A flash memory of Jeff’s warning about Ted and the sight of Pet on the seat in the limo give me pause. “You seem like a decent guy, but I’m not in the business of dating men who I know are seeing other women.”
He steeples his fingers. “Why don’t we see how the night goes? I’m not opposed to putting an exclusive label on a relationship for the right woman. And we don’t have to put pressure on ourselves for the night. We’ll just see how it goes with no expectations.”
Jenna’s advice floods my head. If you’re not going to date Andy, then give someone a chance.
“Okay.”
His grin is wide and I can see him calculating his win. I almost backtrack on my agreement.
“Don’t worry about something to wear. You’re a size four I’m guessing, a thirty-six C in the chest, and a seven or eight shoe.”
My mouth drops. He’s dead on. “Size eight shoe.”
“I have your address. I’ll have something sent over on Saturday morning.”
I think about Jenna and Kenneth sending her clothes. Is that how all wealthy men operate?
“I can find something on my own to wear.”
He shakes his head. “Let me for springing this on you at the last minute.” I nod. “Then let’s go inform the team they had a spy in their midst,” he says conspiratorially.
I groan and he laughs.
The rest of the week breezes by. I spend part of the time at his office and I’m forgiven by Ted’s accounting team, but I can see the hurt and mistrust in some of their eyes. Ted e-mails them part of my report which gives a glowing review and eases some of the tension. By Friday, I almost accept an invite to hang out with Mandy but I haven’t been sleeping well, so I decline. She makes me promise I’ll go out with her next week when I inform her of my date for Saturday.
Andy hasn’t called and I’m not sure that’s a blessing or a curse. He’s obviously moved on but it hurts more than I thought it would.
Saturday comes with a winter mix falling from the sky. Undaunted by the weather, my clothes for the evening arrive as promised by Ted. I stare at the beautiful things he’s sent. The dress is black, classic, and simple, but quite stunning on. The forgiving fabric won’t show the lacy La Perla bra and panties that are included. The garter belt and thigh highs are a surprise, but then again Ted seems very detail oriented. However it’s the red-soled heels that make my heart flutter … until I reach the rectangular box. Inside there is a ribbon choker with a large onyx stone that dangles from it. The stone is crowned in tiny sparkling black jewels. There is also a matching pair of understated stud earrings. I don’t want to be dazzled by his wealth of gifts, but it’s hard not to. I probably have enough time to go out and find a dress of my own.
“Jenna, what should I do?”
Her voice is filled with humor. “Let him spoil you. He can afford it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t do it, Cate.”
What he spent is probably nothing to him. So I dress and fix my hair in an understated, yet elegant do, so it won’t compete with my outfit and jewelry. By the time I get to Ted’s limo, I feel pretty.
“Cate, you are exquisite.”
“Thanks. You’re look very handsome yourself.” And he does. He’s classically dressed in a tux with a white shirt and it suits him. “I have to say I’m a little hesitant to wear this jewelry.”
His finger brushes the stone and I have a moment to wonder if he’ll touch my skin. He moves his hand and the moment is gone. “They are expensive but not so much as you would need a body guard to wear them. And it’s my gift to you. Don’t argue. I can already see it in your eyes. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to. And there are no conditions on the gifts. I don’t expect anything from you tonight. We’re just two friends out on the town.”
Hardly, but I won’t say anything. He isn’t a struggling college graduate. He’s a billionaire and whatever he’s spent on me is probably what he spends on a good bottle of wine.
I change the subject. “Are you going to tell me where we are headed?”
His eyes twinkle. “I hope you like the ballet. We are headed to see the Nutcracker opening night. All proceeds benefits one of my favorite charities for kids.”
The ballet and the Nutcracker to boot. It reminds me how close we are to the holidays. I couldn’t have imagined that it would be a star studded night. We pose for pictures on a red carpet. I feel mystified how my life has changed in the last couple of weeks. This marks the third event I’ve been to where celebrities in attendance are not by chance but expected.
