He nods once then finishes off his drink in one gulp. “Well, it seems like the two of you have everything figured out. Now,” he pats his stomach, “what’s for dinner?” He smiles wide.
An hour later, dinner is cooked and the three of us are sitting around the table.
“So, Colton, do you have any good stories about growing up with this one?” Celeste asks, motioning toward me.
Colton laughs. “Do I!” His eyes open wide.
I clear my throat, a warning he picks up on but ignores.
“One time, Drake thought he could jump out a second-story window with an umbrella.”
Celeste sucks in a loud breath. “Did you get hurt?”
Colton laughs. “A broken ankle later, he learned that Mary Poppins wasn’t real.”
Celeste laughs and shakes her head.
“Then there was the time he thought he could collect four turtles and a rat and turn them into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He was so mad when the one with the orange X painted on its back wouldn’t eat the pizza he tried feeding it,” Colton says, laughing.
“All right,” I say, interrupting. “Why don’t we just eat, huh?”
“And then, he got his first girlfriend. They kissed and he was scared to death he got her pregnant.”
“Because you told me that kissing led to babies!” I defend. “I was only eight. Come on!”
Celeste laughs harder. “Why were you kissing girls when you were only eight?”
I shrug. “We saw two teenagers making out in the back of the bus one day. We thought we’d try it.”
“Who was the girl?” she asks.
“Her name was Judy. She moved away when we were in the fifth grade.”
“There are so many more good stories,” Colton insists.
“No. No more stories. Eat your food before I give it to Tatum and throw your ass out,” I threaten.
“Fine. Celeste, why don’t you tell us some of your childhood embarrassments?” Colton picks up his fork but his eyes never leave Celeste.
She swallows a bite of spaghetti. “Well, I don’t really have any. I never did anything dangerous. I was kept pretty busy as a kid.”
“How so?” Colton asks.
“I had school five days a week. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, we always went to church. I was also in gymnastics, dance, and cheer. When I got a little older, I moved into volleyball and softball. I ran track. I also had private tutors growing up, so studying was a must.”
“A gymnast, huh?” He wags his brows at her.
I pick up a roll and toss it at him, smacking him in the head with it. I know exactly where his mind was going.
“Hey!” he yells, angrily looking over at me.
“Keep your mind out of the gutter,” I tell him. Celeste can’t do anything but laugh at our antics and shake her head.
Dinner eventually ends and Colton says his goodbyes by giving Celeste a hug and smacking me on the back. I walk him out while she insists on helping me clean up.
“Well, brother, I think you’ve gotten yourself in over your head with that one,” he says, opening his truck door.
I laugh. “And how’s that?”
“I watched you in there. Every time you thought you were alone, you couldn’t keep your hands off her. You were smiling and laughing. You’re happy with her. Which is great, don’t get me wrong, but that also means you’re going to be twice as hurt when she leaves in a year.”
I wave him off. “Don’t worry about it, Colt. I know how to keep myself in check.”
He rolls his eyes. “I highly doubt it. Enjoy it while it lasts.” He climbs behind the wheel and starts the truck. I stand back, watching him drive away before turning back for the house.
When I walk in, Celeste has the dishwasher loaded and everything cleaned up. “Thank you,” I say, pulling her against me. “You didn’t have to do that.” I press my forehead against hers, breathing her in.
“Thank you for dinner. Before I got to know you, it’d been a long time since I’d had home-cooked food. And my motel room options are hot plate or microwave-only.” She wraps her arms around my neck, so I press my lips gently to hers. I don’t want things to get out of hand. I feel like we’ve done nothing but screw since we agreed to the terms. But kissing without sex does feel like I’m getting in over my head.
“Want to stay here tonight?” I ask against her lips.
“I really shouldn’t. I need to get back to my room and do some laundry for work this week. I also have a few things to do for some other clients.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, walking her backward. I press her back against the fridge and run the tip of my nose against her jaw. Her eyes flutter closed and she takes a deep breath.
“No,” she giggles out, “but yes. I’ll see you Monday.”
