Chapter Forty-One – Cullen
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CULLEN
V erity holds my hand with an iron grip, eyes bouncing around the large event space. The gala is being held inside a converted music hall. I’ve come here for functions before, but the event planners have clearly gone all out with the Western theme.
Even if I hadn’t known the charity of the night was a bison conservation organization, the haybales and servers dressed in chaps would’ve given it away.
It is a little odd to be wearing black tie when the overall ambience makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a small western town.
Up on stage, there are four entertainers swirling around lassos, performing perfectly timed routines to the country music the live band plays.
Aside from the main bar handing out champagne flutes and specialty cocktails, there is a dedicated whiskey bar set up on the side, with some of the most expensive top-shelf liquor one could hope to find.
I order myself a glass of whiskey on the rocks, but Verity opts for one of the signature cocktails that comes in a special crystal glass shaped like a cowboy boot.
She relinquishes her iron grip on me to accept the glass and takes a sip, surveying the floor.
“Have you seen your guy yet?”
I give her a small shake of my head. “No.”
Clifton will turn up; it is just a matter of when.
After Alonso’s tip, I did a dive into the charity myself and confirmed it is a side passion of the old man. Why he is so taken by saving bison, I have no clue.
The event space quickly fills up, more than I anticipated.
This gala isn’t my usual crowd, but I recognize a few people milling about whom I’ve met previously, including some brokers and agents in the city.
I don’t see Powers anywhere, but a few other realtors from Vanguard are here.
Not a great sign, knowing that Clifton will be showing up.
I’ll need to intercept him before they do.
“Who are you looking at?”
Verity tilts her head, almost resting on my shoulder. One hand is wrapped around my bicep, holding me close, while the other balances her cocktail. She takes another sip of her drink, her body much more relaxed than when we first arrived.
“Some other agents are here.”
“Think they’re here for your guy?”
“Probably. I doubt they’re invested in bison conservation.”
“You never know. People have their passions.”
“Yeah, I’m sure Garrett Price is super into saving bison.”
“What? Garrett Price is here?” Her grip tightens as she starts darting her head, searching for the guy.
“You sound excited.”
“You know he’s on Manhattan Millions . Of course I am. It’s not every day you get to meet a celebrity. Did you know he’d be here? Hannah is going to freak when I tell her. Oh my God.”
“He’s not that big of a deal.”
“If he’s not that big of a deal, does that mean you can introduce me to him?”
I lightly grip her chin, drawing her attention back to me. “Do I need to remind you that you’re my date?”
“I thought you didn’t get jealous?” she teases.
“Not jealous.” I tilt her chin higher and drop my lips to within inches of hers.
The air thickens around us, the world quieting to a hum as we get lost in one another. It is so easy to forget about everything else when I am with her.
I draw her into a slow, sensual kiss, sucking on her soft bottom lip and eliciting a small inhale. When I pull back, her shiny blue eyes have darkened a few shades. Her focus is solely on me, and I run my thumb back over her bottom lip, pressing it down and forcing her mouth to open a fraction.
“I’ll introduce you to him,” I whisper. “Just remember that it’s my taste on your tongue when you’re talking to him.”
I remove my grip from her chin and place it on the hand she has around my bicep, guiding her in the direction of the group of men milling about by the bronze bison statue.
One of them stands out from the rest, not because he is any taller or broader, but because his personality seems to pour out of him.
I don’t know Garrett well since he’s a good few years younger, but you can’t work real estate in the city without knowing him.
Even before he became a reality star, he was a lion in the jungle, snatching the best listings and closing billion-dollar deals at the young age of twenty-three.
I work more in the commercial sector, while Garrett specializes in the residential sector.
He sells the best penthouses, brownstones, and condos in the city to buyers from all over the world.
Even I can admit that Garrett has a better network of clients than I do—that is just his game.
He notices us walking over almost immediately and steps away from his conversation, throwing out his typical charming smile.
“Cullen Ross, I heard you were back in the city.”
“Been back for a few months now,” I shrug.
“Heard you’re making inquiries about the Stallons’ place on Sixty-first. Getting bored of commercial?”
