Bedeviled (Beguiling Bachelors Book 3)
Page 19
Wobbling unsteadily after months on low shoes, Charlotte exited the elevator on the eighth floor into a fairyland of flowers, candlelight and beautiful people. Waiters moved on silent feet through the enormous and noisy crowds passing cocktails and canapés. Elegant men and women talked politics or rehashed their day in the windy city trying to outdo or out argue each other. Charlotte looked for a safe group to attach herself to and was relieved when a hand steadied her on the plush carpets.
“You look ravishing tonight,” Randall Parker offered sincerely, not a hint of flirtation in his voice. “My fiancé has sent me to fetch you and bring you safely through the assemblage to our little nonpolitical enclave.”
“Thank you, kind sir. That would be welcome indeed,” Charlotte said before giving him a peck on the cheek, wiping off the lipstick she left there and then taking his arm.
Randall navigated the outskirts of the room and delivered Charlotte to a small seating area where Sloane was waiting, ravishing in a Zuhair Murad gold beaded gown. She was chatting with Missy, who was a perfect foil in her silvery blue dress. Hovering over his wife was Missy’s husband, Stephen, conversing with Tyler, Wyatt and Keeli, who wore a necklace that took Charlotte’s breath away. The heavy gold piece was incorporated into the chain creating a single large shape encrusted in diamonds and sapphires. Charlotte knew it would be the envy of every woman in the room.
When Charlotte gushed over the piece, Keeli fingered the necklace gently, smiling in gratitude. “Tell Alex you like it, Charlotte. I am sure he will buy it for you.”
“Oh, I wish I could,” Charlotte gushed, looking at the piece with longing. “I have never seen anything like it.”
“Well then, seriously, if you won’t tell him, I will get Wyatt to do it. Christmas is right around the corner.”
“Don’t you dare,” Charlotte told Keeli, scandalized at the thought. Charlotte realized that things were different for this crowd. The idea that the gowns, the jewelry, the vacations were easily affordable was second nature to these people. Before entering this world, Charlotte would have considered a new pair of running shoes an extravagant Christmas gift. Economizing was something they had never experienced and could never understand.
“I would never take advantage of Alex that way. But I might have to discuss buying it for myself. I will call you next week,” Charlotte promised, realizing she had the financial wherewithal now to buy herself such a gift. She didn’t need a man to drape her in gold and diamonds. She could do it herself.
Oh, Carlotta Rocha, if only these people knew how far you have come.
“Okay. Have it your way, but jewelry is always so nice as a gift. And the guys are always at a loss about what to get us. A gentle hint….”
“I mean it, Keeli. Not one word.”
After hugs and compliments on appearance, the group moved in unison toward the ballroom to find seats where they would be able to see the processional. Alex came forward quickly to usher them to the bride’s side.
“Charlotte, you take my breath away,” he murmured in her ear as he placed a soft kiss on her bare neck. “Don’t tell Aubrey, but I think every eye will be on you.”
“Tease,” Charlotte accused, but she blushed with the compliment, kissed Alex lightly and moved out of the way and into a seat. Getting this many people seated and quiet would be a challenge. She knew that they were counting on the change in the music to do the trick. which it did. A hush descended on the room quieted as soon as the string quarter played the soft sounds of Jeremiah Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary.
The processional began when the groom’s parents, bursting with pride, took their measured steps down the flower-draped aisle. They were followed by the bridesmaids on the arms of the groomsmen, all looking elegant. One, who briefly caught a stray heel in the white fabric draping the walkway, even stumbled without looking awkward.
There were a large number of attendants so it felt like forever, but finally Aubrey was standing at the end of the aisle on her father’s arm, looking lovely and innocent. Her Marchese gown of tulle, lace, beading and pearls showed off her figure without overwhelming her small frame and the simple bouquet of calla lilies was perfect. She was a storybook bride. Adam at the top of the aisle was gazing upon her with so much love that Charlotte, who didn’t believe she was sentimental, felt a tear well in the corner of her eye. She dabbed at it quickly, and noted several women around her as well as a man or two doing the same. Gazing at Alex, she saw him looking with soft eyes as his sister was joined with the man of her dreams.
The service was lovely, performed by a woman pastor from Aubrey’s Lake Forest church with a wonderful combination of humor and gravitas and with warm personal references. It was obvious that Aubrey had grown up in the church and was well known and well liked. Soon Adam was kissing his blushing bride and the ceremony was over. The huge crowd followed the recessional from the room politely exiting row by row, as if they were disembarking a plane.
Alex skipped the reception line to find Charlotte, sneaking up behind her with two glasses of champagne and a large, public kiss. He looked so handsome in his classic tuxedo. His shoulders looked broad and his legs looked especially long with the satin stripe creating the illusion of additional height. Alex had his thick hair combed from his rugged face and the cleft in his chin appeared more prominent than usual, his eyes more blue.
