Finding Mr. Happily Ever After_Edwin

by Melissa McClone

She kept heading toward the exit without looking back.

  Twenty-Two

  Outside the hotel, no taxi was available, so Jazz pulled out her phone. Goose bumps prickled her skin even though it was August. A limo pulled up to the curb. Royce was driving. Brady jumped out of the passenger seat and ran to her.

  Concern filled his eyes. “You’re shivering.”

  Due to Win. It was summer and not cold. “I’m getting my own ride.”

  “Come with us,” he said gently.

  Jazz shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I hope he doesn’t fire you when you no longer need to watch me.”

  “Don’t worry about that.” Brady took the phone out of her hand. “You don’t need another ride. Let’s go home.”

  She was too tired and upset to fight him or even nod.

  Brady must have taken her silence as a yes, or maybe she appeared that pathetic. He opened the door and helped her inside before he returned to sit in the passenger seat.

  The door on her left opened. Win slid inside next to her. “Take us to my place.”

  “No.” She couldn’t look at him. Not when she was struggling to hold herself together. “I want to go home.”

  “We can talk on the way.” He scooted closer, but she moved away from him. “How much did you hear?”

  “From the toast about tax write-offs and photo ops.” Her voice trembled. “I shouldn’t have eavesdropped, but I couldn’t stop listening.”

  As Win dragged his hand through his hair, a pained expression formed on his face. “I didn’t mean what I said.”

  She wasn’t sure she believed him, and that fact chipped away at everything they’d been building together. “So the Heart of Forrester is more than a business asset to you?”

  “Yes,” he said in a firm tone with no hesitation.

  But his earlier words and lack of action hadn’t shown that. “Then why didn’t you say that instead of toasting along with everyone else?”

  “Remember what my mother said to you about appearances? That’s the Forrester way. There’s an image to uphold.”

  “Even if it’s untrue and…and bigoted, sexist, and morally wrong?”

  “Especially then, at least with that crowd.”

  She let the words sink in. The only sounds were the tires against the road. Even the city around them seemed to have gone quiet.

  “And making those men and your father believe we’re having sex is for appearance sake, too?” she asked.

  When he nodded, a knife sliced her heart wide open. She didn’t have a ring from Win, but she’d imagined their future and wanted that. She loved him. Her heart was breaking.

  “Do you know how worthless I felt hearing those men talk about me like some kind of business asset? Instead of standing up for me, you joined in the bashing and implied sex is the only reason you’re dating me.”

  “They were drunk. No one will remember.”

  “I will.” He didn’t understand, and that was a new wound to her heart. “The one thing I bring to the table is my reputation. I’ve never had sex, yet those men think we’re lovers.”

  “Wait.” Win straightened. “You said you didn’t believe in sex before marriage, but you were married to Xavier.”

  “We didn’t sleep together because I didn’t love him. I’ve never…”

  “Jazz—”

  “Tonight, I imagined a future with you. That’s why I was coming to find you. I wanted to be at your side, to tell you how I felt, but I want to be more than some random woman in your bed. Now those men will only see me as that because you didn’t tell them otherwise. You ripped away any chance of me ever being a part of your world for who I am.”

  “I’m sorry.” His head dropped. “What I did was wrong. I’ll fix it.”

  “No, it’s too late.”

  “Jazz—”

  “No.” She steeled herself against his anguished tone. “There’s nothing you can say now.”

  “Please.”

  A part of Jazz wanted to give in. If she hadn’t been through what she had in the past, she would, but she couldn’t now. She knew what she wanted in her life…in the man she married.

  I’m finished settling for what I can get.

  Jazz had told her friend that, and the words were true. She deserved better.

  “Keep playing your role for appearance’s sake, Win. I wouldn’t want you to tarnish the Forrester image.” She looked to the front seat. “Please stop and let me out, Royce.”

  Win grabbed her hand. “No, Jazz. It’s late. I’m not even sure where we are.”

