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“If I forget to tell you later, I had a really great time tonight.”
His lips quirk like he wants to smile. But he doesn’t give in to it. “The night is young, Penelope. I wouldn’t thank me just yet. These people are sharks. They’ll chew a girl like you up and spit you out.” His features darken and his tone becomes serious. “If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, just walk away and come find me. Understand?”
I pull away from him. “I can handle myself. But, I promise, if I see an opening for a damsel-in-distress moment, you can bet your ass I’m going to seize it.” I wink at him. But the truth is, I know I’m in over my head.
These people aren’t like me. They’ll likely laugh at me. Tease me behind my back. Even to my face. But it’ll be me who gets the last laugh. That’s one of the perks of being a writer. You get to put mean people in a book.
And then you get to kill them.Chapter TenI’m not sure what I was expecting.
A red carpet?
Cameras flashing?
People screaming my name?
Crowd surfing to get a lock of my hair….
Yes, to all of those things.
No, to the boring ass entry that consists of us entering through the back and having to walk through the kitchen to get to the actual party.
“So much for a grand entrance,” I mumble, handing my coat to a man who nods way too much.
Does dude have a tic or something?
I mean, why does he keep doing that?
Then I notice the way he looks at Jake. Eyes all wide. Fingers fumbling. Words a jumbled mess.
Oh.
He’s star struck.
Perhaps I should’ve Googled him….
“Why did we come in through the back?”
“Because this is the Jessie Swagger show. Not the Jake Swagger show.” For the first time, he seems genuinely humble. And embarrassed by, what I assume, is his fame.
“It’s about to be the Penelope show when I bust a move on the dance floor.” Before I can do just that—bust a move—Jake grabs my elbow and presses his big body against mine.
“Do that river dance shit again and I’ll lock you in the cooler.” His threat doesn’t hinder my good mood in the least.
I wiggle my eyebrows at him. “So you can get naked and warm me with your body heat?” He just stares down at me. “What if I have a fever? You gonna check my temperature? With your big…thermometer?”
That smile pulls at his lips again. And again, he doesn’t give in. He pulls away and straightens, offers his arm to me and thanks the coat guy in the only language he knows—a nod.
I take a deep breath as Jake leads us out of the kitchen and down a wide hall. I can hear the music. The chatter. The laughs. The clink of glasses. My heart pounds harder against my chest.
I’m both excited and nervous.
More nervous than excited.
I think.
I don’t know.
Shit.
This is crazy.
I’m here. At this super-rich party with all these super-rich people and I don’t own a fucking thing with a Prada label.
I glance up at Jake.
This majestic motherfucker….
He’s in That Guy mode. He exudes confidence. Radiates power. Emits authority. There’s precision in his every step. Every breath is controlled. Too bad he’s not very intuitive or he would know I’m over here about to lose my shit.
This is the part where all the heroines in the romance books “channel courage from this force of a man.” But they don’t explain how they do it. So I have no clue. I’m just trying everything—narrowing my eyes on him. Pressing my finger to my temple. Zapping his brain with my imaginary laser beams.
“What the fuck are you doing?” He stops walking and looks down at me like I’m stupid. Which is exactly how I feel when I relax my face and eyes and lower my finger from my head.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a nervous fucking wreck…and shit,” I add, just to spite him. “We’re about to walk into the wolf’s den and you haven’t said a single thing that might boost my confidence.”
“You were chanting some shit about calling the four corners. Which I wish I could say is out of the norm for you, but it’s not. So you can’t possibly be pissed at me for not giving you a pep talk.”
“I was calling the four corners?”
“Yes. Stop watching The Craft.”
I toss that over in my head and nod. Maybe I know a little something, something about channeling power from heroes after all….
“Why do I get the feeling you’re experiencing some kind of epiphany?” Jake’s confused expression makes him look quite boyish.
“Because it worked.”
“What worked?”
I study him and nod thoughtfully. “Yep. It definitely worked. I learned how to channel your energy. You’re losing control. I’m gaining it.”
Jake looks around to make sure we’re alone, then turns on me. He looks a little angry. Which I understand. But he doesn’t have to point his finger at me. “Get your shit together, Penelope. I mean it.”
