by Haley Cass
Tonight would be fine; it would be more than fine, she assured herself. Because Charlotte didn’t set her sights on being better than fine. Her grandmother was right – no matter the reason for her invitation, she would take advantage of the connections she could make.
What were the odds that she’d even be spending much time with the Spencer’s, anyway? This party was going to be filled with –
Her thoughts cut themselves off as the door opened, and Charlotte had expected someone working this event or perhaps a maid to answer the door, much as one would at her own parents’ home. She was instead faced with Katherine Spencer herself.
These damning and uncomfortable nerves in her stomach came back to life, even as she purposefully slid on a smile. “Mrs. Spencer, it’s lovely to meet you in person. I’m –”
“Charlotte Thompson, of course. We met through that Skype call, a while ago,” Kate acknowledged with a small smile and a nod. “It’s nice to see you in person as well.”
She was wearing a sleekly elegant blue dress, somehow looking both imposing and kind. There was that smile on her mouth but there was no mistaking the smart, measuring look in her eyes.
Charlotte had no doubt that Katherine Spencer was trying to get a read on her. There was a reason she’d invited her here tonight, after all.
She didn’t let her shoulders tense. “Of course, I remember. Difficult to forget someone whose work I admire so much.” At the very least there was no pretense in that statement; it wasn’t sucking up or schmoozing, she assured herself, when it was the truth.
Katherine’s smile remained unsettlingly unreadable. “Sutton mentioned that she gave you the pre-release of my latest novel. Have you gotten a chance to read it?”
“Actually, I brought it with me to read on the flight home; I was so busy with work and then the holidays that I couldn’t give it the attention it deserved,” she told her, bowing her head in a light apology.
Her excuse was semi-true. She had been busy, but she’d had downtime post-debate. Her parents spent the holidays in the south of France every year, and Caleb typically spent them with Dean’s family. She’d taken a day to visit their other brother, William, in Virginia but that had been the extent of her holiday celebration.
But every time she’d gone to read, she’d been able to picture that adorable look Sutton had worn when she’d given Charlotte the gift. And then those thoughts quickly had tumbled into Sutton kissing her goodbye, unbidden during that very platonic gift exchange, and then – of course – came the thoughts about these feelings, and . . .
It had seemed like a better plan to keep busy.
Katherine waved her hand. “Whenever you get the chance; I hope you’ll enjoy it. Sutton actually had a hand in creating some parts.”
Her tone was so practiced yet casual as she mentioned Sutton that Charlotte knew she wasn’t the only one here who was well-versed in veiled social interaction.
She couldn’t help herself from speaking the words that came right to her mind. “Right, yes, she told me about the origin of Clara Reiner.”
“She did?” Katherine arched an eyebrow at her. “Sutton very rarely discusses her accomplishments; I’m usually the one talking her up when it comes to her work with me.”
Charlotte felt a far more sincere smile tug at her mouth. “Oh, I understand that; she’s very reluctant to discuss her accomplishments.” She thought of the blush Sutton had when she’d told Charlotte about her writing or even her success when it came to academia. “But she’s remarkable. She told me the entire story of the creation of Clara, and I was riveted.”
Katherine nodded slowly, thoughtfully, and Charlotte replayed what she’d just said. She could even hear how her tone had sounded – warm and reverent, in a way that it hadn’t been in the previous minutes.
And it took all of her self-control not to take a moment to close her eyes and curse herself, thankful that at the very least she knew she wasn’t blushing. Charlotte did not blush.
“Not to be rude, Mrs. Spencer, but is there anything I could offer you that might prompt an invitation inside?” Caleb interjected, his voice cheerful, and the calculating gaze that had been on her instead flickered to her brother.
She had never been so thankful for him.
Katherine quickly opened the door wider, stepping back. “Of course, that was extremely rude of me. Come in.”
She turned to face away from them for a moment as she and Caleb moved to enter and she caught her brother’s teasing expression as he mouthed, “Professional,” at her with a wink.
