The dress was a long chiffon black gown with trimmings of sheer lace. The cleavage on that dress was going to be very deep, my arms were going to be bare and all my curves were going to be heavily accentuated. Sophie seemed to think that I looked beautiful and Lucia agreed. The shoes were satin black stilettos, as was the matching clutch that had been bought as well. For my makeup, Sophie had suggested that I go with a bold lip, to contrast with the otherwise black outfit.
I’d bought a firetruck red lipstick for this occasion, which I knew I’d never wear again. I had planned on styling my hair into a near bun, with just a few strands of loose soft curls framing my face.
I stared at the clothes on the bed for a long time, biting down on my lip hard, still debating whether all of this was going to be worth it. Even though I had convinced myself that I was going through all this effort because this was a big event, I knew that I was also doing this because Rhett was going to be there. Not that I ever wanted to put myself through that again. I was never going to speak to him, but deep down inside, I wanted him to look at me with the hopes that he would maybe look at me the way I always looked at him.
I shook my head to drive those thoughts of Rhett out of my head. I was being foolish again. I was allowing myself to go tender. The plan was to stand up to him, stand up to my attraction to him and never fall for his games again. I knew now exactly what Rhett was about. He was about getting what he wanted. I wasn’t going to let him win again.
I stripped myself of the towel around my torso, stepped into the beautiful and dainty gown and walked over to look at myself in the mirror. I could now see what Lucia and Sophie had seen earlier that day, a strong confident young woman. That was the self I had to channel through the night. Keep reminding myself that I was there because of my success as a baker and a businesswoman, not to grieve over the loss of a man!
I brushed my curls and continued looking at myself in the mirror. The longer I looked, the more headstrong I got. The more I believed in myself and my purpose. I would rather remain single all my life, than ever speak to that man again.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Rhett
I was in the middle of shaking someone’s hand when I first saw Heidi walk into the museum lobby that I had hired for the Brunswick Charity Ball. She hadn’t noticed me yet, but I had kept my eye out for her.
My heart stopped beating for a moment and my neck under the collar of my perfectly starched, white, cotton shirt grew hot. Heidi looked resplendent, and I hadn’t even noticed her dress yet. It could have been because I hadn’t seen her in several days, ten to be precise, but she looked even more beautiful. Her dress, when I looked more closely, was gorgeous, her hair was shining, her lips were a bright red and her green eyes travelled around the lobby.
Two girls, who I recognized to be employees at her café, caught her eye and she walked hurriedly towards them. I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her, even though the man who I had shaken hands with was saying something to me now.
Heidi was in the midst of talking animatedly with the girls. She smiled from time to time, which felt like tiny heartbreaks for me. I couldn’t just go up and speak with her. I feared that she might slap me, or just push me away. More than that, I was afraid of hurting her. It was essential now that I kept my distance. Especially since she had no idea that I was the one organizing the event, that it was my brother who had called her about the cake and that I had tricked her into coming here.
I watched her from the corner of the lobby, surrounded by business associates as she accepted a glass of champagne from a server. I squinted to see more clearly the way she puckered her lips as she held the glass to her mouth. The mouth I had tasted, the lips I had kissed, the neck I had licked. Her breasts were voluptuous in that dress. Her cleavage looked tight and scrambling to peep out of the confines of her tight bodice. Heidi was the sexiest thing in that room and I had noticed the number of heads that had already turned to look at her.
I knew it from the first moment I’d met her. There was something special about that woman. Without having any knowledge of it, Heidi had a way of making a man’s blood glow red hot. She did something to my body just from watching her from this distance. She was absolutely stunning, and I had an advantage over the other men in that room. I had made love to her already. I had heard the sound of her genuine laugh. I had heard all her secrets and hugged her tightly in my arms.
What I would have given to speak to her at that moment! Just have her eyes on me. See her smile, at me. But Heidi hadn’t seen me yet.
Her eyes were still roaming around the place. Was she looking for me? She couldn’t have been. I knew she despised me. After the tumultuous relationship she had with Jake, and her insistence that she never did one night stands, it was obvious that she hated me now. She would never speak to me again. So, who was she looking for then?
I tried to keep myself hidden in the group I was standing with just so that I could have a few more minutes of watching her without detection. But as I stared at her, she turned her head slightly and our eyes met from across the room.
It felt like the world was standing still. Nobody else in the room existed other than the two of us. Her eyes grew larger, but she held my gaze. Her lips were firmly pressed together; she looked worried. I was aware of the grim, dark expression on my face. But I couldn’t change it. I couldn’t help but allow her to see just how much I wanted her and the effect she had on my body.
Then she rolled her eyes and looked away, smiling at one of the girls in the next instance. It was a clear message that she wanted to have nothing to do with me. My suspicions were correct. I was going to have to keep my distance from her. The last thing I wanted was for Heidi to storm out of the event without seeing the end.
At the other side of the room, I saw Cormac leave my mother’s side and weave through the crowds towards Heidi. What was he doing? Having him talk to Heidi was not a part of the plan.
