Some instinct stopped him from entering the room and intruding on their conversation. He had no idea what they were talking about, but he was curious to find out.
“Couldn’t you put it on credit.” He shook his head at Charlotte’s suggestion. It sounded like she was trying to convince Fancy to purchase whatever item she’d resisted buying. An item of clothing? Jewelry?
“No, I’m already up to my neck in debt,” Fancy replied. “I’m trying to be more responsible about money. Pretty soon I’ll have enough to move out of Mama and Daddy’s place. Frankly, it can’t come soon enough.”
He’d heard through the grapevine that Fancy had been living back at home since her return to Savannah. He could only imagine the friction between Fancy and her mother. June Tolliver’s personality was unpredictable to say the least. Although Case knew she loved her daughter, June tended to shoot from the hip. She never held back on her opinions. She was critical and demanding, which didn’t always make for a great relationship between mother and daughter.
“That’s way more important than a gown,” Callie chimed in. “Having your own place will be amazing.”
“But Lily said the gown was one in a million.” Charlotte’s voice was filled with determination.
“There’ll be other dresses,” Fancy said. “But Lily is right. I’ve never seen a dress like that in my life. And it fit me like a dream.” Her voice sounded wistful. The sound of it tugged at him.
Case listened for a few more minutes, then joined the ladies in the library. Although he said all the right things during the meeting, his head was somewhere else. Way up in the clouds.
Two hours later he was sitting outside Lily’s dress shop contemplating whether or not to go inside. Case didn’t consider himself a man prone to sentimental gestures. He was usually pragmatic and calm regarding his decisions. Somehow, whenever he acted impulsively or due to emotion, it seemed to be a situation where Fancy was involved. This time was no different.
What was it about Fancy that always caused him to lead with his emotions? When he’d broken things off with her two years ago he had been filled with a cold anger. His father had taught him never to act out of spite, anger or bitterness. He knew that it colored a person’s judgment.
“It’s not the Duvall way,” Lincoln Duvall had told him on more than one occasion.
The truth was, he’d been motivated by such strong jealousy that he hadn’t been able to see straight. In his defense, he had tried to work past it and forgive Fancy, but he hadn’t been able to view the situation without feeling an overwhelming sense of betrayal. The green-eyed monster had gotten the best of him. He wasn’t proud of it, but it was the truth.
Oftentimes, Case wondered if things might have ended up differently if he had thought things through and allowed his jealousy and fury to fade. Hadn’t he tried to make things work though? Hadn’t he forgiven Fancy for her indiscretion and tried to pick up the pieces of their relationship?
No, he realized. He’d never truly forgiven her. Not in the ways that counted. Not with his whole heart. Not in the way that God loved. Unfailing love. Those words had been engrained in his heart and mind and soul since he was a small child. Why hadn’t he been able to show Fancy a love like that? A love that endured all things and never failed.
He stood outside Lily’s shop and cast his gaze over the beautiful dresses in the window. One was a beautiful ivory wedding gown encrusted with jewels and lace on the bodice. He felt a tightness in his chest as he looked at it. All he could see was Fancy walking down the aisle looking like a vision of pure beauty. He shook his head to rid himself of the image. That ship had sailed. Why couldn’t he move past this? Why was he still so stuck?
Suddenly, the door of the shop flew open. Lily was standing there, an easy grin plastered on her pretty face. “Case! Come on in instead of standing out there,” Lily greeted him. She ushered him inside her shop with a wave of her hand.
Case walked toward her, pressing a kiss against her cheek as he walked past her and inside her shop. “Hey, Lily. How are you?”
“I’m great. And the shop is busier than ever, which is fantastic. I’m finally at a place where I’m not afraid anymore that I’m going to go out of business.” She shut the door behind her as she stepped back inside.
He placed his arm around her. “I’m proud of you. Being a successful shop owner is no easy feat. Most businesses close within the first year.”
