Page 34 of Escorting the CEO
“Wow!”
“So soon?”
“Are you having the ceremony at Barrington Manor?”
“Your father would’ve loved that.”
Rhodes gamely fielded questions as Miranda watched, eyes narrowed. Two of the female board members circled me. They were both in their late forties or early fifties, attractive and fit, wearing watches that probably cost more than a private college tuition. “Let’s see that ring, honey,” one of them said in a Southern drawl.
I held out my hand, and they both gasped.
“I know,” I said, peering at them. “I had the same reaction.”
“You must be a very special young lady,” the other woman said. She eyed me up and down. “And you might be overdressed tonight, but if I had a body like yours? I’d be wearing the same damn thing.”
“Oh, ha.” I coughed, embarrassed. “Thanks.”
“Rory!” Luke zoomed to me, burying his face in my dress. He might’ve been wiping his nose on it. “Hi!”
“Hi, bud!” I ruffled his hair and laughed as he hugged me, leaving a huge, unrecognizable smear on my gown. Was it paste? Snot? Play-dough? The possibilities were endless, but I couldn’t care less. “I finally saw the pool. You want to go tomorrow?”
“Yes!” He jumped up and down, clutching me and yanking my dress. I didn’t mind, but Maria swept in.
“I amsosorry.” She gently pulled his hands away. “He got something on your gown, oh my goodness, let me get a napkin?—”
“Maria.” I smiled and shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. Please.”
The women started chatting to me again as Maria gently took Luke aside, kneeling down and talking to him.
“It’s so amazing that the wedding’s so soon,” the board member said. “Was your family surprised?”
“Yes,” I admitted.
“Are they able to be here on such short notice?” asked the other woman.
“Unfortunately, no.” I shook my head. “They’re traveling at the moment.”
“Oh, really? Whereabouts?”
“Um…” I racked my brain. The only place we ever traveled was the Dollar Store in the next town over. “Paris, actually.”
Maria jerked her head, watching me.
Realizing my mistake, I blushed. But it was too late. “They’re in… Paris.”
“Aw, Paris is lovely this time of year…”
The conversation prattled on, but I was keenly aware of my blunder.Maria’sfamily was in Paris—not mine. I only prayed she didn’t fixate on my comment, though she’d appeared surprised.
It was another unfortunate occurrence that Miranda snagged the seat immediately next to mine as we sat for dinner. Rhodes was engaged in a long conversation with several of the board members; he didn’t notice as she slithered in next to me. As if I wasn’t uncomfortable enough in the dress, surrounded by wealthy and accomplished people in their best casual clothes, about to somehow eat barbecue without making a mess of myself.
“Interesting gown choice,” she purred as she accepted anther pink spritzer from the server. “It’s not leaving much to the imagination.”
“It wasn’t my pick. The maid told me to wear it.”
“Hmm. I should give her a raise.” Miranda sipped her drink, the cat that had tricked the canary into wearing a stupidly formal and revealing dress.
“I don’ think you’ll be able to—Rhodes’s firing her.”