“I must be the luckiest girl in the room,” Charlotte told him. “You look breathtakingly handsome.” Holding her hands, Alex planted small kisses her lips in response.
The ceremony had touched them both, leaving them more loving and attuned, in their own bubble, until they were repeatedly interrupted by well-wishers and friends or business people asking Alex for advice or support.
“Okay if I call you next week?” they would ask before walking away. There were directors of organizations wanting to chat briefly about donations. Alex politely deflected them all.
“This is my sister’s wedding day. Please call my office next week.” Turning to Charlotte, he added in a low voice, “Thankfully, the election just ended or I would been inundated with requests for support from that corner as well.”
Watching the interaction, Charlotte realized what a powerful man Alex was in the community. Everyone wanted to assure they said hello, did some small talk that he would find memorable, pay him some compliment. They knew that he had the financial capability to make or break them, either personally through his philanthropy or through business bank loans and deals.
When it was just the two of them, or when they rejoined the group of his childhood friends, it was easy to forget his wealth and influence. Then he was just Alex. She could see him physically change, dropping his guard and relaxing again.
No wonder he kept his friendships from childhood. He had known these men since they were boys, since the days when they could offer each other only a buddy to share a walk to school, defense in a game of football, a set up with that cheerleader they were eyeing or perhaps a stray answer to a test question. Alex could be assured that they loved him for himself, not what he could offer them monetarily.
Besides, all of his friends had become successful in their own rights. Tyler and Wyatt were setting the world on fire running Lyons Technical Solutions. The small startup was a powerhouse in real estate sales applications after only a few years. Tyler also retained his connections from his time as a partner in a prestigious law firm that handled Chicago’s biggest clients. Randall had transitioned into running his family’s private investment firm, scooping up all the new wealthy sports and entertainment figures to add to the firm’s traditional old-money wealth. None of these men needed to get a handout from the others, but they always covered each other’s backs, working as a team to solve problems.
How Charlotte wished she could team up with them to solve her problems now. In less than a week she would be home, brainstorming with her family about how to get out of the mess with Gil as well as the problems she had created with her lies. She desperately wanted
to clear the air with Regan and Alex and move forward in her new Midwestern life. The combined brainpower in this group of friends would have easily helped her out of her predicament, if only she could have asked.
“Charlotte,” Alex interrupted her thoughts, “I want to introduce you to one of the newly elected Massachusetts representatives. I thought you might already know Ellen, since she represents the 7th congressional district, but she says you have never met. Charlotte Roche, may I present the honorable Ellen Barron. Ellen, this is Charlotte Roche, of the famous Boston Roche family.”
“So pleased to make your acquaintance,” Congresswoman Barron said formally giving Charlotte a firm handshake. “I know your family well. They have been among my best supporters. I am very surprised we have never met.”
“Well,” Charlotte stammered, “I have been living here in Chicago during this election.”
“But before that?”
“Yes, Charlotte,” Alex added fuel to the fire, “I know how politically active you are. I can’t believe your paths never crossed.”
“Well, last election I was still a student. Very heads down. But it is so nice to meet you now. Congratulations on your recent win. Massachusetts is lucky to have your cool head on the hill.”
“Thank you so much. I am looking forward to getting some good work done.”
“Actually, Ellen, Charlotte is planning to head home next week for some family time. Perhaps you can all get together while she is visiting.” Charlotte threw Alex a pleading look but he ignored it, forging ahead. “Don’t you think that would be a great idea, Charlotte? I am sure Ellen would love a chance to say thank you in person before the session begins. Maybe you could set something up?”
“Oh, I would love to,” Charlotte began, scrambling for an intelligent excuse to get out of this latest discussion without digging an even bigger ditch to crawl out of later. “But, actually, my family is planning to spend the week in Rhode Island. We have a house at the shore.”
“Oh how unusual for November. But lovely. The beach this time of year is rather chilly, but at least it is less crowded.” Ellen observed with polite surprise. “I assume you are heading to Newport?”
“Yes, Newport. There is always lots to do, even in November and we just want quiet time together,” Charlotte replied, promising to take a drive down to the beach while she was home.
That way this conversation will have at least a kernel of truth.
“Really? I had no idea,” Alex gave Charlotte a seeking look. “You never mentioned it.”
“Well, with all the wedding plans, it didn’t seem important.” Alex looked at her askance, but at least he dropped the topic.
The three talked politics for a few minutes before the Congresswoman excused herself to say hello to other influential people. Alex left as well to get them each another glass of champagne.
Charlotte took a coconut encrusted shrimp off the tray of a passing waiter without even thinking, focused as she was on the mess she had almost stepped into.
How would I have wriggled out of a ‘family’ meeting if the Congresswoman had insisted?
