“Yes,” they nodded obediently.
“You’ll want to look sharp. This will be the event of the year up there. It’s a large turnout from what I hear. Maybe you’ll even get more contacts out of it. Make sure you buy four tickets.”
“Why?” Mathew asked, knowing the simple math meant she was implying something about him being dateless.
“You aren’t showing up there alone. Invite Jessica.” Marissa was halfway out of the room before Mathew could argue.
“She’s a nut,” Mathew called out behind her.
“Hey,” Libby snapped. “She’s my best friend. And who says she’d even want to go with a stuffed shirt like you?”
“Stuffed shirt?” Mathew said, sounding slighted.
“Yes,” she said steadfastly. “Jessica is a free spirit. She loves fun and excitement not spreadsheets and audits.”
“Okay you two,” James said, biting into his sandwich, “break it up. We just got some great news. Marissa is right, Mathew. Bring a date. Don’t be the weirdo who shows up alone. No reason it shouldn’t be Jessica.”
“I can think of about a hundred reasons it shouldn’t be Jessica. I have plenty of women back in Boston who would love to go with me.”
“Take Jessica,” James said with a fierce look in his eyes. “Libby, take her with you to the dress shop. Mathew and I have a lot of work to do before we get in front of Asher and Brice.”
Mathew’s lips pressed together in annoyance. “Fine,” he grunted reluctantly. “Just make sure she doesn’t dress like a crazy person.”
Libby stood and made her way to the door. “Just make sure you smile and talk about something other than chemical compounds.”
“Why in the world do you want me to take Jessica?” Mathew whispered as the door closed behind Libby.
“You’ll see. I want Libby to have someone she cares about there that night.”
“What are you planning?”
“To change my life,” James grinned. “To change all our lives.”
CHAPTER 32
Marissa did well. Very very well. The gown Libby was wearing was as sexy as it was stunning: a bright green, long, flowing dress with a black lace overlay. Her hair and makeup looked fresh out of a fashion magazine thanks to Jessica’s skills.
James felt a rush of relief as he saw Jessica step down the stairs of the hotel lobby. His eyes darted over to Mathew who looked far more than relieved. He looked completely enamored. Jessica’s jet-black hair was styled sleekly against her face. Her black dress was modest but glistened as the bright lights of the lobby caught the embellished shimmery parts. “Glad you invited her now?” James smirked as the two gorgeous women made their way toward them.
“Shut up,” Mathew said, leveling his face back to something unreadable.
“The limo is out front,” James announced as he looped his arm for Libby to take. Her delicate hand wrapped around him, making him feel like the luckiest man in the world. It was crucial that tonight went off without a hitch. The future of West Oil could very well depend on the conversations he had tonight. But unusually, that pressure wasn’t on his mind. It had been replaced by a euphoric feeling of believing everything would work out.
James had never been called an optimist. Never. But tonight he at least didn’t feel like the world was resting on his shoulders, crushing down on him.
“You’ll need to bid,” Mathew reminded James as they walked into the auction event with two beautiful women on their arms.
“Whatever you want here tonight,” James said, leaning in close to Libby’s ear, “is yours.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Libby answered quickly with a blush.
“Anything you want,” he reiterated. “Both of you. Pick something from the auction and bid. Win it. It’s for a great cause.” James felt Libby’s arm tighten around his as they stepped into the crowd bustling with noise and excitement.
With some reluctance both Jessica and Libby homed in on auction items that caught their eye. “Did you see that art piece for the blind?” Libby asked, gesturing with her chin over at the impressive display.
“That’s a unique idea,” James said, only half listening. He was too caught up in the pearls that lay like clouds against Libby’s soft neck. With her close enough to touch, it was nearly impossible for all his senses to do their jobs.
“Have you found him?” Mathew interrupted. “There are only a few more pieces to bid on. I caught a glimpse of Brice Henderson, but he was caught up talking to a big group. We need some kind of distraction and a way to get him or Asher off to the side.”
“I’ve had my eye on Asher for the last fifteen minutes,” James said, scanning the room again. “He’s over there, and he looks completely distracted. Let’s wait for the last auction piece to go up for bid, and then I’ll approach him. You ladies go ahead and start your bidding on what you want before it’s gone.” James pressed one hand to the small of Libby’s back and the other to his breast pocket as he moved away from them.
“Just be ready to play interference for me,” James instructed Mathew. “If I get his ear, make sure we’re not interrupted.”
As the last auction item was about to be presented, James closed the gap between Asher Barrington and himself. Everything had led him to this moment, to this night. His business and his life might finally be headed in the right direction. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to call Asher’s name just as a woman spoke and gestured for him to head to the podium. In the blink of an eye Asher led a nervous woman up to the stage. The opportunity had been snatched from James, and he’d have to get creative to make sure he accomplished all he needed before the night was over.
“Shit,” Mathew grunted as he sidled up to James. A moment later Libby was by his side too.
“Sorry you didn’t get him. I’m sure once he’s done up there you’ll be able to catch him. He’s probably just going to give a closing speech or something.”
