Read Taking Chances (The Chances and Choices Duology - Book 1 of 2 - Contemporary Romance) for Free Online Page B

radiant.”

 
    I didn’t know about this aura business, but I
felt flippin ’ fantastic. Checking my phone had become
like an incessant tic, though. I checked it for about the fortieth time in the
last hour. Still nothing. I briefly considered turning it off and back on to
make sure it was working, but I decided that would just be silly.

 
    I bought a sandwich and took it to the park on
my lunch break in an attempt to get my mind off it for a while. Couples
strolled by hand-in-hand and riding bikes. I smiled at them and checked my
phone.

 
    I considered sending him a text. I could invite
him on a date. Nothing said that a girl had to sit around and wait for a boy to
contact her. I started the text numerous times, but deleted each one.

 
    In the end, I put the phone back in my purse and
decided to wait it out. Thankfully, he didn’t make me wait long. My phone
started ringing before I had finished my walk back to work. I panicked and
almost dropped it. I hadn’t been expecting a call. I could think about a witty
response to a text, but I’d be on the spot on the phone. What if I say something dumb? I had almost decided not to answer
when I ordered myself to pull it together.

 
    “Hi, this is Abby,” I squeaked, my voice too
high.

 
    “Hi, Gorgeous. It’s Seth.” His voice was low and
sexy. “I wanted to see if you’d like to go to a charity auction with me next
Saturday evening. It’s a black-tie event. I should warn you, though,” he added,
“my whole family will be there.”

 
    The thought of Seth wearing a tuxedo made my
mouth water. The fact that he was inviting me to an event with his family was
so exciting that my knees almost buckled. “I’d love to.” I managed to get the
words out.

 
    I focused my attention on the details of where
and when as much as possible, while my mind reeled with excitement. Then I
agreed to meet him there and hung up.

 
    “Annie!” I screeched running into the store. “We
need to find a fabulous dress.”

Chapter 9

 
    We decided on an elegant, black, form-fitting
cocktail dress. When paired with the super-high, shiny, black stilettos that
Court had loaned me, the look was classic and stunning. I just hoped I didn’t
fall down, especially considering what I was wearing underneath my ensemble.

 
    The thigh-highs, garter and racy thong were not
my traditional type of undergarments. It made me feel sexy, though, to know how
scantily I was clad underneath my demure outfit. I shivered in anticipation as
I imagined how Seth’s eyes would sparkle when he discovered my naughty secret.

 
    As I climbed the steps to the museum, I wished
again that Seth had picked me up, instead of asking me to meet him here. I had
waited until fifteen minutes after the event started, hoping that there would
be plenty of people here, so I could slip in unnoticed. I despised walking into
parties by myself.

 
    The great room of the museum had been
transformed into a sparkling fairy forest and the effect was magical. Six-foot
tall mushrooms painted red with white polka dots were scattered around, giant
colorful butterflies dangled from the ceiling and the entire room had an
overhang of moss that draped between enormous trees that towered over everything.
There were what appeared to be a million twinkle lights glimmering from all
angles.

 
    I gasped as I took in the amazing transformation
of the room. Then I felt him more than saw him. My eyes were drawn to him. Seth
was standing by the bar, looking dashing in a black tuxedo. The gentleman he
was with was talking animatedly, but Seth wasn’t paying any attention. He was
completely focused on me.

 
    His eyes bored into me as they slowly traveled
down my entire body, then back up to my eyes. The hair on my arms raised as he
openly perused me. My whole body tingled as his eyebrows lifted and his lips
turned up slightly, indicating he liked what he saw.

 
    I wanted him then and there, but I forced myself
to