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“Why?” I try not to stare at her mouth, or her. Rather, I look over her shoulder in the mirror.
“My speech. I mean, you know how much this means to my dad. To expand our level of care, especially in the ER, is huge.”
“You’re going to do great. Just like you always do when you speak in front of people. I’m the one who freezes up.” We both laugh, knowing it’s the truth.
“Well, if I can give my speech as well as I can tie this bowtie, then I’ll do awesome. You look very dashing, Mr. Rice.” She hops off the counter.
My hands itch to grab her hips and put her back up on the edge. To spread her legs open and step into the space between them. Untie the robe and let it fall open, exposing her.
But she’s not mine, and she’s already halfway to my room. “I better get in my dress.”
The buzzer rings from the security gate downstairs.
“Oh, that’s probably Bradley. Let him up?” She smiles and shuts the bedroom door.
I head over to the intercom. “Yeah?” I answer.
“Hey, Coop, it’s Bradley,” he says.
Jaw clenched, I click the buzzer, hoping maybe he’s not fast enough, but the knock on my door a minute later says he was.
“Come in,” I say, heading for my jacket hanging in the closet.
“Hey.” He walks in wearing a black-and-turquoise-flowered tuxedo. He’ll definitely stand out. I wonder what Mr. Wallace will think of this.
“Nice tux,” I say, raising my eyebrows.
He puffs out his chest and smooths his hands down his front. “I like to be different.” He stares at my typical black-and-white tux.
“It’s a classic look, yes.” I shrug on my coat. “She’ll be out in a minute. Drink?”
“Sure.”
I go to my fridge and open a beer, passing it to him before opening mine.
“So, anything I should know for tonight?” he asks. “Ellery said she usually takes you.”
“Well, I buy a table every year to support the hospital. This year, the push is to expand the services in the ER. There’ll be a private auction too.” It’s a gentle nudge for him to do something. Bradley doesn’t make the kind of money I do, but he makes enough to buy something at the private auction.
“Oh, a table. And we’re sitting…”
“At my table.”
He nods.
My bedroom door opens, and I’m thankful because, since Bradley started dating Ellery, I don’t have much to talk to him about. I’m not even interested in being around him most of the time.
Ellery walks out of the room wearing a silver dress that molds along her hips, fitting her perfectly. The fabric dips at her breasts but doesn’t give away her cleavage. Her heels make her even taller than she already is, but Bradley and I have inches on her still.
“You’re stunning,” Bradley says, taking the words out of my mouth.
I can’t stop my gaze from soaking her in. Her hair is swept to one side, a little wavy, exposing her neck. She’s so damn beautiful it makes my chest ache.
“Thank you, you look very handsome,” she says, approaching Bradley, then straightening his bowtie. “Love this tuxedo. So different.”
I feel like a parent watching their kids at prom. Strike that, because I’m pretty sure my dad wasn’t lusting after my prom date like I am Ellery in this moment.
“Thanks. I think Coop doesn’t like it.” He smiles at me.
