28. Seth
TWENTY-EIGHT
Seth
I’m trying, I really am. But I can’t keep my eyes off Mae’s legs. I’ve seen those legs a lot over the last couple of months.
But tonight.
Tonight those legs are suddenly a hundred times more sexy. And that’s saying a lot since I find Mae to be the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. She’s sitting in the passenger seat of the car, her body tense, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her black minidress.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She gives me a tight smile. “Just nervous. I don’t want to mess this up. Tonight is too important.”
“I’m not worried. Those social media stars will be eating out of your palm. I’m actually wondering if maybe we should stop at a jewelry store and pick up a ring first. I don’t want anyone thinking you’re single.”
She reaches over and grabs my hand. “Seth. You’re the only one I’m going home with tonight.”
I lift up my pant leg. “Plus, I’m wearing my lucky socks.”
I glance down expecting to find the socks with Abi and I’s faces on them, but it’s a pair of socks with aliens on them. My chest warms a little.
“Thank you. I appreciate your support.”
We pull up to the casino, and I toss my keys to the valet and saunter over to the other side of the car. I don’t want to rush this. We are bound to have eyes on us.
The secret has been bandied about, and people are excited. The fifteen people we already have booked are milking the attention for all it’s worth.
I open Mae’s door, and she reaches out a manicured hand. I know she did it for tonight, but already I miss her short, plain fingernails. This Mae is gorgeous and sophisticated, and she could fit right into my world. But she doesn’t want it. And quite frankly, neither do I.
Not anymore.
I want Whisper Springs. When we go home, I’m taking off my suit. I can wear a t-shirt and jeans to work like everyone else.
And I won’t go broke.
Mae’s hand is followed by one of those stunning legs. And then another. I place a hand on her back, and just as we cross through the door into the blinking lights of slot machines and smokey air, the Hallston brothers are there. And I’m not surprised. Yesterday, they hounded us all day, but we were always surrounded by groups of people. The Hallston brothers fix up properties and flip them while doing YouTube videos with home improvement tips.
“Wow, you look hot tonight,” the older one says. I can’t remember which one is which.
Mae gives him one of her signature grins and shakes a finger in his face. “Flattery will get you nowhere. You should’ve taken my call three weeks ago.”
“Three weeks ago you were a nobody.”
“Jeremy told you I was legit. It’s not my fault you didn’t listen.”
I’m impressed that she knows which one is which. She’s good at making sure they feel wanted. She’s been schmoozing these two online for a while now.
He pouts, and it’s not a good look on him. Mae gives a good-natured laugh, loops her arm through both Jeremy and Jackson’s, and pulls them close to her. Jealousy flairs, and I have to remind myself that she’s working.
She drops her voice, and I strain to hear.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you VIP passes to our presentation tonight that will get you in the front row. And then, when pre-sales open at our resort, you’ll be the first on my list to call. How does that sound?”
“Not as good as giving us a spot in your hideaway weekend.”
“I only have five spots left. And to figure out how to snag one of those, you’ll need to be at our presentation.” She drops their arms, opens her clutch, and pulls out two VIP passes. She makes eye contact with me, my cue. I slide forward and grab her hand.
“We’ve got to go set up. Good luck, boys.”
The next hour is much of the same. Lots of people begging for an in on the secret and Mae handing out the other eight VIP passes.
Then we wander to the Horizon Room to make sure everything is set up. A harried organizer rushes up to us. “We’ve had to change your venue.”
“Why?” Mae asks. We’ve already walked the room. It was on the smaller side, intimate and perfect for a secret reveal.
“Because there were too many people who registered for the presentation. Everyone wants to be there. We’ve had to move you to the Luxe Ballroom.”
“But that’s huge.”
“It’s the only room that will accommodate everyone. I’ve still set aside ten seats front and center for your VIPs.”