I step back. “Promise?” I ask, not letting go of her hand.
“Promise. First thing Monday morning, I’ll be in your office, so you better be ready,” she says over her shoulder as she moves toward the door.
I stand back and watch her go, feeling twice as lonely as I ever have before. Something about her has pulled me in and trapped me. I’m a different man when I’m with her. It took months of dating Casey to feel this way. But with Celeste, it was immediate. It’s not something I had to force myself to feel. It was forced upon me by something unseen—God, destiny, whatever you want to call it. It’s like she was made for me. She was placed directly in my path. And that scares me beyond belief.
I lock the door and move toward the bathroom for a shower. Stepping beneath the hot flow of water, I close my eyes. The only thing I see is her. I can see the way our future could play out together: I see myself bending down on one knee to propose. I see her smile and tears of joy as she accepts. I see our summertime country wedding, her beautiful white dress, and the flowers in her hair. I see lovemaking—a lot of lovemaking. I see her stomach big and round, supporting our growing baby. I see us bringing the baby home, watching as he or she grows, watching as we grow. I see us old and gray, sitting out on the back porch in our rocking chairs, talking and watching the setting sun.
It all feels so real and perfect. It would be so easy to let myself fall head over heels for her—so easy. But I know none of it can happen. She’s a big-city girl who’s meant for much grander things than me. She’d never be happy living the country life. She needs a big penthouse apartment and fancy things. She’ll go back home in a year, find some rich guy who’s worth her time, and settle down with him, forgetting all about me. She’ll get my dream. The only problem is, I won’t be in it.
No, I’ll still be here, alone and bitter, wondering how the hell I ended up that way. Instead of waiting for Casey, I’ll be waiting for Celeste, hoping and praying she’ll come back to me one day, but knowing deep down she never will.
I have to be careful when it comes to her. Being with her once wasn’t enough. Being with her these last 24 hours still wasn’t enough. It’ll never be enough. The most I can do is enjoy it while it lasts, just like Colton suggested. Have the time of our lives now and wait for it to end. All good things must come to an end eventually, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy them while they’re happening.
Yes, I think that’s what I’ll do. I’ll keep her at arm’s length, making it that much easier to watch her walk away from me for good.
11
Celeste
SIX MONTHS LATER . . .
* * *
DRAKE is wearing a wide smile as I slap all the paperwork down on his desk. “You did it?” he asks, looking up at me, eyes wide and full of excitement.
“I did it! Took a little longer than I thought it would, but we got all the signatures and you’re free to build your expansion,” I say around a giggle as I bounce up and down.
He leaps from the chair behind his desk and picks me up against him, spinning us in a circle. My arms go around his neck, holding on for dear life. I knew he’d be excited, but not this excited. Over the past few months
, Drake has really opened up to me. He’s smiling and laughing more and barking out orders less. I think even Harrison has noticed a change in him. I’m over the moon seeing him this happy, but deep down, I worry that he may be getting too attached. Hell, I’m getting too attached, but I’m not worried about breaking my own heart. I’m worried about leaving him with a broken one.
“When are we breaking ground?” I ask as he pulls away.
“As soon as possible,” he answers around a wide smile. His hands move up to cup my cheeks. His smile fades away but his eyes remain locked on mine. Slowly, he pulls me in for a lip-crushing kiss. His tongue dances with my own, sending shivers up my spine. He pulls away before I’m ready.
“Will you be there with me? I couldn’t have done this without you.”
I place my hands over his. “If you want me there, I’ll be there,” I promise.
“Great,” he says, pulling away and rushing back to his desk. He picks up his phone. “Harrison, contact the construction company and see when we can break ground. Let me know as soon as possible,” he says, smile still in place. He hangs up the phone and turns to look at me. “Let’s celebrate.”
His happiness is infectious and I can’t hold back my own excitement. “How are we celebrating?” I ask.
“I’m taking you to dinner . . . in the city. Someplace nice and fancy. There will be wine and fine dining. Go put on your best dress.” He points an index finger at me as he smiles, backing toward his desk.
