AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Selene?” I ask, as though I don’t already know from the koala hug.
Her smack to my arm as she pulls away is all the confirmation I really need.
“¡Tonta!” Silly! “Of course it’s me. I’ve been tracking your phone for the past hour and a half. I knew the second you started driving up the road to the club,” she rasps.
“I really regret giving you access to that.” I chuckle before diving in for another hug. “It’s so good to meet you in person!”
“I know! It’s taken too long, but you’re here! I can’t wait to show you everything and introduce you to everyone.”
Already, she’s moving at a million miles a minute, like she normally is, and I’m just happy to be swept up in the enthusiastic storm that is Selene.
“Gunnar!” she calls out as she turns to the building’s main doors. “I found her.”
“I can see that.” A tall, blond, Viking-like man chuckles. “Naomi, it’s nice to meet you finally.”
The way he looks down at Selene with stars in his eyes causes a pang of longing to shoot through my chest at such a sweet sight.
I’ve known for a while that they’re perfect for each other. Their appearances are the perfect deception. Her dark features and tan complexion are the perfect light to his hulking, golden boy darkness. Their personalities balance each other in every word that’s bickered back and forth between them. But seeing how Gunnar looks at my best friend in the universe, a woman I would protect with my last breath, solidifies the trust I’ve put in him to handle her heart.
“Come on,” the sparkly woman demands. “Let’s go get you settled in, and then we can start getting ready for tonight.”
“Selene, it’s like two o’clock. We have hours until anyone is heading to the club,” Gunnar says in his smooth bass.
“Yes. And that’s hours of primping that we need to do before we get dressed and meet up with the rest of the group,” she explains with a glare in his direction.
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes, earning me my own scathing look from Selene.
“If you gang up on me with him, I’m cutting you off,” she snarks.
“Cutting me off?” I gasp in horror. “You wouldn’t.”
“Yup. You heard me. No more fluff photos.”
“You’d never take away my time with Beef Cake.”
“I wouldn’t, but it’s a damn good threat, cariña. Cat photo withdrawal is a serious condition,” she quips before turning on her heel and marching to the entrance. “¡Vamos!” Onward!
Looking at Gunnar, I glance toward my bags, wondering if I’m supposed to do anything with them. “Do I?”
“Nope. Staff here are amazing,” Selene supplies without missing a beat. “They’ll bring everything to our villas. Gunnar, tip the nice men who are helping us. Gracias.” Thanks.
“Yes, ma’am.” He smirks then walks off to chat with the valet and bellman.
Before my brain can really register, Selene goes back to pulling me toward the great doors.
Walking into the lobby is like walking through a looking glass. On the other side of the doors is a whole different world. The Texas heat and building’s modern, rustic exterior are traded in for a sleek version of its outer charm. The hill-country limestone and black steel are carried throughout, but now with a chiseled precision that gives everything a new elegance.
Selene calls out to a tall blonde woman with lush curves much like my own. “Juliana! Look who I found!”
The woman turns to us with a broad smile and a sway in her step when she approaches.
“You must be Naomi,” Juliana says, extending a hand toward me.
“Um. Yes. Hi,” I manage to get out while taking her hand to shake.
“Welcome to The Playground. Selene’s been looking forward to your visit for quite a while. It’s nice to match a name to a face,” she greets with genuine humor in her tone. “I hope you enjoy your stay with us.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” I smile back.
