by Ali Parker
“What?” Max demanded. “Not good enough?”
“It’s a little old,” I admitted.
Max scoffed sarcastically. “Well, next time give me more than a few hours, and I’ll buy you a brand new one, how’s that?”
“I’m sorry.” I lowered the tux. “I’m just nervous.”
“About the banquet?” Max asked.
“Yes.”
I hung the tux on the doorknob and turned to face my brother. He stared back with a look that was too sympathetic.
“Don’t look at me like that.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m allowed to be nervous.”
“How many dates have you been on?” he asked.
“A thousand.”
“Exactly.” Max laughed. “This is nothing for you, man. You’ve done this a thousand times before, so just go to this banquet and make it your bitch.”
“Now you sound like Kason.”
Max’s face fell into a dark glare. “Don’t compare me to that asshole.”
“He’s not that bad.”
“Didn’t you tell me he’s dating Candice’s little sister now?” Max accused. “Sounds like a real winner.”
“It’s a job,” I began, but I quickly fell silent. Defending Kason to Max was useless. They’d hated each other for years.
“You’ll be fine,” Max said. “Trust me.”
I nodded and grabbed the tux. Grimacing at my brother, I hurried into the bathroom to get dressed. Max’s tux hung a little loose on me, but it was barely noticeable. I smoothed out the jacket and went to work on my hair. It didn’t take long to finish getting ready. When I stepped back into Max’s bedroom, I still had over an hour until Candice was expecting me.
“Thank you,” I told Max. “For the tux.”
“No worries.” Max shrugged. “What are you going to say to Paisley?”
Laughing, I shook my head and hung the now empty coat hanger back in Max’s closet. I looked back to see his eyes narrowed.
“What?” I asked. “It’s not a big deal. So Paisley likes Candice. That’s a good thing.”
“It is.” Max nodded slowly. “But it’s a little fast, don’t you think?”
“Max,” I warned.
“I just want to make sure you’re not going to run out and buy a ring.”
I rolled my eyes and left him sitting on the edge of his bed. He hurried after me, lowering his voice as we moved closer to the living room.
“Candice is great,” he whispered. “But you don’t know her that well yet, and if Paisley is already attached, think how much more attached she’ll be if you actually do propose.”
“I’m not proposing,” I snapped, glaring at him over my shoulder.
“Good.” Max’s tone had a note of finality I didn’t like. Rounding on him, I narrowed my eyes.
“Listen,” I said. “Whatever does or doesn’t happen between me and Candice is my business, okay? Not yours. I can make my own decisions.”
“Like the decision about the job?”
Max’s eyebrows rose as we waited for my retort, but a lump had formed in my throat, making it impossible to talk. I swallowed hard and turned away.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Pea!” I called out to Paisley as I moved to the front door.
“Ryan—” Max began.
“Bye, Max,” I said firmly. “Thanks again for your help.”
Without another word, I wrenched open the front door and stepped outside. I didn’t look back until I climbed behind the wheel of my car. By then, Max had already shut the door firmly behind me.
***
As I stepped up to Candice’s door, I tried to put my brother’s words out of my mind. I knew Max was only trying to help. The job with his company was good, great even, but I didn’t know if it was for me. It was a lot to consider, and I couldn’t jump without thinking things through first.
Still, guilt wormed its way through my chest as my knuckles collided with Candice’s front door.
I heard her footsteps click on the floor inside. Clearing my throat, I smoothed my hands over Max’s tuxedo and hoped Candice wouldn’t be able to tell it was borrowed. My nerves were running on overdrive, but it didn’t matter. As soon as she opened the door, my mind went blank.
“Hey, you.” Candice smiled and stepped into the hallway.
She kissed my cheek and took a step back while I tried my best not to gawk at her. It was hopeless. My eyes couldn’t help but rake themselves down her perfectly adorned body.
“You look stunning,” I breathed.
