by K. A. Linde
Piper spent a solid hour blowing out and styling my hair. By the time she was done, I hardly recognized myself.
“You should do this for a living,” I told her.
She beamed. “You know, I actually considered cosmetology out of high school because I found it fun. But then I remembered it would be a job and not just something I enjoyed, so I went into business to help run Sinclair Cellars with my dad.”
“Practical,” I said softly. “My parents wanted me to do something practical like that. I even got the correct degree and then never went to pharmacy school. I pursued photography instead.”
“Seems to have worked out,” Piper said.
I smiled. “I guess it has.”
Blaire hip-checked Piper. “Allow me access to the canvas.”
Piper rolled her eyes and got out of Blaire’s way for her to work her makeup magic. I was halfway through makeup when the doorbell rang.
“That can’t be Julian yet, can it?” Blaire asked.
“No way,” I said, checking the time.
“I’ll get it,” Piper said. She hopped up from her seat and headed out to the living room.
Blaire went back to work on my face but stopped a few minutes later when Piper still hadn’t returned.
“Pipes?” Blaire called.
“Uh,” she said from the living room, “y’all might want to see this.”
Blaire and I exchanged a look of confusion. Then I hopped off the seat, and we headed into the living room.
What we found made my brow furrow in confusion. Piper had draped a black garment bag over the dining table, and in her hand was a shoebox.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“They were just delivered.” Her eyes were glued to the shoebox. “They’re for you.”
“Me?” I asked in confusion.
She passed me the shoebox, and I realized why she was in awe. Written in beautiful white letters across the top was one word—Louboutin.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “Who…who are they from?”
Piper handed me the card that had come with it. I flipped it open.
For my real girlfriend.
—Julian
Tears sprang to my eyes as emotion washed over me.
“No crying!” Blaire said, waving her hands at my eyes. “You’ll ruin all my work.”
I laughed at her ridiculousness. “He sent me a dress and shoes.”
“Two-thousand-dollar shoes,” Piper said pragmatically. “He must really like you.”
“Well, open it already! We’re dying here,” Blaire said.
I popped the box on the shoes and felt as if I were having a full-blown Cinderella moment. The shoes appeared to be glass-encrusted with rhinestones that made them glitter in the light. And of course, the signature red-lacquered bottom brought the entire shoe together.
Blaire and Piper oohed and aahed at them.
“Damn,” Blaire said. “Boy did good!”
Piper nodded. “Damn good.”
I set the shoebox down, unable to process my feelings about the most beautiful shoes I’d ever seen in my life. Then I pulled the zipper on the garment bag. And inside was the designer dress that I’d tried on with Annie in Malouf’s. It was the dress. And here it was, in all of its glory.
My throat closed up. “I can’t believe he did this.”
“I can,” Piper said. “He adores you. Don’t you see the way he looks at you?”
“Seconded,” Blaire said.
“It’s too much.”
Blaire waved her hand. “Who cares? He wouldn’t have done it if he couldn’t afford it. He wants to see you in it.”
“So, let’s get you ready. I cannot wait to see his face,” Piper said.
Blaire nodded. “He’s going to die. Seriously.”
Piper picked up the dress, and I hugged the shoebox to my chest like a prized treasure. I didn’t know how the hell this was happening to me. But when a guy bought you shoes, he was a keeper.
24
Julian
“Looking sharp, Wright,” Blaire said when she answered the door.
“Thanks.” I smirked at her and stepped inside in my custom-tailored tux. Fashion had always been a part of who I was, but this tuxedo blew most of my closet out of the water.
“I’ll get Jennifer.” She hustled around the corner and out of sight.
I stuffed my hands into my pockets and waited. I’d never thought that I’d be looking forward to this gala after what happened with Ashleigh. It had seemed like such a chore. Part of the business side that I would have to adjust to. If I wanted that distribution contract, then I’d have to play nice.
But now, I was going with Jennifer. My real date. Nothing fake about what was happening anymore. Which meant I’d gotten to be a bit extravagant. I’d worried the dress and shoes might be too much, but Annie had assured me it wasn’t. I was going to do it regardless.
Then Jennifer walked out into the living room in the light-blue dress that I’d purchased for her. She was more than stunning; she was effervescent. The bodice clung to her like a second skin with an iridescent plunge neckline. The dress gathered at the waist and shimmered in a metallic silver to the ground. She lifted the hem slightly, and I caught a flash of the Louboutins, which were probably a bit over the top but I couldn’t help myself.
Seeing her beam at me, looking like a goddess, made it all worth it.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Wow yourself,” she said. “Look at that suit.”
I ran my hands down the front of the tux and smirked. “You like?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Don’t be coy. We both know you’re vain.”
I burst into laughter. I couldn’t help it. “We do know that, yes. Now, get your ass over here.”
She giggled and stepped up to me. I threaded a careful hand up into her perfectly curled hair and brought her lips up to mine. She tasted divine. Suddenly, I was having second thoughts about leaving.