“Cate,” a woman calls. Before I can stop her, Désirée is air kissing me. “Wow, Ted, you look very dapper this evening.”
Ted obliges her and gives her the two air kisses I neglected to give the fake woman.
Her grin turns megawatt and she aims it at me. “Drew and I missed you last night at the White House Press Dinner. Now I see why he didn’t bring you. Oh, and I must get a picture of the two of you.”
My hand comes up to block the picture but she beats me with her tap on the phone. I’m too late as her thumbs furiously move across the screen. “Young and in love. Short and sweet for InstaGram don’t you think?” She winks before striding off.
I groan. I have no doubt she’s posted the picture more than just there. I don’t know what I should worry about, the picture or the fact that Andy was out with her last night.
“Shall we?” Ted holds out his arm, clueless about my inner turmoil.
I accept his arm, giving into the night. Ted seems like an okay guy. Andy is obviously out of the picture. It’s time I move on, take back my life, and enjoy it a little.
We end up in box seats alone. The ballet is spectacular. After, we have a late dinner. Ted is cordial and our conversation easy. He doesn’t leer at me or make suggestive comments. I begin to think Jeff’s dislike of the man has nothing to do with Ted at all.
“Why don’t you get along with Jeff?” I ask.
He sighs and uses the napkin to blot his mouth. “Truth?” he asks. I nod. “This will sound somewhat arrogant but there is no way around it. Simply, Jeffery was interested in a woman who was more interested in me.” Shocked, I feel my eyes reach my brows. “Don’t look so surprised. Jeffery is a bit on the sweet side but he’s into women.”
He laughs at my open mouth. We end the night with Ted regaling me with tales of Jeff’s escapades Ted’s caught him in. None involve work and I get that Ted is professional and wouldn’t give me information me about his employees that is work related.
When the limo stops in front of my building I can honestly say I had a good time. Ted, again the gentleman, walks me to my door with my arm in his.
“I had a lovely time Cate. I hope you did too.”
“I did.”
He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “I would kiss you Cate, but I don’t want to scare you off, as I’m sure Jeff has done his best to do. And maybe some of what he’s told you is true. But I can make this an experience of a lifetime for you, and who knows what the future would bring. I’m headed to France for the holidays after Christmas and through New Year’s. Maybe you would consider joining me.”
I’m too stunned to say anything. He leans down and presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth, just missing my lips. I watch him walk away and get back into the limo. When he drives off, I try to decide if I should be worried about what little Jeff has actually told me. He hasn’t said much but implied many things. I turn to head inside when I hear my name.
“Cate.”
I swivel around so fast I sway, catching myself. What I find is Andy closing his car door and walking toward me. I didn’t hear an engine cut off, so I wonder if he’s been waiting for me all this time. He looks distressed, still in his scrubs. His hair is disheveled and his face sports scruff. He stops a few feet away from me as his eyes drift the length of my body and back again.
“God, you take my breath away.” His words are smooth but the sadness in his eyes takes away from his compliment. “You went out wit
h Ted Caine. I saw the pictures.”
“Andy.” The word leaves my mouth on the wind, drifting away as if we are two ships passing in the night.
“Did he kiss you?” The anguish in his voice is palpable.
I shake my head no, unable to speak for fear my voice would break.
He comes forward and cups my frosty cheeks with his hands. His warm lips against mine take away the chill in the air. When he pulls back, I find myself reaching for him but he steps out of my reach.
“I want you to be happy, Cate. I always have. You’re the one woman that’s made me want to change my life to make you the center of my universe.” His eyes are filled with so much emotion I’m captured in them. “Maybe fate is wrong or my interpretation of it. I won’t chase you anymore. I’ll leave you to be the Princess Ted can make you be.” He glances at my dress which can partially be seen through the opening in my wool coat. “Maybe it’s better this way.”
