Read Online Gold Shimmer by P. T. Michelle - Free Book Online Page A

on, dance with me, Celeste.”
    The moment I tense in his arms, the confident cockiness in his smile fades and a flash of vulnerability reflects in his gaze before shifting back to friendly appraisal. “You ready to graduate? How long has it been…two years since we last saw each other?” He reaches up and touches the edge of my mask, his voice softening. “Damn, you’re even more beautiful.”
    Nothing drills home the fact that he doesn’t realize I’m Cass faster than his deferential treatment of Celeste. He’s being sweet and attentive, practically begging her for attention. That combined with the feel of his sweaty body pressed against mine explodes the simmering volcano inside me.
    I shove against his chest. “Don’t touch me,” I hiss out through gritted teeth as he stumbles back.
    Jake blinks at me in surprise, his hands held up. “What’d I do?” When he tries to take a step toward me, concern etched on his forehead, I hold my hand up.
    “Just leave me alone!”
    Before he can say another word, I turn and move away from him as fast as I can in my heels, my stomach churning with nausea.
    I reach the bathroom at the same time the house lights flare to life. My stomach heaving, I grab for the door handle just as a guy exits. Ignoring the gasps of outrage from the few girls waiting in line, I tug the door closed behind me and hold my hand over my mouth, stumbling to the toilet.
    My stomach empties quickly, nothing but champagne, then dry heaves.
    I shiver as hot and cold flashes up and down my body, but once the dry heaves stop, I manage to drag myself over to the sink to rinse my mouth out.
    I’ve just turned off the tap when my gaze locks with Calder’s steady one in the mirror. He’s leaning against the wall directly behind me, arms crossed.
    “Care to tell me what that disappearing act was about?”
    As embarrassment heats my cheeks, I gesture to the toilet and what he obviously just now witnessed. My voice shakes as I answer, “Too much champagne apparently.”
    Without a word, he removes his hat and sets it on the counter, then steps behind me, his green gaze holding mine in the mirror. “Fifteen minutes have passed since you left me. And I find you on the other side of the fucking house? What the hell is—?”
    I spin and wrap my arms around his waist. Pressing my face against his chest, I mumble, “I’m sorry, Calder. You—” I inhale deeply, dragging in his comforting smell. If I can’t wipe out Jake’s memory, I want to at least erase his smell. “—overwhelmed me. I’ve obviously had too much to drink tonight.”
    Calder tips my chin up, his warm gaze slowly sliding along my jaw and neck. “A lesser man would take advantage of you in this condition.”
    I sigh and close my eyes, then jerk them open when the room starts to spin. “One thing you aren’t is a lesser man. Your stats remain unchallenged. You’re still at one hundred percent. I need to find Scarlett so she can take me home.”
    Smirking, he wraps an arm around my waist as if he doesn’t want to let me go. “I can take you. Bash will bring Scarlett later.”
    I start to shake my head, then wince at the ringing the sudden movement causes. “No, we came together. I want her to take me home. Can you call Bash and see if he knows where she is?”
    Someone knocks impatiently on the door while Calder calls Bash. I pop a mint in my mouth that I discover in the glass dispenser on the vanity, then open the door and say, “There’s another bathroom near the back kitchen entrance. It’s going to be a few minutes.”
    When the girl gives me a knowing, snarky look, it’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her it’s not what she thinks, but she and her girlfriends walk away before I can utter a word.
    The second I shut and lock the door, Calder tugs me back into his arms. “They’ll meet us at the door in a couple minutes.”
    I take his phone and add an old email to his notes app. He won’t be able to trace it back to me,