Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“I take it you want the date?” He peeled her off him and smiled at her excitement.
She nodded. “Of course. I’ll call Jade back and see what happens next. I want to make sure none of the appointments are when you’re out of town for your annual guys’ weekend.”
He’d forgotten all about his upcoming trip to Vegas. He and his business school friends got together once a year. But since his night with Jade, he’d been tied up in knots and wasn’t focused on his schedule.
“Miles already said I should do whatever makes me happy. He’s tied up with a merger, but he’ll come to as many appointments as he can. The rest, you and I can handle, okay?”
“No problem,” he told her.
“You do remember we have the FFT gala this weekend, right?” Holly asked. “The football team is giving away season tickets and you need to be there to represent the Warriors. It’s for the Future Fast Track charity.”
Shit. He’d forgotten. Although he had an assistant, Holly was more on top of his schedule than Olga, a new hire who hadn’t yet proven herself up to the job, was.
“It’s for a good cause. FFT helps kids aging out of foster care,” Holly said, probably reading the annoyed expression on his face. Galas were no fun. “Not to mention, it’s Aurora Kingston’s charity. Actually, she’s Aurora Dare now. She’s married to Jade’s twin, Nick. And that makes her Jade’s sister-in-law.” Holly nudged Knox in the side.
As if he needed her help in putting things together. “Jade will be there,” he said, the event suddenly more appealing.
“The gala is at the Meridian, so I’m sure of it.” Holly was obviously enjoying dragging this out.
He never knew where he had to be for a charity event until the day of the affair or, like now, when Holly gave him a heads-up in advance.
“There’s been so much good news today,” Holly said. “I’m going to call Jade. We have a lot to plan. It’s a good thing I have your schedule,” Holly said to him.
Her wedding planning would throw him and Jade together more often. And maybe, if he was charming enough, he could convince her that sharing another night together wouldn’t hurt.
In fact, it would be fun.
Chapter Four
Although most of Jade’s job involved looking after weddings, she was also responsible for other events taking place at the hotel. And she was good at it. Still, the parties that involved her family were usually the most stressful and triggered her anxiety. A people pleaser by nature, Jade did her absolute best to make things perfect for those she loved. Thanks to her type A personality, she always strived for excellence… which often created a lot of unnecessary stress.
As she looked around the ballroom, set up for the FFT gala, Jade liked what she saw. The colors matched the charity’s blue and silver logo. The silver chairs had been brought in special for the evening along with the navy tablecloths and silver napkins, keeping to the theme.
Yet she couldn’t control her racing heart or sweaty palms and she hoped the loud noise of the band, the overhead lights and large crowd wouldn’t trigger a migraine. She reminded herself that she’d been on a good migraine-free stretch lately, and she had no reason to believe that wouldn’t continue. No matter what, she’d push through. She always did. She’d never miss something important to her family or bail early. Nor would she let her situation screw up a party at the hotel.
“Jade! Everything looks amazing!” Aurora Dare walked over to her. Dressed in a silver gown, which hung loose around the waist to accommodate her figure, Aurora was breathtaking. If Jade hadn’t known her sister-in-law was pregnant, she never would have guessed. Though it was early, Aurora and Nick were thrilled to give their daughter, Leah, a sibling. And this time, Nick would be around for diaper duty.
Jade smiled at her sister-in-law. “I’m so glad you like it.” Some of the tension in her stomach relaxed. “I hope you manage to raise a lot of money tonight. I didn’t get a chance to check out all of the silent auction items, but I’m optimistic.”
Aurora, her blond hair twisted into a sleek knot, was beaming. “It’s going to smash all expectations. I just know it.” Aurora had grown up in foster care herself, and aged out of it, before being discovered by the Kingstons as their long-lost sister. So this cause meant everything to Aurora. And therefore, it meant everything to the Kingstons, and to Jade and Nick’s family as well.
“Where is Billie?” Jade asked of Aurora’s assistant, who was never far away. She was like a little fairy with her pink hair and outgoing personality. And from what Jade had seen, she was a very hard worker.