He is referring to the penthouse Alonso has me helping with. I shouldn’t be surprised he knows about that. Unlike most agents, Garrett doesn’t stick to one or two areas in the city to specialize in; he focuses on whatever has the highest price tag attached.
“Just doing a favor for Alonso.”
“Hmm.” He takes a sip of his Old Fashioned, gaze slipping to Verity. His energy perks up, that easy allure oozing out of him. “Forgive my rudeness. I’m Garrett.”
Verity unlatches her hand from my bicep to shake his offered hand. I refrain from allowing my jaw to tick.
“Verity.” Her smile is so wide, I’m worried it’s going to split her cheeks. “I’m—wow. You—I watch your show. I love it.” Her stuttering praise instantly feeds his ego—as if he needs that.
“Thanks. Do you have a favorite on the show?”
“I love Leslie.” A part of me sighs in relief that she didn’t name him. “But you’re my roommate’s fave by far.”
He lets out a teasing cluck, that smirk still on his lips. “Since it’s Lez, I won’t be offended you didn’t pick me.”
She giggles, and my patience wears thin. I snake my hand around her hips and step next to her. The lack of subtlety isn’t lost on Garrett, who instantly zeroes in on the motion.
“Dating?”
“She’s my girlfriend.”
It’s not until those three words pass my lips that I realize this is the first time I’ve properly introduced her to anyone as my girlfriend. We’ve been exclusive for almost a month now, but because of the nature of our relationship and our busy schedules, we’ve kept mostly to ourselves.
I must not be the only one having that thought because I feel Verity perk up beside me. She glances up at me with a smile that rivals the one she gave Garrett earlier, and it washes away any jealousy that was rising within me.
“Nice. It seems like everyone is cuffing up at the moment.”
“Yeah?”
“You remember Dale Allen? He just got engaged. And Steven from my team has a new boyfriend.”
Verity gasps. “Steven from the show?”
“Yes. The episodes haven’t aired yet”
He wiggles his brows, and the two of them share a conspiratorial grin that has me wanting to roll my eyes.
“Is it the guy Angela introduced him to? Are they here?”
“Yeah, want me to introduce you?”
“If you don’t mind. He’s my second fave to watch after Leslie.”
“I’ll try not to take offense to that.”
Garrett turns and heads back to the group he had been chatting with before we came over.
There are around eight to ten people who have broken off into smaller conversations, including at least two of Powers’ colleagues from Vanguard Realtors whom I would like to avoid, if possible.
Vanguard is one of the largest realty groups in the city, with over fifteen thousand agents, each with their own agenda—I have no doubt their goal tonight is Clifton.
“Steven, I want you to meet my new friend, Verity, and her boyfriend, Cullen.”
I recognize the man from watching the show with Verity over the last few weeks. His relaxed demeanor is exactly as he presents himself on TV, greeting us with a genuine smile as he diverts his attention from his current conversation.
“Hi.” He takes an extra second to run his gaze over Verity. “Well, aren’t you just stunning. That dress is like liquid on your skin.”
“Thank you, Cullen got it for me.”
He gives me a look of approval. “A straight man with taste, how rare.”
“I can’t take all the credit. She did pick it out herself.”
“That makes more sense.” His gaze narrows slightly. “You seem familiar.”
Garrett slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Cullen here is part of RARE Realty.”
Steven snaps his fingers. “Ah, you must be the infamous Ross. You were out in Miami, weren’t you?”
“Yeah, I worked down there for a few years, but I’m back on the home turf now.”
He nods before turning back to Verity. “And what about you, gorgeous? Are you in real estate?”
“Oh, no.” She waves her hand dismissively. “I’m a graphic designer specializing in branding and product design.”
“Really?” He shares a quick look with Garrett, some unspoken message passing between them. “Tell me more.”
Verity bubbles with joy at the attention of the reality star, and while it sucks not to have her undivided attention, I’m happy to see her enjoying herself.
She’s been stressed these last few weeks dealing with Frankie and other work drama.
And whenever we’ve gone out, she’s always been a little on edge due to paranoia after the incident with her co-worker.
We’ve mostly stuck to places near her apartment or made the trek out to Brooklyn so she doesn’t worry as much. The ease with which she is interacting with everyone tonight is a refreshing reprieve. All I really care about is her comfort.