The Arrangement (unenhanced Edition) by AnnaRCase (good novels to read TXT) 📕

Apparently, Jackson was now dating Courtney’s sister Valencia. What the fuck were the odds? Amberleigh laughed all the way up to bar, cutting through the mass of people, while Leo followed. She ordered a double shot of tequila and the bartender looked at her with a raised brow. He wasn’t the only one who seemed to be judging her though.

Leo grabbed onto her elbow gently, “Amber, hey are you going to tell me what’s up?”

Amberleigh tipped the bartender and downed the shot quickly. At least she used a cocktail napkin to wipe her mouth afterward instead of the back of her hand.

“I don’t know how much Grayson told you, but that asshole who is dating Courtney’s sister is my ex. The father of my son, who abandoned me while I was knocked up six years ago,” she explained.

Leo took a deep breath and turned to the bartender, “I’ll have what she had sir, thanks.”

Amberleigh knew she should probably slow down as she’d already had a glass of champagne, two vodka shots and two shots of tequila, and it was barely an hour into the party. She took a deep breath and watched Leo consume his shot. She decided to just ask the bartender for a glass of wine instead.

“It’s fine, I’m sure he won’t recognize me anyway. It was a long time ago. I’ll just avoid him like he avoided me after I told him I was fuckin’ pregnant with his kid,” she laughed.

“He sounds like a real dick. Do you want me to beat him up?” asked Leo.

It was a tempting offer for sure. But probably not the best course of action at the moment. No lying low was the best thing to do. And by the crowd already assembled, it would be easy to get lost in it. Not to mention she wasn’t the same girl that Jackson had taken advantage of back in the day. No, she’d grown in many ways and many places.

She chuckled, “I love you for the offer Leo, but not tonight. We only have what, like four more hours to make it through this thingy?”

He grinned, “Oh it will feel so much longer than that I assure you. You really do look beautiful tonight. The most beautiful woman in this room. Care to dance Miss Dubois?”

Her cheeks heated. She knew unlike most guys just saying things to get her to drop her panties, Leo was actually sincere. She nodded her head at him, and Leo entwined his arms in hers and led her out to the dancefloor. The music was being provided by a small live orchestra. The tunes were hauntingly beautiful though, played exquisitely. Only the best for the Godwin after all.

It was hard not to get wrapped up in the fairytale of the evening. Leo was gorgeous and only had eyes for her. It was easy, at least for a small piece in time, to believe that Leo belonged to her, and she to him. Not so hard to believe the way he looked at her, as they danced, their bodies creeping closer, entwining. And all too soon, they were out of breath for reasons more than just the several dances they shared.

It seemed the crowded room melted away and only Leo and Amberleigh remained. No one or nothing else seemed to matter in their stolen moment of time. She rested her head against his chest, not giving a fuck about messing up her hair. His heart was slamming against his ribs, so much she felt every beat of it. And when the music slowed, though his heart only pounded quicker, Leo reached down and placed a finger beneath her chin. He pulled her eyes up to meet his. No thought, no hesitation, his lips searched out hers. Exploring first gently, and as she opened her mouth up to his, opened up her heart up to his, the kiss grew more intense.

Amberleigh’s gloved hands soon reached up, exploring the lines of his exposed jaw, his cheek, as he shuddered beneath her touch. Her hands came to rest interlocking at the base of his neck, so she could bring him closer. She wasn’t sure whose tongue made the first move, not that it really mattered in the end. Leo’s tongue caressed hers at first, before it grew more bold. He pulled back from their kiss just enough to trace his tongue over her lips, before he drove her wild by plunging it back deep inside her mouth.

Not even a sheet of paper could have been slid between their bodies as the kissed continued well after the music had ended. It probably would have continued for much longer, until someone was clearing their throat, and someone said to “Get a room,” with a burst of laughter.

Leo broke the kiss first, his lips swollen and lipstick tinged. But it wasn’t only Leo’s lips which now had a crimson tinge, but also his cheeks. As Grayson stood on the edge of the dancefloor glaring at the pair of them. And he wasn’t alone.

 Amberleigh straightened her dress as she took in the couple flanked around the young billionaire. Even with the black bear looking mask, Amberleigh would’ve recognized Cole Godwin anywhere. Though she’d never personally serviced him at the club, she’d seen him there in the high rollers room a time or two. He was handsome man with a head full of thick, salt- n- pepper hair, the same nice straight-edged jawline his son’s had inherited, as well as dark brown eyes he’d passed onto to his eldest son. Not to mention he was wearing a similar pissed off expression as his progeny. Seems Grayson had inherited his father’s judgmental scowl as well.

However, the woman at his side was smiling at them. Viola Godwin appeared in the press far less often, but her face was also one Amberleigh had seen before, though never in the flesh. This woman was like a saint, always involved in some type of humanitarian work.

She was a beautiful woman, who’d never given into the temptation of cosmetic procedures. Viola had aged naturally and gracefully. Her dark hair was streaked with grey and in beautiful waves down her back. And beneath her delicate gold mask, it was clear where Grayson had gotten his pretty blue eyes from. She was wearing a tasteful and well-fitting gold dress which caught the light beautifully. Amberleigh couldn’t help but immediately like the woman.