He had come back to Brunswick just four days ago from his holiday in Spain and I told him everything. Even though Cormac was four years younger than me, only twenty-five, I felt that he had the right to know what was going on. I needed him to live with mom till Massimo left town. And while I came clean to him about everything else, I told him about Heidi as well. Now that I had admitted to myself what I really felt for her, I found that I couldn’t stop talking about her. I wanted to tell the whole world how I felt.
I watched as Cormac approached her. I wanted to yell out to him to stop what he was doing, that he would ruin everything, but I couldn’t.
From the corner of my eye, I watched someone else enter the room. Massimo, in a formal shirt and mismatched pants with his hair greasy and slicked back as always. He looked confused and tried to find me in the crowd, but he was the other person I was going to have to avoid for the night. Both Heidi and Massimo had been invited here for a reason and nothing was going to come in my way now.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Heidi
For a second, I thought it was Rhett walking towards me. The man had the same icy blue eyes, and similar dark, spiky hair. This guy was more muscular though, probably the same height as Rhett and I could see he was grinning at me. Deep dimples indented both his cheeks as he weaved through the crowds towards me. He was dressed in a smart tuxedo, and I was feeling very confused because I didn’t think there could be someone else who was as good looking as Rhett!
“Heidi McNeil?” he said, when he approached me. Lucia and Sophie turned to look at him too, and I saw the effect he had on the two girls.
“Yes?” I said, still feeling confused.
“Hi, I’m Cormac. We spoke on the phone,” he said and extended his hand to me.
“Oh, yes, of course. We’ve never met before,” I replied, blushing, and I shook his hand. Gently, he tugged at my hand till we were standing to the side, and Lucia and Sophie turned away to talk amongst themselves.
“That is a gorgeous cake. You’ve gone above and beyond,” he said and loo
ked at the cake in the center of the room, which as we spoke, was being admired by a group of people. I blushed again, caught off guard by this guy’s good looks and his compliments. And I also couldn’t help but have that nagging feeling that he was somehow related to Rhett.
“Thank you very much. It was my pleasure,” I said and I sensed that he was searching my eyes.
“Ms. McNeil…Heidi, can I call you Heidi?” he asked and I nodded. “I believe you know my brother,” he said and immediately I knew what he was talking about. He didn’t have to hint at it again, for me to know he was Rhett’s brother. I felt my muscles stiffen, my shoulders quiver…I’d seen Rhett already from across the room, and I had resolved to keep my distance.
“You said that you were one of the organizers of the event,” I said to him gruffly and Cormac smiled. His dimples grew deeper on his cheeks and I noticed how sharp his brows were, just as sharp as his jaw. The brothers were too good looking to be true.
“I am both,” he replied, and I felt my nostrils flare.
“So, Rhett and you are the organizers of this Ball?” I asked and whipped my head around from him. My eyes automatically searched the crowds for Rhett, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“Well, technically, my brother is the organizer. He paid for the venue and the food and the decorations. I’ve been helping him,” Cormac said, and when I turned back to him, I saw that he was smiling at me.
“I don’t know what you want from me,” I said and clasped my hands together. I was beginning to feel helpless now. It felt like Rhett was doing everything in his power to make me miserable. Wasn’t it enough that he had just disappeared from my life? Pushed me away.
“Rhett wanted you to attend the Ball,” Cormac said, in a kind voice and I rolled my eyes.
“Why? As some kind of compensation prize?” I said, and I could hear the venom in my own voice. I was embarrassed for being fooled by him again.
“No, because there are things he would have liked to say to you himself, but he couldn’t,” Cormac continued and I rolled my eyes.
“So, he sent his younger brother to do it for him? What did he have to say? He’s so very sorry for using me? He wishes me well and hopes I have a good rest of my life?” I was hissing now, leaning closer to Cormac as I spoke.
Cormac took in a deep breath and looked away from me. It seemed like he was searching for Rhett in the crowd as well.
“I can see why Rhett has been obsessing over you, but you have to give him a chance,” he said, turning back to me again. Obsessing over me? The word rang in my ear like a drum, and I almost buckled at my knees. But I managed to hold myself steady and stuck my chin up in the air. I had my armor on against the charm of the Larkin brothers and I wasn’t going to fall for their tricks again.
“I don’t have to do anything. Not after the way he behaved with me. You’re only wasting your time, trying to clean up your brother’s mess,” I said and the lights in the lobby of the museum dimmed. Cormac had drawn closer to me and there was a bright, overhead light now being directed on the small, makeshift stage at the end of the lobby. My brows crossed and I was confused again. What was going on?
“You’re mistaken about my brother, Heidi. You’ve got it all wrong,” I heard Cormac say in my ear and then when I turned, he was already gone. I saw his back, weaving through the crowds again. I couldn’t see Lucia or Sophie either, and I was now standing by myself with a glass of champagne in my hand, surrounded by people I didn’t know.
A loud applause rang out around me, and I tried to look over the heads of the people in front of me. Something was going on up front. My heels were of no help, and I tried to politely squeeze myself into a clearing so that I could see.
