My phone rang as I spun around in a circle again trying to see what I looked like from all sides even though that wasn’t possible with the long closet mirror I was using. I craned my neck trying to check out my backside, but I couldn’t see much.

What I was able to see, I was impressed by. I was actually wearing the dress I’d gotten for the Honors Ball while in college. Each year the Dean of Student Development had hosted a ball for high achieving undergraduate and graduate students. It was like the prom for nerds, but in college instead of high school. I had bought the dress my senior year, so it had only been worn once.

It was a strapless black dress that stopped at my ankles and from the front it was pretty demure. The back, however, was undeniably sexy given that it was practically backless. I had arranged my hair in elegant waves around my bare shoulders and had gone minimum in my makeup selection, going with a nude lip, but heavy on the eyeliner. I thought I looked pretty and just hoped Hollis or maybe even Winslow also thought so. I slipped my feet into a pair of stilettos and was about to make my way out the door when Ella looked up and said, “Where are you going all dressed up?”

“Out,” I said simply and disappeared through the door. I thought it would be fun to keep her guessing. It made me feel mysterious and even interesting, two characteristics Ella didn’t associate with me.

As I made my way down the stairs I almost collided with the last person I expected to see in my building.

“Hollis?” I said staring at him. He looked handsome in a dark grey tuxedo. His hair was slicked back and upon seeing me he attempted to whistle, but it fell short.

A giggle burst from my throat and he grinned boyishly at me. “I never learned how to whistle.”

“Clearly.”

“But you look beautiful. Like an actress going to the Emmy’s or something.”

I thanked him for the compliment and said “What are you doing here?”

He looked confused, “I’m your ride.”

“Really? Are you Winslow’s chauffeur?” I asked hoping my question wasn’t too personal.

He shook his head, “No, I’m actually his lawyer. So I spend my time keeping him out of trouble.”

“Then what are you doing here? I’m the opposite of trouble. If you looked up boring in the dictionary, you would probably see me.”

“I have a hard time believing that,” he said offering his hand to me as I navigated the steps, attempting to hold one edge of my dress up so that I could see the stairs.

Gratefully, I took Hollis’ hand in my own and he surprised me by slightly squeezing my hand.

“Are you looking forward to tonight?” he asked me as he led me down the stairs.

“I am. I haven’t been to something formal and fancy in a long time. Since college...”

“When was college? Like yesterday?” he joked.

I pretended to be annoyed, although I was far from it. I was enjoying his playfulness this evening. Before I answered him I snuck another peek at Hollis. I liked how he radiated confidence without coming across as cocky.

“I graduated last year.”

“So you’re really young...twenty-two, twenty-three?”

I nodded. “Twenty-three.”

“You’re practically jailbait.” He said shooting me another grin as we approached the town car on the corner.

I rolled my eyes and said, “You say that as if you’re so old. How old are you? Twenty-eight? Twenty-nine?”

“Thirty.” He said unhappily as he opened the door for me and I slid inside the warm interior of the car.

“You’re practically an old man,” I joked.

He grabbed his heart as if he were hurt as he slid in next to me. “Most days I feel like one.”

“Winslow keeps you busy?”

“You have no idea.”

“Well better busy than wasting away at a grocery store saying ‘clean up on aisle five’ over the loudspeaker every day.”

He winced, “Don’t put yourself down like that. With the right experience and the proper connections, you’ll be where you want to be eventually.”

I sighed wearily and confessed, “I’m not really sure about that.” The car pulled off and I turned to look out the window, embarrassed that I had shared my self-doubt with him.

I felt his hand touch my shoulder and I turned towards him. “If you don’t believe in yourself, then you can’t blame others for not believing in you too. So cheer up. You’re the key to your own success. Be more positive.”

“Key to your own success? Did you read that in a self-help book somewhere?” I joked wanting to believe him, but still finding it hard. Even my unrelenting optimism had its limits.

“As a matter of fact, I think I did. And I said it to myself after I was rejected by most of the law schools I applied to. But I stayed positive and now I’m a lawyer so apparently it worked.”

“Or you just got a lucky break...”

He laughed, “You don’t say? And all these years I just thought I got into the best law school in the country because I was a semi-genius.”

“I thought you said you were rejected?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Oh I was...by all my safety schools which made me think I wouldn’t get into my top choice and I did. In fact, that’s where I met Winslow. But that loser dropped out his first year.”

I looked up at him surprised that he would insult his employer, “Loser?”

“I’m just kidding. We were friends before he became my boss. He left school to learn his family’s business when his grandfather mentioned he was planning on early retirement.”

“What’s the family business?” I asked.

“Real estate. They own quite a chunk of New Jersey.”

My eyes grew wide and to my confusion, Hollis’ eyes narrowed. “Yep. Winslow and his family have plenty of money, if that’s what you’re interested in.”

“What?” I said confused and before he could answer we arrived at our destination. Gone was the light and fun mood from earlier. Hollis was all business as he got out of the car and held the door open for me.

“Are you trying to imply that I’m some sort of gold digger?” I said as I climbed out. “Because I’m not!”

He seemed to be ignoring me as I followed him up the stairs of a historic hotel where I assumed the event was being held. He was walking fast in front of me and I struggled to keep up with him in my snug fitting dress and heels.

“Can you wait up?” I called and he did as I asked albeit reluctantly. “Is this how you are? Someone says something that you don’t like or that you completely misconstrue and you march off in a huff?”

“You’ll have to excuse me. I just don’t like to waste my time on women who see dollar signs instead of a person.”