And it was true. Candice’s floor-length red dress hugged her curves in a way that was both elegant and sexy. The skirt of her dress fanned out around her, giving the illusion that the material was somehow going to surround us both.
When I blinked and looked back at her face, I was even more transfixed.
Her brown eyes shone in the dim light of the hallway. She wore more makeup than I’d seen her wear before, but it was still just enough to bring out her natural beauty. I stared, unable to speak.
“Are you ready?” she asked, a shaky laugh slipping through her lips.
“Sure.” I cleared my throat. “Yes. Um, yeah. We should go.”
Candice smiled nervously and turned to lock her front door. My eyes caught sight of the intricate braid curving around the back of her hair. It stopped just above her neck then trailed into thick curls that cascaded down her back and over one shoulder.
When she turned around to face me, her cheeks flushed.
“If you don’t stop staring at me like that,” she said, “we may never make it out of this hallway.”
“I’m okay with that,” I teased.
Candice’s eyes rolled to the ceiling and then settled on my face. With a dramatic wave of my hand, I offered her my arm and led the way down the hall. We stepped into the elevator, and I pressed the button for the garage.
“Actually.” Candice moved forward. She pressed the button for the first floor and stepped back. “There’s a car waiting for us out front.”
“Oh? My car isn’t good enough?” I laughed, not really bothered. “The company had to send something fancier?”
“Actually, yes.” Candice’s cheeks burned red. “I’m sorry. The board insisted.”
“Candice.” I squeezed her hand. “I don’t mind. This is your night.”
She smiled and moved closer to me. I wrapped my arm around her back just as the elevator doors parted. We hurried out onto the sidewalk, and my mouth fell open.
The “car” Candice had mentioned was nothing of the sort. A huge limo was parked on the street before us. It was a shocking shade of white, almost like it had been bleached. I froze, unable to do anything but gape.
“Some car,” I finally said. Shaking my head, I led the way forward.
Opening the door, I stood aside to let Candice slide in first. She moved across the seat. I glanced at the driver who was standing just behind me before following her.
“This is insane.” I laughed. “I’ve only been in a limo once.”
“Romeo business?” she asked.
“Funeral.”
“Ah.” Candice nodded. “I know that feeling.”
Silence fell over us as the driver got behind the wheel. He slowly inched his way onto the street, sliding easily between cars and melding into New York City traffic.
If my nerves had been fried before, it was nothing compared to how I felt now. With one glance at Candice, though, I knew I had to get my shit together.
Her entire body was trembling as she gazed wide-eyed out the window. I watched as she curled her fingers into fists on her lap. Her dress, beautiful as ever, was bunched up beneath her. She seemed to realize it at the same time I did because her hands unclenched and flew to the dress. Lifting herself slightly, she smoothed out the material so it wouldn’t wrinkle.
“Hey.” I reached for her hand. “You’re gorgeous.”
“I’m freaking out,” she admitted. “What if this was a mistake? What if the board—?”
/>
“It will be fine,” I promised. “I’m right here, okay? Nothing bad is going to happen tonight. I’ll make sure of that.”
“Yeah?” She grimaced. “How are you gonna do that?”
“By body-slamming anyone who tries to be a dick.”
Candice burst into laughter, exactly as I hoped she would. She sank against me, all the air leaving her chest in one hearty exhale.
“I love you,” I told her. “Tonight is going to be amazing.”
“Don’t leave my side, okay?” she asked as the limo pulled out front of the hotel.
“I promise.”
She smiled and nodded to the driver. He quickly got out of the car and hurried around to open our door. The second he did, cameras began flashing in my face. I stepped onto the sidewalk and turned back to Candice. Taking my hand, she rose out of the limo.
From the way she was smiling at the cameras, no one would ever know she was nervous.
“You’ve done this a time or two,” I whispered.
“I’ve been coming to these banquets since I was sixteen.” She spoke through her teeth, waving at the camera as we moved to the front of the hotel.
“Then, why are you nervous?” I asked.
