Chapter 41 Violet
VIOLET
With the exception of Jagger’s home, I’ve never been on this side of Harden Heights.
There are rolling hills. Mansions with acres of manicured front yards and winding driveways.
Beach front properties with gates and security guards.
I can’t help but take it all in with wide eyes.
At least, I won’t look like a fish out of water this time, thanks to Jagger fulfilling his promise to buy me an outfit for tonight’s festivities.
I never saw it. The movie. Pretty Woman, I think?
The one about the girl who’s a prostitute and winds up dating a sexy millionaire who dresses her up and takes her to fancy restaurants.
Or at least, I think that’s the gist. Regardless, I feel like I’m playing the part, and despite wanting to hate it, I look incredible in this dress.
It arrived in a large black box with a pretty white bow.
June watched as I opened it, running the obsidian velvet between my fingertips until she insisted I try it on.
The dress fit like a glove, wrapping around me and reaching to the floor with a high slit on one side, and a sweetheart neckline.
And the short sleeves? They melt off the shoulders in a way that feels seamless, yet oh so deliberate.
Add in the pair of black Kate Spade heels, a silver necklace, and simple stud earrings, along with Lexie’s insistence she handle my makeup while June curled my hair, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never felt more beautiful in my entire life.
“We could always turn around,” Jagger offers. “Go back to my place. Open a bottle of wine.” Lifting our entwined hands, he kisses the back of mine while his opposite rests on the steering wheel in an effortless way. It’s so hot, it shouldn’t be legal.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s bored.
But the truth is, he’s nervous. I can tell by the way he keeps shifting in his seat and fiddling with the music.
The signs are subtle, and I doubt most would notice the simple idiosyncrasies, but I do.
And even though it’s kind of adorable, I have a feeling the consequences of skipping tonight would be less than palatable.
And if that’s the case, then I can’t be the one to let him off the hook. Not without a little fight, anyway.
“You’re right. We could totally turn around,” I tell him. “But then this dress would go to waste, and what a shame it would be. Don’t you think?”
His eyes heat, trailing along my exposed clavicle and shoulders. “Don’t worry. I’d make sure you got plenty of use out of it.”
My brows raise. “Oh?”
“Mm-hmm.” He kisses the back of my hand again like he can’t help himself, his lips lingering on my skin. “Bunch it up around your waist and take you from behind.”
My eyes widen even more as I picture it. The idea of Jagger behind me, pushing into me, my dress bunched up around my waist. Not gonna lie, it sounds hot as hell…and totally inappropriate considering we’re on our way to his family’s banquet.
“I picked one with a slit on purpose,” he adds, convinced I’m close to caving and letting him turn his truck around. “I can see it now—”
“Of course, you can.” I snort in an attempt to dispel the hazy but oh so toe-curlingly good picture he’s painted.
If it were any other circumstance, I would totally cave, but not tonight.
“And maybe, if you’re lucky, I’ll let you follow through on those plans.
But first, we need to get through this banquet. ”
His expression sours. “Why?”
“Because your father requested it,” I remind him.
“Despite knowing you have no problem giving him two middle fingers in everything you do, since I’m kind of the girlfriend, and this is kind of our coming out party, and I’m kind of wearing the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen in my entire life, it would be kind of nice if I made a decent first impression. ”
“Kind of huh?”
“Mm-hmm.”
With a sigh, he pulls into the parking lot, then shuts off the car, giving me his full attention. So much so, I kind of want to squirm in my seat.
“Is there a problem?” I ask.
“Did you just say girlfriend?”
My eyes bulge. “Did I?”
“Yeah.” His tongue darts out, and he wets his bottom lip. “Yeah, I think you did.”
Well, crap. We haven’t had the talk. I mean, we haven’t necessarily needed to, but since I’m coming as his plus-one to a family event, I guess I just assumed? “Oh, well I…”
I start to pull my hand from his, but he stops me. “No takebacks now, Little Thief.” A sexy smirk teases the corner of his mouth. “Stealing hearts, relationship titles, the whole gambit, huh?”
I rub my lips together, my vocal cords useless. He said so himself. No takebacks now. And the truth is, I don’t want to. I really like Jagger. Like, really like him. So, if that’s the case then…is a title like girlfriend really such a big deal?
