Chapter 2
Aspen Collier-West wasn’t a stranger to batshit ideas—she had, in fact, concocted and enacted more than her fair share over the years—but stepping-in as the plus-one for her cousin’s best friend at some swanky multi-day holiday gala was a new one, even for her. She dragged a hand through her short, dark hair and shook her head as she argued, “Michael, I really don’t think—”
“Ambassador of Bulgaria.”
Aspen sighed. If there were three words that’d get her to agree to anything, and she truly meant anything , it was those. She still wasn’t sure how Michael had managed to talk his way into the Ambassador’s residence in DC, let alone distract the Ambassador and her security team long enough for her to slip out of the Ambassador’s daughter’s bedroom unnoticed, but she’d known that, eventually, that favor would be called in. She’d just hoped it’d be for something reasonable, like flying Michael and his latest boytoy around for a weekend, or scoring him Taylor Swift tickets or something equally as impossible to acquire. “Come on, man,” she cajoled. “We both know I owe you huge for that fiasco. You really want to call that favor in for a plus-one gig?”
“Yep,” Michael confirmed.
Aspen pulled a face. Well, that was that, then. “Okay. What do you need me to do?”
“Just be at her side until she flies home Sunday afternoon.”
Aspen’s eyes widened. “It’s Wednesday afternoon. That’s, like, four freaking days! This is my busy season!”
“The Ambassador of Bul—”
“C’mon, Michael. I get that she’s your friend, but you have to understand—”
“She’s my best friend,” Michael corrected. “Look, have you heard of Killian and Elizabeth Morrison?”
“Are they part of the Morrison family that used to own like, half of Snowmass Mountain back in the day?” When Michael hummed in confirmation, Aspen asked, “Don’t they run an influential DC firm or something?”
“Yep, that’s them.”
Aspen nodded. “They throw a really big, ostentatious party every year…” Her voice trailed off as she finished connecting the dots. She knew a couple of people who were regular attendees, and neither of them ever had anything complimentary to say about its hosts. “Fuck, dude. Don’t tell me—”
“Those are Eve’s parents. It’s their gala, and her slimy bastard of an ex will be there with the girl he cheated on her with and then dumped her for once he was caught.”
Aspen scowled. What a dick. “I could just kick his ass, instead,” she offered.
“While I’m sure she’d be tempted, I don’t think Eve will go for that.”
“Yeah, well, I can’t believe her father is still employing the cheating asshat.”
Michael chuckled, but the sound lacked any mirth. “Her parents are of the belief that it’s Eve’s fault because she wasn’t willing to uproot her life in Manhattan to move to DC.”
“Maybe I should kick their asses too, for good measure.”
“Pretty sure even I can’t talk your way out of that one,” Michael replied, though, this time, a note of amusement crept into his tone. He sobered as he added, “Look, Aspen, Eve is a genuinely wonderful person and I’m not saying that just because she’s my friend. The least she deserves is some backup for a few days. You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
“No, I know,” Aspen sighed. She scrubbed a hand over her face. Being the week before Christmas, it was going to be a logistical nightmare, but she’d figure it out. “I’ll find someone to take my charters. Is she flying into ASE? Or driving up from Denver?”
“Aspen airport,” Michael confirmed. “Her flight lands in two hours. She’s expecting you. I’ll text you a pic, so you know what she looks like.”
“She’s in the air now?! What would you have done if I’d said no?”
“You wouldn’t have,” Michael replied confidently. Aspen hated that he was right, but what she hated more was the self-satisfied smirk she could hear in his voice as he added, “Have a good week!”
Aspen gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to hurl her phone across the room. Michael was her favorite cousin—and not just because he could talk his way out of a paper bag—but, god almighty, sometimes she wanted to punch him in the face. Her phone buzzed with an alert, and she hummed under her breath as she opened the message to see the picture Michael had promised. She licked her lips as her gaze roved over the image of the stunning redhead with bright blue eyes that she’d be shuttling around town for the next few days, and couldn’t help but smile as she murmured, “Maybe this won’t be such a hardship, after all.”
Her phone buzzed with another alert, and she snorted at the message Michael had sent as a follow-up to the picture. For the love of god, Aspen, please treat her right. I love her like a sister, and I really don’t want to have to kick your ass.
Aspen smirked. If she’d just happened across Eve Morrison on her own, she would definitely be tempted, but her cousin’s best friend, no matter how gorgeous, was definitely on the Do Not Touch list. Still, she couldn’t resist goading him just a bit as she shot back, I’d like to see you try. Don’t worry, Mikey —her smirk widened at the nickname her cousin absolutely hated— I’ll be on my best behavior.
She had no trouble imagining the way he undoubtedly rolled his eyes as he replied, That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.