by Krista Lakes
“Maybe I can help,” Carter offered.
She smiled but shook her head. “I told you, I have a project coming.”
“I'm the project,” he told her, stopping his hands for long enough to bend to the side to look at her shocked reaction. She stared at him, and he chuckled at her expression.
“How are you a social work project?”
“Well, not me exactly,” he amended. He grinned. “I set it up, so I'm the one who is going to tell you about it.”
She looked at him, waiting for him to explain what he meant. This was not what she was expecting at all. “When did you set this up? How did you set this up?”
“Your boss and I talked about more than just giving you a day off to go on a trip with me,” he said, shrugging and looking far too proud of himself. He held out his hand to help her up. “Come with me.”
She had no idea what he could possibly have planned, but it was definitely better than paperwork. She took his hand and stood, not letting go once she was up. She didn't want to let go of him.
He took her around the row of cubicles to the entrance of the staff bathrooms. Mia frowned as they came to a stop outside the doors. The office was mostly empty, so she had no idea what they were doing here.
“Go in,” Carter told her, nodding at the bathroom.
She gave him a strange look but did as he asked. She paused at the door, looking back at him and his knowing smile before opening the door.
The bathroom was completely transformed. A hairstylist and makeup artist had taken up residence at the sink counter, and there was a beautiful new gown hanging from the stall door. She'd never seen so many lights in a bathroom before.
Carter's head popped through the door, watching her expression.
“Have fun,” he said. “I'll see you in twenty minutes for what comes next.”
And he closed the door and left her to get pampered.
Chapter 22
Carter
Carter sat in an uncomfortable office chair, playing on his phone for the twenty minutes while he waited for Mia in the bathroom. He spun around in lazy circles, wearing out the poor bearings in the chair and doing his best to distract himself with emails and phone games, but his mind kept going back to Mia.
She was something special. He'd never met anyone like her, and even what he had planned for her today wasn't enough. He wanted to help her fulfill her dream. He wasn't quite sure how to go about it, but if anyone could figure out how to make something work, it was Carter Williamson.
He looked up as the bathroom door squeaked, and Mia stepped out. It was worth the wait. It always was with her.
His eyes went up and down her body not just once, not twice, but three full times. He didn't even feel guilty about staring. She was absolutely stunning. The gold dress fit her perfectly and made her look like a movie star. Her brown hair was curled up and pulled into a complicated looking knot at the back of her head. He wanted to take her home and keep her for himself, but he'd worked too hard on this to do such a thing.
“This is amazing, but why am I dressed up?” Mia asked. She grinned at him, and he lost his breath for a moment. That smile lit up a room.
“You are going to a fundraiser,” he explained, standing up. His stomach was twisting with excitement to see her reaction to what he had set up. He'd been working on it for the past week and had pulled out all the stops.
“A fundraiser?” she asked, smoothing the gold satin of her dress. “A fundraiser for what?”
He handed her the invitation for the event. It was printed on golden paper that matched her dress with an elegant script that screamed high-society and money.
“All proceeds go to foster kids,” he said as she looked it over. “Your kids are the benefit.”
Her mouth fell open, and her hand shook slightly. “How did... but...”
He loved that she was speechless. She seemed always to have something smart to say, so the fact that she had no words was exactly what he was looking for. He took advantage of the moment by giving her a quick kiss.
“It's at the theater downtown, so you'll need to head over there to schmooze and wow the guests,” he told her. Given how beautiful she looked, that wouldn't be hard. “I have everything set up, so all you have to do is smile and thank them for their very generous donations.”
She frowned, her brown eyes looking over him. “But you're not dressed. Are you not coming?”
He shook his head. “Security. I can't go.” He wished with all his heart that he could. He wanted to be the one on her arm tonight. He wanted to walk around with her and make her smile and then take her out of that dress. But, his security team said it wasn't possible.
“I'm by myself?” She sounded nervous, and her hand reached up to play with her necklace.
“My business partner will be there,” he explained. “Ethan White is your date this evening.”
Mia bit her lip. “You set me up with someone else?”
Carter stepped forward and touched her hair with his fingers. She was so damn beautiful it hurt. “He's under strict orders not to fall in love with you.”
“Poor guy,” she said, looking up at him. “I'll try not to break his heart. I can't help it that men fall for me whenever I smile.”
“I certainly did,” Carter told her with a grin of his own. He loved the color that filled her cheeks, and he tried not to think of the implications of what he just said. He was certainly falling in love with her, but he wasn't ready to declare it, and certainly not at her office just outside the employee bathroom. To cover himself, he quickly pulled out his phone and called up a picture of Ethan. “This is him. He'll meet you there.”
She studied the picture for a moment and then smiled. “You sure you can’t come with me?”
He was so tempted. So incredibly tempted. He'd wear the jeans and polo shirt he had on right now and borrow a tie there, but his security team would be furious. There had been another threat, and he was risking a lot just coming to her office. Vegas was built for the wealthy, so keeping him safe there had been easy. An affair like this was just too easy to breach.
