Read Online Marked: City of the Damned Book 1 by Everly Drummond - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Everly Drummond
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wedding bands.
The Winemaker’s Dinner was the hottest
ticketed event of this year’s Florida Wine Festival, and they’d
landed it smack in the middle of Labor Day weekend. Celebrity
chefs, world-renowned sommeliers, and politicians were among the
guests, and it was pure luck that Jaden had managed to be on the
guest list as well. Her new boss, Geoff, owner of a prestigious
restaurant in Miami Beach, had come down with the flu and insisted
his head chef take his place and network in his stead.
Coincidentally, the event fell on Jaden’s birthday, which was why
she’d been adamant that Tasha accompany her. It had been a
tradition since their midteens that they spend birthdays
together.
A waiter in a crisp white shirt passed by in
a blur, and with a quick flick of her hands, Jaden secured two
glasses of the red wine before joining Tasha at their table.
“Jesus, it’s a stampede out there,” Tasha
noted, pulling out the chair beside her. “These people are
vultures.”
“Well-dressed vultures at least,” Jaden
replied. “Wait until after dinner. I bet that’s when the real fun
starts.”
“Why did you drag me along, anyway? I could
be at home on the sofa with a pepperoni pizza, catching up on my
TV.”
“Yeah, like you’d pass on a chance to drink
wine and ogle VIPs,” Jaden scoffed. “Besides, it’s my birthday. You
wouldn’t really make me come here by myself, would you?”
“I knew you’d throw that in my face.” Tasha’s
delicate features contorted in mock surprise. Then she smiled as
she reached into her purse. She pulled out a small box wrapped in
gold foil and placed it on the table in front of her friend. “Happy
birthday.”
“Tasha, I told you not to buy me anything,”
Jaden murmured.
Tasha had been keeping close watch on her
finances. The Miami real estate market had slowed to a crawl in the
last few months, and making enough sales to keep herself afloat was
next to impossible right now. Jaden had implemented a no-gifts rule
this year—or at least she thought she had.
Tasha had no doubt gone to great lengths to
get something for her, and Jaden blushed as she picked up the small
package. She peeled back the wrapping paper and crumpled it into a
ball, tossing it on the table in front of her. Slowly, she opened
the lid of the black satin box. Inside, buried beneath a layer of
tissue paper, Jaden found a delicate silver chain with a silver
frying pan charm dangling from it.
“It’s an anklet,” Tasha explained. “I know
you’re not supposed to wear jewelry to work, but I figured you
could get away with this.”
“I love it,” Jaden said with a smile.
Removing the chain from the box, she unclasped it and placed it
around her ankle. “It matches my dress.”
“It’s not much, but—”
Thankfully a waiter chose that exact moment
to appear at their table and interrupt the conversation, because
Jaden knew precisely what Tasha was going to say: “It’s not much,
but it’s all I could afford right now.” She knew her friend was
struggling, but there was no need to announce it to the rest of
their table, which was beginning to fill up.
Wordlessly, the waiter placed six glasses of
wine on the table as a chime began to sound. When he’d finished he
retreated into the sea of people now making their way from the bar
to their assigned seats.
“I hope they serve dinner soon. I’m
starving,” Jaden said, changing the subject. She tried to look
nonchalant as she scanned the crowded garden.
Her gaze drifted to the bar where a few
people still remained, wine glasses in hand, and suddenly she
noticed him. Standing beside a small stage at the front of the
dance floor was the most stunning man she’d ever seen: tousled
brown hair—the color of aged mahogany—brushed the collar of the
crisp, white dress shirt that peeked out from the jacket of his
perfectly tailored suit. The setting sun cast a luminous glow,
streaking his hair with dazzling flecks of gold and bronze.
The Winemaker’s Dinner was the hottest
ticketed event of this year’s Florida Wine Festival, and they’d
landed it smack in the middle of Labor Day weekend. Celebrity
chefs, world-renowned sommeliers, and politicians were among the
guests, and it was pure luck that Jaden had managed to be on the
guest list as well. Her new boss, Geoff, owner of a prestigious
restaurant in Miami Beach, had come down with the flu and insisted
his head chef take his place and network in his stead.
Coincidentally, the event fell on Jaden’s birthday, which was why
she’d been adamant that Tasha accompany her. It had been a
tradition since their midteens that they spend birthdays
together.
A waiter in a crisp white shirt passed by in
a blur, and with a quick flick of her hands, Jaden secured two
glasses of the red wine before joining Tasha at their table.
“Jesus, it’s a stampede out there,” Tasha
noted, pulling out the chair beside her. “These people are
vultures.”
“Well-dressed vultures at least,” Jaden
replied. “Wait until after dinner. I bet that’s when the real fun
starts.”
“Why did you drag me along, anyway? I could
be at home on the sofa with a pepperoni pizza, catching up on my
TV.”
“Yeah, like you’d pass on a chance to drink
wine and ogle VIPs,” Jaden scoffed. “Besides, it’s my birthday. You
wouldn’t really make me come here by myself, would you?”
“I knew you’d throw that in my face.” Tasha’s
delicate features contorted in mock surprise. Then she smiled as
she reached into her purse. She pulled out a small box wrapped in
gold foil and placed it on the table in front of her friend. “Happy
birthday.”
“Tasha, I told you not to buy me anything,”
Jaden murmured.
Tasha had been keeping close watch on her
finances. The Miami real estate market had slowed to a crawl in the
last few months, and making enough sales to keep herself afloat was
next to impossible right now. Jaden had implemented a no-gifts rule
this year—or at least she thought she had.
Tasha had no doubt gone to great lengths to
get something for her, and Jaden blushed as she picked up the small
package. She peeled back the wrapping paper and crumpled it into a
ball, tossing it on the table in front of her. Slowly, she opened
the lid of the black satin box. Inside, buried beneath a layer of
tissue paper, Jaden found a delicate silver chain with a silver
frying pan charm dangling from it.
“It’s an anklet,” Tasha explained. “I know
you’re not supposed to wear jewelry to work, but I figured you
could get away with this.”
“I love it,” Jaden said with a smile.
Removing the chain from the box, she unclasped it and placed it
around her ankle. “It matches my dress.”
“It’s not much, but—”
Thankfully a waiter chose that exact moment
to appear at their table and interrupt the conversation, because
Jaden knew precisely what Tasha was going to say: “It’s not much,
but it’s all I could afford right now.” She knew her friend was
struggling, but there was no need to announce it to the rest of
their table, which was beginning to fill up.
Wordlessly, the waiter placed six glasses of
wine on the table as a chime began to sound. When he’d finished he
retreated into the sea of people now making their way from the bar
to their assigned seats.
“I hope they serve dinner soon. I’m
starving,” Jaden said, changing the subject. She tried to look
nonchalant as she scanned the crowded garden.
Her gaze drifted to the bar where a few
people still remained, wine glasses in hand, and suddenly she
noticed him. Standing beside a small stage at the front of the
dance floor was the most stunning man she’d ever seen: tousled
brown hair—the color of aged mahogany—brushed the collar of the
crisp, white dress shirt that peeked out from the jacket of his
perfectly tailored suit. The setting sun cast a luminous glow,
streaking his hair with dazzling flecks of gold and bronze.
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