What was Alex about, anyway? He had brought the newly elected official over to meet her intentionally, trying to stir up trouble. Charlotte had seen that mischievous gleam in his eye.
He’s trying to trip me up. Damn him. I should have known he hadn’t dropped this when he stopped pressing me for answers.
Charlotte wanted to be furious but she had a hard time being angry at Alex for wanting to know the truth. They both understood that trust was the foundation of a solid relationship, yet both were unable to trust the other.
What a friggin’ disaster.
“Ready to go in?” Alex asked taking Charlotte’s hand. “I am absolutely starving.” Alex escorted Charlotte into the ballroom, transformed during the hour of cocktails and small talk into a gorgeous dining room set up to feed an army. The lights reflected off the silver and mirror place settings, the flowers filled the room with white and pale greens and a fresh outdoorsy fragrance. Despite the enormous crowd, there was a dance floor, a large band playing on a dais and on display off to one corner, a magnificent wedding cake wrapped with the same delicate flowers and greenery.
Alex and Charlotte took the last two seats at the head table beside the newly elected senator and his wife. In addition, Laurel and Charles, Aubrey and Adam, Adam’s brother and best man, Stuart, and his date, Ashley, and the maid of honor, Jenna, and her date, Ron, sat at the table. Talk was interrupted often by well-wishers stopping by, toasts and speeches and of course the ping of glasses demanding the bride and groom kiss.
Charlotte and Alex moved past the earlier tension caused by the conversation with Congresswoman Barron, and joined in the festivities. Dancing began even as the food was served, with the requisite introduction of the newlyweds, followed by their first dance, dances with father, mother and in-laws.
The food and wine were plentiful and delicious. A winter greens salad with candied walnuts and fried goat cheese was followed by passion fruit sorbet to cleanse the palate before a perfectly seared filet mignon was served beside a succulent lobster and crab cake. Charlotte had intended not to overeat but she had mindlessly eaten too many appetizers to quell her nerves in the large crowd and the dinner was too good to resist.
“You will have to dance with me a lot,” she warned Alex. “I ate so much, I will have to dance off the calories.”
“Nothing would please me more than to provide your aerobic exercise this evening,” Alex laughed offering his arm in a chivalrous move and leading her to the dance floor. “I promise to dance your feet off if you promise to be careful of that ankle.”
“It’s been months, Alex. My ankle is fine now.”
“And we want to keep it that way, please.”
The musicians struck up a medley of slow, romantic Beatles songs and soon Alex was spinning Charlotte in his arms. He was a polished dancer, light on his feet, holding her lightly. Their heights were well matched for her to rest her head on his shoulder and nuzzle his neck.
“Have we danced together before?”
“Just that once at the fundraiser, the one at Navy Pier.”
“Why don’t we dance more, Char? I love holding you in my arms like this,” Alex admitted as he spun Charlotte in a fast turn that left her lightheaded.
“I love being in your arms, Alex, on the dance floor and off. But if you spin me like that again, after all the champagne and food, I don’t promise to remain upright.”
Laughing, Alex slowed his steps for the remainder of the dance before he took his sister in his arms while Charlotte watched from the sidelines. Looking at them together, it was obvious to Charlotte that they were not fully related. Their size and bone structure, and their coloring were all too different. It was equally evident that they loved each other. Alex was bursting with joy over his sister’s happiness combined with brotherly pride.
The night flew by. Charlotte ate the luscious dessert of mini-Crème Brule’s, then found she couldn’t resist the cake, a chocolate and white cake combination oozing with buttercream. As she polished off the last forkful, she was grateful to Katie for being wise enough to keep her out of a skintight dress.
She danced until she finally kicked her shoes off, then she danced some more. She met politicians, business magnates, and the mayor of Chicago. She danced with the senator and both of his sons. She enjoyed following the men through the easy or complex steps. She was surprised to discover that Ethan Howe and all of Alex’s childhood friends were so light on their feet until Ethan explained that in Lake Forest, ballroom dance was still alive and well in junior high classrooms.
“Oh I wish I could have seen you guys at that age, learning to waltz,” Charlotte laughed, pointing to Alex standing just off the dance floor with Wyatt and Tyler. “Having to ask a girl to dance. That must have been hilarious.”
“I wasn’t there when Alex and those guys learned, but it was pretty embarrassing when it was my turn.”
“Are you drunk?” he asked her when she refused to stand on her own two feet.
“No, just tipsy. I am completely done in. I can’t remember ever dancing so much.”
“Ok, sleepy head,” he told her as he flashed his security pass to a stalwart guard, guided her down the hallway and dug in his pocket for the keycard. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Giggling some more Charlotte batted her eyes at Alex. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Alex deflected her remark but once the door was closed behind them he leaned her gently against it. He pressed his body fully against her, kissed her thoroughly, running his hands up her arms until he reached her neck, then her face which he captured in his hands as he deepened their connection.