But the speech was not to close the event. All James could do as he listened was laugh a small hysterical laugh under his breath. Asher Barrington was up on that stage professing his love to the woman who looked like she might faint any second. He could feel Libby’s eyes on him, trying to figure out why the hell he found this so funny.
“What are you laughing at?” Libby asked in a hushed voice.
“Do you really think I’m going to walk up to him after this and pitch him something about a business deal. He’s asking that woman to marry him. The last thing on his mind is business.”
“That’s not funny,” Mathew sniped out. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because Asher Barrington just stole my thunder.” James couldn’t believe the irony that fell at his feet every time he tried to walk through life.
“You’ll get another chance,” Libby assured him with a squeeze of his bicep. “We’ll ask around where you can find him while we are here. I’ll try to get in front of that woman, Lena, about getting a meeting with Brice Henderson.”
“I’m not talking about business,” James corrected now breaking into a hardy laugh as the rest of the crowd applauded and chatted about the beautiful thing that had just taken place on stage. “He stole my thunder,” James repeated as he pulled the ring box from his breast pocket.
“James,” Libby breathed out as though she’d just been struck by a strong wave. “What are you doing?”
“Well, I’m not getting down on one knee. I’d look like a fool if I tried to follow that. But I will say everything I planned. No matter how my meeting with Asher would have gone I knew everything would all right because at the end of the night, at the end of every night I want to have you to come home to. I want you to be free of stress, worry, and responsibility. So with this ring I give you the deed to your mother’s house, the payment of your brother’s tuition for the rest of his education, and the purchased suite at your mother’s facility that ensures she can stay there as long as she wants. You’ve carried everyone’s share for too long.”
&n
bsp; “No,” Libby said, waving him off. “That’s too much. You can’t.”
“I already did,” he corrected with a half-smile. “I want to watch you sleep tonight without a worry, without stress, or burden. I want you to close your eyes tonight with this ring on your finger and never feel alone again. You are not in this alone anymore.” He took her hand and waited to slide the ring on, staring in her eyes as her mouth tried to form coherent words.
“I . . . how did you? This isn’t practical. We should . . .” she trailed off as Jessica shot her a look that James was instantly grateful for. It snapped Libby out of her own mind just long enough to realize how genuine his desire to be with her was.
“I will take care of you every day for the rest of your life. All I ask is that you keep doing what you’ve done for me.”
“I’ve done nothing,” she argued quickly.
“You’ve changed every part of me, Libby,” he said earnestly. “I thought I knew what strength was, what bravery looked like. Now every time I see you, what you’ve dedicated your life to, I’m reminded that being quietly determined, selfless, and kind can move mountains. Even if it’s only one stone at a time. Marry me, Libby?” he asked, not demanding the answer, but hoping for it. He waited breathlessly for her to form the words.
“Yes,” she said, blinking tears off her lashes and looking at him like he was ridiculous for even having to ask. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
The hugs and congratulations around them were meant for Asher and his new fiancée, but they didn’t diminish the sense of overwhelming happiness that encompassed James as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
“We’ll need umbrellas and snowsuits,” Mathew announced as he leaned into Jessica slightly.
“Why?” Jessica asked, looking him over for signs he might be losing his mind.
“James West is getting married. That means we should expect to see pigs flying and hell freezing over when we walk outside.”
“We’ll get that meeting,” James assured Mathew, finally taking his eyes off Libby and making a vow to his friend who’d stuck by him through every mess they’d encountered together.
“Stop,” Mathew scolded him, yanking his friend forward into a forceful hug. “Shut up, go to that limo, and get out of here with your fiancée. Get on a plane and get away from all of this for a few days. That’s the only thing that matters tonight.”
“What about you two?” Libby asked, finally releasing Jessica from the stranglehold hug she’d pulled her into.
“What about us?” Jessica asked defensively. “There is no us.”
An awkward moment hung between them all. “I just meant, how will you get home?”
“I’ll get her home,” Mathew assured Libby, tipping his chin back confidently. “You two go enjoy yourselves.”
James watched the silent conversation of strange looks pass between the two women, assuming the language had been created over years of friendship.
“Go,” Jessica finally insisted, gently shoving Libby and James forward. “I’ll take care of your mom.”
“Thank you,” Libby called over her shoulder and blew a kiss to her best friend. That’s when James saw it. For the first time since he’d met Libby, she was wearing the most stunning thing in the world. A smile. An effortless, worry-free expression that he’d helped her find.
“You look amazing,” he said, brushing back her hair that had come loose in the excitement.
“I never want to let this night end,” Libby pleaded. “I don’t want to forget a single second of how I feel right now.”
“Don’t worry,” he promised. “I’ll remind you for the rest of your life that you deserve to be this happy every second. And I’ll make sure you are.”
“No one can be happy all the time,” Libby protested.
“You can be. I want you to be. And I always get what I want.”
