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Tonight I’d let Bickley lendat the crowd in this roolad I had The men wore sleek dark suits and European ties The women wore dresses, many of which were far n

None of them were half as beautiful as Bella

"Drinks before fa ers around her slio, but I wasn’t having it "I always hold irlfriend’s hand in a crowd," I explained

She shifted her handbag around her body "Just don’t get betweento get ornery"

After the bartender passed two glasses of red wine to us, Bella began to look around the roole is for a public health nonprofit But it’s all Wall Street types Because that’s who can afford a thousand dollars a plate"

I nearly droppedme that your parents spent a thousand dollars to have your fake boyfriend attend this thing?"

"Not really" Bella gave her head a single shake "They bought a table becauseher an award tonight, which is why my presence was requested But it’s just a scaest contributors, who else are they going to hand that award to?"

Huh The politics of Bella’s family were different than the politics of my family But just as co toward a round table up front

Hand in hand, alked over to the front corner of the room, where Bella’s parents sat Even if she hadn’t pointed the Bella’s h her hair ept up in a severe style Bella would never have tolerated Her father looked much older than his wife While Bella’s mom looked to be in her forties, Bella’s dad was sixty-five if he was a day

Bella’s mom jumped up to kiss her e arrived "You look lovely, sweetheart," she said, and I relaxed a little bit After our conversation on the way in, I’d half expected Bella’s parents to have horns and a tail

"This is Rafe," Bella said, squeezing my hand "Rafe, this is Lydia and Jack"

I had to drop Bella’s hand in order to shake "It’s a pleasure to finally aveit on a little too thick