+30\u00a0Bonus<\/p>\n
I\u00a0went\u00a0with\u00a0Nan\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0and\u00a0towards\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0parlor,\u00a0where\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0finishing\u00a0getting ready.\u00a0When\u00a0she\u00a0turned<\/p>\n
around\u00a0to\u00a0face\u00a0me,\u00a0my\u00a0jaw\u00a0was\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0ground.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0stunning\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0off\u00a0white\u00a0gown\u00a0that\u00a0brought\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0colors\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0natural<\/p>\n
features\u00a0and\u00a0highlighted her\u00a0blonde\u00a0hair.\u00a0The\u00a0dress\u00a0fit\u00a0her\u00a0body\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0glove\u00a0and\u00a0made\u00a0all\u00a0her\u00a0curves\u00a0noticeable.<\/p>\n
Chuck\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0ground\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0saw\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIrene,\u00a0you\u00a0look\u00a0beautiful,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0beamed\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0compliment\u00a0before\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0clock.<\/p>\n
\u201cErik\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0here\u00a0soon\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0us\u00a0up,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0told\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0ready\u00a0for\u00a0this?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0thought\u00a0about\u00a0it\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0my\u00a0fingers\u00a0nervously\u00a0fiddling\u00a0together\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0nibbled\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0lower\u00a0lip.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her,\u00a0not\u00a0wanting\u00a0to\u00a0admit how\u00a0nervous\u00a0I\u00a0truly\u00a0was,\u00a0though\u00a0it\u00a0seemed\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0see\u00a0right\u00a0through\u00a0me\u00a0because\u00a0she<\/p>\n
gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0soft\u00a0and\u00a0compassionate\u00a0smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going\u00a0to be\u00a0okay,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0assured\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cWe\u00a0are\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0charity\u00a0event,\u00a0one\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0both\u00a0been\u00a0to\u00a0on\u00a0countless\u00a0occasions,\u00a0and\u00a0we<\/p>\n
are\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0time.\u00a0No\u00a0pressure\u2026\u00a0no\u00a0boys\u2026\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0girls\u2018\u00a0night.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0relaxed\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0words\u00a0and\u00a0nodded\u00a0in\u00a0agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cA\u00a0girl\u2019s\u00a0night,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0repeated,\u00a0letting\u00a0my\u00a0body\u00a0relax.<\/p>\n
There\u00a0was a\u00a0knock\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0door,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0entire\u00a0body\u00a0tensed\u00a0again.\u00a0Irene\u00a0chuckled\u00a0and put\u00a0a hand\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0Erik,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0assured\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s\u00a0taking\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0charity\u00a0event.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0grabbed\u00a0her\u00a0purse\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0chair,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0shouldered\u00a0mine,\u00a0my\u00a0entire\u00a0body\u00a0trembling\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0walked\u00a0towards\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0door.\u00a0Irene\u00a0opened\u00a0the door\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0Erik\u2019s\u00a0smiling\u00a0face\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0us.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey\u00a0ladies,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0his eyes\u00a0scanning\u00a0each\u00a0of\u00a0us.\u00a0He\u00a0lingered\u00a0on\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0longer,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0dilated.\u00a0\u201cWow,\u00a0Judy.\u00a0You\u00a0look<\/p>\n
gorgeous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Erik\u00a0always\u00a0spoke\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0informally\u00a0because\u00a0we\u00a0had\u00a0become\u00a0friends\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0years\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0known\u00a0each\u00a0other.\u00a0I\u00a0blushed\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0compliment\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0bow\u00a0in\u00a0response.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0say\u00a0to\u00a0him,\u00a0making\u00a0him\u00a0laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cShall\u00a0we\u00a0go?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked,\u00a0offering\u00a0us\u00a0each\u00a0an\u00a0arm.\u00a0We\u00a0both\u00a0took\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0arms,\u00a0looping\u00a0it\u00a0with\u00a0ours.\u00a0I\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0at\u00a0Nan,\u00a0who\u00a0watched\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0doorway\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0bright\u00a0smile.\u00a0I\u00a0waved\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0waved\u00a0back.<\/p>\n
Erik\u00a0unhooked\u00a0our\u00a0arms\u00a0once\u00a0we\u00a0reached\u00a0his\u00a0car\u00a0and\u00a0opened\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0door\u00a0for\u00a0us,\u00a0helping\u00a0us\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0without\u00a0ruining\u00a0our<\/p>\n
