Page 91 of Tempt Our Fate
“She only helps me with elaborate events.”
I sigh, leaning into his touch. “That’s no pressure at all.”
“You’re radiant, remember? You could wear what you have on right now, and you’d still capture everyone’s attention tomorrow night. Don’t worry about a dress. If it’s too much, we can just go shopping tomorrow.”
“I just wish I had Mare or a girlfriend here to help me.”
“About that…” He looks off to the side as if he’s nervous about what he’s about to say.
“What?” I press, shivering because his penthouse is far colder than I imagined it would be.
“I may have invited Beck and Margo over. I figured Margo could help you out. She’s been doing this stuff for a while now with Beck. But they’ll understand if I tell them never mind.”
I purse my lips. I’ve only briefly spoken to Margo on her wedding day; most of my conversations were with her planner. We didn’t get the chance to speak at Camden’s gallery opening. But she seems nice. And if she knows more about this fancy New York life, I could use her help.
“I think I’d like that.” I nod, further deciding. “Plus, if she’s going to be there tomorrow night, it’d be nice to have another familiar face.”
“Is my face not good enough?”
I trace over his cheekbones. “Your face is perfect.”
He nips at my fingers. “Good girl.” He presses a kiss to my lips. “And I’m glad you said yes because I think they’re on their way up.”
“You were very confident I’d say yes.”
“Margo is persistent. She wanted to officially meet you. Beck did as well. He doesn’t believe any woman would put up with me this long.”
“It really is a chore,” I tease, completely lying. It’s easy being with him. Almost too easy. I’m waiting for the ball to drop, to find out where this goes wrong.
“I’m going to warn you right now, there’s a good chance Margo brought Emma. And maybe even Winnie. The three of them are often a package deal.”
I feel a little nervous if it’s more than Margo. If the three of them are so close, will they even talk to me? I already feel out of place. This might even make it worse. Or maybe they’ll make it better. I need to try and be optimistic.
I suck a breath in, feeling incredibly overwhelmed. When he asked me to come to New York with him, I imagined us visiting Times Square together. Maybe stopping by a booth to buy an “I <3 NYC” shirt. He’d take me to his gallery before we had to get ready for the gala. I wasn’t anticipating stylists and groups of friends and galas so fancy that it takes an evening gown to attend.
The nicest dress I’ve ever worn was my slutty prom dress that I got at a department store. I’m not used to things this nice. We grew up with money compared to others in our small town. The ranch was profitable. But it was nowhere near the Livingstons. Or anything close to the world that Camden lives in.
“Asshole,” a voice calls from somewhere else in the penthouse. It’s so much open space that the voice echoes off the marble floors and walls. “Yoohooooo,” it calls again. “Looking for Mr. Cranky Asshole.”
Camden’s head falls backward, his throat bobbing with a long swallow. “Please don’t listen to anything she says, okay?”
“Is that Margo?”
“No.Thatwould be Emma.”
A head pops into the doorway. She’s gorgeous. Her hair is a perfect blonde. I truly can’t tell if it’s natural or if she dyes it that color. “Oh my god, you’re here!” the girl shrieks, running into the room and scooping me into a hug.
My eyes go wide as I look to Camden from over her shoulder. She’s shorter than me, giving me a perfect view of a smirking Camden. He looks from us to two more figures that appear in the doorway.
“Okay, Emma, let her go. You’re going to scare her away before we even get to spend time with her,” a voice I don’t recognize says.
The blonde gives me one final squeeze before she pulls away. “I’m sorry. I’m a total hugger, and to be honest, I was wondering if Camden was making you up when he kept talking about you.”
“Hi,” I get out, giving her a friendly smile. “He talks about me a lot?” I push, looking to him with a wink.
He gives me a playful smirk with a shrug.
The girl—Emma—lets out a long sigh. “All the time, really. I thought for sure he had to be making you up. I mean, who would want to put up with him?” She gives him a look, one to which he flips her off.