Her eyes narrowed but she only allowed it for a moment before she schooled her features again and entered the Spencer home.
The entry hall had a high ceiling and still radiated an aura of warmth as they stepped inside.
“I can take your jackets,” Katherine offered as she turned back around.
Charlotte was already unzipping hers, trying to not be as obvious as she felt when looking around as much as she could. There was music in the distance and she could see that the walls were lined with what she presumed to be pictures and paintings, before she tracked her gaze back to Katherine. “Your home is very beautiful, Mrs. Spencer.”
“Thank you; it’s always a pleasure to host friends of the family this time of year,” she responded, and Charlotte wondered if she was being paranoid or if there was actually a different tone when she said friends of the family.
Still, she kept the fixed smile on her face. “Oh, well the Spencer New Year’s party is renowned. I’m glad to have been invited.”
“Any friend of Sutton’s is always welcome,” was the reply she got, with a smile of measured warmth, as Katherine seamlessly took their jackets. “How was it that you met Sutton, again? Given your career, I take it you’re a few years older than she is.”
The question was polite; amiable, even, and said without any sort of undertone. Still, Charlotte could so easily picture how they actually had met. Could so easily recall the night she’d opened the dating app, intending to delete it, and stumbling across Sutton’s message. Or, she supposed, Regan’s message, proposing to hook up. And her very active libido wanting to take her up on the proposal.
God.
How did people who partook in relationships manage this time after time? She wasn’t even dating Sutton and she felt like she had to read into everything. Then again, she didn’t think she’d feel this anxiety if she was anyone else. Someone who didn’t have her career or her ambitions.
In spite of her whirling thoughts, she held Katherine’s gaze steadily, even if she felt as though that sharp gaze could see through her as she answered, “Oh, we ran into one another one day in the coffee shop that Regan works in, and hit it off.”
The words rolled off her tongue easily, thankfully, and it was no trouble to remember the fabrication she’d told upon meeting Jack Spencer.
At least she had her wits about her, and that was a somewhat calming thought. Still, she hoped Katherine wasn’t going to continue down this line of questioning. Even if she had prepared herself for it, just as she’d prepared for the other guests. It could never hurt to be prepared.
But Katherine accepted her answer with a nod. “I’ve been there on my visits to see the girls; it’s charming. And Sutton does love the pastries they sell.” She shook her head a bit, a warm hint of a smile on her lips.
“Especially the lemon cakes,” she agreed, as she brushed her hands along the fitted suit jacket she wore. It was a dark blue and she’d had the designer label sitting in her closet waiting for a perfect night.
She hadn’t accounted for the appraising look she received and it caught her off guard.
What exactly had she said to prompt that look?
“Our Sutton does love a lemon cake.” Katherine all but hummed out, before she turned her attention to Caleb. “And Mr. Thompson, what is it that you do? In the political world, like your sister and grandmother?”
Charlotte was incredibly relieved that no eyes were on her whe
n she realized that she’d said our Sutton. Their Sutton? Theirs? Alarm bells rang in her head even as that unsettling feeling – both uncomfortable and warm – sat in her stomach.
Her brother merely bumped his shoulder with hers as he laughed. “Me and politics? Never, Mrs. Spencer; I don’t have the stomach for it, unlike my family and my boyfriend. I’m a police officer.”
All right, so maybe she and Caleb were cut from the same cloth, as she noticed his casual boyfriend-drop. Katherine didn’t even bat an eye at the gay comment. “You and I have that in common. Not the profession, of course, but –” She waved her hand slightly. “Politics.”
“I apologize for having to cut this a little short, but I should get your jackets to the coat room and check in with the caterers before the party truly starts to get under way.” She turned and tilted her head to motion for Charlotte and Caleb to follow her a bit down the hall. “The main rooms for the party are just down at the end of the hall. Not many have arrived yet, but my kids are there already.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Spencer.” Charlotte fixed on her smile, though she was still hearing our Sutton in the back of her mind.
