“Ha!” She playfully shoved him away. “Please! The girl code says that you should always stick together until you need to stab your girlfriend in the back in order to steal her shoes or her boyfriend.”
“That’s kind of awful.”
She pursed her lips and shrugged. “I don’t have a lot of patience for my own sex. Look at your mother. She’s a prime example of why women suck.”
“Okay. Women suck.” He laughed. “And you should just let me buy you that dress.”
Landry rolled her eyes and groaned as though she had just heard the worst news ever. “That means I have to find underwear that will work with this thing. And a pair of shoes. Because I don’t have any of that.”
“You could just go without underwear,” Zane suggested.
Landry giggled and patted his arm. “Yeah, I bet you would think that was just fine, huh?”
“Yep. I’ll go without underwear too. That way you’ll know you’re not alone.”
Landry headed back to the dressing room to change back into her clothing. “I’m sure that would make us the classiest couple at the party. Maybe next time. How’s that?”
Zane could not help but think that he was the luckiest guy in the whole world to be with a woman who could not only be realistic about the moments he had no control over when perfect strangers hit on him but also had a sense of humor. Humor was important. That was what had been so glaringly absent in his parents’ marriage. His mother had absolutely no sense of humor and Zane was pretty sure that his father’s idea of funny had changed by the end of his life to the point where the only things he thought were funny were direct insults and horrible things that happened to his wife. They had politely despised each other. Zane never wanted to feel that way. He never wanted to feel anything but love for his spouse. And that was why he was pretty sure that marrying Landry Fisher was the best plan he’d come up with yet.
And that was about the time Zane looked over and discovered the word JEWELRY emblazoned across a sign on the other side of the store. That gave him an idea. Not because he knew that fancy jewelry would sparkle and catch Landry’s eye, but because Zane wanted to do this right.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The glitz and glamour of the Dunlop party was a bit like a surrealistic dream or a moment out of time. Landry could hardly believe that she was there, but it wasn’t as though she had been longing to rejoin the upper crusts of society. She would have been just as happy staying at home and binge watching reality television.
Mrs. Olivia Dunlop was one of the old matrons of Dallas society. Or rather she considered herself that. It was sort of up in the air as to whether or not it was true. Of course Tisha Olivares-King was counted among one of Olivia Dunlop’s oldest friends. Olivia was a widow with four children all grown up and well married into prominent Dallas families. And now that Olivia had grandchildren getting old enough to start dating and searching for suitable mates, Olivia had started throwing parties as often as she could in order to try and marry them off in the right places.
“So let’s have a game,” Landry suggested in a whisper as the two of them entered the rolling grounds surrounding the Dunlop mansion. They were currently travelling down a lane of paving stones flanked on both sides by huge tiki torches connected by ridiculous lengths of colored silk. “Let’s try to figure out how much Olivia Dunlop might have spent on things like the catering and the decorating.”
Zane lightly squeezed her hand. “For this party or the whole season’s worth?”
“Oh, good one!” Landry whispered. She wondered if it was just her imagination or if everyone at the party was actually staring at the two of them. It certainly felt like it. “I’m going to say she spent at least five grand on the decorations. I wonder if they recycle the silk drapes or anything. How crazy impractical is that? It’s late November. I can actually see outdoor heaters. Why not just go inside?”
Zane waved to someone on the other side of the wood slats that had been brought in and locked together to form an outdoor dance floor. “Not as much room, I think. You couldn’t get this many people inside that house.”
“And she’s throwing parties because she wants to marry off her grandchildren?” Landry could hardly imagine it. “I see so many people here that I’ve known almost all my life, but they’re looking at me like I just came back from the dead.”
“Didn’t you?” Zane whispered in her ear as they approached their hostess.
Landry had to consider that a moment. “I suppose mine was a social death so maybe.”
