sure she’ll be posting about how amazing it was tomorrow on Facebook.”
We laughed, and he grabbed two champagne flutes from a passing waiter’s tray.
Handing one to me, he smiled. “I have a few conditions before you try to make a run for the exit. Please say hello to a few of the people that you recognize, and try to get in a few pictures, will you? That way, I can look back and believe that you were here. Oh, and you’re still required to let me treat you to dinner before you leave town, okay?”
“Will do.”
He patted my back and walked over to a group of guys in grey suits. Conditions or not, I was leaving this party the moment he disappeared into the crowd.
I downed my champagne, tilting my glass up until every drop was gone. The second I was finished, I spotted Dane walking into the waterfall area.
Turning away, I moved to the dessert station, standing behind the cupcake tower.
I watched as Dane moved effortlessly through the crowd—making every woman who caught sight of him blush. I tried my best to look away from him, but I couldn’t.