“Of course; enjoy your night. I’ll see you later.” With that, she swept down another hallway, adjusting the coats over her arm, and both Charlotte and Caleb watched her go.
Caleb turned to her. “So . . . not that I’m going to bring up that which we are not to be discussing, but is it just me or did she sound a bit ominous with that I’ll see you later bit at the end there?”
She rolled her eyes, even though she’d been wondering the same thing. “Shut up and let’s go.”
Still, she blew out an even breath. That hadn’t been so bad, and Katherine was the one she’d been worried about.
After a short walk, they found themselves in an immaculately decorated grand room, and – wow. Charlotte supposed rooms like these – spacious, with tall, ornate ceilings and arching doorways – would be common in homes like the semi-famed Spencer home. Which had been well modernized and renovated handfuls of times over the years, but much of it existed from when the original structure had been built several generations ago.
Katherine had been correct in that there were very few other guests thus far, and the ones that had arrived, she didn’t recognize. Family friends, she presumed, quickly running through the information she’d compiled.
“Charlotte! You’re here,” Sutton’s voice came from behind her, sounding a little breathless, and it sent a shiver down Charlotte’s spine.
It wasn’t as though she hadn’t heard Sutton’s voice several times in the last few weeks; they’d spoken on the phone more than once. But it wasn’t the same.
It wasn’t the same, she thought again as she turned around, her throat going dry at the sight of Sutton. The sky-blue dress she wore that clung to her – sleek, long-sleeved, and cutting off at mid-thigh – was . . . it made Charlotte feel absolutely parched.
She’d seen Sutton in all states of dress – and undress – by now. But she wasn’t prepared for this feeling that hit her in the chest then melted through her veins until it landed heavily in her stomach. Just like it had felt the last time she’d seen her in person, sitting in her living room.
She’d been hoping that it had been somewhat of a fluke. That the feeling had hit her so hard at the time because she’d been under the weather and that it had been the first time she’d confronted these feelings.
She knew in this moment it hadn’t been a one-time thing.
Still, despite the fact that her breath left her too quickly, she merely straightened her shoulders subtly. The smile that bloomed on her face was uncontrollable, unease or not. “Always early. Hello, darling.”
Sutton’s cheeks deepened in color as she eyed Charlotte up and down and the look in them thrilled her as Sutton cleared her throat. “I – you look – um,” she coughed lightly, before casting her eyes back to meet Charlotte’s amused ones. “Nice. You look nice.”
They both pretended not to hear Caleb disguise a laugh into a cough, and she resolved to elbow him sharply for it later.
Drawing her spine straight, Sutton’s hands tangled in front of her as she aimed a quick smile at Caleb. “You look very handsome tonight.”
Her brother gave an easy grin back. “I do love a good suit.”
Genuine warmth spread in Sutton’s eyes, before she turned back to Charlotte. “Can I talk to you? In private?” She bit her lip and added, “It’ll be quick, I promise, you won’t miss the party.”
Confused – and disliking that almost as much as the anxiety she was reading on Sutton – she nodded. “Of course.”
The corner of Sutton’s mouth ticked up. “Come on.”
In a move Charlotte hadn’t been expecting, Sutton reached out to take her hand and she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed this feeling. The simple softness of Sutton’s hand on hers.
She was led out of the room she’d entered through a side door and down a hallway lined with family photos. Not that she had much time to really look at them, but she took in everything she could before Sutton turned another corner and she found herself in a small alcove, with a window seat perch.
She took it in slowly, wondering – was Sutton going to kiss her again, like the last time, despite the fact that this was not a benefits night, but a friends night?
More pressingly, would Charlotte let her?
Damningly, she probably would. The knowledge made her stomach clench.
She shook her head slightly. That was not going to happen; the lines between them needed to remain, as blurred as they were becoming.
“I missed you but I’m not sure this seat affords much comfort or privacy,” she teased.