She sort of lost her train of thought completely as they got closer and closer to where Olivia Dunlop was standing near a copse of very well-manicured trees and rosebushes. There were lanterns and heaters and all manner of comforts there beside Ms. Dunlop. The grand dame was in her eighties, which made her about twenty years or more older than Tisha Olivares-King. But when you had children and became an adult that could be a real player on the social scene, age no longer mattered.
The widow Olivia Dunlop’s dress was horrible. That was Landry’s first impression and it did not go away quickly. It wasn’t like Landry was a student of fashion, but even she could see that the vivid purple was not flattering to the older woman’s sagging pale skin and thinning dyed red hair. The old lady was round with a bosom so large that she could probably have hidden several of her grandchildren inside.
Zane took her hand and kissed the back of it. “You look beautiful as always, Ms. Dunlop. I appreciate the invitation to your party. This is our first event as an engaged couple and we are flattered.”
“Engaged?” Olivia looked from Zane to Landry. “Well, that is certainly unexpected and shocking.”
“Excuse me?” Zane was frowning, but Landry could already feel the proverbial rug being pulled out from underneath her.
Olivia Dunlop snapped her fingers insistently. A young woman in her early twenties stepped forward. She was dark haired, dark eyed, and pretty enough, but had a vacant expression on her face. She looked very, very eager to please pretty much whomever. Landry did not need to be told who this was. She could guess.
“This is my granddaughter Tansy.” Olivia made a vague gesture to the young woman. “You’re here tonight to meet Tansy, Zane King. Your mother was insistent upon it.”
“Well, that is truly odd since I’m already an engaged man,” Zane retorted.
Even in the muted torchlight Landry could see the smirk on Olivia Dunlop’s face. “And Ms. Landry Fisher, how are you doing these days? How is plebian life treating you?”
Plebian life. Only Olivia Dunlop could use such a phrase. Only she would use such a phrase. It was preposterous and yet the woman’s posture was almost aggressive to the point of hostility. Olivia Dunlop had been one of the society matrons whose scathing comments about Landry’s parents had been an underlying cause for their death.
Landry bit her lip. She should not say anything. She was technically a guest in this woman’s home. And yet she was tired of everyone thinking that her parents were just some crackpots who hadn’t been able to hack it in the real world once their money had gone away. Landry clutched Zane’s arm and wiggled her toes in her new open-toed heels. She was lucky she wasn’t falling all over her face every time she tried to walk. It had been so long since she had worn an outfit like this.
Olivia tilted her head to one side. “Sweetie,” Olivia said to Tansy. “Why don’t you show these two little lovebirds to the refreshment table.” Olivia Dunlop patted Zane’s shoulder. “You just go ahead and enjoy yourselves anyway, Zane King. I believe your mother is right over there with your brother Orion.”
“Right. Thanks.” Zane didn’t sound thrilled, but then Landry would not have expected him to sound thrilled. She wasn’t all that thrilled either.
The two of them had gained entrée to a party where the cream of Dallas society was gathered together in an attempt to outdo each other with their clothing and their bragging stories of how much land and assets they had. The conversations were go
ing on everywhere. Landry was actually having difficulty listening to this crap. It was all so shallow. Was this what her parents’ lives had been before the market died and the banks failed? Perhaps they had been happier without their money.
Except they killed themselves over it.
Landry did not want to think about that. So she focused inside on the subtle sway of Tansy’s hips beneath her super tight neon green tank dress. It was a horrible dress. But her complexion was so perfect and her body was so round in all the right places that it did not seem to matter what she was wearing. She looked perfect.
“Don’t mind my grandmother,” Tansy said as they finally got out of the immediate vicinity of the old dragon. “She’s got some idea that I’m going to marry into the King fortune.”
To Landry’s surprise, Tansy actually stopped walking and turned around. She put one hand on her hip and tilted her head to gaze right at Zane. He stopped walking and drew Landry closer to him as though he were expecting some kind of attack. Landry was flattered that he was obviously so worried about her. It was a good sign. In fact, it was starting to feel like it was the two of them versus the world.
