I tossed my curled hair over my shoulder and made sure I didn’t have any of my lipstick or gloss on my teeth. I was the only one who opted for heels tonight, choosing my favorite pink pair with straps that tied up my calves. My shoes were the same color as my lace corset-style top, and the black leather mini skirt really tied the look together.
We all looked stunning and ready to take on the night. Right on time, too, because there was a knock at the door.
“That’s Wes!” Lily called. “Can you tell him I need another couple minutes?”
Well, almost right on time.
“Yeah, no problem,” I responded to Lily, crossing the distance to the door and pulling it open.
As I was opening the door, Wes asked, “Let me guess, Lily needs a few more minutes?”
I let out a breathless laugh, opening the door fully. While I expected to see Wes on the other side, I didn’t expect to see him casually leaning against the door frame, muscular arms crossed over his broad chest. He was wearing his usual outfit—jeans and a tee—but he made it look so damn good.
As soon as Wes saw me, he adjusted his casual stance, stepping away from the door frame and standing up straight. “Juliette, you look…” he trailed off, shaking his head. His eyes worked their way up my body slowly, his searing gaze burning me everywhere he looked. And I liked the fire. He started with the strappy heels winding up my legs then moved to the pink corset top I was wearing. His eyes lingered at how the top pushed my breasts together before he met my eyes.He swallowed. “You look beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” he finished with a rasp.
His jaw was clenched tight, and when I looked down, his hand flexed before he slipped it into his jeans pocket. Almost like he didn’t trust himself not to reach out.
“Thanks, Wes.” I kept my response simple, because I was positive my brain was going to short-circuit if I tried to string together more words. I’d never had a man look at me the way Wes did. What could I say to his compliment, apart from that he makes me feel like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. That when he looks at me it feels like there’s no one else around.
A light laugh echoed behind me. “Oh, sure. Nothing at all,” Eliza said as she looked between us with a knowing grin.
I expected Lake Ridge to be the type of bar where the soles of my shoes stuck to the floor and the air smelled a little stale. I imagined a small, local bar. None of that was true. Well, maybe my heels stuck a little.
Lake Ridge had something for everyone. Dancing, drinking, hanging out, and bar games. It was easy to see why Wes, everyone in town, and those visiting loved it. The night had just started, and the place was already packed.
“Wow,” I hummed, glancing over at Wes, who looked on with a proud smile as we walked in. “I’m excited to finally see it in person. Should’ve worn my Lake Ridge merch tonight.”
Wes raised his brows. “Ah, so that’s where my hat went.”
“Maybe,” I said slowly, turning toward him. “I haven’t seen you much this week.”
“I didn’t think you’d notice.”
“I did,” I admitted. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but I thought I’d at least see you around town.”
He nodded. “It’s been a busy week. I should’ve reached out. I… I wanted to… I just…” His words were interrupted when Lily appeared behind me. Wes cleared his throat, not finishing his thought. “Have fun tonight. Here, drinks on me.” He fished his credit card from his wallet.
I shook my head. “Oh, you don’t?—”
Lily reached over and plucked the credit card from Wesley’s fingers without a second thought. “Perfect, thank you! I hooked my phone up to the music, too.”
Wes grumbled under his breath. Something about going to find Cooper to start their pool game.
Lily hooked her arm with mine, leading me to the bar. “Eliza is ordering us drinks, and then it’s off to the dance floor!”
There was a gasp behind us followed by an, “Oh my gosh.”
“Hey, Ruby,” Lily greeted. “What’s up?”
The girl, who looked to be in her early twenties, blinked as she looked between me and Lily. “You’re Jules. Or should I call you Juliette, since we haven’t really met yet? I loved you onParadise Love!”
“I am.” I let out an awkward laugh, and Lily gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. Most people in town didn’t pay much attention to how I was onParadise Love. They either knew me as the person staying in the Richards’s cabin or as the designer who worked with Lily. “And call me Jules. Ruby, right?”
She must’ve realized she hadn’t introduced herself, because she put a hand on her forehead, looking down with a shake of her head. “I probably came off like a total creep. I’m so sorry about that. Let me try again.” She let out a breath. “I’m Ruby. I’mback in Golden Falls for the summer from college and working at Lake Ridge. It’s nice to meet you, Jules.” Ruby turned toward Lily, greeting her, too.
My shoulders relaxed as I listened to Ruby, a smile easily forming on my face. “It’s no problem at all. I’m still getting used to the attention, and it’s been nice to get away from it all in Golden Falls. It’s nice to meet you, too, Ruby.”
“I bet it’s been a lot. I love that you were yourself on the show. Funny, wore your heart on your sleeve, not afraid to speak your mind.” Ruby’s initial excitement was back, her eyes beaming. “I knew from the first episode you were genuine, and I’ve been excited to meet you. Everyone in town has said such good things about you. I’m so happy you decided to spend the summer in Golden Falls, but I wish you didn’t have to go through that to end up here.”