“Oh stop. You don’t even know me. Stop being a Judgy Mcjudgerson.” I said exasperated.

“Excuse me?” He said turning around finally to look at me.

“A Judgy Mcjudgerson. You know. A judgmental person.”

“Did you just make that up?”

“No. I read it in a forum.” I said blushing.

“A forum?”

“Yes.”

“About what?”

I didn’t dare tell him it had been a forum for those of us who struggled to make friends in the big city. I didn’t want to sound lame so instead I made something up, “A forum about dogs.”

“You’re lying. You’re chewing on your bottom lip.”

“No I’m not,” I said and quickly realized that I had been.

He laughed, “Never play poker.”

“Whatever,” I said walking away from him. I was so angry that I didn’t notice the beauty surrounding me until a second later and I sucked in a quick breath as I took in the expertly renovated hotel with its high columns and exquisite chandeliers.

“Impressed yet?” a voice said from the side of me and I was startled to see Winslow standing there. Like Hollis, he wore a tuxedo. His was black and seemed to be made of some expensive material that I didn’t readily recognize.

He took my hands in his and studied my figure, letting his eyes slowly take in my body and then he let go of one of my hands and slowly spun me around. He whispered a soft “wow” when he saw the skin revealed by the back of the dress and it was then that I felt Hollis’ hand on that exposed skin on the small of my back and I shook a little. His touch, although unexpected was delightful. He splayed his fingers, warming my back.

“I’m sure you have clients you need to greet. I’ll take Ms. Ivy off your hands and keep her entertained. After all, what are friends for?” Hollis said walking away with me.

I glanced behind me at Winslow who was greeting another guest, but as he did he kept his eyes trained on me and he gave me a slow knowing smile that made my skin tingle. Hollis cleared his throat and I tore my eyes from Winslow.

“What would you like to drink?” He asked stiffly.

“I don’t drink.” I responded automatically.

He shrugged, “That’s too bad. I’ll have something then.”

He took a glass of champagne off a tray as a waiter passed by. As he took a sip, I took in the room around us. I guess the reception kiosk and lobby area had been gutted and in its place a ballroom had been created. There were tables on either side of the room and a runway stretched down the middle. A band played in the back and people were on the dance floor enjoying themselves.

“What’s the runway for?” I asked Hollis curiously.

“The dogs will be auctioned off as they go up and down the runway.”

“Seriously?” I said with a smile.

“Yep.”

“That’s so funny. I had no idea this event would be so...” My voice trailed off as I attempted to find the right word.

“Fun?”

“Yeah, I thought it was going to be boring. To be honest.”

“Well, since it’s open to the public, it’s actually pretty fun.”

“Open to the public? That’s so kind of Winslow and his family.”

Hollis nodded, “Yep, but tickets are $100 each.”

“Ouch.” I said thinking of how much I could do with a hundred dollars.

“Tell me about it. But people love it. We sell out each year. The dogs find a great home and it’s for a good cause. Anyway, enough talking. Would you like to dance?”

I nodded and he began to lead me to the dance floor when Winslow popped up suddenly.

“Hey buddy, my grandfather wants to speak with you. I’ll take Ivy off your hands.”

And before Hollis could refuse Winslow had me wrapped in his arms as he gently and expertly moved me across the dance floor.

“Are you having a good time thus far?” He asked me staring down into my eyes. His own eyes with their eerie grey color made him seem mysterious and slightly nefarious even. I think it was the light grey against his sun-kissed skin that did it. It was just an unexpected combination.

I felt like melting as his hand gently rubbed my spine, tracing his fingers up and down my skin in hypnotic fashion.

“I--I--Uhhh...Yeah. I’m having a great time,” I could barely get out a word as I became aroused by the feel of his hand acquainting itself with the delicate skin of my back.

He dropped his head towards mine and said, “Do you like that?”

I pretended as if I didn’t know what he was talking about. “Like what?”

“Oh so you’re going to play coy?” He said and then he shifted my body closer so that my breasts were pressed against his chest.

I sucked in a breath and he placed his mouth close to my ear, “You look unbelievably sexy tonight.” His hands tightened around my waist, making me gasp.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“No thank you, for this dance. Hopefully later on tonight we’ll get better acquainted, until then have fun.” He then bent down again and placed a kiss behind my ear, letting his mouth trail down the curve of my neck. He pressed his nose against my neck and inhaled the scent of my skin.

I shivered and he chuckled before letting me go. He looked at me ruefully and then made his way through the crowd leaving me alone on the dance floor. I looked around but didn’t see Hollis anywhere so I found myself a table and sat down alone. Soon the show started and I became lost in my own thoughts as I watched dog after dog showcased.

I was amazed at how much people were bidding. Several of the bids went into the thousands. I figured Hollis was right: While the event was open to the public, the general public couldn’t afford to bid like the individuals here were doing. Eventually even Cola found a home and it was bittersweet knowing that I wouldn’t see his silly face at the shelter again, but I was happy he had found his forever home.

As the evening drew to an end, I stood up to find Hollis. He was nowhere to be found, but I ran into Winslow who told me he would take me home. I shrugged, wondering where Hollis had gone off to.

Less than five minutes later, Winslow was escorting me out of the building and down the steps. I felt like Cinderella as I left what seemed to be a dream of a night followed by my prince in this case, Winslow, who looked regal as he walked with me. But something about him, the way he touched my back and gently caressed it, seemed possessive and I tried not to think about it as the car pulled up to whisk me away from what felt like a dream.