“It’s not a problem,” Fancy said, her lips trembling. She began to scribble on the piece of paper in front of her.
“The place looks lovely,” Meryl cooed. “Amazing what a fresh can of paint will do.”
Fancy shook her head, her expression reflecting her supreme displeasure.
Case sent Fancy an apologetic glance. Fancy’s eyes radiated irritation, not only with Meryl but with himself as well. Stuffing down a feeling of irritation, Case led Meryl away from Fancy and toward the main hallway.
“What are you doing here?” he spit out, not failing to mask his anger.
“I thought I’d surprise you,” Meryl said, flashing him a grin.
“You surprised me all right. But not in a good way,” he snapped.
Her face fell, then crinkled into a mask of despair. “Oh, Case,” she cried. “I never imagined that you wouldn’t want me here.” She raised a hand to her throat as a look of devastation passed over her face.
“Meryl. This is an invite-only reception. You’re not friends with Fancy or Charlotte or any of the girls. Why would you show up here uninvited and unannounced?”
She stared at him blankly. “Because I’m your girlfriend.”
Case held up his hands. “Whoa. Meryl. We’re not in a relationship. We went out on a few dates. That’s all. I’m not looking for a relationship. I told you that in the gentlest of ways.” He shook his head, overwhelmed by a feeling of astonishment. Hadn’t Meryl picked up on any of his cues? He made a deliberate attempt to make his voice sound more gentle. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I think we’re better off as friends.”
“This is because of her, isn’t it?” she asked, jutting her chin in the direction of the alcove.
“Lower your voice, Meryl,” Case said in an insistent voice. “People are staring. And I won’t have you busting in here and ruining the evening for these ladies. They’ve worked way too hard to not fully enjoy the festivities.”
“This is all for her, isn’t it?” she sobbed. “All for Fancy. That’s why you’re breaking up with me. That’s why you don’t want me here, isn’t it?”Meryl’s features twisted. Her voice was shrill. “I can’t believe after everything she put you through in the past that you’re still sniffing around her as if she’s the prize flower in the garden.”
“Lower your voice to a dull roar,” he said in a sharp tone. Charlotte stood off in the distance staring at Meryl with a disbelieving look. She sent him a look that spoke volumes. His sister couldn’t understand why he was here at the event with Meryl.
He nodded back at his sister, letting her know he could handle the situation.
As guests began to stare and whisper, Case gently took Meryl by the arm and led her outside.
“I think you should go home, Meryl. This isn’t the right place for you to be tonight.” He studied her features. They were creased with strain and anger. Something felt very off about Meryl this evening. He couldn’t believe she was acting this way.
“So you just want to get rid of me, is that it?” she asked, sounding like a petulant child.
He shook his head. Tonight was about celebrating Savannah House. He didn’t want to spend another moment going round and round with Meryl. It wasn’t going anywhere. She was sounding like a broken record.
“You don’t seem well tonight. Let me take you home,” Case suggested.
“No!” she cried out. “I can make it home on my own.”
“I don’t think you’re in any state to drive,” Case said, feeling worried about Meryl driving in her out of control state. He reached for Meryl’s hand, wanting to make sure that she was safe this evening.
“As if you care,” Meryl snapped as she pushed him away and stalked off toward the valets.
Case stood and watched from a distance as her car was brought around. Meryl got into the driver’s seat and roared off into the velvety night. Case shook his head in disbelief. How could his judgment have been so off about Meryl? She was a bitter and angry woman, who seemed to have an axe to grind against Fancy. And she had delusions of grandeur about their relationship.
He felt a sudden burst of anger at himself. Ever since he’d ended things with Fancy there had been huge lapses of judgment—both in business and with his personal life.
It felt as if he couldn’t see straight anymore. And it worried him about the choices he’d made—major decisions that had deep ripples in his present-day life. How could he have been so convinced that Fancy was no longer the woman for him? Had he made the most colossal mistake in his life by ending his engagement to Fancy? She’d made errors in judgment with Marc, but had that really been enough to cast her out of his life?
He raised a hand to his chest as a piercing sensation had him in its grip. For the first time in two years he felt that he was seeing things clearly. And he didn’t like what he was seeing. Pride had blinded him for a very long time. And now, he was beginning to feel the ramifications of his rash and prideful choices. And it made his heart ache as it never had before.
**
Fancy held it in for as long as she could. The moment Meryl had shown up, her insides had been bristling with embarrassment and vast disappointment. Her ex-fiancé had invited another woman—her childhood nemesis, no less—to her big night in celebration of the relaunch of Savannah House. She felt her cheeks burning, but she had no clue as to whether it was from shame or anger. Or maybe hurt. All she knew for certain was that something was bubbling up inside her and threatening to spill over.
If she was ten years younger she might stamp her foot in frustration. At her age it wouldn’t be a good look, especially on her special evening.