“Thanks, Case. That means a lot to hear, especially from a successful businessman and attorney like yourself. So, what brings you here today? You’re not my usual demographic.” She winked at him. “I don’t get a lot of male customers.”
“I came to see about a dress. A one-of-a-kind dress. I’d like to purchase it for someone as a gift,” Case explained.
“Oh how wonderful. I’m sure the lady in question will be very grateful for the gesture,” Lily gushed, her cheeks reddening with excitement.
“The thing is, I’d like the gift to be completely confidential. I don’t want the recipient to have any idea that I purchased it for her.”
Lily narrowed her gaze as she looked at Case. “That’s unusual. I can honestly say that I’ve never had a male customer purchase a dress for someone, all done under the cover of anonymity.”
There was a glint in Lily’s eyes. Something told him that she had a very good idea that Fancy was the recipient. “So, who’s the lucky girl?”
“Fancy came in here the other day and looked at a spectacular gown. I’d like to purchase it.” Case saw Lily’s eyes bulge. She began to blink, to the point where she resembled a startled owl.
“I know just the dress. And thankfully, no one else has purchased it yet. A few ladies have tried it on, but none of them could do it justice.” Lily shook her head. “And if any of them had seen Fancy in it, they wouldn’t have even tried it on.”
Lily turned and walked into the adjoining room. She emerged a few minutes later with a beautiful blue and gold dress draped over her arm. She held it up for him to admire.
He let out a low whistle. “I don’t know a whole lot about evening gowns, but that is one knockout of a dress.”
“It really is,” Lily said. “She’s going to be over the moon about it.”
“Remember,” Case said, placing his finger up against his lips. “This is top secret. Fancy is not to know that I was the one who bought the dress for her.”
“Are you sure about that, Case? A gesture like this is every woman’s dream.”
“I’m positive, Lily. I want Fancy to have the most wonderful night of her life at Savannah House. It’s important that she’s allowed to wear the gown of her dreams.”
Lily smiled at him, then began to wrap the dress up. He handed her his credit card and signed his name along the dotted line, then took his copy and stuffed in his jacket pocket.
“I’ll have it delivered later this afternoon,” Lily said. “For the record, you’re quite the gentleman, Case Duvall.”
“Why thank you, Lily. Have a good day.” As he walked out of the shop and toward his car, a feeling of joy roared through him. Buying the gown for Fancy had lifted a weight off his soul. Doing something kind for Fancy made him feel as if he could soar above the clouds. All he knew for certain was that it felt much better than bitterness, pain and endless regrets.
“Oh how I love a good party. There’s nothing like lively music, good company and delicious food to make me want to kick up my heels.” Miss Hattie
Chapter Five
Savannah House was in full swing. As the sun dipped down below the horizon and faded into nothingness, Case walked across the pebbled path toward the main house. Cars were parked everywhere, and valets were standing by to park all of the guests’ automobiles on the main road. Case had made arrangements to park out by the guest cottage where his cousin Callie and Jax were living. That way he wouldn’t have to battle the congestion when the party wound down.
Excitement pulsed in the air. For a moment he simply stood and sta
red at the huge, historic edifice. He felt a burst of pride at all the hard work that the six women had done on the place. It hadn’t been just fluff work. They’d all put in their time, creativity, muscle and discipline. And now they were within reach of their goal. Savannah House was opening in a matter of weeks. There was still work to be done, but they had completed the bulk of it.
He couldn’t imagine Miss Hattie being anything other than proud at the dedication of her girls to restoring her legacy. She had chosen well in selecting Fancy, Hope, Morgan, Callie, Olivia and Charlotte to be the torch holders for her beloved inn.
Fancy’s quiet resolve about her work at Savannah House had surprised him. For the first time he’d been forced to realize that she had grown up in the time they’d been apart. No longer was she flitting around chasing after frivolous things. She had stuck to this goal and worked hard on the interior design of Savannah House. Case was impressed by what he’d seen. Fancy had more skills than she probably realized. Her style was fresh and classic, yet some of her touches were so innovative that it made him do a double take.
