by Dawn Brower
“Are you ready?”
“If you are,” she replied. “You kind of look like you’re about to face a firing squad.”
He’d taken a bullet to the heart the moment he met her. She’d been so far out of his league he never imagined he’d be able to have a conversation with her, let alone take her out on a date. Going inside that room with her by his side would be acknowledging he was not only worthy or her, but that she considered him her equal. Why was that so hard for him to accept? The circumstances of his birth shouldn’t determine his worth, yet it had for far too long.
Shaking that preconceived notion had been a burden since the moment he realized people looked at him differently. Even after all his successes and making detective, he still felt the sting of their prejudices. If his father wasn’t a first-rate asshole, he might not be in the situation he found himself in every day. Then again, if his father was a different man, he might never have been born. A bigger double-edged sword had never existed than that one. It was a situation of him being damned if he did and completely fucked if he didn’t. Winning wasn’t an option open to him, and he’d become too comfortable sitting on the losing side. His father’s choices had seen to that.
“I’m fine,” he reassured her. “I’ve never wanted anything more than to attend this thing with you.” To prove his point, he stepped out of the car and went to open her door for her. “My lady.” He held out his hand to her. “The ball awaits.”
She laughed and placed her hand in his. “Then by all means escort me inside.
Reese looped her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder. Actions like that might make him start believing in the impossible. Was it any surprise he had started to think he had a chance with her? The kiss had helped him a thousand times over, and this intimacy would push him over the edge. She made loving her easier with each passing breath.
They entered the Roseland hotel, and a million memories accosted him. He hadn’t been back at the hotel since his prom over a decade ago. There had been no reason to, so why bother? He’d had one reason for going there then, and it was the same one he had now. Reese had been his reason for everything for so long. She’d made him want to be a better person and strive to accomplish his goals. For so many years, he hadn’t thought himself worthy of more than the crappy life he’d been given. Reese had taken the time to be kind to him when he’d needed it most.
That one action had changed him irrevocably. Because of her, he’d worked his way through college, became a cop, and then went on to be a detective. She might not realize it, but her action had given him courage where he’d lacked it. Maybe he’d have done it all anyway; nonetheless, she’d still been his catalyst. One act of kindheartedness had made him believe in compassion and that there was some good in the world.
“Do you remember the prom?” she asked.
“My senior prom?” He wanted to make sure they were thinking of the same one.
“Yes,” she replied. “You were scrawnier then.”
Not the impression he’d hoped to achieve that night. He’d wanted her to see him as something more even then. Dane had been a lovesick youth and blinded by his love of her. Some things hadn’t changed since then. She’d been the only girl he’d ever loved, and now she was the one woman he wanted more than anything.
“I was eighteen.”
“True,” she said slowly. “But you were always kind to me. Even when you had that haunted look in your eyes. You still have it every now and then, but it’s not as constant.”
He’d had a lot to feel down about back then. No one had liked him, and his only friend had been Paige. That was still the same in a lot of ways, but Carter could be counted on in a pinch. Ever since he’d became his partner, they’d done a lot together. He’d become the one male of his acquaintance that tolerated him.
“Bullying does that to a person.” He didn’t like admitting that. The kids in his high school had been total dicks. Instead of letting that derail him, he’d taken it as an incentive to do better. He wanted to help people and hopefully, through his actions, make the world a little better—even at a small rate. “I had a lot to work through.”
“I’m glad you were able to.”
“Who says I did?” He lifted a brow. “Some scars are permanent.”
“You’re right,” she agreed. “We all have wounds of a sort that we carry with us. I don’t think a person exists that doesn’t have any baggage they carry around. If they don’t, they’re lucky.”
They entered the ballroom where the fundraiser was being held. Unlike prom, it didn’t have cheap decorations and loud music playing. Tables were set up around the dance floor much like a wedding reception. The centerpieces were a mix of gardenias and lilies. Silver and white tablecloths were scattered around the table in a mixed pattern. The chairs had ribbons of the same colors tied around the back.
“What exactly are we doing here again?”
“Dinner first,” she said. “Let’s find our table.”
“And after that?” He stared at the room and frowned. “There are a lot of people here.”
“That’s a good thing,” she said, then laughed. “More funds that we can wrangle from everyone. After dinner, there’s dancing and a silent auction in another room. I can show you later, and maybe you’ll find something you might like.”
There’s one thing he wanted from this fundraiser—her...
“All right.” He allowed himself to enjoy being with her. Dane wanted to believe in happy-ever-afters, but those kinds of things didn’t happen to him. She seemed to want him, and he definitely yearned for her. It was time to set his doubts aside—at least for the night. They could have something if he stopped sabotaging himself. “Where is our table?”
“At the front, most likely. Since this is to help fund my research.” She led him toward a line of tables near the front podium. “I should warn you that my mother is going to be here. This was her idea, and she’ll want to be a part of it.”
Great. That just about ruined the entire night. Rachel Jackson loathed him more than anyone else. She hadn’t made it a secret either. Whenever Carter dragged him to a family dinner, she made a point of making him feel as uncomfortable as possible. How would she react to the fact that Dane was attending the fundraiser as Reese’s date? She’d loved Nolan and he’d never understand why.