Candice didn’t answer until we’d stepped inside the hotel lobby. Everything around us glittered. Gold and silver decorations covered the entryway. Even the carpet beneath our feet shone brightly, but Candice didn’t notice a thing. Her eyes were fixed on something ahead of us.
“That,” she said, pointing across the lobby. “That is why I’m nervous.”
I followed her gaze to see Deborah marching toward us, her lips pressed into a tight line and her eyes narrowed into slits.
Chapter 58
Candice
My mother’s first words to me were, “You’re late.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes and gripped Ryan’s arm tighter. He squeezed my hand but stayed silent beside me.
“Hello, Mom.” I leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss against her cheekbone. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Candi.” Mom dismissed my compliment with a wave of her hand. “But it’s nothing. I wore this same gown to the Botanical Gala last season. I can only hope no one notices.”
“It’s not exactly the same crowd,” Ryan assured her.
Mom shot him an approving look. She flicked her eyes down his tux and then back up to his face. With only a nod, she jerked her head and led the way to the ballroom.
“Are we really late?” Ryan hissed in my ear.
I shook my head. “No.”
He chuckled and let his arm fall. My hand slipped off his bicep as he slid his over the small of my back. Every time he touched me, my body relaxed. I fell into a calm state that no one, not even my mother, could ruin.
We stepped inside the ballroom, and Ryan froze beside me.
“Holy shit.” His voice was barely above a whisper, but Mom heard it. She glared over her shoulder. Ryan quickly snapped his lips closed and stared down at the floor.
“At least she didn’t cover her ears,” I said softly. “That’s progress.”
Ryan snorted and followed me farther into the room. The place was covered in gorgeous decorations that matched the ballroom perfectly. Everything was exactly as I’d planned it, down to the accent flowers in the centerpieces.
“So,” I said, tapping my mother’s shoulder. “What do you think?”
Mom turned to me. I expected to see disapproval in her eyes, but they were filled with nothing but pride. Beaming, she placed her palm against my cheek and sighed.
“It’s gorgeous,” she gushed. “You’ve outdone yourself this year, Candice.”
“I think Daddy would have liked it.”
Nodding, she patted my cheek and blinked back her emotions. It was hard for both of us to attend a Smart Cosmetics Anniversary Banquet without my father. I didn’t think it would ever get any easier.
“I’m glad you brought Ryan,” Mom said suddenly. Ryan stood up straighter beside me. “And not just so Bart Banks will hold his tongue.”
“I’m glad I could come,” Ryan said. “It was an honor when Candice asked.”
“Well,” Mom smiled at me. “You certainly clean up well, Ryan. I’m sure you’ll be the perfect date for my Candice.”
“I’ll try.”
Ryan pressed his fingers into my back just enough for me to feel it. I moved an inch toward him, my shoulder grazing against his chest.
Things between Mom and me were slowly improving, but I still felt the sting of betrayal whenever she talked about Ryan. My mind turned to Leslie, who I knew would be arriving soon, but I shook off my worry and moved farther into the ballroom.
“Almost everyone is here,” Mom whispered in my ear. “You sister is late, of course, but the entire board has arrived.”
“I’ll make the rounds,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “Ryan, join me?”
“Of course.”
We excused ourselves from my mother’s presence and held tightly to each other as we made a wide circle around the room. I stopped each time a new face appeared, shaking hands and introducing Ryan with all the practiced grace I could muster.
It wasn’t until we came face to face with Bart that I felt my confidence begin to fade. My stomach tightened, and my feet slowed, the fake smile pulling tighter across my face.
Feeling my hesitation, Ryan slowed and turned his head to the side. His lips rested against my earlobe, so no one else would see him speak.
“Who is he?”
“That’s Bartholomew Banks,” I whispered back. “Head of the board and my father’s best friend before he died.”
“Oh great.” Ryan rolled his eyes. “That dick.”
