Awakened By A Kiss (Once Upon A Romance) (3 page)

But looking at Dex’s goofy smile directed at his intended, Shane’s gut twisted. Candace’s smile was more of a Cheshire cat grin.

How in the world could Shane convince his cousin of the truth? After all the turmoil of his parents’ vicious divorce, Shane’s opinion on long-term commitment stained his view on anything lasting forever. Would Dex even believe him or think it was his stance on marriage itself? Would Dex end up pushing him away and hating him?

His heart clutched. Or was it indigestion? Either way, he needed an antacid. And quick.

“T-Two months?!” Rico sputtered when he finally arrived with a great deal of fanfare and was informed of the change of plans. “Girl, you must think the world revolves around you.”

Evelyn gasped. He was in a snit. But for him to say that to a client, a very wealthy client from a very highbrow family, was a big no-no.

Miss High and Mighty’s jaw dropped. Dex swung his gaze from Rico to his fiancée.

Shane’s smug smile spread over his face. He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. “Hear, hear.” His soft cheer reached her ears.

Evelyn raised her eyebrows, silently begging him to behave. His smile widened and he winked at her. The nerve of that man! But it did do strange things to her breathing.

“I’m sure you didn’t mean to say that,” Candace bit out.

“Oh, no. I did,” Rico assured her, fluffing his short-cropped hair. “We are King’s Department Store.
The
King’s. On any given day this summer, we will have a half dozen weddings going. Weekends, triple that. Our staff has increased to eight full-time and ten part-time employees. We’ve doubled the boutique in size alone. We have many of our other departments involved as well. To assume we could drop everything to accommodate your demands is presumptuous, to say the least.” He pursed his lips and shot her a look of disdain.

Silently, Evelyn cheered.
Invisible hand clap
.

“I want the best.”

“That’s us,” Rico said, eyeing his fingernails. He yawned. “Where’s Peg? I’m sure she can refer you to another store. Not nearly half as good, but they’ll cut corners and time for you.”

“Rico.” Dex sat up straight in his chair and went to adjust his missing lab coat. His hands fell away. “My…fiancée insists King’s is the only place she’ll use. We…I thought since I knew you, you might help us out. Once, it felt like this place was my…family.”

Peeking at Shane under her lashes, Evelyn watched his face fall. Grim lines etched his stony features. Didn’t he want his cousin to marry Candace? Was he jealous?

Rico let out a gusty sigh. “It’s unheard of. She,” he nearly hissed as he eyed Candace, “nixed all our ideas.” He flicked his hand to the forlorn poster board. “Frothy green is
the
color for the season. You did say green was your favorite color, didn’t you?” He challenged her.

“Yes, but—”

“We have everything you asked for. Night wedding. Black-tie event. The museum overlooking the water. Champagne. Caviar. Thirty-piece orchestra. Seven-course meal. Five-foot-tall wedding cake. Costs a fortune.”

“My fortune,” Shane muttered.

Evelyn jerked to see him. “You’re paying?” she mouthed.

He nodded. Money had been no object in Candace’s quest of the best. But Ev had no idea her folks weren’t paying. Was that why Shane was so upset?

“It’s his wedding gift to us,” Dex said, sheepishly. “I didn’t want to take it.”

“I accepted,” Candace said, tilting her chin a little higher. “The least he could do. For his cousin, that is.”

“Is she for real?” Rico asked under his breath. To the rest of them, he said, “Extravagant to the max, that’s what she asked for. In eight months. Not two.” He nearly spat the last out.

Ev cringed. He’d had a bad day, that was for sure.

Rico brushed his hands together. “I’m done.” He got up to leave. He barely touched Candace’s hand. “It’s been…a fiasco. Find someone who you can wrap around your finger to plan your wedding, just like you did for a groom. Sorry, Dex. I like you. Not so much her.”

Blinking, Evelyn watched in horror as Rico swept out of the room. Silence beat with every pulse in her neck.

Left alone, she rose to her feet. Slowly, she gathered the board and stuffed it into the portfolio. The zipper rent through the quiet air. She gathered her tote and backed out of the room. “I’ll…I’ll just find Peg and she can show you out,” her voice cracked.

Her back bumped into the doorframe. “Crap,” she said softly. There would be bruises, she was certain.