The space looms before us, four times the size of the Horizon Room. We head back behind the stage to get everything set up. We go over the presentation again, and I reassure Mae that everything will be fine. After about thirty minutes, she peeks around the stage, and I step out from behind her.
Every seat is occupied, and people spill out onto the edges of the room, leaning against the walls and standing shoulder to shoulder.
“I can’t do this.” Mae looks at me with panicked eyes. “This is crazy. There’s too many people.”
“Yes, you can. You’ll do amazing. We’ve gone over this a hundred times, and besides, you know this information in and out. There’s no one who believes in Whisper Springs more than you do.”
She’s trembling. “What if I fall down? I don’t wear shoes like this ever.”
“Could’ve fooled me. Look around the room. You did this, Mae. Not me.”
She nods and swallows but still appears anxious. As lights dim she doesn’t hesitate. She gets fitted for her mike, and within seconds, she’s on stage. The room is quiet. Suddenly, everything goes dark. A few phone flashlights come on, but volunteers quickly get them turned off.
The screen behind Mae lights up with flashes of Whispers Springs. The pictures go quickly at first and then slow down until all that’s playing is a video of the river.
Mae begins, and every eye in the room is on her.
“Imagine a week of just this. No cell phones. No pressure. Just a river and your thoughts. A week of camping in absolute luxury.” The video shows an image of one of the glamping tents. “A week of yoga and five-star food. A week of horseback riding, tubing the river, and roasting s’mores at night. It’s a perfect blend of comfort and peace. Whisper Springs is not a place you’ll find on any map. It’s buried deep in the radio-free zone in West Virginia. That means no cell service. No wifi. Truly getting offline for a week. Twenty lucky people will join us next weekend. They’ll fly into the Roanoke Airport, where they’ll be greeted by our staff and escorted onto a private helicopter that will take them to our resort. Each person will have their own cabin or glamping tent. The point of the week is to unwind. To be pampered and to play. It’s an adult summer camp. Fifteen of these spots have already been taken.” Names of those who are coming flash on the screen. “Only five are left. But we’re not done yet.”
She launches into the resort, what it will entail, and when the pre-sale of the resident units will go on sale as well as what future hideaway weeks will look like.
“Would you like to know how to snag one of those remaining five spots?”
A cheer goes up in the crowd.
“We’re auctioning them off. One spot will go to one of our VIPs, and the rest will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. How much are you willing to pay for a week of this?”
The screen goes back to a picture of the peaceful river, and she explains how to bid for a spot. “We will close the auction at midnight. Winners will be notified in the morning. Once the deposit is made, we’ll arrange your flights and see you in a week.”
She gives the crowd a wave, and I meet her at the bottom of the stage before people even realize the presentation is over.
We escape out a side door and rush through the casino. We need to get out of there before anyone can catch us. Part of the allure is the exclusivity and the secrecy. If they can’t access us, it only increases the desire to be part of it.
The valet already has our car pulled up, and I open the door for her and rush over to my side.
Mae’s grinning from ear to ear. “That was incredible.” Her phone buzzes, and she squeals. “Abi just messaged me. We’ve already got fifty bids on those spots.” She starts hitting me on the arm and hyperventilating. “One of those people bid a half a million dollars. Holy cow.”
“You rocked it. I couldn’t have done that. Mae, you need to get used to this kind of money. This is the world I live in.”
Her grin falters. “But it’s not the world I live in.”
“But you will.” I pull her hands into mine. I didn’t mean to ruin her mood. “Even though we’ll stay in Whisper Springs, you’re about to marry me. I want you to be comfortable with my lifestyle. We’re not giving that up.”
She nods, her grin returning, and slides her hand along my tie. “As long as you promise to keep wearing suits like this every day, I promise I’ll get used to it.”
Well, there went that plan of switching to t-shirts and jeans like my brothers.
I lean down and whisper in her ear. “As long as you get used to seeing me out of them as well, I promise to keep wearing them.”