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“I would have remembered such a pretty face. Luke Armstrong,” he said, extending a hand toward her. His eyes sparkled with openness and kindness, and she liked him on sight.
“Oh,” Allison said, unconsciously wiping her hand on her dress and shaking his hand. “Allison Harding. And, no, this is not my regular scene.”
“Are you here alone?” he asked, looking around her.
“Actually, I am.” Because technically, she was. The Kellers couldn’t wait to get rid of her, so it wasn’t a lie.
“In that case, allow me to escort you around the room.” He offered her his arm and a broad, sweet smile. She liked him. He seemed easygoing and nice. He was just a nice man. Imagine that.
Chapter Six
Maybe her first-ever real-life ball was not going to be a complete disaster after all. Allison was just about to take Luke Armstrong’s arm when a voice interrupted them.
“Luke? What are you doing?” A stunningly dressed girl came toward them. Her gown was so tight that every inch of her curves was highlighted by the ridiculously expensive fabric of the garment. Her hair rolled down her shoulders in a rich champagne-blonde hue. She immediately linked her arm with Luke’s and forced him down so she could kiss his cheek.
“Oh, who’s this?”
Luke seemed to take a deep breath. “Allison Harding. She’s new here, Shiloh. Be nice.”
“Oh, Luke. I’m always nice. I just saw your father, and he wanted to see you. The girls and I will keep Allison company.”
“I’ll be back soon, Allison.” Luke smiled. “But if I’m not,” he added, removing Shiloh’s hold on him so he could take out his phone, “I would love to you see some time. Maybe coffee. Or dinner. Will you be kind enough to give me your number?”
Oh.
“I look forward to that, Luke.” Allison smiled back at him as she entered her phone number into his phone. He was a nice person and she’d like very much to get to know him better. But she couldn’t not notice the bristling that came from Shiloh. If she and Luke were a thing, he wouldn’t be that brazen to ask for her number right in front of her, would he? No, he wouldn’t.
As soon as Luke left, two other girls, equally beautiful, and dressed like cover models joined them, and the atmosphere became even more icy cold.
“How did you get invited? I saw you coming in with Zac, Gage, and Reid. How do you know them?”
“Umm… Mrs. Keller… I rent the cottage on her property, and she told me that I should come and see the Davenport library. I heard it’s beautiful. I’m a librarian.” Could she babble anymore? Although she deserved a star for not starting her story with Horse and his triggering reaction to red fabric and the debacle that followed.
“A librarian?” one of the girls inquired. “I don’t think I ever met anyone who goes around giving out her star sign to random people,” she said, laughing.
“Oh, no. I meant a librarian. I work with books.”
“You’re a librarian?” The girl called Shiloh asked with a mocking hint in her voice. “So you work? Like a job?”
“I am, and I do,” Allison said cheerfully. “I’m Allison, by the way,” she added, extending her hand toward the other two girls. They refused to take her hand. Oh, well.
"Oh, my god. I don’t think I’ve ever met a real-life librarian before. Aren’t they extinct?” The other brunette asked.
"Er, not quite yet apparently.” Seriously, extinct?
“I do love your dress,” Shiloh said, eyeing her up and down. “I miss my great-grandma, and you could have picked it straight out of her closet. It reminds me so much of her.”
Okay, so this was the mean girls club. Welcome, Allison.
She looked down at her black velvet dress and didn’t think it was that bad. So it was vintage, but so what? It came with a lace collar; the sleeves reached her elbows, the hem reached midcalf, and she paired it with a pair of white high-heel pumps. She’d gathered one side of her hair, clipped it up, and let the rest run down her back. She looked perfectly fine, so screw you, Shiloh.
“Thank you. Your great-grandmother had impeccable taste. They say it sometimes misses a generation, sadly.”
“I could have you thrown out—”
“Allison, there you are. And no, you couldn’t, Shiloh.” Yet another beautiful newcomer said as she took Allison’s hand and led her off. “There’s a rumor that Shiloh threw her whole car away and bought a new one because she had a flat. Said she didn’t know the wheels came off. Said no one ever, right? Oh, and I’m Bree Davenport.”
“Hi,” Allison said. “Thanks for saving me.”