It was petty of him not to have told her what an impact her work had made on Savannah House. He made a solemn promise to himself that tonight he would be kinder and gentler to her, if only for old time’s sake.
Case raised his hand and called out a greeting to a Duvall client as he walked the path toward the house. White lanterns lit the way, providing a touch of timeless elegance with a dash of mystery. The strains of piano music drifted toward him, and as he stepped over the threshold, he sucked in a deep, steadying breath at the sight of Fancy decked out in her magnificent gown.
He had known when he’d purchased the dress for her at Lily’s shop that it would be sheer perfection. He had sworn Lily to secrecy about the purchase because he didn’t want to make things even more awkward between them. It had been a sentimental gesture on his part. When he’d overheard Fancy talking about the dress with Charlotte he had felt a burst of sympathy for her. More than anything, Case had wanted her to have the dress of her dreams for this amazing celebration.
Now, standing a few feet away from her, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her radiant beauty. As if she sensed his presence, Fancy turned toward him, locking gazes with him. The blue of the dress picked up the sky blue of her eyes. The honeyed shimmer of her cascading locks was made even more dazzling by the gold tones in the gown. She looked like a movie star from the olden days. Her hair hung loose in soft waves and a golden clip sat by her temple. Her makeup looked natural—golden tones that made her look like a fairy princess.
She was standing off to the side in an alcove with a clipboard in her hand.
He took a few steps toward her, knowing he couldn’t simply stand there and gawk at her all night.
“Good evening, Case. Thanks for coming,” Fancy said, her beautiful face betraying no discomfort with his presence at the party. He watched as she searched for his name on the list and drew a line through it.
Although she’d known he was coming due to the invite list, he would imagine seeing him wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world. Things had been so tense between them lately. Even though they had waved the white flag and come to an understanding, it was still slightly awkward. Just for tonight he wanted everything to be cordial and friendly and relaxed. They owed it to Miss Hattie to honor her memory with dignity and a measure of grace.
It was no longer animosity that hovered in the air, he realized. It was awareness. Attraction. They were like moths who would always be attracted to each other’s flame.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said in a voice that sounded a lot smoother than he felt. Being so close to Fancy felt dangerous to his equilibrium. “You look lovely tonight.”
Fancy’s eyes widened. Her smile was slow in the making, but by the time it was in full effect it had the power to bring him to his knees. “Why thank you. This gown makes me feel like I’m a princess.”
“Is it something you picked up in New York City?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
“No. Matter of fact it came from Lily’s shop. I’m in love with it.”
“Case!” The sound of his sister’s voice washed over him. He felt a tugging at his arm, right before Charlotte planted a kiss on his cheek. “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive. Mom and Dad have been asking about you.”
“Dad probably wants to grill me about the deal I brokered today,” Case said with a grimace. Although he loved his father dearly, he truly believed that he would be a much happier man if he could learn to relax and not obsess over the family business.
“I think I need to check on something in the kitchen,” Charlotte blurted out as her gaze swung back and forth between him and Fancy. Case knew enough about his little sister to realize that she was trying to give him more alone time with Fancy. Little did she realize that by interrupting their conversation she’d rescued him from the feeling that he was sinking in quicksand. Despite everything, Fancy still had a strong hold over him.
Charlotte scampered away in her full-length, blush colored gown. Case felt his heart expand at the notion that his little sister continued to look out for him. No matter what, he knew that Charlotte always had his back. And he would always slay all her dragons.
“I wanted to thank you for working with us as our legal counsel,” Fancy said in a low voice. He couldn’t take his eyes off her full, crimson lips. A strong desire to kiss his ex-fiancée rose up inside of him. He clenched his fists at his side, reminding himself that kissing Fancy was a dangerous proposition.
“I know at times it’s been…awkward to say the least,” she finished. “But, in the end, we managed to work together in a very successful manner.”