It was like she couldn’t help it; it was so easy to do with Sutton. Maybe she shouldn’t but it was normal for them – for her to tease and for Sutton to blush – and normal between them was what she very much wanted.
Sutton did blush, charmingly, and delighted golden brown eyes took it in.
The deep breath that Sutton had taken in seemed to catch in her throat before she got one of those contemplative looks of hers. “You did?”
Confusion clouded in and she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I need you to elaborate a bit.”
Those vivid blue eyes somehow seemed even deeper before Sutton ducked her head and murmured. “You missed me?”
It took that moment, with Sutton peering at her from under her lashes for the storm inside – her feelings, meeting Sutton’s family, what this night could do for her career, the election – to come to a slower calm.
Because while these feelings were unfamiliar, this was Sutton. Sweet, smart, beautiful Sutton, who never put expectations on Charlotte. Sutton who was always there, and always thoughtful, and so different from anyone else in Charlotte’s life.
“I did,” the words left her quietly, surprising even herself, and she knew her eyes were wide when Sutton’s searched them.
Way to act casual, she cursed herself. But it was also difficult to actually feel badly about it when Sutton was smiling like that.
“I missed you too.”
The words landed in Charlotte’s stomach with dual punches – good in the obvious way, and bad in that . . . she knew they were walking such a fine line.
Sutton took a deep breath, the look on her face becoming more serious as she squeezed the hand that was still clasping Charlotte’s before she let it go. “But, no I didn’t bring you here for – that. I wanted to check . . . First, my mom didn’t say anything to you about, well, anything she shouldn’t have, right?”
She thought of the measuring eyes, of the comments that shouldn’t have had the intensity that they did. Of the unfamiliar nerves she’d felt.
“No, your mother was lovely.”
The tension in Sutton’s shoulders seemed to melt a bit, “Good.” She twisted her fingers in front of her as she bit at her lip, “I just – well I want you to know that you don’t have to worry. No one in my family is going to te
ll anyone about your sexuality or anything. I promise that.”
The fact that Sutton looked so completely earnest made Charlotte want to do too many things. But it was so damn endearing and of course she’d fallen for this woman. “I appreciate that.”
Which, she did. Even if somewhere along the line it had become less alarming that Sutton’s family knew about her sexuality and more so about what they thought of her.
“And I wanted you to know that I can make up for it. For, you know, the whole you-being-invited-because-of-our . . . friendship. I can help you,” Sutton finished, blowing out the rest of her breath before she bit her lip, looking expectantly at Charlotte.
With Sutton’s low heeled pumps and Charlotte’s five-inch stilettos, they were the same height. And she had a perfect view of the way Sutton was flushed and the bright look in her eyes. It was adorable but did nothing to allay Charlotte’s building confusion.
“First of all, Sutton, there’s nothing you need to make up for.” She couldn’t help but lean in a little closer into Sutton’s gravity, feeling her warmth and smelling that subtle perfume as she searched her face. “Why do you think you need to make up for my being invited here for any reason?”
That look of uncertainty flashed over Sutton’s face, and – Charlotte hadn’t really planned on this. She’d been entirely too selfishly focused on what she was feeling that she felt lost realizing that something was bothering Sutton.
One of those slim shoulders shrugged as Sutton dropped her eyes. “Well, I figured maybe you didn’t want anyone here to only associate you with me. As my friend. Especially since after you got the invitation you were a little . . . distant,” she finished, her eyes dropping contact, large and a little sad.
She did not like that look in Sutton’s eyes at all. And she definitely hated being the cause of it. But there was no way she would explain everything that had prompted her distance.
“What do you mean by help?” She asked instead.
“Not that you need help,” Sutton rushed to say, as her eyes flew back to Charlotte’s, re-energized. “It’s just – I was thinking about how a lot of people here that you’ll want to meet can be a little . . . reluctant to meeting and talking to people they think of as outsiders. My dad’s one of them.”