by Holly Rayner
Had he made a mistake opening up to Adison? She’d seemed so understanding the night before, but perhaps she’d only put on that hat because she’d been snowed in with him and had nowhere to escape to. Free to finally leave, she’d found it hard to pretend to be able to stand him any longer.
Curses pressed against Ken’s lips. He’d screwed up things with her, and they’d only just begun.
Straightening up, he swiped his palm across his face. If only he could swipe away the last twelve hours.
Taking his coffee, he went upstairs to get dressed. The Montoya Foundation was officially closed for the holidays, but he’d find something to keep himself busy. He had to.
Having showered and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, he grabbed his laptop from the library and went downstairs to his office. No sooner had he sat down than his phone rang.
Adison?
His pulse quickened, and he grabbed for the phone. It wasn’t Adison, though. It was Thea.
Even as he felt like there was an anchor in his chest and he didn’t want to talk to a soul unless it was the woman who’d just left his house, he answered. Ken Montoya never kept a client waiting.
“Good morning, Thea.”
“Good morning, Ken! How are you?”
“I’m well,” he lied. “And you?”
“Very good, thank you. I wanted to ask about tonight’s dress code. The invitation said comfortable. Does that mean jeans are fine?”
Comfortable. He didn’t remember reading that on the invite—or ever receiving an invitation with that dress code. It was a little tongue-in-cheek, and very jovial…and so Adison.
“Yes,” he said. “It means that anything you wish to wear is perfect.”
“Excellent! I can’t wait. Are you all ready for tonight?”
He leaned back in his chair. The party planning could be in absolute shambles, and he wouldn’t know about it.
“Adison is the one who organized everything,” he said. “All I know is that there will be a ton of people at my house tonight, and it’ll be fun.”
Thea made a cooing noise. “You two are the cutest couple.”
Ken winced. He wished that were true, wished that Adison really was his girlfriend, but after her swift exit that morning, he didn’t know where they stood.
So all he said was, “Thank you.”
They hung up, and he gave up on trying to do any work. Besides, it wasn’t like there was much to be done. With no one responding to emails, he’d mostly be bouncing around the internet.
Leaving the office, he headed for the saltwater pool. A few dozen laps would help clear his head. Maybe.
He knew there was a chance he was wrong about Adison, that she hadn’t recoiled after seeing the true him. A more optimistic person would probably cling to that shred of hope like it was their salvation, but Ken was a realist. He knew people like him rarely received second chances, and there was a strong possibility that this was it for him and the strawberry-blond angel that had stolen his heart.
Chapter 24
Adison
Corinne called as Adison was leaving her apartment to go back to Ken’s.
After a bit of a cry, then a long shower and some breakfast, she’d pulled herself together enough that she knew she could organize the evening’s event. Hopefully, she’d be so busy that she wouldn’t even have time to notice or think about Ken.
A big dream, maybe, but she was an optimist.
“Hello?” Adison used her head to hold her phone against her shoulder while she locked the apartment.
“Maggie just went into labor!”
“What? But that’s…”
“Early!”
“Wow.” Adison made her way down the staircase. “Early congrats, Aunt Corinne.”
“Thank you.” Corinne’s voice seeped pleasure. “There’s something I’m nervous about telling you, though.”
That made Adison’s insides squirm. She’d had enough surprises for one day. “What?”
“I need to go there today. Like, now.” She rushed to explain more, likely trying to get ahead of any judgment she thought Adison might have. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to do this. It’s my sister, though, and my parents are all the way in Florida, and—”
“Corinne. I understand one hundred percent.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“I would ask you to come with, but you have the party.”
“Exactly. This party is my baby, and it needs its Auntie Adison.”
Corinne chuckled. “God, I hate to miss it.”
“Twenty-four hours from now, you’ll be sick of all the photos I’ll have sent you of it.”
“What about tomorrow?” Adison said. “What about Christmas?”
She had to admit: the idea of spending Christmas alone hit hard. She and Corinne were always together during the holidays; without her best friend, she’d have no one.
“I’ll come back before then,” Corinne said.
“No you won’t,” she said quickly. “You’re already buying one last-minute ticket, and you’ll have a new baby to fawn over. You stay in California.”
Corinne sighed. “I feel like the worst best friend ever.”
Adison climbed into her car and cranked the heat. “Seriously. It’s fine. Taffy and I will get Chinese and watch movies.”
“I’ll video chat every minute I can.”
“I know you will. Now go get ’em, Auntie. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Bye!”
Adison put the phone in the passenger’s seat, a feeling of dread washing over her. She’d done the right thing by insisting Corinne go to California with no guilt, but she still felt awful. Her heart was already cracked, held together with duct tape and positivity after that morning’s discovery. She didn’t know how she’d make it through Christmas without her best friend.