  Her skin burned. She shrugged off his touch. “You had your chance to show me you cared, but you did nothing. Don’t start now.”

  He stared at his feet.

  Jazz realized she was connected to Win beyond their relationship—her job. “Do you want my letter of resignation or—”

  “No.” The word shot out bullet fast. “Your job at the foundation has nothing to do with you and me. The Heart of Forrester needs you.”

  She wished she felt more relief, but the hurt in his voice stabbed her heart. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me.” His voice cracked. He rubbed his eyes. “I need you.”

  Jazz couldn’t care. She wouldn’t let herself care.

  She squared her shoulders as if preparing for a fight. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of applicants to take my place. Candidates your friends and family won’t feel the need to bash.”

  Royce pulled the limousine to the curb. Brady glanced over his shoulder at her. “I’m going with you. I’ve called for a ride.”

  “Thanks,” she said to him. She studied Win almost dispassionately. He looked like he was about to cry, but she made herself say coolly, “I’d hoped things would work out for us, but I guess I’ll see you at the foundation sometime. Goodbye.”

  Jazz exited the car.

  As Royce drove away, she stood on the dark street, trying to hold herself together when all she wanted to do was go home, curl into a ball, and cry.

  Brady handed her a tissue. “Most men are idiots.”

  That made her laugh. “Even you?”

  “Top of the idiot list.” He exhaled. “I’m just your bodyguard, but if you want my opinion, you did the right thing.”

  She gasped. “You heard?”

  “The partition was open.”

  “Oh.” She hadn’t noticed. Win must not have, either. But she didn’t think he kept many secrets from Royce.

  “If it’s any consolation, I’m proud of you,” Brady said to her surprise. “If either of my two younger sisters found themselves in your position, I hope they’d do the same.”

  Tears fell. She wiped them away, but more kept coming. “You feeling that way means a lot. Thanks.”

  Jazz would hold on to Brady’s words because without Win, she wasn’t sure what she had left.

  Twenty-Three

  The days melded into each other, one after another. Jazz threw herself into her job at the foundation, especially the upcoming gala they were sponsoring. To be honest, she enjoyed what she was doing so much it didn’t feel like work, and the long hours kept her from being alone in her apartment and thinking about…

  Win.

  Even after everything, she missed him.

  He hadn’t been by the foundation. Nor had he called. Not that she’d expected him to after she’d said nothing could fix what had happened. She’d made the right decision to walk away. Standing up for herself had made her feel worthy, but she wished she’d been as brave with the other men.

  Her friends, however, told Jazz to forget about that and be proud of what she did do. She tried, but part of her wanted a do-over. She didn’t tell her friends that, though, or they’d worry more about her.

  They’d warned her of an impending heartbreak, but she hadn’t listened. She’d been too swept up in the fairy tale to see clearly, just as they’d said she was doing. She wished they’d been wrong, but they hadn’t.

  But everything had just felt right wit
h Win.

  Nathan had taken so long to realize she was the one for him. Chase had gone slowly because she’d asked him to. Xavier had wanted more than she could give him. But Win…

  He’d been perfect for her until he’d proved he was too wrapped up in being a Forrester to think about her. Jazz didn’t blame him for caring about how he appeared to others. If she didn’t care herself, she wouldn’t have let those men’s comments affect her so deeply.

  On the day before the gala, Xavier arrived at her apartment with a garment bag. The name of a trendy dress shop was on the front.

  “This is for you.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “To wear at the benefit.”

  Not Xav, too. Her stomach churned. She might be sick. “You’re buying me a dress to wear so I fit in better.”

  “I brought you a dress, but not for that reason.” Xavier repositioned the bag. “The truth is you don’t fit in, darling. I’m thankful for that, as should you be. You’re a much better person than any of those Forrester cronies. That old boys’ network needs to die a quick death.”

  “I won’t disagree with that last statement.”