“Go have fun and get some donations for your kids,” he said, putting on a happy face.
She looked him over and then kissed him. It was soft and gentle. He didn't want to mess up her makeup, but she felt so amazing that he didn't want to stop either.
“Thank you, Carter,” she whispered once they'd broken their kiss. “I don't know what else I can say to tell you how grateful I am.”
He smiled and kissed her cheek. “Then just go have fun.”
She grinned. “Thank you. Thank you, so, so, so, so, so much.”
“Get going,” he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and gently pushing her toward the door. If she stayed much longer, he was going to do something he'd regret.
He watched her walk down the hallway and to the exit door.
“A limo!” she shouted as she saw what was waiting for her outside. He chuckled, enjoying her excitement. She really had no idea how much money he had. A limo was nothing, but it made her day. It was adorable and incredibly endearing to see her reactions to things he thought of as normal.
She made his heart light. She made him smile just by thinking of her. He went to the glass doors and watched as the limo pulled away. He could see her inside, grinning and excited as she talked to the driver. He wished he was in there with her with every molecule of his being.
Chapter 23
Mia
Mia stood in front of the Paramount Theater in Downtown Denver and tried to take deep, steady breaths. Even the outside of the building was decorated and beautiful. There was even a red carpet rolled out along the big white 1920's style theater. She could hardly wait to see what the inside would look like. There was a sea of limos and fancy cars surrounding the place, and Mia could only imagine the amount of money coming to an event like this.
“You must be Mia,” a male voice greeted her. A tall man in a tuxedo walked over with a smile on
his face. He looked just like the photo Carter had shown her with dirty blond hair in a casual style and bright green eyes.
“You must be Ethan,” she replied, holding out her hand. He shook it firmly before offering his arm to escort her inside. She took it but found herself missing Carter. Ethan was great, but she wasn't in love with him.
“So, we're at the half million mark, and...” he informed her as they walked the red carpet. She froze, and he nearly pulled her over. He quickly turned to face her. “What's wrong? We'll get up higher, the evening's just beginning.”
“No, no...” Mia shook her head. He thought she was concerned that it wasn't enough money when just the opposite was true. “You said we're already at half a million? Already?”
He nodded, and she thought she might faint right there on the red carpet. That was so much more than she'd ever thought possible. She felt ready to cry tears of joy.
Ethan chuckled and realized she was happy. He took her arm again. “And that's just the start.”
Ushers opened the big heavy doors to the theater and Ethan took her inside. Everywhere she looked were people wearing beautiful, fancy clothes and servers walking around with champagne and ornate appetizers. Carter must have spent a fortune on this, and it was all for her.
“Carter made sure everything is taken care of,” Ethan explained as they walked in. “He's expecting a minimum of two million raised tonight.”
Mia froze again, but this time Ethan was a little more prepared and didn't keep walking. He smiled at her shock and waited for her to find words again.
“What do I need to do?” she asked after a moment. She was ready to sell her soul for that much. That much money would help so many kids. That much money would go so far towards making their lives better.
“You don't have to do anything,” Ethan told her. “Just smile and tell these nice folks how much their donations are appreciated. Carter's taken care of everything else.”
Mia needed to kiss Carter. The thank you she said earlier was in no way close to telling him how grateful she was for this. She needed to kiss him and tell him a million times how much this meant. He had no idea how much she needed this today.
“We'll go over and talk to the Vanderbilts. They are a large donor tonight,” he said, taking her arm and guiding her further into the party. They took a couple of steps, and it appeared the Vanderbilts were busy, so he stood off to the side. “We'll find the Tudors instead.”
“Thank you, Ethan,” Mia said, giving him a smile. “I don't know any of these people.”
“That's why Carter sent me. I do these fundraiser things all the time, though usually in Colorado,” he replied. He smiled and cleared his throat. “I hear that you have become a regular on the ranch.”
“Yes. Three of my foster kids help out with the horses,” Mia said with a nod. “They've really stepped up since Laura had to take some time off.”
“Laura?” Ethan' voice cracked slightly on her name. His whole body froze as if her name had power over him.
“Do you know her?” Mia asked.
“I met her once.”
Mia raised her eyebrows. There was so much more to that statement than he was saying. His body language was screaming that he had a crush on Laura and there was much more than just a simple meeting. She was about to ask him about it, but the Vanderbilts spotted them.
“Ethan,” Mrs. Vanderbilt greeted him. She was an older woman who glittered with every motion she wore so many diamonds. “It's so nice to see you again. We've already donated, but I'm interested in doing more. Is there a foundation set up for these kids?”
Mia's heart fluttered. It was her dream to set up a foundation. The fact that someone was asking about it gave her hope that someday it could become a reality.
“Mia can tell you more,” Ethan told her, motioning to Mia. “She's the star of the show tonight.”
