Like Real People Do | Harricole
It had been quite the successful party; even Nicole herself had to admit.
What a lovely evening, Nicole, darling. Weâre so happy youâve come to join us here.
How refreshing to have a new face amongst this droll crowd. Youâre such a breath of fresh air.
Charming party, Miss Ackerman. Quite charming. Youâll simply have to tell me the name of your caterer!
She smiled that perfect smile at each of the ladies as they passed, shaking hands and pressing kisses to the air next to cheeks. Everything like clockwork as she had been taught from the womb.
This party had been all part of Frederickâs grand scheme of course. An afternoon tea social for all the influential ladies of VA Beach. Sheâd even invited the fearsome Kitty Porter in the hopes of a show of solidarity for the joining of their families. The woman had politely declined, of course, but Nicole had been quite open in sharing that her future mother-in-law had assured her it was only due to a slight cold that she would not be coming.
Whatever helps her sleep at night, that cold hearted bitch⊠Nicole thought to herself, waving a hand to the last of the guests as she stepped into her towncar and drove away.
âThank God itâs all over.â She murmured, kicking off her kitten heels and pulling the diamond chandelier earrings from her ears. âI wouldnât have been able to stand these fucking harpies one second more.â Dropping the jewelry in a bowl next to the door, Nicole wandered through the archways of their pebbled drive, past the rose garden where the servants and catering crew were picking up the remnants of the party. The head of the catering company looked up as the golden goddess made her way past, picking up a clipboard and hurrying over towards her.
âThe party is over. Iâm not on duty anymore, so you have nothing you could possibly say to me that I care to hear about. If you have any questions, talk to my father. Heâs the one paying you after all.â She muttered, brushing past the woman as she peeled the straps of her dress off her shoulders and tossed it to one of the servants without a second look.
Sheâd been wearing her bathing suit under the floral contraption the entire time, having promised herself that the instant she was free of the clucking hens of this place that she would give herself a good half-daysâ worth of sun and mojitos by the pool. Working on her tan was listed under the unofficial acceptable activities listed sanctioned by Frederick Ackerman, after all. Along with anything else that could possibly help make her more desirable to the opposite sex.
âDisgusting.â Nicole ruffled a hand through her perfect curls, mussing them as much as possible as she wandered through the gardens towards the pool. She wanted nothing to do with the girl she just had to play for the world outside of this cage. Nicole hated that woman. Simpering smiling fool she was.
Only a few more months⊠Then youâll be married and all of this will be overâŠ
The thought should have been more of a comfort than a burden. And yetâŠ
Ice-cold blue eyes settled on the entire reason that her impending nuptials weighed heavy upon her heart the moment she passed through the gate to the pool. The dark-haired Adonis of her dreams lay in her favorite lounge chair, sunglasses perched on his nose and droplets of water glistening like diamonds upon his skin. It was only the uneven rhythm of his breathing and the twitching of his forehead at the sound of the gate closing behind her that made Nicole certain that he had not fallen asleep.
âHere I thought you knew better than to steal my chair when Iâm not around.â Nicole teased as she walked over and perched next to Harry on the chair. Slowly she leaned over him, pulling the sunglasses from behind his ears and slipping them upon her own face. âUnless, of course, youâre simply here to reserve it for me and not, as I suspect, trying to hide the fact that you were spying on my party.â She grinned widely at the young man.
Had they been more concealed, perhaps she would have risked dipping her face to his, brushing a gentle kiss to the corner of his lips, taking the chance that he wouldnât stop her. Instead she contented herself with her hand braced above his shoulder, staring down at him as she swallowed her want back. Heâd denied her once. She knew better than to press again. She would not ask him for anything he did not want to give.
âI would have invited you if father would have let me⊠Not that you probably would have enjoyed talking about the schedule of charity events for the next twelve months. I know I was falling asleep in my chair. Iâd much rather have been out here.â Nicole flicked her golden locks over her shoulder, lips twisting into another smirk.