If she’d told Corinne about what happened with Ken, Corinne would have made some other plan. She’d come back to Buffalo Christmas morning, or max out her credit card flying Adison to California after the party. And Adison wouldn’t put that weight on her friend’s shoulders.
No, this would just be one of those times she’d need to get through on her own. They happened every once in a while; they were a part of life.
It would hurt, but she would survive.
At Ken’s the driveway had been plowed, and the van bringing the rented tables was in front of the house. Adison took a deep breath and steadied herself. She still had to decorate the driveway, and tend to a couple dozen other tasks. Plus there would be Ken to deal with, and that would be the hardest task of all.
As it turned out, Ken had already let the delivery drivers into the house. They were moving back and forth, setting up the cocktail tables. Ken stood by the Christmas tree, typing on his phone.
Adison cleared her throat as she approached.
Ken looked up, his eyebrows jumping. “Hey. Ready for the big day?”
“Hi. I guess so.” She clasped her hands, feeling completely lost. Especially when he reached over to embrace her.
Luckily, he went for a kiss on the cheek rather than on the lips. That she could deal with.
“Is everything all right?” He kept his voice low, so that the delivery men wouldn’t hear.
“Yes.” A lump formed in her throat. “I’m stressed already.”
His gaze fixated on her. “I understand. Tell me what to do.”
“The lights and wreaths need to be put up along the drive, and then there’s… you know what? I do need to talk a minute.”
Her pulse quickened. She’d thought it would be best to go through the whole day avoiding him, but now that they were together again, that idea made her feel icky. Best to get everything out in the open and clear the air. Then she could focus on the party.
Ken put his phone in his pocket. “Of course. What would you like to talk about?”
He lightly touched her arm, which sent shivers through her. Even as furious with him as she was, his
touch was intoxicating. It made her falter, not only because his hand felt so good but because she hated that it did.
“Adison?”
There was a loud crash, making them both jump. One of the delivery drivers cursed from the next room.
Adison held up a finger. “You know what?”
He nodded. “Let’s go see what happened.”
They rushed into the next room, praying a window hadn’t been broken.
Saved by the crash, Adison thought wryly. Maybe that was a good thing. Taking more time before she confronted Ken might help her get her thoughts in order, her head on straight.
It would also help her brace for the fallout that was sure to come. After she told him she had figured out he was using her, everything would be different. Their relationship would disintegrate. She might not have a job at the Montoya Foundation come the new year.
Time was always a good thing…as long as you used it wisely.
As it turned out, thankfully, nothing had been broken when one of the cocktail tables tipped over. After that little mishap, there was a mini crisis about once per hour. First the lights on the tree weren’t working, then there were patches of ice in the driveway that couldn’t be cleared. And then the caterer was short-staffed by two people and had to call in emergency bartenders.
Finally, by the grace of the party-planning gods, it all came together. Guests arrived at the entrance to Ken’s property, where the valet parked their cars while the horse and carriage chauffeured them up to the house.
Inside, sparkly white lights and electric candles welcome everyone, and servers walked around with trays of spiked punch and hors d’oeuvres. White birch saplings strung with fairy lights marked the path to the connecting living and den area, which had been cleared of all furniture save cocktail tables. Here, a live band played Christmas music while bartenders mixed drinks along the wall.
Adison stood in the corner, soaking it all in and feeling the happiest that she had in a very, very long time. Even with the gut-punch she’d taken that morning, she could have sworn she was walking on air.
“Adison, everything looks spectacular.” Someone touched Adison’s shoulder, and she turned to find Ramona, the office manager.
“Thanks. It all came together.”
“It seems like you just started at the company.” Ramona shook her head, smiling.
“It feels like forever ago to me.” The morning that Ramona showed her around the Montoya Foundation had only been a handful of weeks earlier, but the memory already seemed foggy. Maybe because so much had happened since then.
Coworkers came around in waves, introducing their partners or stopping by to congratulate Adison on a job well done. Jazzie had brought her brother as a date, and had the circumstances been different, Adison might have thought him cute.
“He’s single,” Jazzie whispered under her breath.
Adison smiled politely. She was probably going to need to take a real break from dating. Like months. Or years.
Someone walking with a familiar, sure pace caught Adison’s eye, and she didn’t have to see their face to know it was Ken. He crossed the room and stepped onto the platform the band was set up on.
As he sidled up to the mic, Adison went weak. Despite everything, his appearance still made her heart flutter. It hurt to see him standing there smiling like everything was all right.
“Good evening, everyone,” he said into the mic, and the crowd grew quiet. “I hope you’re having a good time.”
The house erupted in whoops of agreement and applause. Adison clapped so lightly it probably wouldn’t be heard even if she were the only person in the room.
Ken went on. “I don’t want to tear you away from your fun, so I’ll make this quick. I want to thank all the hardworking people who made this possible: our band, the caterers and bartenders, the valet and the horse minders…the crew who plowed the roads so we could all get here today…and our brilliant party planner, Adison Hale.”
