Conceited Concierge: A Hero Club Novel by Renea Porter (little readers txt) 📕

hit it off from there. Her boyfriend was some rich tycoon type.

“Look at you. You look like a damn supermodel.”

“Stop it. Tell me you’ll come. You can even bring your brother.”

“Fine. I’ll come. I guess I do have shoes to match the goddess look.”

Celine smiled wide. “That’s the spirit. Give me your phone. I’ll put in directions.”

I handed her my phone. And when she handed it back, I saw the party was in Cabazon, and if I remembered correctly that was the halfway point to Temecula. My throat caught, remembering Levi and my heart constricted. This was why I tried to stay busy.

“I’ll be there.”

“Perfect. Who knows, maybe you will find a rich man at this party.”

I laughed. “Doubt it. I’m done with men for now. But I’ll be happy to come and maybe I can garner some business down the road.”

“Yes. Okay. I have to go. That construction was a bitch to get through.”

“Okay. Drive safe.”

“Bye.” She waved as I walked her to outside. The breeze coming off the lake out back caused goosebumps to form on my arms. The weather was turning chilly.

***

I turned to my brother, Constance. “How do I look?”

We had gone last minute costume shopping but I was unable to find a costume to wear. So, when we got home, I found a small bed sheet, cut it to make it shorter so my calf sandals could be seen, and I found some gold ribbon to tie around my waist. I made a leaf crown to match.

“Beautiful.”

“You look scary,” I told him about his Freddy Kruger look. We were the oddest pair.

“It’s better than you trying to get me to be a Greek god.”

“I wanted to match.”

“That’s what you do with a boyfriend. Not your brother.”

“Hey. This is our first adult Halloween party that we attended together. I wish Simon could have come to visit, too.” Simon was my other brother.

“I do, too. But he has a company that he is a big wig at now and he needs to know everything that is going on.”

We loaded in my car. “What is it you two do again?”

“Advertising pays our bills. And we also have a nonprofit with a small network of people working to send clean water to third world countries.”

“Wow. That is amazing.”

“Yeah, it’s good to give back. We hate sitting around doing nothing.”

“I hear you. Thank you for coming out here and helping me get the house set up.”

“Of course. It’s come a long way.”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

“I followed orders on how you wanted everything.”

I laughed. If it wasn’t for Constance, the house would only be half-done. Together and with Kohen’s direction we managed to completely redo the kitchen, the bathroom was updated, and the back end of the house had needed some love.

I needed to add some plants to the front and maybe do a small garden out back. But I could manage that.

“Sucks you are leaving tomorrow, though. I liked having you around.”

“I’m only a twelve-hour drive.”

“Only.” I laughed.

“But I’m also only a two-hour flight from you.”

“You are.”

“Are you gonna be okay after I leave?”

“I’ll be fine. I promise. There are some little projects around the house that will keep me busy.”

“All right. But like I said, I’m only a flight away.”

“I know. Maybe you and Simon can come for Christmas and New Year’s holiday. You need to get him to stop working so much.”

Constance smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Where to next?” Constance asked as I rattled off the directions to this guy’s house. We exited the highway.

“Make a left on Penny Lane, then a right on Alistair Road.” I told Constance as I looked at my phone directions. “Okay, then follow straight down and it should the last house on the left.”

A massive house came into view and both of us were utterly speechless.

“Are you sure this is the right place?”

Taking another look at my phone, I confirmed it was the house.

The driveway was a circular shape, and a uniformed man opened my door while Constance handed him the key to park it.

“This is your friends boyfriend’s house?”

“That’s what she says.”

“You have some very rich friends.”

I slapped him on the arm. “Maybe you can find yourself a rich woman.”

He raised his eyebrow. “Maybe.”

With my arm linked with Constance’s, we headed inside.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

 

 

LEVI

 

When I got back to the hotel, Rylee was gone. Gone for good. I’d been all over the state looking for her. Bugged Aubrey every day, insisting she knew where Rylee was, but she kept saying she hadn’t heard from her. There was no way I could lose Rylee. Not unless I got to see her one more time. I knew if anyone could help me, my buddy Terrence could.

I grabbed my phone and called him.

“Hey Levi,” he answered groggily.

“Shit, did I wake you?”

“No. It’s fine.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m in New York for a client.”

I looked at my watch; it was three a.m. in New York.

“I’m sorry for calling so late, but I need a huge favor.”

“Okay. Shoot.”

“I met this girl and I fell head over heels for her. And I lied to her. I didn’t tell her I was still married and she took off. I don’t know where she went. I have her full name and her birthdate.”

“Let me get a piece of paper. I can’t believe you are still married to that stripper. We tried to talk you out of it and you didn’t listen to us.”

“I know. I had the papers drawn up and went to Las Vegas myself to have her sign. Now I gotta track down Rylee.”

“Okay. So, Rylee is the