  “You’d better agree with the others, too.”

  A nod was as much as she could give him.

  He unzipped the bag. A stunning turquoise gown came into view. Jazz gasped. She’d seen clothing like this at high-end fundraisers. Her fingertips itched to touch the delicate fabric, but she didn’t want to ruin it.

  To avoid temptation, she kept her hands pressed at her sides. “The dress is gorgeous.”

  “It will be even more gorgeous once it’s gracing your curves.” He held up the floor-length dress. “Some of the same people from the event two weeks ago will be at the gala tomorrow night. So will I. Wear this dress as a reminder of your superpowers, which no one can take from you.”

  She smiled, something she hadn’t felt like doing in nearly two weeks. “What superpowers?”

  Affection filled his gaze. “Confidence, self-worth, and a giving heart that’s too big for most to comprehend.”

  Emotion thickened Jazz’s throat. “What did I do to deserve a friend like you in my life?”

  “What you’ve always done—been yourself.” He zipped the garment bag. “Words hurt, often worse than a physical blow. You can let the pain define you, ignore what was said, or forgive.”

  Her heart beat triple time. She swallowed. “You’re not talking about the Forrester cronies. You’re talking about Win.”

  “He’s miserable without you.”

  “Why do you care?” Her voice was shrill. She cleared her throat. “You said he wasn’t right for me.”

  Xavier hung the bag’s hanger over the top edge of the bedroom door carefully before turning to her. “I thought he wasn’t, but jealousy may have clouded my judgment.”

  “Jealousy?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t ready for you to move on, and I may have been wrong about Win. He’s not the same man I worked for.”

  Jazz shouldn’t care, but she had to ask. “What do you mean?”

  “No one’s ever seen him like this. The last two weeks… He’s changed. In a good way.”

  It was too late. She didn’t want to hear more. “I didn’t ask him to do anything.”

  “No, but he still has.” Xavier sounded pleased. “It’s not my place to say more, but I’m impressed, and so are others. You would be, too. I thought you should know.”

  “Thanks.” Except the only thing she felt was more uncertainty about seeing Win again. Her gaze traveled from Xavier to the garment bag and back again. “I’ll be working most of the time, but will you please be my plus-one to the gala?”

  “Gladly, darling.”

  She blew out a breath. Between Xavier, her new dress, and her newly gifted superpowers, she might survive tomorrow night.

  Twenty-Four

  The groundwork for tonight’s gala had been laid long before Jazz joined the Heart of Forrester Foundation, but she’d put touches of her own on the event. She couldn’t be happier with the smiling faces of guests and the amount of donations being made to local New York charities. The only thing missing was…

  Win.

  She hadn’t seen him since getting out of his limo two weeks ago on a street she still couldn’t name. He’d been expected to attend tonight, but he’d never shown up. Jazz should be grateful he’d bowed out, yet she missed him being here, missed showing him how hard she was working to make a difference in people’s lives, missed making him proud.

  A bell chimed, signaling another donation goal had been achieved. Attendees clapped before returning to their socializing.

  “I found you.” Xavier appeared next to her. “Lovely evening. I know you prefer working with people in need, but you’re brilliant at fundraising events. You’ve surpassed your donation goal. I should have tried harder to hire you.”

  “Thanks.” Her gaze scanned the crowd, but she didn’t see Win. “Is he not coming?”

  “I thought he was.” Xavier glanced around as if checking himself. “Maybe he changed his mind. Do you want him here?”

  “Yes. No. Maybe.” She laughed more from nerves than anything else. “Not the most decisive of answers.”

  “You’re allowed, darling.” He gave her a one-armed hug. “I saw you speaking to Mrs. Forrester.”

  “She thanked me for my work at the foundation.” Mrs. Forrester had sounded sincere and even smiled. Not that Jazz would be encountering the woman again other than at events like this one. “She apologized for how she acted at her house and complimented me on my new dress. That’s twice she’s done that.”