I snorted but quickly recovered. Ryan straightened his jacket and offered me his arm. He smiled at me with ease as I wrapped my fingers around his bicep. Without an ounce of hesitation, Ryan breezed forward and fixed his eyes on Bart.
“And who might this young man be?” Bart asked.
“Ryan Winters.” Ryan stuck his hand out. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Banks.”
“Oh, please,” Bart shook Ryan’s hand firmly, “call me Bart.”
“Bart, I’m glad you could make it,” I said, jumping in. “Is Gwen with you?”
Bart glanced around quickly. “She’s around here somewhere,” he said. “I lost her over by the ice sculptures. Which, I must say, are fantastic this year.”
“Aren’t they?” I asked. “Kendra found a new artist in Brooklyn.”
“Brooklyn?” Bart scoffed.
“I was hesitant at first,” I said. “But as you can see, it was well worth the risk.”
“I would have to agree,” Bart said. “Though I’m surprised anything good can come out of Brooklyn.”
Ryan tensed beside me. I squeezed his arm, my smile still in place. Bart was baiting me, but I refused to let my confidence slip. It didn’t matter that my stomach was on fire. I wouldn’t let this man get the better of me.
“You know,” Ryan said thoughtfully. “I love the ice sculptures, too, but I’m a little surprised there aren’t more products featured. I expected to try on a few new shades of lipstick tonight.”
Bart roared with laughter. His hand flew to his chest as his stomach jiggled with amusement. Shooting Ryan an appreciative look, I jumped at the chance to lighten the mood.
“Maybe later, honey,” I teased. “You know we’re giving out free samples in our gift bags.”
“Oh, good.” Ryan pretended to be serious.
“It seems like you found a good man to accompany you tonight, Candice,” Bart said. “These events can be dreadfully dull. It’s always good to have a sense of humor when surrounded by businessmen.”
“And women,” Ryan added pointedly.
“Yes,” Bart conceded. “We wouldn’t be here tonight without one woman in particular.”
The smile he gave me didn’t quite reach his eyes, but it was enough. Bart had gotten what he wanted
when I showed up with Ryan by my side. As much as I hated to see the smug look on his face, I loved to see the disappointment in his eyes.
“Well, I really should make the rounds,” I said. “Say goodbye before you leave, won’t you?”
“Of course, of course.” Bart waved us away.
Ryan and I slipped around the perimeter of the room, putting as much distance between us and Bart as we could.
“God, he fucking sucks.” Ryan laughed. “Your dad actually liked him?”
“Bart wasn’t always so condescending,” I said. “He used to be kind. Mom thinks he wants my job, which is why he’s being so—”
“Dickish?”
I slapped Ryan’s arm, but I couldn’t stop the giggle from escaping my lips.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I won, and Bart knows it. There’s no way he can come after my job now.”
“Feels good, doesn’t it?”
“You have no idea.”
A server appeared by our side. She offered us each a glass of champagne and then moved silently across the room.
“This is seriously fancy,” Ryan said. “I’m honestly in shock.”
“Get used to it,” I said. “You’ll be my date from now on.”
He smirked over his champagne glass. “Oh?”
“Only if you’re up for it,” I teased. “It’s a lot of pressure. What with the ice sculptures and everything.”
“I think I can handle it.”
Glancing around to make sure we weren’t being watched, Ryan grabbed me around the waist and pulled me forward. He kissed me swiftly before backing away.
“I saw that,” a voice spoke from behind me.
I whipped my head around to see Leslie with her hand wrapped around Kason’s arm. My stomach fell to the floor, but I kept my face impassive.
“You look great, Les.” I hugged her. Her blue dress was just modest enough to pass our mother’s inspection, but still daring enough to fit Leslie’s style.
“Thanks,” she said. “You too. Your ass looks fantastic.”
“Leslie,” I snapped.
She blinked innocently. “What?”
“She’s not wrong,” Ryan said.
Kason laughed and shook Ryan’s hand. Ryan tensed slightly but didn’t say a word. I could tell he was trying to keep things civil.