To him, his brother’s charm had always been as oily as it was evil. Of course, he saw a side of Nolan no one else ever did. He didn’t hide his true nature from Dane and never had. His brother hated his existence and was the reason his time at Shelton Academy had been horrid. No one would have known their connection if he’d kept his mouth shut. They had different last names, yet Nolan felt the need to shout it to the rooftops. He let everyone know exactly who Dane was and the origins of his birth—had taken a particular glee from it too.
“I’m sure that your mother will be lovely,” Dane said as congenially as possible.
Reese laughed. “You’ve met my mother. There’s no need to pretend you’re excited at the prospect of spending an evening with her.”
“Well, we’re not here for her, are we?” Dane’s lips curled upward. “Do we have to be nice to her?”
He’d never been outright rude to Rachel Jackson, but he’d wanted to. His mother had always taught him to respect his elders and to treat females with the highest esteem. She didn’t want him to grow up to be a man similar to his father’s ilk. Dane had to be better than the man who sired him or she’d have smacked sense into him. She expected him to have higher standards. If not for his mother, Dane might have turned out differently. Maybe that was why Nolan did the things he did. He hadn’t had a mother who cared enough about guiding him on the right path.
“I don’t plan on it,” Reese answered him. “My mother has been particularly venomous lately. If I hope to survive her bite, I’ll have to develop one of my own.”
“That’s good. I don’t like how she talked to you the other night. Has she always been that wa
y with you?”
“No,” she said slowly. “There was a time when I was the child she praised the most and I could do no wrong.”
“What changed?” Dane had a feeling he knew exactly what was different. He hoped he’d assumed wrong though. “Why does she seem to hate you now?”
“Oh, Mother doesn’t hate me,” she explained matter-of-factly. She shrugged and sighed heavily. “She’s disappointed. I’m still on the right career path, but I failed to secure a husband she approves of. She’d hoped Nolan would be able to raise me higher in the eyes of society, and well, we all know how that went.”
“Down the rabbit hole?” He couldn’t stop himself from saying it. Nolan was an asshole. She never should have dated him in the first place. “She couldn’t see him for what he was?”
“Could anyone?”
“I did.” When he was younger, he’d been excited to have a brother. He’d always wanted one, until he had the misfortune of getting his wish. That made him careful of hoping for anything. It was probably why he was so anxious with Reese. He’d never wanted anything as much as he did her. The only other time he’d come close to it was his desire for a brother, and look how that had turned out. Nolan bullied him incessantly and treated him like a loser. What if Reese turned on him too?
“You’re probably the sole person that did.”
“Perhaps,” he replied. “Claire probably did after he dumped her.”
Reese sighed. “That was my fault too. Though now I think I may have done her a favor. Maybe if they’d stayed together he’d have had an easier time of trying to kill her.”
They reached the table and checked the name cards. They found Reese’s spot, and the one next to it marked as her plus one. She didn’t have a date when she purchased the tickets. He wondered why she’d bought two when she didn’t have a significant other. Had she been hopeful she’d be dating by the time of the event, or was it a way to support her fundraiser?
“I don’t like to ponder to long on the motives of my brother. It’s enough to encourage a migraine.” He pulled out her chair for her. “Let’s talk about a happier topic.”
“Such as?”
“Dancing,” he offered. “Food? What’s on the menu tonight?
“I have no idea and didn’t care to ask.”
Rachel Jackson arrived at the table as Reese made that statement. “What is he doing here?” She gestured toward Dane. “Do they let anyone into these events now?”
Reese rolled her eyes. “He’s my date, Mother, and he’s not just anyone.”
“That’s right,” she said tilting her head to the side. “He’s here to protect you. I guess that’s okay then. I’d hate for your promising career to be ruined because your ex-boyfriend decided to murder you.”
“How kind of you,” Reese replied sarcastically. “You always think of what’s best for me.” Instead of sitting in the seat that Dane had pulled out for her, Reese glanced at him with a look of desperation. “Let’s go look at the silent auction now. We have some time before dinner, and I’m feeling restless.”
He had a theory on what had driven her to want to escape. “Anything you want.”
She led him away from the table and left her mother alone. He didn’t blame her. They’d have to sit through the whole meal with her acerbic assault. They’d both be better off delaying that as long as possible. On the bright side, he’d be able to dance with Reese later. Maybe, just maybe, it would be as magical as the first time too...
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After Carter left Reese’s condo, he’d gone straight to Olivia’s apartment to pick her up. For some ungodly reason he was nervous and couldn’t shake it. After their altercation in the elevator, she hadn’t left his mind. That kiss... It had been hot as hell, and he wanted to see if they could recreate that fire. With all the upheaval in his life of late, at least he had found something that felt right for a change. He might not have located Nolan, but he was comforted knowing both his sisters were safe. What would it hurt to do something for himself for once?
He brushed his hands over his pants to wipe the sweat away. He’d never had to deal with that before, and it irritated him that he had to now. A woman didn’t want to be touched with damp palms. What did that say about him? He should be confident and charming—not as nervous as an untried youth. Maybe this was his punishment for never being one. He’d always been cool and collected, but Olivia West turned him into a blubbering idiot at times. It was time to knock on her door, yet he stood there staring at it like a moron. He took a deep breath and rapped his knuckles against it.