Then I saw him. Rhett, in his designer navy suit, his hair styled and smart and his blue eyes complemented by the color of his clothes. Everyone’s eyes were on Rhett Larkin, the best looking man in the room. They were cheering and clapping for him as he shook some hands, waved and with a charming smile on his face, got up on stage.
Chapter Thirty
Rhett
I was glad I couldn’t see Heidi in the crowd in front of me. I was usually very good on stage. Speaking to large crowds had never been a problem for me as it came naturally to me and in fact I enjoyed it. But this evening when I knew what was coming, I wasn’t so sure of my confidence any longer.
Cormac, Hunter and Owen all knew what my plan was and I could see them standing at the bottom of the stage as close as they could to me. It was their show of support and when our eyes met, I saw that they were smiling and clapping their hands. I was grateful for having them there, but this was still going to be a big leap of confidence.
I cleared my throat and adjusted the microphone that had been set up for me. All I could see in front of me was a sea of faces, all staring up at this man in front of them, a man who was a symbol of success and prosperity in Georgia. The image of a self-made young man, who moved from a big city like New York to Brunswick to build his company with his best friends. I knew what they thought of me in Georgia, the reputation I had had gathered - our company created jobs, it contributed to the community, we made a lot of money but it was all hard earned and through honest work. Children wanted to be like us and parents used us as an example to teach their kids about success.
I could potentially be shattering all of that in a matter of minutes. The curtain would finally drop and all these people who respected me might lose all of it. Cameras flashed as I smiled at the crowd as confidently as I could.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m so very glad that you could all join us here this year,” I said and slowly the hum in the room started to diminish. People were falling silent, paying attention, and I was afraid that they might be able to hear my heart beating.
“This year, the charity of my choice as the main event organizer for the Ball is RCCG, which as you all know is the Rehabilitation Center for Children in Georgia,” I said and the crowd broke out in a big applause. I smiled and nodded my head and brought my lips close to the mic again.
“They do amazing work to keep children off the streets, away from crime, and provide them and in special cases, their families, with a safe haven,” I continued and the crowd clapped again.
“Giving them an education, teaching children the importance of good, honest work, letting them see that there are opportunities out there that they have never even heard of…that is what makes the difference. That is what teaches them that they do not have to resort to a life of crime,” I said, in a voice that was loud and heard over the sound of the applause. I was passionate in my speech; I could feel the tear in my own voice and I knew that everyone who was watching me…would sense that this organization was close to my heart in some way. Even if they didn’t know exactly why.
“We have raised three million dollars and counting, tonight!” I said in a loud booming voice and the clapping grew even louder. Somebody hooted, my friends and Cormac in the front were clapping each other’s shoulders and smiling up at me.
“We are hoping that with the money raised, not only will we be able to help in the rehabilitation of kids who come from difficult backgrounds and unfortunate circumstances, but that we will also be able to raise awareness surrounding the issue of juvenile crime,” I continued and several people were nodding their heads and exchanging considerate looks with each other. How long was their consideration going to last? Would it last when they heard the truth? Why exactly this organization was dear to me?
I cleared my throat again and I was nearing the big moment. I saw Massimo in the crowd. He had squeezed his way right up front, pushing people aside so that he could stand right in front of the stage and glare up at me. He had figured it out. He knew exactly what I was about to do and he was panicking.
The only control he had over me was the fact that nobody knew the truth. If I admitted it myself, there would be nothing he could threaten me with. I could file a complaint against him for harassment, get a court order for him to
keep his distance…the options were endless. My secrets were his only means of livelihood at the moment, and he could see it slowly slipping through his fingers right in front of his eyes.
I glared down at him, and then I smiled. Massimo’s face was twisted in rage, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had his hands bunched together at his side. He had assumed that I had called him over for a private meeting and to hand over the money he wanted. This was the last thing he was expecting and as difficult as it was going to be for me - I would have done anything to keep Massimo out of my life, and out of Heidi’s. Even if she never forgave me, even if I never saw her again…I wouldn’t want to put her in harm’s way.
I looked away from Massimo, still smiling, and scanned the crowd. I wanted to see Heidi to make sure she was in the crowd. I caught her standing in the middle and she seemed to be on tip-toes, trying to look at the stage over the people in front of her. Our eyes met, and this time I smiled at her before grabbing the mic with both my hands.
“There is something else I want to tell you all in this room, and the good people of Brunswick,” I said.
Chapter Thirty-one
Heidi
He had something to tell us? My heart was racing. What was going on? The mood in the room had shifted suddenly, not that people weren’t already paying attention to Rhett. But now that he had declared this, everyone was staring up at him, waiting with baited breath for this big revelation that Rhett was about to make. As was I.
Rhett’s eyes looked distant, and he looked over the heads of everyone else as he took in a deep breath before he started speaking again. Anyone in the room could tell that what he was about to say was difficult for him.
“The reason why I chose RCCG as the charity of my choice for tonight’s event is because I was one of those kids. And I wish that someone had given me the right guidance when I needed it,” Rhett said and an immediate buzz erupted in the room. My heart stopped for a few seconds as well, and I stared at him, waiting for him to say something else. To explain further. Rhett was a juvenile criminal? What was he talking about?
Touch Me Page 10
