Free Rebuild (Love & Beyond #1) by D. Griffith

our tickets over to the doormen and we walk inside.
    "Evening Mr. Hall, this way and I’ll show you and your guest to your seats." 
    "Thank you, Darren." As we’re getting seated, I glance around; there is the mayor and his wife. Oh wow, I will keep away from them, as I don't want to be making a fool of myself. By the looks of things, there are a lot of business people here, a few actors and singers too. I whisper to Jared.
    "Geez, I bet you need lots of security on this place, with so many high profiled people here."
    "Yeah, we do, especially with the amount of money that is handled in this place. Just think, its five hundred just for a ticket and some of these people pay as they’re coming in, so we need the extra security.”
    Once everyone is on board, it sets off till we get to the middle of the sea, well close enough to the next island anyway. When we’re all seated and settled, the mayor stands up and makes a speech.
    "Hello ladies and gentleman, it's lovely to see you all here on this special night, I hope you all enjoy yourselves. I’m impressed with such an amazing turn out; we’ve doubled the amount of people here, so many more than last year. Now I would like to invite you all to stand and give a round of applause, for the man who is responsible for this evening, Mr. Jared Hall.” I look up at him and we all stand up to applause him. He’s past the microphone and the mayor shakes his hand, a clear sign of mutual respect.
    "First of all, I’d like to thank you all for attending, as you all know, every year we hold this event and we always have at least one big surprise. So, this year I’m giving away a two week holiday to Dubai, at a six star hotel of your choice, flying first class for two. Which if you look behind me, there is a table where you can write your bid and put it in the box. Then later this evening, I will pick one out and reveal the winner, but here is the twist, whatever you bid, it’s double the amount of what you first wrote down, because it is for charity after all. So enjoy yourself and cheers."
    "Cheers!" They all shout, holding their glasses of champagne up. The lights dim and the music starts and we all sit ready to eat.
    After the meal, the winner was announced, a Mr. Sweky won it. He bid a total of five thousand, so he had to pay ten, so that’s good. The music is playing, people are dancing and they all seem friendly enough. Bonus point is that, no one has recognized me, I was dreading that. It’s made the night much easier.
    "Want to dance?" Jared asks, holding his long hand out to me.
    "Sure." We head to the dance floor and I wrap my arms around his neck and he slides his arms around my waist and start to dance in a circle. It feels pretty awkward to me, we’re pretty close and close enough that the tips of our noses are touching. I’m trying to move my eyes away from him, but it’s too late, I can feel myself losing a fighting battle in them. He asks.
    "So, is it as bad as you imagined?"
    "It's not as bad as I thought it would be." I reply as my voice catches. My nerves are consuming me at this point, as we’re that close and our hips are swaying to the music. Strangely, it’s like we’re in a world of our own and no one is around.
    "You look so beautiful Danni."
    "Well, that’s what an expensive gown and lots of makeup can do for you." I joke.
    "No, you always look beautiful, even without the makeup." I bite my lower lip and put my head down; I’m embarrassed by his compliments. He lifts my chin up with his index finger, so that our eyes are meeting and I can’t move them away, as he raises his other hand and pushes my hair against my ear and leans in to kiss me, I feel like am getting sucked in to oblivion. Thankfully the music stops and I’m able to pull back.
    "I love that song.” I say, It was amazed by Lonestar. The words are so touching.
    “Jared! Why don’t you introduce us?" We turn around and it's the mayor and his wife. She’s tall; I’d say about