Silence filled in the spaces between them all again. There were no words big enough, good enough, to explain to Theresa how right she was. How timely her sage advice was.
“Do you want to play cards, Mom?” Libby asked finally when the awkwardness grew too great to overlook.
“Of course,” she said with another joyful clap. “Wheel that table over. What do you know how to play, James?”
“Um,” James looked thoroughly terrified now, and Libby felt compelled to save him.
“I’m thinking James is more of a blackjack kind of guy. But I bet we can teach him some cribbage.”
“Oh, you’ll love it,” Theresa exclaimed as she propped a few pillows behind her back and clicked on the light behind her bed. “I’m so glad you came to visit today—” Her face went blank and scared for a moment as she searched for the right thing.
“Libby,” she whispered to her mother. “It’s me, Libby.”
“Of course it is,” Theresa said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I’m so glad you came to visit me today, Libby. I’m so happy.”
Chapter 31
It had been even worse than James had imagined. His father’s face was plastered on the cover of every newspaper, his name buzzed through the television. People came out from decades of history with West Oil to join the rally cry that JW was a master manipulator. A monster. Suddenly everyone who’d ever known him had a voice that needed to be heard.
With Mathew and Libby by his side, James stood before what felt like a thousand news cameras and did just as his father had asked. He distanced himself even farther from the man who’d given him life. He denounced his father’s behavior. His crimes. Scrutiny rose up in the crowd, skepticism was thrown like harpoons directly at James. But none struck him. There was nothing tying James to the crimes. His father had made sure of it. His only job was to stand before the crowds, the employees, and the industry leaders and ensure them that West Oil was turning over a new leaf. He would lead them to a place of ethical high ground and soaring profits.
“I need to get face time with Asher Barrington or his partner, Brice Henderson, before the week is out.” James knew he was repeating himself. He’d already made this statement about a hundred times. Surely Mathew and Libby were tired of hearing it. “The window of time for me to make my pitch to him is closing.”
“I’m telling you his assistant, Lena, is like a firewall. I’ve tried everything possible to get her to just pass a message along to Brice Henderson. I’ve used every trick in the book, but she won’t budge.” Libby looked like a pitiful failure as she tapped nervously at the conference table between them.
“I’ve reached out to every contact we have. Apparently everyone at B&H Advanced Engineering is being tight-lipped and working like dogs in Trundaie. We need some other way to reach out to them.”
“To who?” Marissa asked as she fluttered into the conference room with a plate of sandwiches from the deli downstairs.
“You don’t need to bring us lunch every day.” James sighed as he took the tray and realized he hadn’t eaten in about twelve hours.
“You say that every day, and every day I keep coming. Which one of us will give up first you think?” Marissa moved around the room sliding plates over to each of them and then placing a napkin in their hands. It looked as though any moment she’d start cutting the sandwich into bite size pieces to feed them. “So who are you trying to reach?”
“It’s just business, Aunt Marissa. You’ve been a great help, but you really don’t need to be doing all this.”
Marissa ignored him and turned toward Libby as though she were the only person in the room with enough sense to just answer her. “Who?”
“Asher Barrington or Brice Henderson,” she replied obediently. “They own a company and James would like some face time with them. But their office is pretty much impenetrable. We can’t seem to get through the gatekeeper.”
“Is now the right time to reach out?” Marissa asked, now looking at Mathew. “It’s very tumultuous.”
“Yes,” James boomed, sounding annoyed. “It’s the right time. I don’t need B&H forming an opinion based solely on media garbage. I want an opportunity to see them face to face. From what I hear about Asher, he’s the kind of person who can read a man well.”
“Then go to the fundraiser,” Marissa said with an airy shrug.
“What fundraiser?” James asked, pushing his sandwich aside and glaring at her.
“Tabitha Williams is flying to Boston this weekend for the annual Saint Jude charity event. It’s put on by Sophie Barrington; isn’t that Asher’s mother?” Marissa pushed the sandwich back in front of her nephew with an insistent look. “I’m sure she makes her son go.”
Three laptops flipped open and chatter split the room. “There are still tickets available,” Libby chirped out as she clicked her keyboard.
“I’ll book the hotel,” Mathew said hurriedly. “This might actually work.”
James stared at Marissa like she was a magician who’d just pulled his card from the recently shuffled deck. “You are something else,” he breathed out with a smile.
“Eat,” she insisted, slamming his laptop closed and pointing at the sandwich. “All of you eat. And Libby, when you’re done come see me. I have a friend at a dress shop who would die to be able to dress you for this event. James and Mathew, I’m assuming you each have a tux?”
“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.”
“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
Continue Reading Wild Eyes
Wild Eyes
About This Book
Mathew Kalling knows better than to get involved with a party girl. You can’t be charged with running an oil empire and still think a wild woman is a safe bet. But once he’s had a taste, he just can’t seem to stay away.
Try to sweep Jessica Thorne off her feet and she’ll head for the hills. Nothing sends her running faster than grand gestures and fairy-tale promises. But when her back is against the wall will she finally take the risk and let love whisk her away?
The Barrington Billionaires Collection 1 Page 20