“Maybe we could stay in,” she said breathlessly.
I chuckled. “And miss the chance to show you off? Never.”
“You two are kind of disgusting,” Blaire said. I’d forgotten that she was still standing there. “Go to your gala and take lots of pictures. I want to live vicariously through you.”
Jennifer laughed and held up her purse, which was much larger than the dainty little clutches most women brought to such events. “I know it isn’t gala appropriate, but I brought a camera. No lens, so it fits.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” I held out my arm. “Shall we?”
She looped her arm through mine. “Definitely.”
We got into Milli and drove downtown to Buddy Holly Hall, a new performing arts center that Wright Construction had worked on. Jordan had been the mastermind behind the construction job. I’d been on dozens of tours of the place while it was in development, but I hadn’t seen it all done up.
The charity gala was in conjunction with Lubbock Volunteer, an organization dedicated to helping those in need right here at home. Ashleigh was on their board—she sat on a dozen all around town so that she would be invited to every major event—and had helped plan this one. When she’d had it in the works, she had considered how best to help the vineyard—or so she’d said. She’d invited everyone who was everyone in wine to be involved. It still amazed me that she had been doing this kind of thing while at the same time trying to tank the winery. It was like she had a contingency to every plan. I didn’t know who she’d really been the whole time we were together.
I valeted the car and then helped Jennifer up the walkway and into the venue. Her breath caught at the interior of the gorgeous, new concert hall. I’d been to locations like this all over the Pacific Northwest, and even I had to admit that this was picturesque. Nothing else like it. The Wrights were bringing class to this burgeoning town.
“It’s amazing,” Jennifer whispered.
“Jordan really outdid himself.”
“He really did. Wow
. I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe this exists in Lubbock.”
We passed through to the main part of the hall. Three tiers of balconies overlooked the main stage. The curtains were closed, and a projector displayed the Lubbock Volunteer logo against the heavy drapery. Circular tables filled the perimeter, and an open space for dancing was already occupied by many of the guests. Twinkling lights made it look as if we were open to the cosmos.
Everything was glamorous and sophisticated. It almost felt like being back home in Vancouver. Jordan was the one who had been the face of the company with Dad and attended most of these sorts of events. I’d never had any real interest even though I’d worked there for several years right out of college. It hadn’t been my passion. Not like the vineyard was. I’d gone to events with Ashleigh, but it had always been a chore. I’d forgotten how much fun it could be.
“Well, well, well, look who showed,” Ashleigh said, materializing before us.
I wanted to clench my jaw, but I didn’t. I stayed as calm as I could. This was why we were here to begin with. This was why I’d asked Jen for a fake date. I had to deal with Ashleigh today, and that meant putting on a happy face and not pissing her off. I didn’t put it past her to sabotage this distribution agreement if she was pissy.
“Evening, Ashleigh,” I said politely.
Her eyes crawled my body. She loved when I dressed up.
She stepped forward, tugging slightly on the collar of my jacket. “This is new.”
Jennifer stiffened next to me.
I took a step out of her reach. “It is.”
“Well, what do you think?” she asked, unperturbed. She twirled in a circle. She’d gone all out in a pink silk number that flowed over her like water. It was a great dress. Too bad it was on a such a terrible person.
“I think it’s lovely,” Jennifer said before I could respond.
I glanced at her, but she was just smiling.
Ashleigh’s eyes narrowed. She’d been trying to pretend that Jen wasn’t there. “Don’t you clean up nicely?”
Jen’s smile widened. “I could say the same thing about you.”
Ashleigh arched an eyebrow. “Look who got some teeth.”
I was just as surprised that Jennifer was even talking to Ashleigh. Last time we’d seen her, she’d frozen up and then run out of the room. Was the difference that we were dating?
Jennifer shrugged. “No reason to be catty. We’re all here to have a good time.”
Ashleigh looked like she wanted to say something else with venom, but I stepped between them.
“We’re going to go get drinks. Have a nice evening.”
“I planned to introduce you around,” she said. “But if you’d rather play with your pet, then…”
“Ashleigh, can we just have a civilized night?”
She clenched her tiny little clutch until her knuckles went white. “Can we speak in private?”
I sighed. I really didn’t want to do this, but I worried if I didn’t have this out with her now, then the entire night, she’d hound us with her bullshit.
My eyes swept to Jennifer. “Will you be all right?”
“I’ll get in line for drinks,” she said easily.
She had her hands clasped together, but I could still see them shaking a little. She didn’t like this, and I hated putting her in an uncomfortable position.
“It’ll just be a minute,” I promised.
Then she did something that I never anticipated. She reached up onto her tiptoes and brought her lips to mine. It wasn’t a long kiss. Nothing more than that one perfect press together. But she looked up at me with such intimacy that my entire being shifted toward her.
“One minute,” she said with a smile.