His gaze raked over her face. She looked vulnerable. He knew in this moment he could crush her with a single word. Miss Hattie’s voice came to him. Kindness. It doesn’t cost you a thing.
He intended to move forward with as little drama as possible.
“Life can be awkward, Fancy. I’ve been happy to help out. Being at Savannah House reminds me of things I’d forgotten.”
“Such as?” she asked with a raised brow. A hint of a smile played at the corners of her mouth.
He let out a chuckle. “Like being nine years old and coming with Mama when she had a tea party here with her civic group. She couldn’t leave me at home by myself, so I had to come with her.” He shook his head as the vividness of the memory assaulted his senses. “I was bored waiting in the garden, so I decided to chop down some of Miss Hattie’s roses.”
Fancy let out a gasp. “You didn’t!”
He sighed. “Yes, I did. I was discovered by Miss Hattie right in the act of destroying her beloved flowers.”
“You must have been in hot water,” Fancy said. “There wasn’t much of anything she loved more than her flowers.”
“Believe it or not, I really didn’t get in as much trouble as I feared that I might. Miss Hattie told me what a wicked thing I’d done. Then she got some rose bushes and made me help her plant the new ones. She put me right to work. And she told me about how she’d planted the flowers in remembrance of the only man she’d ever loved. And for their legacy that would live on well past them. I’ll never forget. His name was Samuel.”
“Wow. That’s incredible. I remember Callie and Olivia telling us about their ill-fated love story.” She shook her head. “Imagine losing someone due to war.”
“Unfortunately, it happened all the time during World War II.”
Fancy wrinkled her nose. “What did she mean about their legacy? The love they shared?”
Case shrugged. “I was too little to fully understand what she meant. But the gist was that I’d destroyed something that meant the world to her. I felt horrible about it. And for weeks after that my mother drove me over here so I could tend to her flowers.” Case grinned at the memory. “I don’t want to keep you from the other guests,” he said, looking around at all the people arriving at Savannah House.
She reached out and grabbed him by the wrist, her touch firm. He felt an electric pulse skitter along his arm. “Thank you for coming over and talking. It almost felt like old times.”
Almost, Case thought. After bearing witness to Meryl’s viciousness toward Fancy, he’d reached a moment of clarity where he’d realized that he had to extend an olive branch to his ex-fiancée. What kind of man would he be if he allowed bad feelings to fester like an infected wound? He didn’t want to live like this anymore. He hated the resentment he’d been harboring in his heart.
He wanted to be a better man.
Something had to give! Although his relationship with Fancy was over, they would forever be entwined in each other’s lives.
“Tonight is a big night. It’s the first big step toward your future. I couldn’t let it pass without saying congratulations.”
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling like stars in the sky. It knocked him for a loop to see her so radiant and happy. Truly joyful. It felt good to know that he might be responsible for a tiny bit of her happiness. And his heart ached a little that they weren’t enjoying her triumph as a duo.
He watched Fancy’s eyes widen as her gaze drifted to something behind him. Her creamy complexion seemed to flush before his eyes. She let out a low groan. Just as he turned around to see what was upsetting her, Case felt a tugging sensation on the shoulder of his tuxedo jacket. Meryl was standing there, decked out in a bright red, full-length gown and a gold wrap gently draped around her shoulders.
“Here you are, Case. I didn’t have to look too far to find you.”Meryl’s voice sounded sugary sweet. She nodded at Fancy. “Good evening, Fancy. It’s been a long time.”
Fancy began to sputter. “I-I don’t see you on the invite list.”
“I’m here with Case,” Meryl said, a hint of triumph evident in her voice.
Case felt his mouth open in surprise. He hadn’t invited Meryl. Matter of fact, he was shocked to see her in attendance. After their night out at the supper club he’d come to the decision that he no longer wanted to socialize with her. Although she’d called him a few times, he had opted not to call her back to avoid leading her on. Case had no idea how she had discovered that he would be attending the event this evening.
The Last Kiss (Secrets of Savannah Book 3) Page 8