by Shealy James
“Only because you thought I was going to murder you that night,” Grant accused with a laugh.
“You approached me after an event in an empty building! Creepy!” she fired back. God, I loved those two together.
“I swear you two fight like children,” Maddox said as he rubbed his temples dramatically.
“He started it,” Eve pouted.
“Mature, Peach, very mature,” Grant teased. They played their little staring contest again then kissed inappropriately for all to see.
“Great, Maddox. Look what you did. I think I prefer the childish arguing,” I told him, waving at the PDA display at the dinner table.
Grant looked over Eve’s head at me and smiled proudly.
“In other news,” I said, “I have to go to the re-opening of The Grande. Who wants to be my date?”
“Ooh! Me!” Eve exclaimed, turning away from Grant and back to her pasta. “I know I’m not from here, but from the pictures I saw online, the place is gorgeous. Every time I drive by it, I think about how I can’t wait to see it restored.”
“Perfect. It can be a girls’ night.”
“How about I bring Eve and Maddox and Nolan take you?” Grant suggested. You know we all have to go. It’s Rex’s event.”
The Grande was a hotel that shut down years ago. The owner left it to his grandson, who had recently decided to renovate the space and turn it into an event center. According to my research, he wanted the hotel running again in five years, but he worked to create a palatial party venue in a matter of months. Seattle’s elite society was invited to promote the new, improved hotel. We happened to have gone to school with the grandson, placing us at the top of his invitation list.
“Really? Eve was going to be my date,” I complained.
Nolan laughed. “Fine, I’ll take Grant,” he said, acting as if he would be so disappointed.
“That’s cool. I’m not a fan of Rex anyway. I’ll stay home.”
“Don’t be such a bore, Maddox,” Eve teased as I breathed a contented sigh. This repartee was what got me through the days without breaking down in tears. Those tears threatened whenever I thought about how badly I had screwed up. Those tears threatened each time I saw a painting, or drank coffee, or passed the hospital. I had been teetering on the edge for months while in New York, and now that I had seen him, my emotional state was even more precarious. I still missed him. How had he consumed me in the short time I’d known him? That I’ll never know. The only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted Maverick back, and I was willing to do almost anything to make that happen.
I still hadn’t figured out how to approach Maverick by the night of the hotel opening. I came up with a million ideas that all seemed flawed. Send him a letter? He might not read it. That was true for email and every other form of written communication. Call him? He might not answer. Try to talk to him at the bar? He could have me thrown out by Trent, the bouncer. Approaching him when the bar was open was definitely out of the question while I was so unstable. Every idea I could think of to tell him the truth seemed to fall apart just as quickly as it came to mind. Instead of continuing to think about the possibilities, I focused on preparing for the party that evening. I had to get dressed and find a way to make one of last season’s dresses look new.
My phone ringing was a welcome distraction. What was even more welcome was the name on the screen. Ward.
“It’s about time I heard from you,” I scolded him teasingly. “You could have been dead for all I knew.”
“There were moments I was considering it. Sitting in a boardroom going through German contracts point by point was less than exhilarating,” he said dryly. “How are you?”
“Eh, so, so. Got my job back. It’s great. Adam won’t speak to me. That’s not so great,” I summarized quickly. “How’s the wedding planning?”
“Easy. I’ve been in Germany. Bronwyn picks out what she wants, and I sign my name. Being an out-of-town groom was a breeze.”
“You know she wants your opinion, right?”
I could hear his grin through the phone. “Katherine, don’t you know? She doesn’t care as long as she gets me in the end.”
“Ha! That’s what they all say.”
“True. I did just fork out a couple grand for an ice sculpture. I told her it was just going to melt.”
I shook my head at his unsurprising sensibility. “But it’ll look pretty while it lasts.”
“And that’s why the bride plans the wedding,” he pointed out.
“And that’s why brides plan weddings,” I agreed.
“So, I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner, but this call isn’t only to catch up. I have something to tell you.”
“Oh?”
“I was with Bronwyn when I last spoke to you. After Alexander tried to…well, you know. Anyway, I couldn’t let it go any longer, Katherine. I made a few phone calls. You see, I wouldn’t be telling you except for the fact your father found out about it somehow, and I don’t want it coming back on you.”
“I haven’t spoken to my parents in over a week, Ward. What are you talking about?”
“I paid his money back. I found out how much he had sent for Jack’s treatments and returned the money to him. Jack still has an account that will never dry up, but my family now funds it. Bronwyn wouldn’t have it any other way, and honestly, neither would I. You’re like family, Katherine, so if you need something, you get it.”
“Ward,” I breathed out. I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. It all happened while I was in Germany, and I didn’t get a moment to call you.”
“No. No. You’re fine. I just…You know I can’t pay you back.”
“I’m not asking you to. It’s a donation, a worthy one.”
Emotions bubbled up inside of me. “Thank you. You’re actually my knight in shining armor. You’re the reason I could come back here without interference from my father. You’re the reason I’m free to make my own choices.”
“No, Katherine, that’s all you. Bronwyn and I wouldn’t have done it if you hadn’t been so damn lovable.”