Ken gestured right at her, and all the attention in the room turned her way. She nodded her head and smiled, not having expected Ken to thank her publicly.
“Enjoy yourselves,” Ken said. “And Merry Christmas.”
With that, he left the stage and disappeared somewhere in a swarm of people.
Adison turned, ready for a drink. She couldn’t relax fully, since she needed to be at her best in case there was another party catastrophe, but a small glass of white wine would be nice. It would relax her and give her hands something to do.
“Adison.”
That voice like butter and warm winter nights stopped her in her tracks. Rotating, she found Ken standing behind her.
She had to swallow before speaking. “Hello.”
“Everything looks beyond amazing.”
“Thank you.” She knew that was true, and that was the best part. She’d truly exceeded expectations for this party, and there was no denying it.
The band had started playing again, something slow and sultry. Ken extended his hand.
“May I have this dance?”
She licked her lips. She wanted to say no…or maybe she wanted to say yes…but she should say no… Then again, she needed to be polite because he was her boss…
She was taking too long to answer, and that must have been enough for Ken because he pulled her onto the dance floor. She started to tense, but then his arms were around her, and gosh darn it if that didn’t feel like the most natural thing in the world.
He drew her to him and she melted. The colors around them swirled together, the music taking on a heavenly tone. Ken’s palm pressed against her lower back, his pristine blue eyes boring into hers as they danced.
“Words will never be able to express how grateful I am,” he said.
She was torn between smiling and frowning. “It does look good, doesn’t it?”
He spun her, sending her flying and back into his arms with no effort from her. He had all the control, while she had none.
“You left so quickly this morning,” he said.
“I did.” The words felt sticky in her mouth. She could offer the same excuse she had that morning, but that would feel like digging a deeper hole.
“What’s wrong, Adison?”
She looked into his eyes—really looked into them. Where should she start?
“First of all,” she said, “I want to enjoy tonight. I don’t want to make a scene or take away from the fun.”
His brows knit together. “Okay.”
“But I also can’t go too long without talking to you.” She drew a deep breath.
Ken shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
“You are? For what?”
His throat rolled with a swallow. “For last night.”
A chill went through her. “Oh.”
“Not for kissing you,” he rushed to say. “For telling you about my…past. I don’t often share that with people, and I suppose it was too soon. You seemed so uncomfortable this morning.”
That’s why he thought she’d rushed out that morning? Because she couldn’t handle that he was a human being who had pain and made mistakes?
“N-no,” she stuttered. “It isn’t that at all. I’m glad you shared that with me…as long as it’s true,” she added carefully.
“What? Why wouldn’t it be true?”
The song ended, and everyone burst into applause. The two of them broke apart and clapped, but Ken’s attention was still fully on her.
“Because,” she started to say.
But Simon Styles approached and clapped Ken on the back. “Great job, man. Thea’s real happy. I can tell.”
It felt like Adison had been struck by lightning. She stiffened, her back going ramrod straight.
Simon offered Adison his hand. “You did a wonderful job.”
She shook his hand but couldn’t get any words out. Simon worked above her at the Montoya Foundation, and they’d only spoken a few times briefly, but she knew he and Ken were close. She’d seen them going off to
lunch together a few times, and Jazzie had informed her that the two of them had been tight for years.
So it made sense that if Ken were interested in a woman, Simon would be the person he’d share that info with.
“Thank you,” Adison said.
Ken glanced at Adison, and she could see how nervous he suddenly was.
“I’ll leave you two to it.” Simon saluted them. “I’m off to grab a drink.”
Adison hadn’t realized she’d folded her arms until she felt pain from her nails digging into her skin. Up until Simon walked up, she’d been holding onto the slight possibility that she was wrong about everything, that Ken really did want her and had nothing going on with Thea or any other woman.
Well, so much for that.
“Ken.” She worked to keep her voice even and controlled. “Why did you want to have a Christmas party? Was it really because you wanted to break your cycle and spread some cheer?”
There was a slight pause before he answered. “No. I did it because I needed to impress Thea.”
The room spun. Adison closed her eyes, momentarily losing herself to the vertigo. She wanted to yell at Ken, to scream and beat his chest. She wanted to get even with him, to show him she was everything without him, like she’d done with Danny.
But none of that would make a difference. Her heart would still be broken by him. The only way she could take control and reclaim her power was by walking away.
And so she did.
Chapter 25
Ken
“Adison.” He reached out for her, but she slipped into the crowd.
What had he said wrong?
Or had it been something he didn’t say that angered her?
He set across the floor on a hunt for her, but instead of Adison, he found Thea instead.
“Ken,” she cooed, as she leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” He surreptitiously looked around for Adison.
“I haven’t talked to Adison yet. She looks like such the busy bee, though. I hope she’s getting a chance to enjoy the party.”