I heard Ashleigh huff in front of us. I nodded at Jen, and then she headed for the line for the bar.
“That was unnecessary,” Ashleigh spat. She whirled on her heel and stalked out of the room.
A smile tugged at my lips as I followed her. Damn bold of Jennifer to kiss me right in front of Ashleigh. I liked this side of her.
We ended up in a mostly empty area of the lobby. Nearly everyone had moved into the concert hall already. The last thing I wanted was to be alone with Ashleigh. As furious with her as I was, we’d still dated for two years. And she knew how to get to me.
I crossed my arms over my chest and waited. “What’s this about?”
“So,” she said, still facing away, “you managed to dress her up. Cute.”
I sighed. “I’m not here to discuss my girlfriend with you.”
Her shoulders stiffened. She asked very softly, “Girlfriend?”
“Yes. My girlfriend.”
She whirled around. There was shock and revulsion on her face. “You’re with her? After me, you picked someone like her?”
“You should get to your point. I’m not going to stick around to hear you degrade Jennifer or my choice to date her.”
“You’re actually serious.”
“I am. I’m here like we planned, but I’m with Jennifer now. That’s how it is.”
Something shattered as those words hit her. Her mask faltered and fell.
Everyone had always asked me what I saw in Ashleigh. Why I’d want to date someone who was sometimes cruel and uncaring and vicious. I’d always said that she was different with me. Up until the moment that she’d ruined it all, I’d argued that. And here, I saw the vulnerable girl who’d been hurt by a mother who didn’t see her worth and a father who didn’t care enough. It was the girl I’d fallen for all along. Too bad it took me dating someone else for her to find that girl again.
“Sure. Okay,” she said. “That’s how it is now.”
She wrapped her arms around her stomach and didn’t meet my eyes.
“Ash…”
“I’ll grab you when the distributors arrive.” She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Forget about everything else.”
I sighed. A part of me wanted to comfort her. I didn’t like to see her hurting, but at the same time, she reaped what she sowed. I hadn’t ended it because I didn’t care about her, but because she’d lied and manipulated and hurt everything we had. She’d thrown us away long before I’d put an end to it.
“Have a good party,” she said and then hurried away from me.
I ran a hand back through my hair and muttered, “Fuck,” into the empty room.
I couldn’t do anything about Ashleigh. That ship had sailed. I needed to get back to Jen and try to salvage the night.
25
Jennifer
The drink line was outrageous.
I just wanted something to calm my nerves. I’d actually spoken to Ashleigh. That felt like a drastic improvement. Even if Julian immediately disappeared with her. He’d said a minute. It’d been more than a minute.
Of course, it was an exaggeration, but still…the nerves. I’d taken my medicine before coming here. I wasn’t great in social situations to begin with. Big events like this definitely heightened my own issues. Not to mention, Ashleigh Sinclair.
Finally, I reached the front of the line. I ordered us drinks, and as I was about to pay for them, hands snaked around my waist. I jumped in surprise and whirled around to find Julian smiling down at me.
“I got it,” he said, dropping cash on the bar. “Keep the change.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did.”
We picked up our drinks and found a table to regroup.
“Sorry about leaving you behind,” he said as soon as we took our seats.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s really not.”
“Why did she even want to talk to you?” I couldn’t help but ask.
He sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know. Just to get the upper hand. It doesn’t really matter because it didn’t work.”
I nodded. Though I was uncertain. I thought getting him alone had been a smart move on her part if her goal was to try to get between us. I had
to remember that Julian was here with me. He wanted to be with me. He’d gotten me this outrageous dress and shoes. There was no reason to panic. Other than…life.
Julian downed the rest of his drink in one long gulp. Then, he rose to his feet and held his hand out to me. “Come on. Let’s dance.”
“Dance?” I squeaked, taking another fortifying sip of my vodka cranberry.
“Yeah. I don’t think the distributors are here yet. We have some time to enjoy ourselves before I need to talk business.”
I made a face. “I didn’t know that included dancing.”
“I’m an excellent partner, I assure you.”
I laughed, finishing the drink with a wince. “I’m not worried about you.”
But I let him pull me to my feet and out onto the dance floor. I wasn’t a dancer. Never had been. Even my senior prom, which I’d only gone to because my boyfriend had wanted to go, I hadn’t danced. And said boyfriend spent most of the time getting drunk with his friends in the corner by passing around a flask. They even spiked the punch. Though no one else had known who’d done it.
This was nothing like that. Julian was an excellent dancer, and he led the entire time, so I never felt like I was out of place. Even though I had no idea what I was doing, it was fun to be swung around by him. To have him pull me close and sway side to side. To see that look in his eyes.
I even forgot for a time that other people were watching us. Which was a goddamn miracle because I was surely going to agonize about people seeing every misstep for the rest of my life. Thanks, anxiety!
“I need a break,” I gasped with a laugh. “These shoes are killing me.”
“But they look incredible on you.”