Mrs. Vanderbilt smiled warmly at her and Mia's smile grew.
“There's a couple of charities I can recommend,” Mia said, slowly gaining confidence. “Your donation here goes a long way. Let me tell you about some of our kids...”
Ethan winked at her and Mia focused on telling the donors about her sweet Grayson and how they could help him and others like him. A fresh wave of optimism swept over her. This was going to be amazing. She was going to make sure a lot of kids got help tonight.
Chapter 24
Mia
Nine hours later, Mia's feet hurt so badly she could barely walk, but she didn't care. She barely felt it. She was on top of the world. She couldn't stop smiling, even though her face ached. She was fairly sure she wasn't going to stop smiling for at least the next week.
“I had a wonderful time with you tonight,” Ethan told her as he walked her out of the theater. She held onto his arm less for stability and more because he was half carrying her. Mia and high heels were not friends.
“Thank you so much, Ethan,” Mia told him. “I don't know how I would have done it without you. You sure know how to work a crowd.”
Ethan grinned. “That's why Carter pays me the big bucks,” he told her. “Here's your ride home.”
He brought her to the side of a long black limo. The street was quiet since everyone else had long ago gone home. Not even the bars were open anymore.
“Thank you again,” she said as the driver came around to open the door for her. “And thank you for donating, too. It means the world to me.”
He chuckled. “After listening to you rave about how amazing these kids are and how far even a dollar would go to help them, how could I not donate something?” He gave her hand a squeeze. “I had a great time. I'm actually glad I got to go to this, but don't tell Carter or he'll get all jealous.”
She nodded. “Mum's the word, got it.”
The driver opened the door, and Ethan helped her inside. “Have a wonderful night,” he said as she slid inside.
“I will,” she replied. She paused and grinned at him. “And I'll tell Laura you say hello.”
Hope and fear filled his face at the same time, making him look like he was either going to be sick or start dancing in the street. She couldn't help but laugh a little as he quickly regained control and glared at her. There was definitely something going on between those two. She didn't know what, but she had a feeling she would find out eventually.
The driver shut the door, and Ethan shook his head as he walked away. Mia chuckled to herself and relaxed back against the seat, closing her eyes. Now that she was in a dark, quiet space, she was suddenly exhausted. Talking to hundreds of people was a lot of effort.
“I take it things went well?” a voice asked in the darkness. It was a voice that Mia knew and loved.
“Carter!” she exclaimed, opening her eyes. He was sitting near the driver, hidden from view of the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Making sure Ethan doesn't steal my girl,” he replied. “Do I have to go challenge him to a fight at noon by the flagpole?”
“He was a perfect gentleman,” Mia assured him, sliding on the black leather seat to sit next to him. He held open his arm, and she leaned into him, instantly relaxed by his touch. “I think he's got eyes for someone else. You have no reason to be jealous.”
“He got to spend all evening with you dressed like this,” Carter replied, looking her over. “How can I not be jealous?”
“Because it was your idea?” Mia offered. She snuggled into him. “Besides, even if he had been interested, I'm not on the market.”
Carter's arms tightened around her, and his chest swelled beneath her cheek. She smiled, knowing that her words made him happy.
“Tell me how it- hold on, I was supposed to get this call an hour ago.” Carter pulled out his vibrating phone from his pocket. “Carter.”
The voice on the other end said something, but Mia couldn't hear what it was.
“That's not negotiable,” Carter informed whoever was on the phone. He listened for a moment, and his face hardened. A change came over him, and s
uddenly he was no longer the easy-going horse owner and car designer. His voice went cold and sharp as he transitioned into the billionaire businessman. “And what did you tell them?”
Mia sat with her head on his shoulder, trying not to eavesdrop. This was obviously a business call, and as she wasn't an employee, she didn't feel quite right about listening to it, but she didn't have much of a choice.
“That isn't an option,” Carter said. “You have two choices here, either take my deal as is or don't. This isn't a negotiation.”
The easy softness that she was used to hearing in his voice was gone. He was all business. Yet, he still cradled her against him with the utmost care. He was two people, as Mia realized most people were. The lover and the businessman. The lover and the fighter. The man and the money.
The person on the other end said something, but Mia was fighting to keep her eyelids open. Now that the party was over and she no longer had to be “on,” she was exhausted. A full day of work in addition to working a party was more than she was built to handle.
“You've made the right choice,” Carter said into the phone, his voice warm again. “We'll talk again tomorrow to work out all the details. Goodnight.”
He clicked his phone off and carefully slid it into his pocket. With his hand now free, he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek with such gentle care it made her heart smile.
“Good phone call?” she asked, closing her eyes as he stroked her hair.
“Yes,” he replied. “And how about you? How was the fundraiser?”
“Amazing.” She stifled a yawn as she sat up to look at his face. “I can't thank you enough for this. Ethan thinks we raised over two million dollars for the foster charity tonight, and I can't tell you how much that means.”