At the Masquerade by Nicole Dennis

Author:Nicole Dennis [Dennis, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
Publisher: MLR Press
Published: 2019-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Instead of returning to the ballroom and crowded dance floor, Finn conducted them to another side corridor. This one held a long row of tables.

“I need to go speak with a couple of guests,” Finn said.

“Go ahead. I’ll wander around here.”

Finn lifted Dalton’s hand to kiss the back of his hand. He released Dalton’s hand, then stepped away. He stopped next to two masked guests.

The music stopped when the band’s lead singer finished a song.

“The silent auction closes in a half hour. Please make sure to check out the available prizes and make your final bids. All of the winners will be announced after the midnight revelation,” someone said over the sound system.

The music continued with the live band picking up tempo.

Not sure he wanted to stick around if most of the crowd move here, Dalton decided to hold out for a bit longer. He didn’t want to leave without Finn. He did promise to stay. Finn kept him safe amongst the crowds. Since he was here, he might as well wander around. He checked out the line of tables covered in silver and gold sparkle linens and decorations to fit the rest of the theme.

Stepping between others, he noticed there were items stretched across all the tables. There were clipboards and pens in front of each item and some people were using them. Curious about how the auction worked, he slipped into a free space to get a closer look.

Of course, one of the first things he spotted had to be the one he didn’t want to find. There was a cluster of wine from his ex-family’s vineyard.

“Can’t get away. No matter what I do,” he muttered while he stopped.

A card propped against the bottles. It read ‘Rock Creek Vineyard - Donation by the Goldwyn Family, owners of Rock Creek for 4 generations - 6 bottles to represent everything the vineyard offers plus a round-trip to California, a stay at a prominent B&B, an extended wine tasting, and an escorted visit beyond the regular tour’. Then he lowered his gaze and noticed the different lines held last names and dollar amounts. Each amount higher than the last as if to put a value on the bottles and visit.

“Hello. Would you like to know more about Rock Creek before making an offering?”

Oh, hell, no! This can’t be happening. Not now. Not after the wonderful night Finn gave me.

At the feminine voice, Dalton’s back went ramrod straight and his shoulders stiffened. He knew the tone. It wasn’t his stepmother. That would have been a complete clusterfuck. This was the sister, Rihanna, whom he confided his deepest secret in only to be betrayed. Clearing his throat, knowing his face was covered and not immediately recognizable, he turned to face one of the stepsiblings he left behind over twenty years ago.

Dressed in an elegant silver and blue gown, Rihanna wore a silver mask covered in blue Swarovski stones to create a swirling pattern off to the left. They ended in a splash of blue feathers with dangling silver charms from the mask’s edge.

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