The Complete Private Collection: Private; Invitation Only; Untouchable; Confessions; Inner Circle; Legacy; Ambition; Revelation; Last Christmas; Paradise ... The Book of Spells; Ominous; Vengeance by Brian Kate

Author:Brian, Kate [Brian, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

PERFECT

Ariana looked at her watch. Twelve twenty-seven a.m. She tried to fight the irritation that prickled along her skin. Her friends had left a half hour ago, her feet ached from her ivory Chloé heels, and the ballroom was nearly empty, save for a few stragglers and hotel maintenance workers, dutifully clearing tables and sweeping the floors.

Stifling a yawn, Ariana surveyed the damage around her. Half-empty crystal flutes rimmed with fading Chanel-lipstick pouts littered the tables. The tapered candles that peeked from the Christmasy centerpieces had melted into nothing, and the sharp smell of burnt vanilla and wilting greenery hovered in the air. The chandelier that had seemed magical earlier in the evening now cast a garish light over the tired waitstaff. The room suddenly looked ordinary. Used. Ariana felt an inexplicable pang of sadness as she sipped the last bit of flat champagne from her glass.

“Party’s over, Osgood.”

Ariana jumped at the sound of Thomas’s voice. He sat down heavily next to her on the bench near the ballroom’s exit, his arms crossed over his wrinkled dress shirt. His blue eyes were slightly unfocused, and it was clear he’d had too much to drink.

“So why are you still here?” She crossed her legs and placed her champagne flute on the floor. Thomas smelled like whiskey and something vaguely spicy.

“Well, I’m certainly not waiting for my boyfriend, who’s currently puking his guts out in the bushes. Because that’d be lame.” Thomas sniffed and rolled up one of his sleeve cuffs.

Ariana tugged on her necklace, moving it back and forth on its delicate chain. A tiny part of her agreed with Thomas. She should have taken up Noelle’s offer to ride home with her and Dash. But then she thought about how Paige had glared at the suggestion—a not-so-subtle reminder that it was Ariana’s duty as girlfriend to take care of Daniel. She just wished he hadn’t challenged Gage Coolidge to that power hour. Because then she could be home right now, tucked between her sateen sheets.

She turned to Thomas. “What were you doing out in the bushes?”

“Oh, you know, a little of this, a little of that. Bushes are always fun.” Thomas smirked suggestively. “You’ve heard of fun, right?”

“I do recall hearing of the concept,” Ariana replied flatly, trying to step up to his banter.

“Right. I can definitely see you getting stupid and crazy,” he said sarcastically.

Ariana’s face grew warm. “I’ve done plenty of stupid and crazy things.”

“True. You are dating Daniel Ryan,” he replied.

“Ha ha,” Ariana said, then realized with a pang how immature she sounded. Across the room a waiter dropped a wineglass. He swore, then bent down to pick up the jagged fragments. “Daniel and I are very happy,” she added.

Thomas put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. “So you thought his little tête-à-tête with Sergei was, what? Gallant?”

“He was drunk,” Ariana pointed out. “And if I remember correctly, you were laughing.” She unhooked her vintage Gucci bag from her shoulder and put it on her lap.

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