Bachelor Swap by Lacey Black (best ebook reader under 100 .TXT) 📗

into the room so I can get a better view of her when she makes her descent. She hasn’t mentioned anything about her dress, so I have no idea what to expect. I decide to take in the gorgeous view of the river from her penthouse while I wait, anything to try to calm my racing heart.

Movement catches out of the corner of my eye, and when I look up, I swear I stop breathing. There, coming down the steps in a vision of red, is Kyla. Her hair is pinned up in an elegant style that is so fitting and timeless on her. Yet all I want to do is rip out those pins, drive my hands into those lush locks, and kiss her.

I take in the dress once more. It’s crimson red and dips down at the cleavage, giving me a tantalizing view of the swells of her breasts. The dress hugs her every curve all the way to the ground, a slit giving me a peek of her leg as she walks. A pair of gold strappy shoes make her legs look a mile long, and all I can think about is seeing them wrapped around my waist.

“Holy shit,” I whisper, my legs carrying me toward her before she has even descended the stairs.

She giggles. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The moment she’s standing directly in front of me, I place my right hand on her lower back and lean in to kiss her cheek. Only, when my hand meets bare skin, I find myself instantly distracted and needing to see the rest of that dress.

Stepping back, I spin my finger, indicating I’d like to see her turn around. She smiles coyly before doing as instructed and showing me the back of the dress.

“Jeezus, Ky.” I gasp, my hand covering my heart.

“You like?”

“Like? I love. You look absolutely stunning. I’ve never seen anyone look so amazing as you do right now,” I answer honestly, committing the image of her right here and now to memory.

Only when I’ve looked my fill, do I finally take her in my arms and give her the hello kiss I’ve been thinking of. I place my lips against her warm cheek, careful not to smudge her expertly applied makeup.

“That’s it?” she asks, a hint of humor in her sparkling hazel eyes.

“I didn’t want to mess up your stuff,” I reply, waving a hand around my face as indication of what I’m referring to.

She stretches forward and leans toward my ear. “Just so you know, this lipstick is smudge-proof.” When I meet her gaze, she winks at me.

“Challenge accepted, Miss Morgan,” I reply, placing my hands on the sides of her head and claiming her lips with my own.

I keep the kiss somewhat PG, even though I’d love to let it run straight to R-rated territory, but I refuse to ruin her night or be the reason she’s late. Kyla’s put in countless hours, both at the shelter and with event preparation, and I want everything to go off without a hitch.

Taking her hand in mine, I give her a smile. “Ready?”

“Yes,” she replies, returning my grin.

“Let’s go show you off.”

Chapter Twenty

Kyla

As I step inside the ballroom, my heart swells with happiness and pride. There are people milling around, enjoying champagne and checking out the silent auction tables. I’d estimate about half the ticket holders in attendance already, far more than I anticipated would be here so early.

“Drink?” Matthew asks, taking in the gorgeous room.

“Yes, please.”

With my hand tucked in the crook of his arm, he leads me past a few familiar faces and toward the bar. When we arrive, I nod hello to the couple standing in front of me and step up when it’s our turn. “Champagne, please,” I order when the bartender asks.

“And for you, sir?”

“Scotch, neat,” Matthew replies, reaching into his pants for a tip.

“Enjoy your evening,” the bartender says, setting the glasses on the wood and offering a smile to the next in line.

We turn after Matthew deposits cash into a glass jar at the end of the bar and step deeper into the ballroom. I spy Debbie and Edith talking to last year’s big donor and find myself walking that way. “Let’s go over there, and I’ll introduce you.”

“Sounds good.”

Matthew guides me around the room until we’re standing beside Edith and her husband, Frank, the couple they were talking to before stepping away to get another drink. “Kyla, dear, you outdid yourself this year,” Edith croons, leaning in for an air kiss. “It’s absolutely stunning.”

“Beautiful,” Debbie agrees, smiling excitedly.

“Matthew, this is the manager of Boston Cares Shelter, Edith, and her husband, Frank.”

“Pleasure,” Matthew says, shaking Frank’s hand and leaning in to give Edith a kiss on the cheek.

“And this is Debbie and Charlie. Debbie is one of the volunteers and was an amazing asset when we planned tonight’s event,” I boost, giving Debbie all the kudos she deserves.

“You’ve all done such a wonderful job. The ballroom looks great,” he says, leaning in to kiss Debbie’s cheek. When he turns his attention to Charlie, Debbie grabs my attention and fans her face, her eyes wide with delight.

I can’t help but giggle, trying my best to hide it behind my champagne glass.

“Matthew, I think I just saw your company’s name in the business section of the New York Times,” Frank says, pulling him and Charlie into a conversation about finance and business deals.

I turn my attention to the ladies, tuning out to the gentlemen’s talk of shop.

“My word, that man looks just as good in a tux as he does in jeans and boots,” Debbie whispers so no one hears.

“Agreed,” Edith chimes in, tipping her glass toward me in salute.

“Well, if you think he looks good now, you should see him cuddling a puppy,” I add, remembering how he looked with Hattie on his lap.

“Aww,” they both coo at the same time.

The three of us chat for a few more minutes and watch as donors mill around.