“Me too. Now I really feel like they are my friends. I wish we could do this all the time,” she let slip. Charlotte had finally vocalized the wish she had often felt since arriving to stay with Alex. She was happy in the space that had at first overwhelmed her. She lounged in the media room with him in the evenings watching indie films on the enormous screen, nestled into the generous cream sofa while he sat beside her, her feet in his lap.
They enjoyed similar films, but she introduced him to some foreign films and he introduced her to action films with spies and exotic forms of torture that sometimes forced her to avert her eyes. It would make him laugh when she did that, and he would call her ‘a wimp’. Sometimes they would sit together, reviewing emails or doing nothing at all. Then they would slide open the floor-to-ceiling doors and let the night in, sitting quietly or talking softly about their plans and aspirations.
Charlotte had just voiced a dream of hers, to be by Alex’s side, doing normal everyday activities, entertaining friends, cleaning the kitchen, going to bed. She hoped that bed was where they were heading, but Alex announced he was heading for a swim instead.
“Now?” she asked incredulous. “It’s really late.”
“Actually,” he said dryly, “it’s really early. I need to work out some kinks. I’ll be quiet as a mouse, Charlotte. Go to bed.”
Charlotte often heard Alex splashing in the pool late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. He would pad through the house, a towel slung low around his hips, making her mouth water. Less than an hour later, he would come in, unconcerned with the puddles he would leave in his wake. She admired his dedication to the sport. She admired his hard body more.
She loved being near him, watching him concentrate on work or try his hand in the kitchen or just moving about the expansive apartment. She was fascinated by his earnest expression when he was dealing with client issues or the determination on his face when he took charge on a business call. She was aroused by his masculine cool when he was stretched on the large sofas or slung low in a chair with his long legs stretched in front of him. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he prowled about the house, his long muscles stretching into graceful lines of male perfection.
She had come to recognize the sound of his walk, to know his laugh, to anticipate how he played with a pen when he was strategizing or jiggled his leg when he was upset. She knew the strength of his jaw, the power and the gentleness of his hands, appreciated his tiny butt and wide shoulders. She loved having him all to herself and took pleasure out of seeing him with his friends.
Charlotte was falling hard for Alex. These days of close proximity were doing the trick for her. As always, she was unable to tell what Alex was feeling. She felt as if she knew him better. He shared a great deal with her although she still didn’t know much about his past or his family, or those constant trips to California.
But tomorrow all of that would change.
CHAPTER NINE
Tonight would be different. Tonight, for the first time since her accident, Charlotte was stepping out into Alex’s world.
Alex was taking Charlotte to the party for his sister as promised. It was not the first time she had been out since the accident, although she had kept her forays to a minimum. She had been to follow up with doctors a few times, to physical therapy and they had done short trips in the neighborhood, for coffee twice and once for a glass of wine. When she told him the views were better from his rooftop than the famous Nomi rooftop bar, he vowed not to disappoint her in the future. They had stayed in since then.
He was very protective of her out in the world, watching to be sure no one bumped or jostled her. He made her feel safe and she appreciated it. It allowed her to let her guard down a bit and just have fun. She was excited about tonight, about the glamour of the event and seeing Alex in this setting. She was nervous about being in a room full of strangers and meeting Alex’s family. She wondered how he would introduce her – a friend, a colleague, his roommate or his girlfriend?
Charlotte checked her appearance one last time, still uncomfortable about the dress choice. The Carmen Marc Valvo dress that Joanne had selected was undeniably beautiful but the orange and purple floral silk was vivid. She was accustomed to muted colors and business suits. She felt feminine and lovely, but didn’t want to draw too much attention to herself. She had to admit that the high round neck, cut-in shoulder and pleated skirt were becoming. She loved the obi-styled belt at the waist, making her figure look curvier than it was. She felt pretty, very pretty in fact, with no bandages or scrapes showing. She wore one low strappy sandal and the clunky boot. It couldn’t be avoided.
Charlotte took deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves. Not only was she meeting Alex’s sainted sister, she was also being introduced to a US Senator and his family. She was thrilled that Alex had invited her to this event, which he told her would be the biggest party of them all. Charlotte tried not to read too much into it, but there was no denying that this was a date, a real date, and she had high hopes of using it to rekindle the change in their relationship that she had experienced her first night under his roof. A lot was riding on tonight.
Fingering off a bit of lipstick that had gone astray, Charlotte decided she was happy with her overall look. She had a pair of Keeli Larsen Design earrings shimmering against her dark hair. She was a bit overdue for a trim but that meant the thick strands were staying behind her ears. The bob was sleek and shiny, her makeup was light but effective, and her eyes looked enormous in her small face. Her lipstick was pale and looked good with the dress. She gave a nod to her reflection, opened the door and stepped into the fray.
“Wow, you look fantastic,” Alex greeted her, taking her arm to help her maneuver. “My family will fall in love with you in an instant.”
Charlotte beamed at the compliment. “Great, that will save me from having to impress them with my wit and wisdom.”
