A Discovery of Hope (A Coming Home Again Novel Book 3) (19 page)

Duke catches me watching him so he saunters over with a proud smile on his face. Stopping in front of me, he eyes me up and down before shaking his head. “Wow, Willow. You look killer.” He leans in and places a kiss on my cheek. “I’m beginning to hate myself for ever introducing you to JP. I should have kept you for myself.”

I feel my cheeks warm at his flirting. “Oh stop it,” I tease, trying to cover my embarrassment.

“I can’t wait for him to lay eyes on you tonight. You’re gonna strike the dude dumb.”

I roll my eyes. “Where is the
dude
anyway?”

“The magazine peeps got him holed up in his office.” Duke looks over the crowd and I see a few young women eying him.

“You look very handsome tonight, even as a wallflower,” I offer.

He shrugs his shoulders. “Julia dressed me.” He doesn’t sound to be impressed one bit at being dressed by a famous supermodel.

“Why not dress as you?” I nudge his arm to get his attention back from a random girl across the room.

“I’m good. I don’t want to be distracting tonight.” He eyes me with a smirk after scanning out over the group again. “I guess you get that honor.”

“What?”

Duke beckons me to look across the room where JP stands staring at me dumbfounded just as Duke predicted. I think I feel the same way. JP Thorton is a handsome man, hands down in simple jeans and T-shirt, but JP Thorton in a designer charcoal-gray suit is absolutely stunning. The man has just struck
me
dumb. I can barely swallow. I can only stand here and stare at him as he returns the gesture from across the room. People are talking to him but he is completely ignoring them. I watch as he places his hand over his heart and shakes his head slowly. Those baby-blue eyes have me captured. I take a step in his direction as does he in mine, but an elderly man grabs his arm and speaks. JP shakes his head once more before turning his attention away from me.

I forget Duke is standing beside me until the moment dissipates and I hear him chuckling. “You two got it bad.”

“What?” I mutter again. My mind still feels foggy and I absently rub my scar.

“You know what I mean,” he teases.

I look over to Duke as he’s about to say something else, but then I hear a southern drawl, HOLLA and I suddenly find us surrounded by the Gal Pals.

“Just look at you, suga’,” Bee says as she encircles me in a hug.

“Pretty as a peach, I say,” Jeejee squeals.

“Me?” I look around this lively group and find these chicks totally blinged out. “You ladies are gorgeous!” I cut my eyes to Duke who is biting down on his lip where the ring normally is. I look back over the group and am nearly blinded by all of the sequins and flashy jewelry. They look like they could head to a nineties prom after this party, and I’m not sure it’s possible to get any more tease in those do’s. Don’t ask me how, but they totally pull their looks off without looking tacky. Just very
flashy
…

“Thank you, darlin’,” Geegee says. She has a turquoise sequined barrette nestled in her white teased hair, causing her blue eyes to sparkle even brighter. It matches her dress perfectly.

Really, they are just too adorable. “You gals hold tight for a minute. I need to grab my camera.” I turn to leave, but Duke stops me.

“I’ll grab it for you.”

Ceecee grabs hold of his arm. “Oh no you don’t, handsome. You gonna keep us gals company for a spell.”

At this, they surround him and start peppering him with questions about who he’s dating, what he is painting, what’s his latest tattoo… They are relentless but in their own charming way. I come close to snorting unladylike in laughter when one of the ladies asks if he has any piercings
hidden
and would he being willing to let them have a peek for curiosity’s sake.

I hurry off after this with him hollering for me not to leave him. I’m back in a flash with my camera and find Duke blushing from whatever Beebee just asked and the entire group chiming in with a HOLLA! I immediately start taking photos of the gals looking pleased, and Duke looking to be ready to bolt. It’s hilarious.

I’m snapping away, when the ladies still and start oohing about someone behind me. I lower the camera and find my dad beside me.

“Ladies, this is my dad, Dr. William Carter. Dad, this is the Gal Pals.” I wave my hand towards the glittery bunch. Duke takes the opportunity to sneak off now that they have their sights set on someone new.

