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ChapterEleven
WADE
I takeone last look around the large open banquet hall as the venue staff make their final touches to the space. The Generous Miracle Gala will start in about forty-five minutes, and I’m proud of the team for being able to work fast and hard to get everything ready for this event. The goal is that Generous Hearts can raise half a million dollars to add cancer treatment facilities at two of their five locations.
Studying my iPad, I’m able to confirm that our set up is complete. The hard part of my job, the planning, the delegating, and coordinating, is done. But the fun part is about to start. One of my favorite parts of my job is to get out there and mingle with the guests. While my actual job description takes a more behind-the-scenes role, since I attend most of the events, getting out and mingling with folks with the deep pockets goes a long way, not to mention, it helps drum up business. New clients have requested me by name over the past few months, so my extroverted tendencies when it comes to my job are paying off.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. Seeing who it is, I can’t fight my grin.
Bernadette:Hey, my Uber driver says we’re about five minutes away.
Me:Awesome. I’ll meet you out front.
Bernadette:
Before heading out front, I need to drop off my iPad in the small meeting space my team has been using all day. As the seconds tick down until she arrives, my pulse picks up with the anticipation of seeing Bernadette.
Things between me and Bernadette are complicated, at best. A month ago, I pulled the trigger and took her on a date rock climbing.
And then I fucking kissed her.
Game over.
I wasn’t sure where it was going to go, but the more time I spend with her, the more time I crave. We’ve spent a few dinners at her place, and we’ve watched plenty of Netflix, but I can’t tell you what was on the TV because I can’t keep my hands off her. While we haven’t gotten past some handsy make-out sessions, I’m okay with taking it slow.
I took her rock climbing again, and she seems to like it, but other than that, all our time is spent in her apartment. She doesn’t seem to mind, but also, I get the feeling she’s going to want to hang out with the group soon. Recently, she’s mentioned some dinners at The Bar and asked if I was going to be there. I’m not proud of this, but I used work as an excuse.
I’m not sure I’m ready for group hangs.
It’s not her, it’s me. Cliché as it sounds, I’m not ready to face Dex. Years ago, he made it crystal clear that I wasn’t allowed to date her ever. Fuck if I haven’t put his team before my own wants, but seeing how okay they are with her dating a new teammate, well, it triggered something.
Fuck the team. I want to explore things with Bernadette. I’m happy with that decision, but I guess I’m being a chickenshit for not wanting to tell Dex and his team that I’m done following their rules.
I know I need to talk to Dex, but we’re just having fun right now, and keeping that quiet seems to be working for us at the moment.
Making it up to the front of the building, I scan the sidewalk for Bernadette just as a door swings open on a black sedan and she steps out. The driver jumps out, pops the trunk, and pulls out a small purple suitcase. I meet them and take the suitcase from him just as she closes the car door behind her.
She’s coming from visiting Ben in Hermosa Beach, so she’s been about forty-five minutes away for the past several days. But since she had to bring her stuff, I’m going to store it in our meeting room for the evening.
I’ve been out here in LA for four days, and before that, work was crazy hectic, so I haven’t laid eyes on her in a week—and fuck, she blows me away.
She’s dressed in a vintage-looking dress that’s black with white polka dots. Her hair is curled into a fancy half-up, half-down style, and as I drag my eyes down her long legs, I find a pair of healed black Converse. I chuckle and she shakes her foot in a funny little way, clearly knowing what has caught my attention.
“Those are so perfectly you.” I lean in and kiss her cheek.
“I know. Found in them a vintage boutique this week in Hermosa Beach. The dress was a bonus.” Her nose scrunches. “I hope this dress is okay. You said semiformal, so I’m hoping I don’t stick out like a sore thumb.”
I shake my head. “No, you look perfect.”
I give her my arm, her suitcase in my other hand. “Come on, let’s get this stored, and then we can find the perfect spot to watch the stars arrive.”
She takes my offered arm. “You said there wasn’t going to be a red carpet.”
“There isn’t. While there is some media coverage inside, there won’t be a big to-do with arrival. Keeping it quiet.”
She nods in understanding, and I ask her about her visit with Ben and his girlfriend.
She’s much chattier than I realized, and until recently, I never really knew Bernadette Ross. If I’m being honest, I’m really enjoying this real Bernadette.
