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“Maybe you’re not supposed to?” I shrug a little. “Besides, look at you. You dress up nicely, and aside from our first date and the day you came into my office, I haven’t seen you wear anything but joggers, T-shirts, and sweatshirts.”
Alex laughs. “Yeah, I know. I’ll be better.”
I place my hand on his cheek. “I like you the way you are.”
He leans forward and kisses me. “There’s more of those for later,” he promises. Alex holds his arm out and I take it. Barrett holds the door for us and tells me I look beautiful. He then rushes to Alex’s car and holds the door again.
“Thank you,” I tell him as I get in.
The drive over to the hotel, where the fundraiser is, goes smoothly and the only traffic we encounter are the line of cars waiting for their passengers to get out. “Why are there people lined up?” I ask as we get closer to the front.
“This is a pretty big event for the museum. Lots of celebrities come out for it.”
“Oh, that’s nice of them.”
“Mhm . . . they’re here, you know.”
“Who?” I ask as I look at Alex.
“The DILFs you’re infatuated with,” he says with a smirk.
On the inside, I’m giddy and nervous. Maybe tonight I can at least say hi. On the outside, I touch the back of neck and tangle my fingers in his hair. “I’ve moved on. I prefer CILFs.”
Alex laughs and shakes his head. “As long as I’m the only center you know.”
“Being as I didn’t have a clue as to what a center was until I met you, you can bet your ass you’re the only one.”
“Phew,” he says. “When we pull up, the valet is going to open your door. I’ll come around and meet you.”
“Are you going to mean mug this one too?”
Alex groans. “No, I won’t, and I apologized.”
“You did.”
He leans over and kisses me, and then pulls forward. As soon as his door opens, camera flashes go off. This must be what the gals warned me about. The media is trying to get the money shot. My door opens, and Alex's hand is there for mine to grab.
“Fuck, you’re sexy and beautiful,” he says when I stand next to him. “Just hang onto my arm.”
“Okay.”
We take a few steps and then the sidewalk turns to carpet. Alex pauses for a moment and then we turn. On each side, red velvet ropes and gold pedestals keep the media back. They shout Alex’s name as we walk toward the entrance. They ask who his date is, but he ignores them. I startle when a photographer crouches in front of us.
“He’s with the venue. Smile.”
I do as Alex says, and once the cameraman is done, we head toward the stairs. Inside, I feel like I can finally breathe. “Is it always like this?”
“No, only a couple times a year, if that. This event is a huge fundraiser and draws a big crowd. That’s why there’s media outside. Last year, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt—they all came. I’m not sure who’s on the guest list this year.”
“How did the Pioneers get involved?”
“All part of the charitable foundation,” he tells me.
We make our way into the grand ballroom. It looks exactly like something you’d see on television or the movies. There’s a jazz band on the stage. The dance floor is open and surrounded by round tables, each marked with a number. Honestly, I feel like I’m at a reception.
“So, what is this exactly?”
“A fundraiser,” he says. “Everyone in attendance has made a sizable contribution or they’ve added something to the silent auction.”
