“What do you think?” She did a slow spin.
“I think you look beautiful.”
“Are you just saying that because you’re in love with me?” Selle closed her closet and looked at her reflection.
“Nah. You’re gorgeous and the dress looks amazing against your skin.”
“Thank you.” She exhaled and looked at the time. “Can you help me take these rollers out now?”
“Yeah. Come on.” I tapped my knee and she walked over and plopped down.
I started taking the curls out softly. I focused on the back while she did the front. By the time we finished, she was only ten minutes ahead of the time Kiano said he would be here to pick Selle up.
In the meantime, she did quick touch ups of her makeup and fluffed her curls.
Kiano was exactly on time. Selle was not.
I got the door for her anyway.
“What’s up?” I dapped Kiano.
“What’s up?
“Selle is almost ready. She was just grabbing her purse.”
“I’m ready,” she sang as she dashed out of her bedroom.
Kiano’s eyes widened as he took her in. He shifted on his feet and cleared his throat. I grinned like the fucking Cheshire cat.
I hit him on his back and squeezed his shoulder.
“Tell her she looks beautiful,” I suggested.
“Jiselle, you look… fucking beautiful,” Kiano said.
“Thank you.” She closed the space between us.
She kissed and hugged him then gestured for us to lead the way out of her place.
She placed a quick kiss on my lips before we parted ways and I headed straight home, where I took a shower and collapsed into my bed for a nap.
That night, when I got to the club, I dapped the other security guards on my way inside and my eyes automatically drifted to the bar. It was almost jarring realizing Jiselle wasn’t in her usual spot and wouldn’t be coming in tonight.
I exhaled, shook my head and locked in though. I had a job to do, and honestly, my baby was in good hands.
12
My eyes drifted up and down Jiselle and I shook my head at how good she looked as she grabbed my arm and let me help her out of the car. I handed my keys to the valet and raked my eyes over her again before we actually headed inside.
I owed Stone. He deserved whatever he wanted if he helped Jiselle pick this dress out. It was beautiful and she looked gorgeous. I led her inside and squared my shoulders the second we made it to the check-in table.
My parents were big on philanthropy, and one of the causes near and dear to their heart was for victims of abuse. At this fundraising gala every year, we ate, played bingo, bid on auctioned items, and got an underwhelming dinner for thousands of dollars. It was for a good cause so I gritted my teeth and endured it every year, but personally I was fine with just cutting them a check or two every year and going on with life. My parents liked to be seen though. It was apparently good for business.
I collected the card that told us what table we’d be seated at, paid five dollars for the paddle I’d need to bid, and carefully led Jiselle to the large ballroom where twenty tables were set.
“Why is your company having a gala?” she asked quietly.
“We aren’t, technically. We donate a million dollars a year to battered women. It keeps the lights on at the shelter and we get a free table at their fundraiser.”