“You will wow them with those, too,” he assured her.
Alex looked good enough to eat. The man knew how to rock a suit. The dark jacket and trousers fit to perfection, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow hips. He looked taller than his already tall 6’1”, lean and fit. He still sported his late summer tan making his deep blue eyes even bluer and his white teeth even whiter. He wasn’t model-handsome, he was a bit too rugged for that, with his deep cut dimples and cleft chin. He made Charlotte’s mouth water all the same.
The lake smells were strong on the unseasonably warm evening air as they drove past families lounging in the parks and even some teens braving the chilly water. People were taking advantage of the very last of summer, knowing that a Chicago winter would descend in just a few short months. Once they cleared the rush hour traffic of a Friday night, the Mercedes was sleek and fast, great on the twists and turns of the ride north. Eventually, the lake views were obstructed by high rise buildings and then increasingly opulent homes along Sheridan Road as they moved from one suburb to the next into Glencoe.
The driveway alone told Charlotte they were not hanging in her usual spots. The stone façade had been invisible from the road, hidden down the long driveway and behind high, well-tended bushes. A wide concrete swath was cut between the thick stand of elm, green ash and red oak trees, creating a canopy overhead. It was totally private and exclusive until the drive expanded into parking enough for a dozen or more cars.
As she stepped from the car, Charlotte was met with the strong fragrance from manicured flowerbeds that were a mass of color and beauty. A lanky, teen-aged valet jumped forward, clearly anxious to drive the showy sports car. He was efficient but his speed prevented her from studying the house exterior without being obvious.
Alex ushered her through the double glass doors into an entry hall that ran straight to the back of the house, a wide formal stairway rising to one side and a massive window with an expansive lake view straight ahead. Charlotte had only a moment to admire the oriental rugs and elegant furnishings before her hosts, Ethan Howe, Melissa Howe Wilder
and Missy’s husband, Stephen Wilder, were greeting them.
“Gently, Ethan, Charlotte’s still recovering,” Alex chided Ethan as he stepped forward to give Charlotte a welcoming hug. Charlotte had met Missy once through Regan, but she knew her brother Ethan from the office. He was clearly excited to see her out and about at last. Alex stepped forward quickly to curb his exuberance. “Be careful, you clod.” Ethan took the direction in the good-natured manner it was offered, shaking her hand gently instead and offering a sheepish grin.
“It is so great to see you,” he said to Charlotte, giving her a peck on the cheek after looking over at Alex to see if he was overstepping. “We have missed you at the office, more than I can say.”
“I have been phoning in daily, Ethan, and we held two meetings at the condo. Are things falling through the cracks?”
“Oh no. You are great, Charlotte. But it’s not the same not having you around, you know?” Ethan was the youngest of the Howe family, still apprenticing Regan to learn the ropes at the huge real estate conglomerate. He had the wholesome blonde goods looks of his brother, Wyatt, in a younger, toned down fashion.
“No shop,” Missy stepped in to greet Alex and Charlotte. “This is a party, remember? I am so glad you could join us, Charlotte. It is lovely to see you again.
“Thank you for having me,” she said to Stephen and Missy. “Your home is lovely. I can’t wait to see more of it.”
“When the crowds thin later, I will give you the ten-cent tour and we can catch up a bit. Right now, since it is such a beautiful evening, everyone is on the back patio.” Missy indicated a general direction and after promising Ethan that they could catch up later, she broke up a tete a tete between Stephen and Alex to make room for more guests streaming in behind them. Alex took the cue to keep moving and led Charlotte through room after room to get to the patio.
Charlotte found it difficult not to gawk. They walked through two enormous living rooms separated by a stone fireplace. The rugs absorbed the sound of their footsteps in the high-ceiling rooms as Charlotte turned around, staring at everything. First, there were floor to ceiling arched windows with an unimpeded view across a large, sloping garden to the gray-blue waters of Lake Michigan. Then there was artwork covering every wall, each piece more arresting than the next. The formal rooms looked like something from “Architectural Digest” but livable and comfortable too. Much of the furniture looked antique. Charlotte was afraid to touch anything, although the upholstered pieces did look inviting,
“Pick up your chin, silly. It’s not the first impressive house you have ever seen, Charlotte. Not even close.”
“But this artwork is remarkable and these photographs are museum quality.”
Alex drew Charlotte away from the artwork, including the fabulous photography, after explaining that Stephen was himself a famous photographer with pieces in museums around the world.
“Ah, that explains it. This is as good as any museum,” Charlotte responded, moving away reluctantly.
“Well, of course, the Howes did build a museum too. In fact, that is how Missy and Stephen met. More on that later. Let’s go find my sister. I promise you can peruse more after dinner.”
With that they moved through a large family room toward the patio. Charlotte stopped to quickly peek into two large offices and the dining room that looked like it was set for a state dinner. She would have checked out the enormous and bustling kitchen but she was shoved back by a busy server coming toward her with a full tray of hors d'œuvres. After that, she latched on to Alex’s arm and let him lead her without complaint.