“Dr. Carter,” Bee begins in her relaxed southern drawl. “You have raised yourself a lovely daughter.”

“Oh yes. We’ve claimed her and have no plans on returning her. Just so you know,” prissy little Leelee adds.

“How about we share her,” Dad says in his low voice and I think these chicks swoon a bit.

“Sharing with you would be just delightful,” says Veevee. Her glasses are even glittery tonight. They look like spectacles Elton John would fight her for. Only Elton and Vee would be able to pull those suckers off.

The ladies surround Dad and introductions are properly made in true Gal Pal style. Then they declare him too thin and whisk him away to the food tables. He glances over his shoulder as they walk away, giving me a wide-eyed look. I stay rooted in my spot, giggling, and capture his bemused expression with my camera. These ladies are a riot, and he seems to be enjoying them.

I scan the room with my camera drawn and find Jace cautiously stepping through the front door, carrying a pizza box. I lower the camera and hurry over to him. I know the expression on his face and it’s not good. The poor guy is overwhelmed by the thick crowd.

“Jace! Hey!” I say quickly to stop him from leaving. He’s put effort into dressing up and looks so adorable in his dress shirt and bowtie. He’s also wearing dress slacks with his sneakers.

His eyes find me. “I… I brought JP a pizza…” He trails off as he looks back to the door. I see Tony is on a bench by the door outside. He’s watching Jace intently through the window.

“That was so nice of you, Jace. Let’s go find him.” I try to place his hand in mine, but he’s not having it.

“I… I gotta go…” Before I can stop him, Jace has bolted out the door.

I’m about to follow him, when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn and see JP. “I got this,” he says before heading outside.

I scoot closer to the window and watch on as he sits on the bench with Jace and starts chatting away with the little guy. It takes a few moments for Jace’s nervous rocking to stop. When it does, he starts smiling, then laughing. JP shucks off his jacket and tosses the tail of his tie over his shoulder, while Jace divvies out pizza for the both of them. I glance over my shoulder at the crowd mingling behind me in honor of this famous photographer, oblivious to him sitting outside eating pizza with his little buddy.

My heart squeezes and tears prick my eyes at how compassionate this man is to someone he barely knows. I sniff the tears away and raise the camera to capture their private pizza party. As I’m doing this, Hope whispers in my ear.

“
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

I look over my shoulder to find my angel, but she’s nowhere in sight. Eventually, I give up looking for her and draw my attention back to JP and Jace. They’ve been out there for close to fifteen minutes now. Thinking he needs to get back to his guests, I’m about to go break up the pizza party when JP starts pulling his suit jacket back on. He gives Jace a friendly pat on the shoulder before Jace and Tony walk off.

JP breezes back through the door, but I stop him before he can bypass me.

“Willow, if I stop to talk to you, I’ll have to ask everyone else to leave.” He shakes his head. “I’ll get lost in you…” His expression and tone are so serious, it sends a wave of goose bumps along my arms.

“Well…” My voice trails off as I wipe pizza sauce off the side of his mouth, and then straighten his tie back into place. “You best be on with it then.” The words come out in a husky whisper and I am startled when JP’s eyes actually dilate. I know we can’t do this right now, so I push him away from me.

He walks backwards a few steps, still watching me with those blazing blue eyes until another guy in a seriously fancy suit clamps him on the shoulder. The guy follows JP’s eyes and offers me an appreciative look. They hurry off, so I go to seek out a glass of iced water for my suddenly parched mouth.

An hour passes, with me mingling through the crowd. Some know me by name and hand me business cards, telling me JP speaks highly of me. This baffles me a little. Why would he be recommending me instead of taking the jobs for himself? Is he just helping me out or is he trying to get rid of me? He practically begged me to come back, so I’m guessing he’s helping. I can’t help but be flattered.