It opened after several moments. Olivia took what was left of his breath away. Her midnight locks were piled high on her head and curls dripped down around her face decadently. She wore a floor-length, sleeveless black gown enveloped with lace. The sweetheart bodice dipped low, covered in sheer lace. His gaze traveled down and stopped at the sultry thigh-high slit in the long skirt. He might convince her to let him explore where that slit led and maybe make them both a little happier...
Carter swallowed hard. “Are you ready?” There were stupider things he could have said, but that wasn’t far off the mark. Clearly, she had anticipated leaving. She had a black silk purse in her hand, and she was wearing a pair of black strappy stilettos that matched her dress.
She lifted a brow. “Unless you have something better in mind.”
Statements like that would lead them down a path of no return. He wanted to guide her back into her apartment and show her exactly the direction his lustful brain had gone. Somehow, he didn’t think she’d appreciate that particular action. She hadn’t spent so much time preparing for the fundraiser to end up naked with him. As appealing as that image was, he wouldn’t act on it. Maybe after the whole shindig though... “You couldn’t handle it.” He winked. “Let’s go. Dane and Reese are waiting for us, and I don’t want to be too late.”
“You’re the one delaying us. Don’t blame this on me.”
“I never said I was.” Why did she always have to be contrary? More importantly, why did he like it so damn much? “Just stating a fact.”
She rolled her eyes and locked her door. “Then, by all means, lead the way to your car. I would like to arrive in time to actually eat. I’m starving.”
At least she wouldn’t be afraid to eat in front of him. Some of the ladies he’d dated in the past had picked at their food. She had a nice trim figure and apparently a healthy appetite. Olivia clearly took care of herself and didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought of her. He liked a woman who spoke her mind and didn’t give a damn what the world said about it.
“This is your car?” she lifted a brow.
They had reached his midsize dark blue sedan. It was as nondescript as a car could be, and it came in handy in his line of work, so he wouldn’t apologize for it. She might be used to flashier vehicles, but they were a hindrance to him. “Yes,” he replied. “What are you waiting for? Me to open the door for you?”
“I’m not that foolish,” she said sarcastically. “Detective Carter Jackson, a gentleman? The entire town of Envill knows that is as likely as discovering a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.”
He had been an ass for quite a while now. It had been his way of discouraging the females his mother sent his way. She’d decided he needed a wife and had handpicked a few for him to date. After the first three, he’d realized he had to do something drastic. A dozen prospects later, most of them didn’t even listen to his mother’s dating advice. Unfortunately, it had left him with a reputation as a jerk. In some ways, it had made his life easier, and in others, made his sex life decline. That was probably why he acted like a randy teenager whenever Olivia came near him.
“You never know,” he said. “Maybe you’ll get lucky.” Or maybe he would...
“I’d rather not risk it. Some things aren’t worth it.”
Ouch... Maybe she’d rethought what happened in the elevator and decided being with him was too much effort. He’d just have to c
hange her mind. He fully intended to see if they had something between them that was bigger than mere lust. He liked Olivia, even when she drove him crazy. That had to mean something.
“You ever think that maybe it’s you?”
“Me?” Surprise laced through that word. She drew her eyebrows together and glared at him, then she laughed, outraged by his statement. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits and her mouth was a firm white line. He wasn’t sure what she would do next. “Carter, let me reassure you—it’s all you. Now get in the car so we can go already.” She opened her door and slid into the seat.
Carter sighed and followed her lead. He could work on her more at the fundraiser. There, they’d be able to dance, mingle, maybe find a room to lock themselves in and have some erotic fun. It was a hotel, after all...
They were both silent on the drive to the Roseland hotel. Carter moved into a parking slot and killed the engine. He decided to surprise her and open her door for her. It would be amusing to see her reaction. He rushed over to her side of the car and opened her door before she had a chance to. She stared up at him in surprise, but it didn’t last long. Olivia was good at schooling her reactions. That made her an awesome lawyer, but she didn’t fool him. He’d seen what she’d hope to hide. She had liked that he’d acted a little gentlemanly for her. He held out his hand to her. “Ms. West?”
She placed her hand in his and smiled. He helped her out of the car and she shook her head as she came to her feet. “Don’t think you’re fooling me. I see what you’re up to.”
“What?” he said as innocently as possible. “Would you rather I be an arrogant ass?”
“You’re good at that, but no, I’d prefer that you’re more pleasant.”
He smiled as he slid her hand into the crook of his arm and led her inside the hotel. He’d never been to this particular hotel, but it wasn’t a bad one. It had some fancier elements he didn’t care about one way or the other. Carter hadn’t come to appreciate the finer side in life. He probably should have bought tickets for it to support his sister, but hadn’t because of their mother. She’d take this as a sign he was finally ready to settle down. Olivia West would probably excite her too. She was exactly the kind of woman his mother would have sent his way. Maybe that was why he’d fought his attraction to her for so long. He hated making his mother happy in that regard. He was a fine mess.