“Be honest,” Tansy began in a measured tone of voice. “There are some pretty insane rumors going around town. Your mother tries to play it off like there’s nothing wrong and it’s all rumor. But when my grandmother said that she wanted me to marry into the King fortune, the big question became whether or not there was any more King fortune to marry into. So fess up.” Tansy actually held out her hand and snapped her fingers as though she were talking to a couple of children. “What’s the deal with that? Is there a King fortune?”
“Not for me,” Zane admitted immediately.
Landry wanted to protest. It was hardwired into her brain, even after all these years, to deny something like that with her dying breath. The social stigma of losing your fortune was a lasting thing. It was a stain that could never be removed. If Zane told Tansy Dunlop that the Kings were broke, it would become absolute fact within Dallas.
Except Zane was smarter than Landry was giving him credit for. “When I say not for me,” Zane told Tansy slowly. “I mean that only Devon and Orion have inherited the company. The will is rather complicated. My younger brothers and I get a salary, but it isn’t nearly what the elder two get.”
Tansy’s eyes opened so wide that the torchlight reflected off their dark depths and made them look huge and dramatic. “So you’re broke?”
“Not broke.” Zane laughed. Then he wrapped his arm around Landry. “But I’m not rich to your standards. I can promise you that.”
Tansy was nodding. Her dark curls bobbed around her shoulders. “Thank you for your honesty, Zane. I really do wish the two of you joy. Maybe you can be happy like this. I know that I couldn’t.”
“But is it you that can’t be happy like that or is it your grandmother?” Zane murmured. He let that sink in for a moment before he tugged at Landry’s arm and kept her meandering in the direction of the refreshment table and the other guests.
Landry barely managed to wait until they’d gotten far enough away from Tansy that she would be sure not to hear them. A grouping of huge, old elm trees stretched over their heads. Someone had twined twinkling Christmas lights into the old branches and the trees gave off a fairy glow. It was actually quite beautiful.
“That was awkward,” Landry whispered. “Do you think that Olivia asked Tansy to probe you for information? It was like a fact-finding mission for some wartime maneuvers or something.”
“That’s what the social scene is in Dallas,” he joked. “Or had you forgotten?”
“Oh, I suppose I hadn’t forgotten.” Landry watched the people around them. “Look at them. They’re all posturing and trying to make sure that everyone else thinks that they’re the best ones out here. It’s kind of disgusting.”
“But we’re not a part of that. Not anymore,” Zane reminded her.
Landry could not actually argue with that. It was true for the most part. There was nothing about their relationship that was going to be based in this messy world of social standing. “I suppose we aren’t.”
“Are you disappointed?” He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles.
She turned her attention away from the social dance playing out at the party and refocused on Zane. “Disappointed? About what? That we don’t have much money?”
“I wouldn’t say that. We just don’t have the kind of money that they might consider a lot. By normal standards I think my salary is pretty good. Six figures is nothing to shake a finger at.”
Wait. Was he worried that she thought he didn’t make enough money? Landry felt awful that he could ever believe that of her! She put her arms around his neck and kissed him square on the lips in full view of every single snooty person at that party. She could practically feel their stares and their whispers, but for the first time ever she really didn’t care. It wasn’t that she was just saying that she didn’t care either. She really didn’t give a damn. It didn’t matter. They could not hurt her.
“I love you, Landry Fisher.” Zane murmured the words against her lips. “I love you so much. I love you more and more every day. And I think I’ve begun to realize that I have always loved you.”
“Oh, Zane!” Landry whispered. She was so overcome that she could hardly squeeze the words out.
“I didn’t do this right yesterday,” Zane told Landry suddenly. “It was hurried and I’ll admit, rather spur of the moment. But I saw something today and I wanted to do this right.”