My heart swelled. Other than Maddox and Nolan, who tell me they love me like I’m their puppy, no one has ever said I was lovable. No one had ever told me they loved me at all. To hear Ward say I was lovable made me almost believe it. He wasn’t warm and fuzzy. He didn’t throw affections around like they meant nothing. Ward used his words when he needed them, and the man had called me, Katherine Agnes Peters, lovable.
“Thank you, Ward. I don’t know how to ever thank you enough, but I’m forever grateful. Of all the people my mother has brought into my life, you are, by far, the one I’d most like to keep.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem, Katherine.”
After I hung up with Ward, I processed what he was saying. If he donated the money, or replaced the donated money, then Maverick still didn’t know. That was a good sign. I didn’t want him to forgive me because I did something nice for him. I wanted him to forgive me because he couldn’t live without me. Obviously, that wasn’t true, but I wanted him to want me like I wanted him. I wanted him to love me. No. I wanted him to be in love with me, head over heels, can’t breathe without it, heartbreaking love.
I didn’t have time to get lost in my thoughts again. Maddox and Nolan had made it home for the day, and it was time to finish getting ready for the party tonight.
I dressed in a red asymmetrical Valentino gown. My strappy gold Manolos made my leg that peeked from the high slit look incredibly long, and my makeup was a little bolder than normal. Once my bright blonde curls were pinned in place, I looked in the mirror. Today, I looked miles better than I felt, and it was a good thing too. I was throwing myself in the lion’s den tonight. Penelope and Victoria would be there, and there was a chance I would be seeing my parents for the first time since I left New York. Tonight was about saying goodbye to my old life. May as well look good doing it.
We arrived in style in a hir
ed car. There were photographers lining the entrance of the hotel. Somewhere in the mass of flashes was a freelance photographer hired by Sue. He or she wouldn’t be allowed in the party, so it was up to me to share the insider’s view with the readers.
I made a point of taking in the golden ballroom. From the ivory columns to the rich gold carpet, everything was the epitome of luxury. Waiters in tuxes carried trays of champagne to the famous actors, actresses, musicians, artists, politicians, and other wealthy friends of Mr. and Mrs. Rex Carlton III and Rex Carlton IV. My eyes scanned the room further as I took my first sip of the expensive Dom Perignon. They followed the balcony around the room and lifted to the extravagant crystal chandeliers that lined the center of the room. Beyond the chandeliers was what caught my eye, though.
It appeared the sky was above us, with fluffy white clouds and a sun-streaked blue that was mesmerizing. It wasn’t the sky that had my heart beating faster. It wasn’t the clouds that had me leaving my friends without a word to climb to the balcony to get a better look.
Angels floated in the corners of the mural that spanned the center of the room like a skylight. The angels appeared real with a lifelike depth and details that I had only seen from one painter in this area. The ceiling had been previously destroyed. I had seen pictures of it when I first met with Rex about covering the reopening of the hotel. Rex had insisted we show what it was to really get the full effect of what it could be. The plaster on the ballroom ceiling had been cracked and damaged by water. I knew for certain this painting was fresh, and my palpitating heart told me who was responsible for creating such beauty.
Suddenly, I needed air. There was a balcony nearby that overlooked the water. I headed in that direction to clear my head. I had planned on the possibility of my parents being there. I had prepared myself for having to talk about him with Penelope and Victoria. It never once occurred to me that I could possibly be running into him, that I would have to face him again so soon.
The balcony was empty, considering most people were enjoying cocktails in the lobby and main floor of the ballroom. I gripped the edge of the short wall protecting me from falling to the ground below. My breaths came in short pants, and I had to tell myself to slow them down.
“What are you doing?” I asked myself.
I was overreacting. For one, I hadn’t even seen Maverick. That might be his work in there, but that didn’t mean he was here. For another thing, all I wanted all week was to see him, to be able to talk to him. If he was here, then perhaps I could at least get him to agree to speak to me.
I rolled my eyes at myself. If he didn’t want to talk to me in the privacy of his closed place of business, I doubted he would even allow me to approach him in a place like this. If he had been willing to talk, we would have already talked. I was a fool for allowing myself such wishful thinking. I mentally scolded myself, and then resigned myself to return to the party. If Maverick were there, I would respect his wishes and stay away from him. I had other people to see and speak with anyway.
With a final resolution to simply enjoy myself, I turned to head back to the party. I hadn’t so much as turned my back on the water before I froze where I stood. Standing in the doorway was a sleek, formal Maverick. His face was blocked by a shadow, and he wore a tux instead of jeans and a t-shirt, but I knew. I was intimately familiar with the man behind the shadow, the man beneath the black and white.
My heart pounded, and I swore I could hear the blood pumping through my body. Thank goodness it was dark, because I was sure my skin was the same red color of my dress. Seeing him again did things to me, things that weren’t entirely unpleasant.
We stared at each other for a moment longer before I breathed, “Adam.”
“Katherine.” His deep voice remained quiet when he spoke.
“The ceiling. It’s yours.”