* * *
The End
WILD EYES, BOOK 2 - SNEAK PEEK
“ Not exactly as nice as our flight in,” Mathew groaned as he lifted Jessica’s bag into the overhead compartment of the commercial flight. He was exhausted and a red-eye from Boston to Texas was not exactly what he’d hoped this night might turn into. But that was becoming a trend. Mathew Kalling was a planner, a player of chess when the rest of the world seemed to be muddling through a game of tic-tac-toe. Unfortunately, the cosmos hadn’t gotten the message and continued to throw curve balls straight at his head. Rather than launching a company in Boston with James West, his longtime business partner, he somehow found himself in Texas picking up the pieces at West Oil. And tonight, rather than hopping the company jet back to Texas and asking Jessica, his date to the charity event, back to his place, he was sitting on this plane, trying to stuff his carry-on under the seat in front of him.
But that’s what you do when your friend suddenly proposes to his new love and they run off to elope. There’s still a company to run in Texas, and you can’t exactly play rock, paper, scissors for who gets dibs on the jet.
There was a ray of hope for this night however. Jessica pressed against him slightly as they crammed onto the busy plane, and the scent of her perfume filled his nose as visions of her naked body filled his head. She was in no way typical, not at all what he’d call his type, but since the moment they’d first met weeks ago, she’d been on his mind. Thrust together, the two best friends of the eloping love birds just kept popping up together, and as busy as his life was right now he had to admit he didn’t mind setting eyes on her perfectly toned ass every chance he got.
The problem was, dirty fantasies don’t make for productive days. Mathew knew Jessica would continue to take up valuable space in his head unless he acted soon. Earlier that evening, by the time the charity event had ended, he’d decided the only way to refocus and stop thinking of the curve of her hips in the slinky black dress was to take her into his arms, embrace the growing lust, and have his fill of her. Jessica would be worth the work it would take to get her back to his place tonight. She was a strong-willed woman with convictions, but he could also feel the flow of desire between them. It was certainly mutual. He’d just need to convince her that a hot, intense adventure back at his place would be just what they both needed. How better to do that than a long flight, crammed together with glasses of wine flowing?
“I think I can survive in first class. I mean the private jet would have been nice, but I understand why Libby and James had dibs on it. If you run away to elope with a billionaire, you expect to be traveling in style.” Jessica had changed out of her formal gown and was now in an oversized off-the-shoulder T-shirt and ripped jeans tucked into some black worn-out boots. Mathew couldn’t decide which look suited her better. She had some chameleon characteristics, morphing into whatever the moment called for. But this grungy casual look seemed to be her most authentic.
“Spontaneity can end in some of the most exhilarating experiences.” He watched her face, looking for a flutter of her eyelashes or a deep intake of breath that sent her perfect and perky breasts heaving. But she had a good poker face. Turning her head away, busying her hands with something, she spoke with intention.
“You know a lot about that?” she asked, waiting a few beats before smiling coyly at him.
“Life’s too short to miss out on something that feels good.” He let his gaze brush over her body as he drank her in. Their chemistry . . . this heat had been growing with each of their encounters, and like any good experiment, there was about to be a bang.
“You underestimate my ability to peg people,” she said with an airy laugh that dulled the moment. “You are not spontaneous. You’re a numbers guy, a safe-bet person.”
“I am,” Mathew admitted, but the poorly veiled look of disappointment on her face made his excitement grow. “But only in business. In my personal life, I never say no to a thrilling opportunity.” That wasn’t entirely true but Mathew could easily decipher the map that would lead the two of them together to his bed, and he intended t
o blaze the trail.
The captain’s announcement interrupted them, and a flight attendant took their coats to be stored. The annoying bustle reminded Mathew to tame his desire because, unless they were about to join the mile-high club, it would be another six hours before he could sink his teeth into Jessica.
“They looked happy,” Mathew said matter-of-factly as though he were reporting the weather rather than remarking on his best friend running away to get married. It still hadn’t sunk in.
With far more enthusiasm Jessica replied, “Libby looked absolutely over the moon. I’ve known her most of my life, and I can honestly say I’ve never seen her so happy.”
“Good.” The shock of James running off to elope should have been consuming his mind. But now, as the sweet perfume on Jessica’s wrist wafted through the air, if asked about James West, Mathew might simply reply: Who?
That was dangerous. He’d seen plenty of men throw away promising careers by letting lust and passion overtake their thoughts and better judgment. He was more convinced than ever it was time to get Jessica Thorne on top of his body and off his mind.
It wasn’t his fault she’d permeated him so deeply. She was stunningly beautiful with dark eyes and coal black hair. Her dainty fingers wore too many rings, and her wrists looked bogged down by the dozens of bangle bracelets. He imagined the time she spent picking out the pieces and bet she was the kind of woman who had a story for each one.
As he tried to pin down exactly what it was that attracted him to her, he couldn’t. He’d known plenty of beautiful women in his day and fucked enough of them to know each had their own seductive qualities. But Jessica was more than just a wide-eyed smiling girl, licking her lips and hoping to get the rich guy to take notice of her. There were layers, a depth that kept his mind swirling to understand her, even when he tried to convince himself the only thing he wanted to understand was her favorite position.
Fierce Love Page 20