My heart knocks in my chest. Being this close to him brings back all the feels that had me falling for him in the first place. I don’t understand his words and why he’s so upset with me. He’s the one who moved on. Yet he’s here. I watch, unable to move, unable to breathe, as he briskly walks away. He’s gone so fast he’s almost reached his car as I feel his name on the tip of my tongue.
Fourteen
Past
It’s already November and Thanksgiving is bearing down upon us. And then finals will be here. It’s hard to believe I’ve been seeing Drew for almost two months. The difficulty in believing it is every time I’m with him, every weekend we spend together—and we’ve haven’t been apart much at all—is better than the last.
As I’m thinking about him, my phone lights up and it’s him. The simple fact of seeing his name causes my heart to stutter. Right now the sixty miles that separate us seems more like a thousand. Then I’m thankful he’s not any farther than that.
“Hey,” I answer with a grin.
“Hey, back atcha. Question. Are you going home for Thanksgiving?” Drew asks.
“Yeah, are you?”
“Uh huh. I’m leaving Wednesday but I have to be back Friday night because I work that weekend.”
“Oh, that’s not good.”
I can almost see him shrug. “Naw, it doesn’t bother me. It’s the life of a resident. I have to pay my dues. Next year will be better.”
“You have the best attitude,” I say. “I’m leaving Tuesday and I’ll be back on Sunday.”
“Cate, I’d like to invite you over to meet my parents on Thanksgiving Day. Can you come? We could work it around your family’s schedule.”
Holy crap! Meet his parents! This is serious stuff. Am I supposed to reciprocate?
“Um, yeah, we could do that. I can ask my mom what time we’re doing our dinner and all.”
“That would be great. You all will love each other. I just know it.” The smile in his voice warms my skin.
“Drew, if they’re anything like you, how can I not?” And that is the truth. They raised this man to be who he is—kind, honorable, trustworthy, and considerate of others. What’s not to love? “And I’d like you to meet my family, too.” Where the hell did this come from? I haven’t even told my mom I’m dating anyone. Shit!
“I’d love that. But I’ll meet them when I come to pick you up.”
“Oh, right. I didn’t think about that. My family is crazy. I’m just warning you.”
“Crazy as in craaaazy? Or crazy as in haha?”
“Uh … both. Ask Jenna. She can give you the scoop.”
“I want you to give me the scoop,” he says.
I cringe as I say, “Yeah. Okay. Well, my mom can be awesome, but she can be very cantankerous, too. And Dad, he’s sort of a hypochondriac. So, I’ll apologize in advance because when he finds out you’re a doctor, he’s going to hit you up for all kinds of medical advice on his so-called diseases.”
Drew only laughs at my Dad.
“Hey, laugh now, but just wait. They’ll drive you fucknuts. I love ’em to death, but at the same time, they make me batshit crazy. You know?”
“Yeah. Sounds like my Aunt Edna. God, that woman is as sweet as they make ’em but loony as hell.”
“Maybe we should invite Aunt Edna over. She sounds like she’d fit right in my family.”
“What about your siblings?”
“My little sister doesn’t pay them any attention. She’s too selfish and my brother gets doted on because he’s the star athlete.”
“What sport does he play?”
“All of them. But not hockey. No hockey in Charleston, you know.”
Drew chuckles. “Yeah, true.”
“I’m surprised my dad let any of us play sports. He’s such a worrywart about us getting hurt.”
“Overprotective?”
“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. I had to beg for roller blades. He told my mom to only let me skate on the grass! Of all things!”
“Hmm. I’ve often wondered how I would be as a father.”
This conversation is turning into something a little deeper than I expected. “Oh yeah?”
“I think sometimes I’ll be like your dad. When I see kids coming into the clinic all banged up, it makes me curious. What about you?”
“I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest.”
“Do you want kids, Cate?”
“Yeah, I guess so. Someday.”
“Good. I was hoping you’d say that.”
Why? Does he want kids right away? What’s his deal here?
“I want to have kids someday, too, but not for a while.”