“This place is unbelievable. It just goes on and on,” she observed in awe.
“Yep. It’s huge but they have three rambunctious toddlers that will grow up and fill all this space, or at least that is their plan.”
They moved toward a wall of windows and out to a multi-tiered patio filled with elegant women and handsome men. There were small lights surrounding the space, illuminating the growing twilight. Tuxedoed servers passed enticing tidbits, their aromas mingling with the strong scent of flowers. There were blooms everywhere, in the English gardens on both sides of the lush lawn, and in abundant arrangements carefully placed edging the patio. The setting was flawless, but about sixty guests seemed oblivious to it all. Charlotte found it breathtaking.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the guests of honor,” Alex said, taking her hand and weaving carefully through groups of people, taking two glasses of wine off a tray as it went by and handing one to her in a fluid motion.
“Aubrey. Sorry to interrupt,” Alex said, leaning into a group of six people chatting, and planting a kiss on the cheek of a petite woman with dark hair. “Come meet my date.”
A lovely, delicate woman in her mid-twenties turned to look at Charlotte, extending her hand automatically. Her eyes grew wide and she broke into a luminous smile very similar to her brother’s.
“I am so delighted to meet you, Charlotte,” she said formally. “Please allow me to introduce my fiancé, Representative Adam Jensen. Adam, this is Charlotte, the first woman Alex has brought to an event that is not a vapid model.”
Alex smacked his sister’s arm playfully.
“Lay off it, Aubrey.”
“Well, it’s true.”
Charlotte, feeling more uncomfortable by the moment, took control, interrupting the banter between the siblings. “So, Adam, your father is in the Senate and you are in the House? I don’t think Alex shared that with me.”
“Yes, but I am a state representative. I have a long way to go to catch up with my dad.” Aubrey’s fiancé was a good-looking man. Although only a few inches taller than her, he had a powerful bearing and from his posture, Charlotte suspected he had a military background. A bit of probing proved her correct and the conversation flowed easily around his overseas tours, his transition only last year to the state legislature and then to how the two lovebirds had met.
“I was really lucky actually,” he began, looking at Aubrey with open admiration. “I was doing a town hall meeting at the same hotel where Aubrey was leading a training session. We met in the elevator.”
“It got stuck,” Aubrey picked up the story. “Such a cliché, but that extra ten minutes was all Adam needed to ask me out.”
“The rest, as they say, is history,” he concluded giving her a lingering kiss on the cheek. “In less than two months, she will make me the luckiest man alive.”
“Well,” Charlotte offered, ”I wish you both only the very best.”
At that moment, Alex’s parents walked up and introductions were made. While Charlotte could see a bit of resemblance between Aubrey and Alex, he looked nothing like either of his parents. His mother, Laurel, was a bird-like woman, petite and with dark coloring. His father, Charles, was of average height and while he might have been trim once, his belly indicated a man who enjoyed his food. They made an unlikely couple until Charlotte conversed with them. Both were fun loving, intelligent and engaging, all aspects that Alex seemed to have inherited.
Circulating with Alex around the patio, Charlotte was relieved to discover she knew quite a few people through her connections at Lyons Howe. Regan came over to say hello and give her a gentle hug. Alex jumped forward as if to protect her, then self-consciously stepped out of the way when he realized Regan was being careful.
“I cannot wait to get you back in the office,” she admitted. “It just isn’t the same without you down the hall.”
“Ethan said the same thing. It’s so nice to be missed,” Charlotte laughed, sincerely flattered by the compliment.
The evening went by in a whirl of good wines, great food and interesting conversations. Charlotte met the senator, who was down to earth and jovial and not above asking for her vote in November. She was surprised to learn that he was running a campaign and marrying off his son within a matter of weeks until his statuesque wife explained that he was doing nothing for the wedding but showing up when and where she told him to. They all laughed, b
ut Charlotte could tell that Mrs. Jensen needed no help ruling the roost.
“Don’t forget, I am also paying the bills,” he corrected, with perfect comic timing. He got the laugh he sought and the conversation flowed easily between them all with no mention of politics. They discussed Charlotte’s recent move and the group fell over each other trying to tell her the best sights to see, and restaurants and museums to visit.
“The Howe Art Museum is rather spectacular,” Wyatt chipped in to appropriate chuckling. “Seriously.”
A literal gong was rung for dinner and the group passed into the massive dining room and found their places at the long table. Charlotte, seated between Wyatt and Alex, admired the gorgeous flowers and table setting. Everything was the height of elegance, like stepping back into “Downton Abbey.”
Course after delicious course was served until Charlotte thought she would explode. She had tried to just take a taste of each dish, but the intricate flavors exploding in her mouth were irresistible. The corn chowder with lobster was creamy and flavorful so she ate most of it. Picking at a salad of beets and goat cheese allowed her to eat more of the incredible wood-roasted arctic char that followed. When the rack of lamb was served, Charlotte thought she wouldn’t be able to eat it but she managed most of it, along with a taste of three cheeses and all of her chocolate truffle cake.
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