Page 57 of Savage Prince
I’m still soaking up her compliments when she points toward the living room. “Come on. I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.”
Valentina leads me into a beautiful room and introduces me to a trio of women so quickly, I don’t catch a single one of their names. They’re all ridiculously gorgeous and look like they could rule the world as a hobby.
I sit down and stay quiet, listening to them chatter about their husbands and boyfriends and what sounds like amazing lives.
One of them is literally married to a billionaire.A freaking billionaire. She’s also wearing the cutest purple vintage cocktail dress I’ve ever seen.
“Temperance works at Seven Sinners,” Valentina informs them as part of my introduction.
“They have incredible whiskey cocktails,” the gorgeous redhead says, wearing leggings and an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt that saysRevenge of the Nerdson it. “Rhett took me on a date there.”
I’m trying to remember her name and failing, but I latch onto the one thing I can actually talk about and not sound like an idiot—whiskey. “We do. Even if you’re not a whiskey drinker, they’re pretty delicious cocktails.”
The redhead must realize I can’t remember her name. “I’m Ariel, by the way. And before you ask, yes, I’m named afterThe Little Mermaid. I’ve got thingamabobs aplenty, and I always want more.” She winks.
“She means laptops aplenty so she can hack into government databases,” Valentina says.
“Shhh. Don’t tell her all my secrets yet. I save those for the second date,” Ariel replies with a laugh.
One of the women, an intimidating blonde named Vanessa, waves her off good-naturedly. “We’re talking whiskey first, not hacking. I need to buy a case of that Phoenix label. Con loves it, and I want to surprise him. If you could hook me up, I would be a very grateful woman.”
Her question actually makes me feel useful here, which is nice. “I’m happy to.”
“Fabulous. I’m holding you to it. What’s your number?”
When I tell her, she puts it in her phone and fires off a text to me so I have hers.I’m making friends.It’s a little astonishing, but totally cool.
“Now, how about we stop badgering her for booze and drink some of our own. After all, y’all have designated drivers tonight, right?”
The wine and other drinks are refilled, and I’m three glasses into some very delicious red wine before I realize it.
“I overheard the craziest conversation at the shop today. You won’t even believe it,” the woman married to the billionaire says. I believe her name is Yve.
Valentina fills me in. “Yve owns Dirty Dog, and she just opened a brand-new lingerie store attached to it. You have to check it out.”
“And the gossip in Pretty Kitty is thebest,” Yve says.
“So, spill,” Valentina says. The chatter in the room hushes.
“I heard about a sex club. Outside of town. Super fancy and expensive. The kind that I can’t believe Lucas wouldn’t already know about. No one’s supposed to talk about it, but this woman accidentally let it slip while she was trying on corsets.”
“I bet she gets her membership yanked. They’re not supposed to talk about it,” I say before catching myself. Every eye in the room focuses on me. “I mean, I assume that’s how those places work.”
Yve’s eyebrows go up. “You’ve been there. Haven’t you?”
As I open my mouth to deny it, Valentina refills my glass. “She’s a terrible liar, for the record.”
“Hey! That’s not fair.”
Valentina rolls her eyes. “Seriously? Trying to pretend that wasn’t your artwork the night of the auction? Pshh. You need to work on those skills if you want to lie worth a damn.”
I take a rather unladylike swig of wine. “I am not a bad liar. I’m a great liar.”
Yve smirks. “Then prove it. Two truths and a lie. You’re up.”
I freeze, wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself into. To buy time, I drain the glass, which probably isn’t the smartest move.
“I’ve never seen an uncircumcised penis. My middle name is Aurelia. It’s been six years since I committed a felony.” They spill out of me quicker than I was able to down the wine.