“Oh!” I say, turning on my heel and heading for the elevator. Stepping inside, I feel giddy. These six months have been spent quietly—hidden away from the town. We spend most nights at his place, and a few at mine here and there. We don’t really go out to eat at the diner in town. If we do, it’s for a “meeting,” where we go over paperwork while having our meal. A real date, though, that’s different. Over time, Drake has opened up to me like I never would’ve thought. I’ve seen him go from a serious, almost-miserable guy to the funny man who’s come out of his shell lately. I can’t wait to see him in full-on date mode.
I rush back to my motel room and immediately shower, taking my time and shaving every extraneous hair on my body. I take extra time perfecting my long blonde curls and makeup. My green eyes are almost glistening against the dark eyeliner and mascara. I line my lips with a deep red pencil, and fill it in with matching lipstick. I slide on a little black dress that sweeps off one shoulder and ends mid-thigh. I pair the dress with my favorite black heels. Standing back, I check over my reflection. The diamonds in my ears catch the light, and my skin is a deep olive color compared with my red lips, which make my teeth look even brighter than usual. I quickly swap my normal purse for a cute black clutch that glitters and sparkles.
I’m all ready to go, but I haven’t yet gotten a call from Drake saying he’s on his way. I grab my phone and send him a quick text.
Me: I’m ready for our fancy date night!
I drop the phone onto the table and look around. I don’t want to sit and wrinkle my dress, but I’m too tightly wound to stand and not do anything. I busy myself dusting off every surface, being extra careful to ensure none of it clings to my dress. I fluff the pillows on my bed and sort through my laundry. Finally, my phone beeps. I rush over and pick it up. My heart sinks when I read the message.
Drake: I’m so sorry, Celeste. Something came up and I won’t be able to make it. Rain check?
I can’t believe he’s canceling. He’d given me the impression that he was looking forward to this date as much as I was. I wonder what could’ve come up to make him cancel?
Me: Is everything okay? Do I need to come back to the brewery?
Drake: No, everything is fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
My shoulders slump as the phone slips from my fingers, back to the table. Feeling defeated, I finally sit down, looking around my now-sparkling-clean room. I feel a tear well up in one of my eyes, but I will it away. I refuse to let myself feel upset. Drake has never canceled on me before—well, other than not initially making it to the auction when we first met—so whatever the reason, it must be important. I take a deep, cleansing breath.
All dressed up with nowhere to go, I decide I’ll go to the bar, have dinner and a drink, and talk with Stephanie. I grab the keys and head to my car.
It only takes minutes before I’m pulling into the bar parking lot. There are only a few others parked, so it must not be very busy. I walk inside, finding Stephanie behind the bar just like I knew she would be.
She whistles loudly. “Looking good! What’s the occasion?”
I sit down, dropping my clutch on the bar. “Nothing now. Can I get a salad and a drink?”
“Sure thing.” She runs to the back to place my order and then gets started on my drink. “Were you planning something that got canceled?” she asks, looking up from the glass in her hand.
I take a deep breath. “I got all the signatures Drake needed. He was supposed to take me out to celebrate, but something came up and he had to cancel,” I admit.
She places my drink in front of me and presses her lips together in a tight line, like she’s holding something back.
“What?” I ask, moving for my drink but not picking it up.
“I’m not sure if I should tell you,” she says, refusing to look at me.
“Tell me what?” I ask.
“It’s just that, I don’t know if the two things are linked, and I’d hate to cause you to worry.”
“Spill it, Steph,” I threaten.
“Well, you know about Casey, right?” she asks, looking a little afraid.
“Drake’s ex?” I ask and she nods. “What about her?”
“She was in here today.”
I tap my finger on the wooden bar. “She was in here? Today?” I ask, needing confirmation.
She nods.
“But she left town long ago.”
“I know.”
“She hasn’t been back since,” I say in a rush.
“I know.” She nods her head.
