Read Online Beautiful Entourage by E. L. Todd - Free Book Online Page A

was dumbstruck, staring at her and unable to stop. Her beauty was obvious to me the first time I saw her, but now I was astounded by her transformation. She was beautiful without even trying, and when she did try, she outshone every woman in the world. What did a gorgeous girl like her need me for? “They are.” I recovered from the shock and handed them to her. “I hope you like them.”
    She took them with a smile. “They’re beautiful.” She inhaled their scent and kept staring at them. “Wow.”
    I was glad she liked them but I was surprised how much she appreciated them.
    She stepped back inside her apartment then pulled a vase from under the sink. She inserted the flowers then filled it with water. Then she placed it on her kitchen table. “Perfect,” she said. “It’s nice to have flowers even when it’s not my birthday.”
    “Is that a popular gift?” I asked.
    “Harper, my best friend, always gets me flowers on my birthday. I do the same for her. It’s a tradition we’ve been doing for a long time.”
    “That’s touching.” The idea of someone going out of their way to make Aspen smile made me happy. “Are you ready?”
    “Yeah.” She grabbed her clutch and tucked it under her arm.
    We walked out together then took a cab to the hotel. Aspen looked out her window and watched the traffic on the other side of the road.
    I caught myself looking at her for an unusually long time. Then I focused my gaze out the window.
    When we arrived, I helped her out then put my arm around her waist. “Is this okay?”
    “More than okay.” She gave me a warm smile then walked forward.
    The dinner was held at a fancy hotel, and there were people standing outside greeting each other. Aspen either didn’t recognize anyone or didn’t feel like talking because she headed straight to the entrance.
    The event was held in a ballroom, and once we walked inside, I realized just how pristine it was. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, flutes carried on trays moved through the crowd, and everyone was decked out in their finest.
    “Nice party,” I said.
    “It looks nice on the outside, but beware, everyone is extremely boring.”
    “They are?”
    “We produce and sell oil,” she said. “It’s definitely not interesting.”
    I liked her sarcasm as well as her positive energy. She had a good balance to it. She was fun to be around but she wasn’t overbearing. Most girls I escorted either spoke too much or too little. Aspen spoke just the right amount. “Can I get you a drink?”
    “Sure.”
    I stepped away from her and grabbed two flutes of champagne. When I handed the glass to her, she immediately took a long drink. “Nervous?” I asked with a smile.
    She looked into my eyes then released a faint chuckle. “Do I make it obvious?”
    “Why are you nervous?” I asked.
    “I just hope Dad doesn’t see through my plan.”
    “I’d be impressed if he did.”
    She gave me another dazzling smile before she took another drink.
    It was very rare for me to escort a woman who was more attractive than I was. Aspen wasn’t necessarily a woman you would see on the cover of a magazine, but that wasn’t a bad thing. Her eyes were shaped liked almonds, blending well into her face. The deep green color reminded me of freshly mowed lawn in the summer. I could even smell the grass. She was taller than the average woman. Being six two made short girls difficult to dance with and hold. Aspen was about five seven so that was a nice change. She had the confidence of a businesswoman that wouldn’t take no for an answer, but she also had the gentleness of a school counselor. She was lighthearted and fun, but she also had layers of depth. I was talented at reading people, and I think I pinned her down.
    The greatest thing about her was her obvious disinterest in me. She didn’t drool when she stared at me like she was inspecting a piece of meat. She didn’t look into my eyes and melt into a puddle on the floor. She wasn’t