Shane was there, shaking his head. “Dangerous, I tell you.” He held up the little multi-color stuffed bunny. “Forgot something? Again?”

It must have fallen off her lap when she stood. Reaching out, she said, “Thanks.”

He held out the soft, plush animal, but wouldn’t let it go. “Not so fast.”

There were murmurs behind him. Candace and Dex were talking. Her voice rose. “How dare they! I will have my wedding through King’s. They will do it my way.”

“Calm down, Candy,” Dex said.

Shane cursed. “You two hash it out. I’ll be back.” He glanced at Evelyn. “Maybe,” he mouthed to her.

***

Heaviness settled on his shoulders as he stood beside her at the elevator. “This is where we came in, isn’t it?” Shane tried to joke, but struggled to even smile.

“What gives?” Evelyn asked, nodding her head toward the couple down the hall.

Sighing, Shane shook his head. “Complicated.”

“So simplify it for me.”

He looked at her under his lashes. Something in his center tugged. He let his gaze travel over her leisurely. Tiny, even with heels on. Perfect curves. Long, dark hair he’d love to run his hands through. Eyes, warm and blue, he’d gotten lost in more than once since meeting her. Her lips, rosy and kissable, or so he imagined.

The elevator door dinged open.

“After you,” he said softly.

“So you’re telling?” She climbed into the small compartment and turned quickly.

Her jammed-packed tote whacked him in the hip. “Close. You are an accident waiting to happen.” He sidestepped the bulky portfolio just in time.

“Just around you.” Pink dotted the tops of her cheeks.

“Just lucky, I guess.”

Her soft chuckle did strange things to him. Everything about her did strange things to him. Things he’d rather not think about now, or ever.

Why her? Why now?

***

Evelyn White sat across from Shane, blinking in awe at the man who captivated her attention.

His subtle charm and half grin had her feeling as if she’d just gotten off a roller coaster ride.

“What’s good here?” he asked, flipping through the sleek black menu.

“King’s Café just opened,” she murmured. Why did she feel dizzy? Why did she feel like she was walking on air, even when she wasn’t walking at the moment? “Great idea, huh? Open right next door to King’s Department Store. Carry the Charming’s theme in here? Marcus Goode—he was temporarily in charge of King’s at one time and he married Francie King, my former boss—came up with the concept.”

Looking around at the crowded tables, Shane nodded. “I read about him. A restaurant whiz. It’s another hit.”

Gazing at the new creation, she silently agreed. The black interior was relieved by the round tables and rounded, high back comfortable jewel-toned cushioned chairs with black painted wooden frames, sparkling chandeliers, soft lush hot pink carpets that your feet sunk into like a pair of slippers.

Cozy, sleek, and stepping into an oasis in the heart of the city, the reviews said. The food, scrumptious and to die for, kept the reservation lists full and demand for take-out orders even higher.

“The little girls,” she tilted her head toward a small room with miniature duplicate furniture and décor to their right where a party was being held. “Love their special place. See, they’re encouraged to visit King’s first to dress up in special outfits—which are based on and modeled after each one of the King sisters—Charlie and my roommate Paige designed. First, in a new addition to the Charmings Beauty Bar just for them, they have their hair fixed, tiara placed perfectly, nails done, just a hint of makeup, and escorted by knights through a secret royal passageway into there. Tea, cucumber sandwiches, and cakes are served. Birthday cakes made to order…” Her voice held a dreamy quality, recalling the many times she volunteered to help the little ones at the parties.

“He’s thought of everything.”

“He’s come around since he fell in love with Francie.”

“Come around?”

She fingered the droplets on her glass of water. “He didn’t believe in marriage.”

“Smart man.”

Evelyn jerked her gaze up, meeting his stare. His baby blues made her forget her train of thought.
What was she going to ask him?

He sat back in his seat. “How’s the King’s special?”

“Good, I’m sure. Top chef, so top quality.”

The young, good-looking waiter came with a smile, an accent, and a flair for flirting.

She flushed. “I’ll have what he’s having,” she said.

“I wish I could have what he’s having, too,” he murmured, winking at her. “No offense, mate, but she’s a living doll.”

Heat crawled up her neck now. “Thanks.”