hair,\u00a0makeup,\u00a0or\u00a0dresses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0said\u00a0to\u00a0him\u00a0just\u00a0before\u00a0he\u00a0shut\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0and\u00a0ran\u00a0around\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0side\u00a0to\u00a0sit\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0driver\u2019s\u00a0seat.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0537<\/p>\n
+30\u00a0Bonus<\/p>\n
As\u00a0we\u00a0sat\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0backseat,\u00a0watching\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0mansion\u00a0grew\u00a0smaller\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0distance,\u00a0Irene\u00a0hooked\u00a0her\u00a0arm\u00a0with\u00a0mine\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a<\/p>\n
gentle\u00a0squeeze.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight\u00a0is\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0go\u00a0fine,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0assured\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cStop\u00a0worrying\u00a0so\u00a0much.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0bit\u00a0my\u00a0lip\u00a0and\u00a0nodded,\u00a0wanting\u00a0to\u00a0believe\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0chimed;\u00a0she\u00a0frowned\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0reached\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0purse\u00a0to\u00a0grab\u00a0her\u00a0phone.\u00a0She\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0screen,\u00a0her\u00a0frown<\/p>\n
deepening\u00a0even\u00a0more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0link\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0live\u00a0feed,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0clicked\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0link\u00a0and\u00a0brought\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0live\u00a0feed.\u00a0She\u00a0smiled\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0saw\u00a0what\u00a0it<\/p>\n
was.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0charity\u00a0event.\u00a0Someone\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0following\u00a0is\u00a0there\u00a0and\u00a0is\u00a0live\u00a0feeding\u00a0the\u00a0entrances.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0looked\u00a0over\u00a0her\u00a0shoulder\u00a0as\u00a0important\u00a0high\u2013ranking\u00a0individuals\u00a0walked\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0crowd\u00a0of\u00a0onlookers\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0charity\u00a0event.\u00a0Everyone\u00a0looked\u00a0gorgeous\u00a0and\u00a0very\u00a0important.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0pointed\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0my\u00a0parents\u00a0making\u00a0their\u00a0way\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0crowd,\u00a0ignoring\u00a0the\u00a0paparazzi\u00a0as\u00a0they\u00a0often\u00a0did\u00a0at\u00a0these\u00a0types\u00a0of<\/p>\n
events.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0something\u00a0else\u00a0caught\u00a0my\u00a0eye,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0stopped\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0my\u00a0dad\u00a0and\u00a0Rachel,\u201d\u00a0Irene\u00a0pointed\u00a0out\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0noticed.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0seemed\u00a0the\u00a0paparazzi\u00a0were\u00a0already\u00a0eating\u00a0up\u00a0his\u00a0date,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0figure\u00a0out\u00a0who\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0importance\u00a0to\u00a0Gavin\u00a0Landry.<\/p>\n
\u201cGavin,\u00a0is\u00a0this\u00a0your\u00a0new\u00a0girlfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0happened\u00a0with\u00a0you\u00a0and\u00a0Miss\u00a0Judy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u00a0is\u00a0your\u00a0date\u00a0this evening?\u201d<\/p>\n
Gavin\u00a0didn\u2019t bother\u00a0responding\u00a0to\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0them,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0to.\u00a0His\u00a0body\u00a0language\u00a0was\u00a0enough.\u00a0He\u00a0draped\u00a0a\u00a0protective\u00a0arm\u00a0around\u00a0Rache\u2019s\u00a0waist\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0her\u00a0close\u00a0to\u00a0him,\u00a0making\u00a0the\u00a0crowd\u00a0gush\u00a0in\u00a0their\u00a0favor.\u00a0He\u00a0held\u00a0onto\u00a0her\u00a0tightly\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0guided\u00a0her\u00a0through\u00a0the crowd.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0before\u00a0Irene\u00a0shut\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0live\u00a0feed,\u00a0I\u00a0heard\u00a0someone\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0background\u00a0saying,\u00a0\u201cThat\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0his\u00a0girlfriend\u2026\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0way\u00a0more\u00a0suitable\u00a0and\u00a0stunning\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0arms than\u00a0Judy\u00a0ever\u00a0was.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
D<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 537 +30\u00a0Bonus I\u00a0went\u00a0with\u00a0Nan\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0and\u00a0towards\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0parlor,\u00a0where\u00a0Irene\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0finishing\u00a0getting ready.\u00a0When\u00a0she\u00a0turned around\u00a0to\u00a0face\u00a0me,\u00a0my\u00a0jaw\u00a0was\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0ground.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0stunning\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0off\u00a0white\u00a0gown\u00a0that\u00a0brought\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0colors\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0natural features\u00a0and\u00a0highlighted her\u00a0blonde\u00a0hair.\u00a0The\u00a0dress\u00a0fit\u00a0her\u00a0body\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0glove\u00a0and\u00a0made\u00a0all\u00a0her\u00a0curves\u00a0noticeable. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21605\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}