I’ve also passed this hour by stalking Julia Rose and Greyson Stone with my camera. I am at awe over this couple, and it’s not due to their fabulously famous status. No, it’s due to the uninhibited affection they offer each other. I’ve snapped shots of Greyson leisurely raking his fingers through Julia’s hair as he talks with guests. I’ve also captured her nuzzling into the crook of his neck while he rests his hand on the small of her back, and many more gestures of love like this all night. They keep in constant contact throughout the event and seem unaware of the room filled with people. When Julia speaks, I want to let out an
aww
, because Greyson’s head always tilts to the side as he gives her his undivided attention. It’s as if he sees no one else but her. I’ve snagged more than enough photos of him expressing this gesture.

The guy from earlier with the fancy suit demands the attention of the crowd by tapping his glass with a fork. He scoots a little closer to the art easel that is now holding the magazine cover. It’s a breathtaking collage of the islands from overhead. JP told me he literally hung out the side of a helicopter, held by a harness, while capturing the images.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am Clark Winters and on behalf of Realm Travel Magazine and Palmetto Photography, I thank you for coming out to celebrate our latest accomplishment with Mr. JP Thorton.” He pauses as we all clap our approval. Once the applause calm, he beckons JP forward. “I’d like to begin by thanking JP for working with us on our Island Travel edition that covered the Hawaiian Islands. This man took a month and captured the islands with a whole new eye.”

JP shrugs his shoulders. “Tough work, but someone had to do it.” Chuckles dance through the guests.

Clark slaps him on the shoulder as he laughs as well. As he does this another man sidles up to the easel. It looks like he has some sort of plaque in his hand.

“Yes. Well, your tough work paid off, my friend.” Clark says this to JP before turning his attention back to us. “So good in fact, Mr. Thorton has singlehandedly won this year’s coveted Capture Award for outstanding photo art.”

What? That award is a close second to a Pulitzer Prize in photography.

More applauds ring out as the man hands JP his award with JP looking quite humbled by the honor. I’m clicking away with my camera and am so elated for him. I’ve seen the layout and there’s no doubt he deserves this honor.

The night concludes with JP offering up a speech of thanks and I’m quite moved that he recognizes his sisters as well as Duke. He speaks of each one with pride and appreciation, and I am stunned stupid when he finishes by thanking his new right-hand—me!

“You’ve noticed this gorgeous woman wandering around with a camera glued to her face most of the night. I know you’ve noticed. It would be impossible for you not to.” As he says this, all eyes travel in my direction. With cheeks blazing, I lower the camera and give him a look that I hope says,
hush up
! He smirks at me, knowingly. “Willow Carter wandered into this gallery a few months back and life hasn’t been the same since.” More laughs. “And quite frankly, I’ve got no clue as to how I ever got by without her.” He looks at me with such warmth. “Willow, thank you for being my right-hand.”

It’s close to midnight by the time we lock the doors. It’s been an amazing night and I think I’ve taken close to four hundred pictures. I can’t wait to go through them all. I’m gathering a few discarded napkins when JP walks out of his office. Gone is the tie and a few buttons have been undone. He looks a bit tired but completely dreamy.

“You finally put that camera down?” He leans on the doorframe, studying me.

I toss a few more napkins. “I was using it to hide behind.”

“You failed,” he murmurs.

I look up as he walks by me. Moments after he disappears, music starts filtering through the sound system. The song is slow and alluring. I’m about to gather more trash, when I feel JP wrap his arms around my waist and nuzzle into the back of my neck.

“Leave the rest. I have a cleaning crew coming in the morning to take care of it.” His lips are on my neck as he says this, causing me to shiver. He turns me around and pulls me close. “Dance with me.”

I say nothing, just silently allow him to lead. “You look beautiful.” His fingertips brush over my cheek. “I’ve never seen you wear makeup.”

“Duke thought you needed reminding I’m a woman.”

He inhales and exhales slowly as he shakes his head. “There’s never been a doubt about that, sweetheart. The only reminding I need is to be a gentleman.”