When he left, silence ensued. She snuck a glance at Shane. He stared at her. “You leave quite an impression.”

“Or marks,” she said, pointing to his middle and then his hip. Inwardly, she cringed at her clumsiness with him.
What must he think of her?

He grinned. “Care to check them out after?”

His boldness surprised her. Heat rushed through her. She’d never met anyone she was this attracted to instantly. He wasn’t a part of her plans. And a niggling doubt surfaced. “Candace? Territorial?”
Why had she brought that up?
She had a picture of claws sinking into her face.
That’s why!

His shrug was offhanded yet stiff at the same time. “We had an agreement, if you will.”

Had they been engaged once? “Sounds serious.” Her mumbled words barely made it passed her lips.

“Halfhearted. We all grew up together. My godparents, Dexter’s folks, took me in after mine split up. The girl next door and everything. Said in jest when we graduated from college. If we’re not married by the time we’re thirty crap…” This shrug was less defensive. “Thirty’s rolling around and she wants marriage. I say no. She zeroes in on my cousin. My naïve, younger, workaholic, sweet guy, but clueless cousin who she can bat her eyes at and he falls all over himself. Always been that way for him.” His heavy sigh filled the air.

Evelyn groaned. “So, I take it you’re against it.”

“You think?” He considered her for a moment. “You can help.”

She put up her hands. “Not me. I am not going anywhere near Miss—” She stopped herself. After all, he did know the woman. “Candace Hightower if it’s the last thing I do.”

“And you get on with her so well.”

Biting the inside of her cheek, she said, “Watch it, or I’ll mark you again. This time I’ll mean it.”

Mock horror crossed the waiter’s face as he delivered their meals. Steak sandwiches with melted cheese, piled high on their plates with a delicious looking salad with strawberries and walnuts dotted it, were placed in front of them.

“Oh, so naughty—my kinda Shelia,” the waiter said, giving her a megawatt smile before he departed.

She groaned, shaking her head.

“Name your price,” Shane said, gaining her full attention.

“I’m not for sale, Mr. Weston, is it?”

“Of Weston Construction,” he offered.

Gulping, she whispered, “
The
Weston Construction? The biggest residential construction company in Dallas? The one that rebuilt—”

“Yes. That one.”

“Talk about legendary,” she muttered, sitting back in her chair. No wonder he could afford to pay for one of the classiest, most expensive weddings in town. He’d built landmark homes and restored elegant mansions. “Your company is always in the news. Biggest, most expensive, most impressive…everything.”

He grinned. Her heart fluttered. “My team and I try our best to please our customers. That’s all we can do.”

Stories of him teased her mind. “You’re where now? Newport, Rhode Island. Restoring a landmark home.” He nodded. But one story stood out above the rest. “You don’t like marriage.”

“Correction. I
fear
divorce.”

“Same thing.”

“There’s a difference. To me.”

“Kids?” The word stuck in the back of her throat. They meant everything to her.

“Makes things messy when you’re not married.”

Her stomach dropped, just like being on that roller coaster again, but not in a good way. “Raising them is easier that way.”

“You think?”

Nodding, she whispered, “I know. No one to argue with over how to raise them, what to do, how to do it, who’s going to do what, when they’re going to get it done and so on.”

Her mom taught her that. Strict, but reasonable. Tough, but loving. Her two kids were her top priority. Evelyn wished she could talk to her now, lean on her when she faced this life-changing decision.
God she missed her
.

“You’re a single mom?!”

“Not yet. But I’m going to be.”

“My lifesaver,” Priscilla said when she opened the door to Evelyn. With a quick hug, she ushered her in. “Don’t be afraid of the mess. And thank you for coming on such short notice.”

Evelyn looked around at the opulent faux gold foyer. Her and her roommate’s apartment could fit into this twice. “When you asked me to come to your mom’s house…” She bit her lip. No one wanted to deal with Mrs. King-Baxter. Her wrath was still talked about at the store, even though she’d retired awhile back. Thankfully, Evelyn had joined the store right as the woman left.
Close call.

“Mother is a pussy cat these days. Her new hubby has tamed her. Well, quieted her down for the rest of the family. And her grandbabies help. Speaking of which—” She rushed off into a room to the right. “Come on in.”