Thank the lord! “Yeah, a long while,” I laugh. “Hence, the birth control.” Hint hint.
“Sounds like someone is pretty career minded.”
“Hell yeah. I haven’t worked my ass off in school not to use this double degree. I’m hoping to see it pay off here soon.”
He sighs heavily into the phone. “Oh, Cate, have some confidence in yourself. Of course it’s going to pay off. Take a look at yourself. You are a brilliant, talented, clever, woman. You have a very bright future ahead of you. You are going to dazzle your prospective employers, mark my words.”
His words make me glow inside. “Drew, you make me feel so good about myself.”
“You don’t need me to do that. Seriously, Cate. You’re the total package, if you would only see it for yourself.”
That night I tell Jenna about our conversation.
“You’re meeting his parents? At Thanksgiving?” Her sly grin tells me more than her words.
“What? What does that mean?”
“Drew McKnight isn’t one to take girls home to meet his parents, that’s what.”
“And how do you know that?”
Jenna gives me one of her looks and says, “I’m his best friend’s sister, remember? I know a lot more about Drew than you think I do.”
“Oh, yeah,” I say in a puny voice. “Shit. This is a major deal, right?”
“Oh, I’d say it’s a seriously major deal.” She grabs her phone and starts texting a message. A few minutes later she receives a response. Jenna grins as she hands the phone to me. It’s from Ben.
Ben: WTF! Drew is taking Cate to meet the P’s! How did I not know this????? Major shit going down at the McK’s crib.
“Oh no! Will I be on display or something?”
“Or something? Hell yeah. And you know his mom, right? Big Charleston society in all the major circles and all that. I’m talking money, Cate. Did I tell you?”
I’m going to fucking kill her. “No, you did not tell me. How the hell could you leave something like that out? What the hell is wrong with you?”
At least she has the courtesy to look chastised, though knowing Jenna, she doesn’t feel the least bit that way at all. Then she lets out a gurgle of laughter. “For all of Letty’s money and the circles she runs in, she adores Drew and is the sweetest woman you’ll ever meet. I promise you’ll love her and she’ll love you beca
use you’re not one of those simpering bitches that always pants after her son.”
“Letty?”
“Mary Lettington Standford McKnight.”
“You’re joking. She’s one of those Standfords?”
“Yep,” Jenna says, with a satisfied smile. “Hence, Andrew Standford McKnight.”
“Jeez. Thanks for the warning.”
“I really do think the two of you will get along perfectly.”
“Well, did I tell you Drew started talking about having kids?”
That shut her up for a minute. Then she suddenly looks like the cat that swallowed the canary. “I knew you two were perfect for each other. You need an older guy. That’s why all the guys you were meeting weren’t getting your panties wet, but one date with Drew and BAM. You were so done. I think I hear wedding bells in your future.”
“Oh, miss fortune teller, let me fill you in on a little secret. I think I hear wedding bells in your future too.”
“Funny, Cate. But I’m serious. You have to admit it. He is perfect for you. What more could you ask for?”
I have no answer for her, because she is absolutely right.
“This is moving too fast, Jenna.”
“Okay, I can see why you might feel that way. But it’s not fast at all. You’ve been seeing each other for about two months now. And Cate, Drew isn’t some young dude that has no idea what he wants out of life. He’s got his shit together and is going places and so are you. But, don’t worry. You’re not going to do anything until you graduate, so sit back and enjoy the,” she clears her throat in an exaggerated manner, “ride.” Then she slaps her knee and howls with laughter.
“Don’t quit school. Your comedy routine needs work,” I say drolly.
Two weeks later, I find myself pacing in the foyer of my parents’ home. Drew should be here to meet my family any minute. My fifteen-year-old sister skips down the stairs and says, “Nervous about the new boyfriend? Catelyn’s boyfriend’s coming to visit.” She sings it loud in an obnoxious voice.
The Cruel and Beautiful Series Boxset Page 19