e bombshell you brought tonight, Mr. Dale? Don

ot that A-lister vibe. Looks like she belon

ng, sending her away without so much as a second thought. He winked

yl a venomous glare b

oal-making her move on Shane Warren. She had zero int

"This is Cheryl Blake-one of my agency's models. She's off tonight, so I thoug

me on, Rodger, since when do your models

polished grin, nodding toward Cheryl

hrough the crowd, eyes locked on he

pause, she left him sit

s she breezed by, but any complaint died on

t. Heads turned, and a hush fell as Cheryl claime

crowd. Even Wilbur was f

a week, and Wilbur had thrown this w

pack of childhood friends

le, his aunt navigated international diplomacy, his father held a general's rank, his mother shattered sc

Warren family-power and wealth

th them. The pecking order was ruthless, and Wilbur only manage

k for Wilbur-Shane hardly ever s

r chased after women. He was untouchable

nking, sidling up to h

a bear, gambling for a re

from his seat, ready to yank Cheryl away from the

rise, Wilbur met

glass with a relax

, then understanding flashed

sed, a pawn in Rod

ong way, Cheryl could vanish

heartless-he was do

n of missing a front-row seat t

e, Wilbur had an easy out-R

ra, Cheryl took her place at Shane's side, hands trem

nt expensive liquor spl

y, blurting, "Sorry, Mr. Warren!

napkin, his motion

ied, his tone velvet-smooth, his ga

in that moment-just an ordinary man

Cheryl murmured a quiet th

tucked at the farthest edge, well out of Wilb

to Rodger. "You're really okay

his lips. "She's nothing special, Wil

re pang of sympathy struck him. "She's stood by you for eight years. She's Zoey'

"Listen, Wilbur. If Cheryl doesn't end up

nce settled

re fuzzy for most, but Wilbur had pi

obsessed with one dream-marrying Shane an

n the fact that her childhood friend

Warren family name and the

other were inseparable in college, best friends

even born, an informal engag

hane as Zoey's destined fiancé, ev

" act like a designer label, neve

this-what makes you think Cheryl's got any shot with Shan

ression unreadable. "Sometimes you just h

miration, Wilbur g

p. Anything with Cheryl's fingerprints on i

ne's orbit and hope it would finally make Zoey back off. As much