  Xavier’s gaze ran the length of her. “It does look stunning on you.”

  “As you knew it would.”

  “I…” Xavier flushed, wincing a little. “Ah, don’t shoot the messenger. Well, in this case, the deliveryman. I didn’t buy the dress for you. Win did.”

  “Why?” She had to force the word from her dry throat.

  Xavier’s gaze darkened. “Win knew tonight was important, and he wanted you to feel special.”

  Special.

  The word reverberated through her.

  Had it been four years ago when she’d been lying in a hospital bed with a broken arm, a black eye, and more bruises than she could count, heartbroken and wondering if she’d ever feel special again?

  “I do.” She moved side to side so the gown swooshed around her legs. “And I also feel beautiful.”

  Xavier kissed her forehead. “You are.”

  “Thank you.” She curtsied. “I need to make another round to make sure everything is okay. You can come with me, or I’ll find you later.”

  “Go.” He shooed her away. “I’ll be schmoozing myself.”

  “Networking is a better term.”

  He shrugged and gave her a wink. “But the other is more fun.”

  She leaned closer and whispered, “At the next event, your foundation will be one of those featured.”

  His lips parted. “Jazz, that’s…”

  “What you deserve for all the good you’re doing. You just need more exposure and word of mouth. The Heart of Forrester can help with that.”

  “Thank you.” His eyes gleamed with happy tears. “There’s so much I want to say, but I find myself speechless.”

  She kissed his cheek. “Grab a glass of bubbly and enjoy yourself. I’ll be back soon.”

  With a nod, Xavier walked away with a bounce in his step and a giddy smile on his face. He would make some woman happy. How much easier her life would be if that woman had been her.

  “Xavier’s lucky to have a friend like you,” Win whispered, his breath warm against her skin.

  She turned to find her mouth mere inches from his. Her heart slammed against her ribcage. “You’re here.”

  “Fashionably late, but that was more my ego at play than wanting to make an entrance.”

  “Ego?”

  He shrugged sheepishly. “You’re the fir
st woman to break up with me. It’s been a humbling experience.”

  “Win—”

  He raised his hand to stop her. “I would have broken up with me if I’d been you. You did nothing wrong. There’s nothing you need to say.”

  He took a step back, and that was when she noticed he wasn’t dressed like the other men. Win had forgone black tie and wore a shiny blue one-button jacket with black lapels. A purple tie contrasted with his blue dress shirt. Not traditional by any means, but the look suited him.

  “I like your outfit,” she said politely.

  “Thank you. I’ve been switching things up.” His gaze locked on hers. “You look gorgeous tonight.”

  “Thank you for the dress. Turquoise is my favorite color.”

  “I remembered. I didn’t even need my list. By the way, I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews tonight.” Win focused his attention on her, making her feel like the only other person in the grand ballroom when there were hundreds around them. “Congrats.”

  She hated this courteous conversation. It was as if the time they’d spent together meant nothing. Weird when the same irresistible pull of attraction made her want to forget everything that had happened to touch him one more time.

  Jazz forced the thought out of her head. “The staff and volunteers worked hard to pull this off.”

  “So did you.”

  She nodded. If she weren’t careful, she would cry.

  “I’m sorry, Jazz.” Gone was his businesslike tone, replaced by a sad, regretful voice. “I failed you, but I want you to know I spoke with every man there that night and told them we aren’t lovers.”

  That was unexpected. “How did that go?”

  “Some understood and apologized for their role.” He didn’t move, didn’t shift his weight between his feet, didn’t even blink. “Others I’ve cut ties with, but it was time for that to happen.”

  “I can’t imagine that was easy for you to do, but I appreciate you speaking to them.”

  He sighed. “If I’d been strong enough, I would have spoken up that night, but I’m trying.”

  “Xavier mentioned I’d be happy with what you’ve been up to.”