“You saw something today?” Landry was trying to figure out what he could be talking about when Zane suddenly sank down onto one knee. Landry gave a little squeak of surprise. “Zane, what are you doing?”
He reached into the pocket of his dress slacks and drew out a tiny velvet box. He was wearing a dark blue shirt that brought out the tanned quality of his skin and intensified that dangerously handsome look of his. But when he popped that box open Landry felt as though he had just handed her the moon.
The moment was absolutely perfect. They were together under the big old elms. The twinkling white lights were like fireflies buzzing about in the night sky. There were people watching, but they weren’t important. It wasn’t like either of them were waiting for any of these people to judge them or make a comment. This was something that was happening between the two of them because they were the only people that mattered.
“I know you said yes, Landry Fisher.” Zane took her left ring finger and gently slid a slim gold band into place. The ring had a huge princess cut diamond in the center. It was absolutely stunning. The sparkle of the diamond underneath those overhead Christmas lights made the whole moment seem as though it was the most perfect in the history of the world. “You said yes before, will you say yes again and make it absolutely official? Landry Fisher, will you wear my ring and be my wife?”
“Yes!” Landry was almost unable to keep herself from squealing in delight. “Yes, yes, yes!”
She tugged Zane up off the ground and flung her arms around his neck. She kissed him again and again. His cheeks, his throat, and finally she hugged him so tight that she could feel his heart beating against her chest.
“I love you,” Landry told Zane. “I love you, love you, love you so much and I cannot believe that you actually want to spend the rest of your life with me!”
“You’re the most perfect woman in the world,” he whispered. “This is the moment. And I want all of these people to know it.”
From the other side of the dance floor Landry could see Tisha Olivares-King and Orion staring at them. It was going to be interesting to see how the two of them decided to deal with this new fact in their privileged lives. But right now Landry just didn’t care.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Zane padded through the streets only a few short blocks from Landry’s house. The cool fall breeze promised rain as it threaded its way through Zane’s thick charcoal-colored fur. The darkness was heavy. T
he sky overhead was dull. The moon was obscured by clouds. It was almost like the whole world was holding its breath. But then maybe the world realized that it would not be long before Zane ran his quarry to ground.
The streets were quiet. Or at least they seemed to be quiet. It was the same every single night. In the week since Zane had officially proposed to Landry in public and within the full view of his mother and eldest brother, he had been spending his nights just like this. The season was marching ever closer to the holidays and yet Zane could not let go of this notion that the seedier part of the city was trying its level best to disturb the peace of the regular residents just trying to scratch out a living every single day. So as time inched toward the day when everyone in the United States would celebrate a time of thanksgiving and goodwill, Zane was running under-aged vandals and budding criminals to ground.
Somewhere in the distance a dog barked. Zane lifted his muzzle to the sky and yipped back. He was learning to listen to the neighborhood dogs. They weren’t dumb animals. They were watchful creatures with a vested interest in what happened in their territory. Right now they were telling Zane that the group he had been tracking for days now was nearby and up to no good.
Spinning on his haunches, Zane pushed his big body into a full sprint. He loved the way it felt to have the wind rushing through his fur. It laid his ears flat against his skull and made him feel alive as nothing else did. It did not take long for his long strides to carry him to the exact point that the husky mix had suggested he begin his search for tonight.
“Did you see that?” A young, high-pitched voice called into the dark night.
The neighborhood was fairly deserted at two o’clock in the morning. Even the streets were quiet. People were home. It was a weeknight. And even the local bars in this part of Dallas had closed long ago. The shatter of a bottle against what sounded like a brick wall was the only noise Zane could make out.
He was quickly approaching Washington Middle School. The old brick and stone building was situated on a huge tract of land that took up a good portion of the densely populated Vickery Meadow neighborhood. But right now the school was playing host to several likely former students who seemed intent on breaking things and making a general mess.
Billion Dollar Wolves: Boxset Bks 1-5 Page 68