“What’s she doing back here?” I finally pick up my glass and take a long drink, needing it more than I thought I would. I know exactly what she’s doing back here. She’s back for him. She misses him. She realizes what a mistake it was to leave him. And now, he’s canceling our date to be with her. I just know it.
“She didn’t say,” Stephanie says, looking a little sad on my behalf.
“Do you think she’s back for Drake? That would explain why he canceled on me, wouldn’t it?” I ask, feeling crazy.
She shrugs one shoulder. “I’m sorry, Celeste. I shouldn’t have told you. Now you’re all worried for nothing. I wish I had more info, I really do.”
“No, it’s okay,” I say, picking up my drink and bringing it to my lips. Meanwhile, my mind is turning and twisting every which way. I wonder if he’s with her. I wonder if I should text him. No, of course I shouldn’t. He said he’d talk to me tomorrow. I need to give him space. I’m sure he’s just as confused about all of this as I am. Or maybe he’s not. Maybe he’s just happy to have her back and he’s not even thinking about me right now.
In fact, why am I thinking about him right now? We’re not together. We’re nothing. That was the plan and that was what we agreed to. So if Drake is nothing to me, then why am I so upset by the knowledge that Casey is back in town? Somewhere deep inside, I know the answer to that, but I refuse to let myself go there. That wasn’t part of the deal. That wasn’t planned. It’s something that snuck up on me when I wasn’t paying attention. And if I’m feeling this way, then how is he feeling?
“Here’s your salad,” Stephanie says, placing the plate in front of me. I hadn’t even noticed her walk away.
“Thanks,” I mumble, picking up my fork and playing with a cherry tomato. I watch as it rolls around with each poke.
“Seriously, Celeste, don’t worry about it. I really regret telling you.”
I wave her off. “No. Casey being in town isn’t a big deal. I mean, if Drak
e wants her, then he’ll take her back, right?” I look up at her.
She lifts a brow but doesn’t verbally answer.
“And if he doesn’t, then he’ll disregard her. He’ll call me tomorrow and let me know either way, right?”
She bites her lower lip.
“I just wish I knew which way this was going to go. I’ve never been good with waiting. And honestly, breaking things off with him probably wouldn’t be a bad idea. I mean, I’m only going to be here for a little over five more months, and my work with him is technically done. Keeping this going will only hurt one of us in the process. Maybe both of us—and that’ll be determined tomorrow, I guess.” I’m ranting. I’m thinking out loud and I can’t shut up. The words are leaving my mouth faster than I can stop them.
“Celeste, chill!” Stephanie shouts, stopping me.
“Thank you,” I tell her as I finally stop babbling.
“You need to calm down. Eat your dinner. Sip your drink and relax. Then go home. Watch a movie—something funny. Take a long, hot shower, put on your pajamas, and go to bed. Don’t think about it at all! Just rest and relax. You’ll know something soon enough.”
I nod once. “You’re right,” I agree, stabbing at the tomato and popping it into my mouth.
But I still can’t stop thinking about it, and it angers me. I sit and eat my salad, quietly stewing. How dare he drop me for her? Even if he doesn’t love me, I got the job completed. Because of me, he can build his expansion. I did that. Shouldn’t I get a reward? Get a reward for doing your job? Come on now, Celeste.
I shake all thoughts from my head and push away my plate. “Thanks, Steph,” I say, dropping $20 on the bar and standing.
She’s clear across the bar, but looks up when I say her name. She shoots me a sad smile. I ignore it all and head out to my car, needing someplace quiet. A place where I can think things through and fall apart if I feel the need. I drive back to my motel room and let myself inside. I strip out of my dress and toss it into the corner. I kick off my shoes, leaving me in my black lace bra-and-panty set. Instead of pulling on a pair of comfortable pajamas, I crawl into bed and bury myself under the covers. The phone in my hand is practically begging me to call him. You know, just to check in and make sure everything is okay. Don’t you dare, I tell myself. Give him time to think things through and deal.
Billionaire's Unexpected Bride (Slade Brothers Book 1) Page 15