“All right, girlfriend,” he murmurs. Leaning over the center console, he moves my hair behind my ear. “We’ll go inside.” His lips skate across the shell of my ear. “Did I mention how beautiful you look?”
I peek over at him, sharing his breath. “You may have mentioned it when you picked me up.” I pause. “And I kind of pieced it together when you talked about shoving my dress up to my waist and taking me from behind, too, but, ya know.”
The quick peck he plants on my lips catches me off guard before he pulls away. “Glad we’re on the same page.” With a wink, he exits the driver’s side, then moves around the front, opening my door.
A shiver runs down my spine as I climb out of the car.
It’s getting colder. The leaves are changing.
The promise of winter clings to the air.
I probably should’ve brought a coat. Oops.
Arms folded, I lower my head, determined to get inside the building as quickly as possible before I freeze to death.
Okay freeze is a bit of a stretch, more like catch a cold, but I digress.
“Damn, I failed,” Jagger mutters beside me. “I forgot a coat.”
“You and me both.” I rub my hands up and down my bare arms in an attempt to create some friction.
“I meant for you.” He laughs. “I forgot to send a coat with the dress. My bad. Here.”
Jagger starts to take off his black suit jacket, but I wave him off. “I’m fine—”
“Vi—”
“And be accused of stealing something else that doesn’t belong to me? Again?” I challenge. “Seriously, let’s just go inside.”
He shrugs it off anyway and sets the warm material on my shoulders. “It’s cute how you think you can fight me on this.”
He’s right. I don’t know why I try. Even so, the idea of giving into him without dispensing a little snark in the process feels wrong, so I counter, “What about my fancy new dress?”
“You’d look pretty in a garbage bag. Besides.
” He snakes his arm around my waist. “I like seeing you in my things.” The feel of his lips brushing against my forehead makes me damn-near swoon.
Seriously, this man is way too smooth for his own good…
or for mine. As if he can read my thoughts, he smiles against my forehead, adding, “Come on. Let’s get this over with. ”
The building is gorgeous. And huge. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but white pillars, large glass doors, rich red brick, and a literal doorman with white gloves, a black suit, and a top hat waiting to open the door for us was not on my Bingo card.
Okay, I’m officially nervous. I cling to Jagger’s side like Velcro as he leads me toward the entrance. When we reach it, the doorman opens it without a word, ushering us inside. On the opposite side, there’s another man. His suit looks more expensive, and in his hands is an iPad.
“Name?” He frowns, then stands and bows. “I apologize. Right this way, Mr. Harden.”
Between both gentlemen, I’m reminded of the Harden Nights and the security guard who pats everyone down before granting access.
I wonder if this is where the boys got the idea.
From shindigs like this one. I bite my tongue, withholding my joke about whether or not I should’ve left my phone in the car when the man moves aside so we can enter the actual ballroom.
“Thanks, Jeeves,” Jagger says, directing me past him.
“Tell me you’re joking,” I mutter under my breath.
His brows knit. “What?”
I look over my shoulder, confirming we’re far enough away that the guy can’t hear me. “His name is Jeeves? Seriously?”
With a low laugh, Jagger shakes his head. “It’s an old joke from when me and my brothers were little. No one could stand being my dad’s assistant for more than a few weeks, so we stopped learning their names and call every one of them Jeeves.”
“Oh.” I bite back my amusement. “Yeah, that makes more sense.”
“Come on,” he urges.
I take off Jagger’s suit jacket and hand it back to him. “First, take this.”
“You sure?” he asks.
“Positive. I gotta show off my fancy new dress, right?” I twist into a subtle pose and give him a pouty look as if I’m a famous model on a runway.
His dark eyes heat as he browses every inch of me, leaving me more exposed than the velvet black material ever could. “You do look incredible.”
The butterflies wake at his words. “You know, I think you’ve mentioned that a few times already.”
As he slips his arms back into his dark suit, he murmurs, “And I have every intention of taking advantage of your dress as soon as we’re done with this shit show.”
I grin up at him. “Pretty sure you mentioned that, too.”
He offers his arm for me to take. “We better hurry. Ford’s already three drinks in.”
“Three? Already?” My eyes pop. “How?”
“It’s Ford,” Jagger reminds me.
Wow.
Jagger sighs. “Come on. Hawke texted for backup.”