He nodded simply.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“How did you get it finished? I thought you said it would be months.”
“It’s been months,” he reminded me. Then he moved from the door and came to the edge of the balcony to look out over the water. “After you left, I moved up the timeline. I needed the distraction.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I whispered. Silence stretched between us for a few moments. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I asked, “How’s Jack?”
“Still going through chemo. He’s hanging in there.”
“He’s tough. He’ll make it through this.”
“I know.”
Another moment of silence.
“Look, I know you don’t want to talk to me, but I have so much to say to you. I want to explain, need to explain, to tell you the truth. I owe it to you.”
“You don’t need to explain anything, Katherine.” I winced at him calling me by my name and not Duchess. I missed the familiarity, the intimacy that we shared.
“No, I do. I really do,” I started, but he cut me off again.
“I know everything I need to know.” His words were harsh, but his tone wasn’t—I was confused.
“What does that mean?”
He ignored my question, turning to face me instead. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said, watching me carefully.
I laughed humorlessly. “I look the same as always. I’m regimented that way.”
He pushed off the wall and walked around me to the other side. “No, you look different.”
I quirked my eyebrow in question then turned away to look back out over the water. I knew I didn’t look different; I thoroughly examined myself in the mirror earlier that evening. Same ol’ Kitty in a designer gown, highlighting my long neck and clavicles instead of curves and cleavage. My shiny blond curls were perfectly in place, showing off my high cheekbones and cat eyes. Cat eyes. Kitty. Ha. Go figure. No, the outside of me was all the same. The inside? Now that was a horse of a different color.
He came up behind me, trapping me on either side with his arms. If I thought my heart had been pounding before, it was nothing compared to what was happening with him this close to me.
“I see you thinking there, Duchess. Overanalyzing yourself. Critiquing every detail, but you won’t find it in your reflection.” His mouth moved closer to my ear, and his voice dropped lower. As his fingertips trailed down my arms slowly, he said, “It’s in the way you carry yourself. The way you stand. The way you tilt your head and hold your hand.” He lifted my hand and studied it carefully. “It was all rehearsed before, rigid, careful, practiced. Now, it’s like you float, like the strings have been cut, and you’re moving on your own for the very first time. Sure, the grace you’ve always had is still there and the movement is perfection, but now it’s real. It’s free. I could paint it better than explain it.”
“I don’t understand you,” I whispered.
“What don’t you get, Duchess?”
I turned in the circle of his arms to face him. “The other day, you wouldn’t speak to me. Now you’re telling me this? What’s changed?”
The damn smirk made its first appearance. “The other day, I was running late to get here to finish this. They were taking the scaffolding down the morning after, and I had to finish the last angel. I wanted to call you, but Rex mentioned you’d be here.”
“So, you…”
“I came here for you,” he confirmed.
I couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”
He smiled widely this time. “It’s a funny story, really. You see, I met this girl, this beautiful, amazing girl. We spent one month together, a staggering month. Then she left me, broke me. I was going after her. I was ready to board a plane to get my girl back, because all I wanted was more months with her.”
“You came after me?” Months of worry and heartbreak bled from my body.
He nodded and moved closer. “I was almost to the airport when my mom called to tell me Jack had another seizure. He was on his way back to the hospital, and he was unconscious. Suddenly, my problems were put on hold. B
y the time everything was okay and I made it back to the loft, a few days had passed. It was enough time for you to move on, or so I thought. I received an email with a picture of you from page six. You were with the congressman’s son.”
“Oh.” I frowned. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who sent the email. Dick.
“I threw myself into work. Corbin handled the bar, and I did the one thing I could do to distract me.”
“You painted.”
He shifted, so he was leaning against the wall and pulled me to stand between his legs. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. My hands instinctively went to his chest and rested there.
The damn smirk appeared again. “Well, imagine my surprise when a man named Ward calls me months after I thought I lost you only to tell me what a fool I was. See, I remember the name, Ward. It isn’t something you hear every day, and it happens to be the name that came up on your phone early that first morning I spent the night at your place, the night you drank yourself silly. I always wondered about him, but he convinced me I never needed to worry.”
“Oh yeah?” I didn’t know whether to be angry with Ward for going behind my back or kiss his feet for bringing Maverick back to me. Right then, I was leaning to the latter.
“See, he said that Miss Katherine Peters doesn’t put herself on the line for just anyone. When she saw a way to help me, she sacrificed her happiness to save my brother. There was a lot more to that conversation, but the point is that he made me understand why you left.”
“My father was going to come between us either way. I just wanted to help you and your family, even if I couldn’t be with you. He said he would make sure Jack had the best doctors and the best care.”
“And he has.”
“Then it was worth it,” I told him, hoping he could see how torn I felt.
“And now? Is your father going to come between us?”
“No. Ward and Maddox have helped me get on my feet. My father and I…That bridge was burned at both ends, so I don’t think I have to worry about him anymore.”
He looked in my eyes like he was looking inside of me. When he spoke, it was serious. Story time was over, and now he wanted to get to the bottom of my leaving. “Why didn’t you just tell me, Duchess?”