Thorns (The LeBlanc Family Book 1) by Bella Scott

Author:Bella Scott [Scott, Bella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodstone Press
Published: 2024-05-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Rose’s heart was pounding so quickly that she was becoming lightheaded. She held onto Luke’s arm as tightly as she could without making it obvious that she was looking for support. She’d been confident enough back at the house that everything would be fine, but actually being here had set her on edge again.

They had just entered the ballroom at an extravagant hotel in downtown Chicago—he’d told her the name at least twice, but she’d been too nervous to pay attention—and all around them were clusters of people in suits and expensive-looking gowns and masks of all hues.

Rose couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so out of place.

She’d been raised with a decent amount of money; her mother was a doctor and her father was a pharmacist, so they’d been disappointed not only when she’d gravitated toward the arts instead of science or medicine all through school, but also when they had realized that she’d wanted to become an interior designer and had definitively decided not to follow either of their paths. She’d done well for herself, and she’d been living more than comfortably with money to spare, paying for half of everything she’d shared with Alex before she’d left home a few days earlier.

But the people here had political money. She could see it in the diamonds glittering on the women’s fingers, wrists, and necks and in the expensive watches the men wore. She could see it in their smiles—like they were so far above the typical citizen that they were untouchable.

Rose felt a rush of admiration for Luke. He’d grown up around all of this, but he’d never treated her like he was any different from her, even when they’d met back in college.

She squeezed his arm, and he turned his head to give her that smoldering half-smile that sent heat straight through her. She smiled back at him and followed him across the white marble floor, which was swirled with gold and black so that it looked like the guests were walking over constellations. Blue banners that read “Re-Elect LeBlanc for Senate” hung from the walls, and red, white, and blue balloons were clustered in the room’s corners and between the immense windows and the doors that led out onto the balcony.

Senator LeBlanc herself wore a long-sleeved navy gown that shimmered in the light of the chandeliers overhead, and her face was half-covered by a matching mask that stopped just below her cheekbones. She was deep in conversation with a group of people near the back of the room, and Rose averted her eyes before Luke’s mother could recognize her with him.

“Luke!”

Rose’s heart leapt into her throat, and she followed Luke as he turned toward a man wearing a green tie and a black mask. The man was grinning, and Luke released Rose’s arm just long enough to return his enthusiastic embrace before reaching for her again.

“Thanks for the invite,” said the man, whom Rose didn’t recognize.

“I figured it was a good way to get your office a few more high-paying clients,” said Luke with a nod.

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