Enticing Interlude (Tempest #2) (36 page)

Tears streaming down my face, I remained in my seat until the standing ovation ended. I couldn’t believe he’d written a song like that about me. He saw me and understood me the way no one else did, and I’d been an idiot to have ever doubted him.

Arthur passed me a tissue as I drew my legs in so people could file past us. Suddenly a shadow blocked out the light. I glanced up. Marcus stood in front of me, and Avery was with him. She bent down to hug her dad. I stood, wiping my face, and then reached back and took Carter’s hand.

Avery turned to me, her smile fading. She stared at me for a long uncomfortable moment. “Why are you here?” she demanded her eyes icy green.

“Avery,” Marcus cautioned.

“She’s got a right to ask,” I said looking her straight in the eye. Justin wasn’t the only twin who was a protector. “I love him,” I told her. “I was wrong to doubt him. I was wrong to run away like I did. But I’m back to stay now.”

Her brow rose, skepticism evident. The gesture was so like him that it made my chest burn. “And if he doesn’t want you back?”

“That’s something he has to decide.”

Her assessing eyes flashed with what I hoped was approval.

Arthur started coughing and her gaze slid to him, concern creasing her brow. “I’m sorry, Kat. I don’t think I’m up to an afterparty. Would you make my apologies? Give your brother a hug. Tell him how proud I was to see him tonight.”

“I don’t really want to go either Dad.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “It’s his night. I’d rather go back to the farm with you. Is there room on the helicopter for Marcus and me?”

“Yes,” I answered for him. “Carter and I are planning to stay here.”

“Good. Then you can deliver the message for us both.”

I nodded, and she pressed a couple of lanyard passes into my hands. “The party’s in Ballroom C at the Sutton.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled and impulsively threw my arms around her neck. I felt my eyes burn when she returned the hug.

“Good luck, Bridget,” she whispered in my ear.

I
so
liked her.

Taking Carter by the hand, I made my own way through the crowd, threading through every available space that opened up in front of us. When I finally reached the taxi line outside, I wanted to scream in frustration. There were fifty people already in line ahead of us.

“Excuse me, Miss Dubois?”

I turned to face the imposing black man with kind mahogany eyes.

“I’m Ray. Marcus’ driver. He thought you might appreciate a ride to the Sutton?”

“Yes.”
God bless Marcus Anthony
.

Turns out Ray was very
Fast and Furious
, darting deftly in and out of traffic. I held onto the door handle with one hand and texted Lace with the other.

Me:
Back in town. Fashion emergency. Can you help?

I received her reply just as we were pulling into the front circle drop off.

Lace:
About time. And hell yes. Meet you at the apartment.

Ray had gotten us to the Sutton in an astounding fifteen minutes. He rounded the hood and held the door open for Carter and me to get out. “Good luck Miss Dubois. Champ.” He gave Carter a fist bump.

The well attended after party was for the benefit of the Amanda Todd foundation, an anti-bullying charity. Women in colorful floor length gowns mingled gracefully in the crowded lobby amid smartly attired men in their black tuxes. Thankfully the crowd thinned as I turned down the narrow hallway to the residential side of the hotel.

I smiled when I exited the elevator. Lace was waiting for us, her backside propping the apartment door open. “Took you long enough.” Carter flew into her arms and she hugged him tightly. Her eyes remained on me though and I approached her a little more cautiously.

“So you’re finally giving JJ the green light?”

I nodded. “I’m sorry I left with only a note. I messed things up so badly.”

“Stop it.” She pulled me in with her and Carter, hugging both of us. “I missed you, Gigi.” Tears pricked my eyes at the heartfelt words. “So you jumped to conclusions. Everyone does once in a while. Antonia’s a bitch. I would’ve probably reacted the same. Only I would’ve punched him first, then left, but it’s all good. Mary’s PI got the whole story out of that lying bitch. Now’s the time for moving forward. What did you think of the show?”

“Tempest was fantastic.” I felt my face go all dreamy fan-girl.

“Yeah.” She grinned. “JJ wasn’t too bad either, huh?”

My cheeks got hot. “What’d you tell everyone when you got my text?” I asked as we moved inside the apartment.

“Didn’t have to tell anybody anything. Everyone’s kind of distracted after the thing with War backstage. Bryan’s in a really bad mood. I haven’t had much luck getting him out of it.” Lines bracketed the edges of her mouth. Though she probably wouldn’t admit it, I could tell that seeing her ex again had been rough on her, too.

Carter plopped down in front of the television and picked up a game controller. Lace and I moved down the hall.

“What happened with Warren?” I asked as soon as I closed the door to my old bedroom.

“With him and me, nothing.” She shrugged as if she wasn’t bothered. “He and Bry exchanged some words. It didn’t come to blows, but only because Justin put himself between them. There’s definitely someone War hates more than Bryan now.”

“But enough wasting head space on Warren Jinkins. Let’s get you glitzed up.” Lace slid the closet open and started looking though the unworn clothes still hanging from the bar. My brow rose when I saw the things she laid out on the bed. Black leather smooth front short shorts, a sparkly see though mesh tank, and a tiny black tube top. “Trust me. You can totally pull off this look.” She held up a finger. “And I’ve got the perfect boots. I’ll be right back.”

I’d only stripped off my shirt when she returned with a pair of over the knee black shiny boots and a half dozen black leather and silver bracelets.

“You’re gonna make his jaw hit the floor,” she told me after she noted my uncertainty. “Go wash your face and frizz out your hair. I’ll change and come help you with your makeup.”

Thirty minutes later, my transformation was complete. Looking in the full length mirror, I had to admit Lace was right. Ok. Not exactly. More like smokin’. I held my own with the statuesque goddess in the one shouldered grey mini-dress standing beside me.

The boots zipped up to mid-thigh, and Lace helped me turn the cuffs over. Her pink frosted lips pulled into a wide smile. “It’s a regular Sandra Dee makeover.” She shook her head and her chandelier earrings made a tinkling sound.

“I just need a cigarette to crush out under my boot when he sees me.” My lips twitched.

She laughed. “Too bad Bry quit, yeah?” She linked her arm with mine. “Let’s grab Carter and go.” Carter’s eyes bugged out when he saw us, but he didn’t say anything. She ruffled his hair and handed me the key card on our way out. I tucked it in my pocket. There was nowhere for her to put it with her outfit.

We took the elevator down to the ballroom level. There was a line at the security check but with the passes around our neck we were able to bypass it. The ballroom was packed when we entered. Bistro tables were scattered throughout the room. People congregated around them or at the elaborate buffet. A few couples swayed slowly in time with the orchestrated music on the mostly empty dance floor.

The light from the disco ball hanging from the ceiling reflected off the sparkles on my top. I rubbed my bare arms partly because I was cold in the skimpy outfit, but mostly because I was nervous. I was getting a lot of attention, but that was ok. Things were different now. Other guys could look all they wanted, but they couldn’t have me. I was taken. Whether I was sexy or subdued, I was all his. All of me. All for him. No more hiding. No more doubts.

I quickly scanned the room for Justin. As the couple in front of me parted, I found him. He was standing next to Dizzy across the dance floor. I was a little sad to see that my lavender shirt had been replaced, but he looked sinfully handsome in a white shirt with the top two buttons undone exposing his collarbone. His hair looked freshly washed and was tousled over his brow and his dark jeans fit him well, snug as usual in all the right places.