20. Time to Celebrate

After looking over the lengthy set of rules for behavior in Club BDE, Tania tucked her tablet into her backpack and looked up. To her surprise, Steve turned to head into Mandy's neighborhood.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"We have to pick up a few people." He slowed to a stop and flashed the guard his ID, then continued past the first turn that would have taken them to Mandy's. "After that, I'll drive you to the club."

"Are we going to Mr. Elliott's house?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Okay. Sounds good." Assuming he was picking up Mr. Braden and Lottie, she sent a quick text to her Daddies to let them know where she was and smiled at the reply.

We'll see you soon, babygirl. Are you enjoying your star treatment?

I am. I can't wait to see you.

Just a little longer.

She giggled at the heart emoji and put her phone away as Steve backed into Mr. Braden's driveway.

After turning to look at her, Steve said, "Stay in the car, please. I'll be right back with our guests."

"As if I would go anywhere. There's champagne and snacks here."

"Don't get carried away," he warned. "You won't be allowed to play if you overindulge."

"I know." She held up a bottle of water. "I don't want to miss a single detail."

"Good girl."

"Woof." She smiled impishly when he rolled his eyes.

"And also a brat. I'll be right back."

Without waiting for her to reply, he went to the door and knocked. A few seconds later, two women burst outside and hurried to the limo, then crawled into the back seat with her. Both were gorgeous brunettes, with perfect hair and makeup, and wore stunning cocktail dresses and high heels.

"Hi Tania! I'm Lottie. Please tell me you remember me, otherwise it's going to be really awkward when I hug you," the first into the limo said as she sat next to Tania. "Your stepmom lives close by. And god, your little sister is so stinking cute, I can't with her."

"I think so, but?—"

"Squee!" Lottie squeezed her into a tight hug. "I knew you'd remember me."

Well, Tania mostly remembered her. They'd barely spoken in high school, and that was a long time ago—not that it seemed to matter to Lottie.

"And I'm Emily Graham," the second woman said as she sat next to Lottie. "Damian told me you're studying engineering. That's so cool. I'm going to school for accounting."

"Ugh. No shop talk," Lottie said, holding up a thermos. "I have cosmos!"

"Damian said we shouldn't drink before the club," Emily replied.

"It's about the only rule I follow." Leaning close, Lottie put a finger to her lips. "Shh. It's cranberry juice, club soda, and a tiny dash of Cointreau to make it smell right. Steve will tattle and we'll reap the rewards."

"Ladies, are we behaving back there?" Steve asked before Tania could figure out what Lottie meant by rewards. Of course, she had some ideas. It was a sneaky, bratty thing to do, and Tania was totally down for it. She was happy to outsource her bratting, and Lottie seemed like the perfect subcontractor.

"No!" Lottie shouted, as Emily said, "Yes, sir!"

With a heavy sigh, Steve put up the divider between him and his passengers as he exited the subdivision.

"So, anyway…" Lottie filled three glasses with the mostly virgin cosmos and passed them around. "Do either of you know what's going on?"

"I don't," Emily said. "Damian gave me my dress and said it was a surprise."

"Same here, but Braden picked this one out of my closet," Lottie replied. "Did Bastian or Desmond say anything, Tania?"

"Wait. How did you know I was with Bastian and Desmond?"

"Please. All anyone has to do is give Shane a bag of candy corn and he'll spill the secrets of the universe. Anyway, did they say anything?"

"Who's Shane?" Tania asked, trying to decide if she should be upset that they already seemed to know everything about her.

"He's a club submissive. He's usually dressed in gold or lace, and always has a bag of candy corn," Emily said.

"Oh, I think I met him. Gold lamé pants and a corset?"

It sounded like Tania wouldn't have to work too hard to find her knight in shining… lamé. She wondered if she ought to have Steve stop for a bag of candy corn.

"That's him. And Shane always has the best gossip," Lottie said. "So, anyway, did Bastian and Desmond tell you about the occasion?"

"Nope. They just sent me to that nice dress shop downtown, then to the day spa."

"Ooh. I'm totally jealous." Lottie crossed her legs and sipped her drink. "I'm trying not to shop so much these days."

"I guess we'll have to wait and see." Tania hesitated, then added, "Sorry, but I'm feeling really weird. I haven't worn a dress since my senior prom."

For some reason, Tania felt comfortable with Lottie and Emily, even though she didn't have many female friends. Or, actually, friends at all. Maybe it was because they were also involved with men several years their senior, but she felt like she could talk to them. Even without knowing what the men had planned, she was already having a good time.

"I don't wear dresses either," Emily replied. "I used to be a waitress, and I'm still surprised when my clothes don't smell like diner food."

"I like diner food." Tania turned to face them and lifted her glass. "Here's to big, greasy double cheeseburgers topped with a pound of bacon."

"Stop," Lottie complained. "I'm hungry now."

"But no burgers with fried eggs." Tania put a hand to her chest and sighed. "I love them. God help me, so, so much, but they hate me. Every time I eat one, it's like the eggs know."

"Umm…" Lottie shared a worried glance with Emily. "What do the eggs know?"

"It doesn't matter how careful I am. The yolks explode on me every time." When Lottie and Emily laughed, she added, "It's like a ballista with dippy eggs. No, it's Russian roulette, with every bite having a greater chance of yellow catastrophe."

"Ooh-kay." Lottie topped off Tania's drink. "Our gorgeous engineering nerd will henceforth order her eggs scrambled. It would be a crime to mess up that dress."

The limo pulled to a stop and Tania drank the last of her faux martini, before following Lottie and Emily from the vehicle.

Steve held the door for them and inclined his head. "Enjoy your evening, ladies."

Tania's heart stalled, then restarted when Lottie and Emily gasped.

Bastian and the Elliott brothers stood before them, all dressed in impeccable tuxedos and carrying bouquets of red roses. Tania's knees wobbled and her core clenched with arousal. Desmond and Bastian were bad enough, but the sight of all four of them…

"Holy Mary, mother of—" Emily staggered and grabbed Tania's arm. "Damian? Wow!"

"Dayum," Lottie smiled as she looked Braden up and down like he was a treat she wanted to devour. "Emphasis on the yum."

* * *