Patty, the Culinary Channel’s makeup artist, had come all the way from New York to help with Sarah’s big night. She’d worked magic.
Tilly’s throat tightened and tears threatened. Her daughter had turned into a butterfly overnight.
Chad stepped forward, leaving Sarah in his shadow, and waved at the crowd.
“Excuse me.” Jordan looked unhappy.
“What’s wrong?” She prayed nothing was going to ruin her child’s big night.
“Nothing. I’ll be right back.” He trotted over to Chad. His smile was as bright as the flashes lighting up the night. He threw an arm over the singer’s shoulder and waved at the photographers. After a minute of standing for pictures with Chad and Sarah, he leaned down to the young man. Whatever he said made the cocky kid pale.
Jordan sauntered back with a satisfied grin.
“What did you do?”
“I told him this was Sarah’s night, not a photo op for him. No bad-boy shit, or I’d tank his career. He needed reminding that he owed you big-time.” He leaned down, out of earshot of Ruby. “If that didn’t do the trick, we’d sic Ruby on him. The kid took one look at her and froze. He said she looked like lavender-haired zombie. I let him know she wasn’t averse to taking a bite out of his ass.”
Tilly laughed. “Good for you.” She watched the two young people walk into the building. “Someone doesn’t look happy.”
Mark Guthrie stood on the sidelines with Jessica Park—aka the Mean Girl. His expression was a mixture of shock and irritation.
Jessica jumped up and down in her black strapless minidress. “Chad. I’m your biggest fan. Chad!” She pouted as the singer went by without turning his head in Jessica’s direction.
“Good. Chad lives to see another day.” Tilly’s rush of satisfaction was so high school, but she didn’t care. Jessica needed a reminder she wasn’t the only fish in her particular pond.
“The night is young.” Jordan jammed his hands into his slacks pockets. “I’m keeping my eye on him.”
Chad and Sarah stopped under an arch of roses for their official school dance photo.
“She’s so beautiful.” Jordan stared at Sarah. “I can’t believe that young woman will be my daughter once we’re married. I’m going to need a big stick with nails embedded in it. Maybe some flaming arrows and boiling oil to keep the boys away.”
“No. Everyone knows about your mad knife skills. That’ll keep them in check.” Tilly wiped a tear from her eye. Her emotions were overflowing tonight.
“Are you okay?”
She thrilled at the way the back of his hand stroked her cheek. “Yes.” She pulled in a shuddering breath. “It’s a wonderful night. My stomach’s been a little unsettled with all the pre-dance and wedding planning. Nothing a little soda water won’t fix.”
“Good. Have you seen the latest gossip rag?” He glanced over at her with a question on his face.
“No. I didn’t have my glasses when I went to the grocery store—couldn’t find them anywhere.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes. “Lena is opening a new restaurant in Napa Valley. She found a mysterious backer.”
Tilly pointed at him, but he shook his head. “Greg asked me to help her out. She doesn’t know it’s him. He wants to keep it that way. Gretchen did a lot of damage to so many people, and he’s trying to—the word he used was atone for her actions. Katherine has decided to give their marriage another chance.”
“That’s good.” Tilly nodded, happy that some good would come out of the disaster of Gretchen’s life. “I hope he can keep his pants zipped.”
“I’ve been thinking—”
“Uh-oh.” Thing could get out of hand when Jordan’s brain ran amok.
“I’m thinking about selling the apartment.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her into the school building.
“No.” A surge of guilt rushed over her. Her stomach flip-flopped. “That’s your home. Places like that are hard to come by in New York. Why don’t you hire an interior decorator? We can work together.” This time her brain went wild with the possibilities. “If you give up your den, we can use it for a spare bedroom when Ruby comes to visit. Sarah can have the guest bedroom—”
Jordan looked pained.
“What’s wrong?”
“My den?”
She gave him a playful poke to the ribs. “It’s for a good cause.”
“Okay.” He let out a long-suffering sigh. “Ruby can have the den, on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“I really want that four-poster bed.” He waggled his eyebrows and leaned in to brush a kiss next to her ear. “Did I ever tell you that I have a cherub fetish?”
“No? Really?” She gave him a little poke to the ribs before she wrapped her arms around his neck. “That’s something we’ll have to check out.”
He pulled her tighter. “I love you, Matilda Jane Danes—with all my heart.”
“I love you, too.” She touched the side of her neck. “I made an appointment with a doctor.”
“Why? His lifted her face with his hands. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, in fact, everything is right.”
“Then why the doctor’s appointment?” Impatience and worry warred in his eyes.
“I’m getting rid of Jake4Ever.” She shivered with delight the instant his fingers traced the tattoo. “It’s time I let go of the past. You’re not Jake. You never will be. I love you.”
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Acknowledgments
To Claire Ashgrove, who manages to keep me sane. Also, a shout out to Dora, Nora, Goldie, Cathy, Rebecca, Becky, Kristy, Janet, Tenaya, Judy, Deb, and most of all to my husband, Dennis. He’s my dragon slayer extraordinaire.
About the Author
Dyann Love Barr lives in the Midwest with her husband, who is also her cheering section. She read her first romance in college and was hooked. One day she decided to write the sort of book she wanted to read, because how hard could it be? Ah, the young. What do they know? Now, years later, she uses her life experiences to write and hopefully entertain. To discover more, visit dyannlovebarr.com.
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