Once upon a time Case had loved her to distraction. There hadn’t been a single thing in the world that he wouldn’t have done for her. And he had done so many wonderful things. Romantic gestures that had let Fancy know exactly what she meant to him. A hot air balloon ride on her birthday. A room full of roses on their anniversary. A moonlit carriage ride through downtown Savannah. She raised her hand to her chest as pain sliced through her. Those days were gone, and now she was left with nothing but memories. And even though sweet, tender memories should make her feel better, all they were doing at the moment was serving as a reminder of loss. Huge, crushing loss.
Suddenly, it was becoming way too much to bear. On this night of all nights she had been determined to shine and smile and show all of Savannah that she was a survivor. But after seeing Meryl, she felt like a deflated balloon. Tears stung her eyes and she sniffed them away. It killed her to know that Meryl had taken her place in Case’s life.
“Hey, are you okay?” Olivia was standing beside her, staring at her with clear concern. Her warm brown eyes radiated compassion.
“I’ll be fine,” she said in a shaky voice. “Just feeling a bit overwhelmed. I’m going to go out back and get some fresh air.”
“Do you want some company?” Olivia asked. “You can lean on my shoulders anytime.”
Fancy reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand. “Thanks for the offer, but I need to clear my head.” She smiled at Olivia, trying not to fall apart before she headed outside. There was no need to put a damper on Olivia’s night simply because she was feeling out of sorts.
Olivia studied her carefully. “If you’re sure,” she hedged.
“I’m sure,” Fancy said. She made a shooing motion with her hands. “Go back to the festivities. This place is beginning to fill up.”
“Don’t stay outside too long. We’re going to do our welcome speech in a half hour or so and we need you there.”
Fancy made her way through the hall, managing to put on a brave face as she greeted old friends and members of Savannah society. She prayed that she wouldn’t lay eyes on Case and Meryl. It would be devastating to her if she did. At this moment she needed to go outside in the cool night air and gather strength. If she was going to have to face them as a couple this evening, she needed her wits about her.
As soon as she pushed open the back door lead
ing to the gardens, she felt an immense sense of relief. The fall night air swept across her body, making her shiver slightly. She’d been in such a hurry to leave the party that she’d forgotten her wrap inside. Oh well, she thought with a sigh. There was no way she was going back inside for it. Better to be chilly than to risk coming face-to-face with Meryl before she’d prepared herself. There had been such a look of triumph stamped on Meryl’s face. She couldn’t help but think that her childhood foe was still trying to one-up her. It was clear that she hadn’t changed at all since they were kids.
Lord, please wrap your arms around me tonight. I need You. I need strength. I need to face whatever is happening between Case and Meryl. I can’t stick my head in the sand and pretend that he hasn’t moved on. Please give me the grace and courage to let go of him and not give in to bitterness. Let me face my enemy with class and not stoop to her level.
Tears ran down her face and she allowed herself to sob quietly. The gardens had come a long way in the past few months. They were no longer full of weeds and out of control. Hope had been working hard on this project, and she had managed to beautify the property in so many ways. The romantic white trellis and arbor had been repainted by Hope so that it now had a fresh, new glow. With the help of gardeners, Hope had come up with the idea to create a small maze to add a bit of glamour to the garden. In springtime, roses would be in full bloom, along with an assortment of other flowers. It was truly stunning.
“Fancy. What are you doing out here when the celebration is inside?” The richly textured male voice came out of nowhere. It crackled in the night air like electricity. It was a voice she knew as well as her own.
Fancy whirled around. How had Case known she was out here? She quickly swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to get rid of the tell-tale evidence. By the way Case was staring at her, he knew she’d been crying. His brows were drawn together in a fierce frown.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice ripe with tenderness. His gray-blue eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
“I’m fine,” she said, her voice trembling.
He easily swallowed up the existing space between them. “Looks like you’ve been crying.” He reached out and brushed his thumb under her eye, wiping away the last traces of moisture. “I hate seeing you so torn apart.”
“Don’t you dare feel sorry for me, Case Duvall. I won’t be able to bear it.” She willed her lips not to tremble so violently. And why did her voice sound so strained? She was mere seconds away from crumbling right before Case’s probing gaze.
“How could I feel sorry for the most magnificent woman here tonight?” he asked, his voice sounding husky and rugged to her ears.
She raised her head up to look at him. Sincerity was emanating from his eyes. He was gazing at her with a look of male appreciation. Oh my goodness. It had been a long time since she’d seen Case looking at her as if he saw her. Truly saw her! For the most part he’d been looking straight through her for the last few years. She felt a sudden chill sweep through her that had nothing to do with the night air.
“Thank you,” she whispered, hoping not to break this wonderful spell by speaking. If she pinched herself, would she awaken from a lovely dream?
“You look utterly radiant. Blue and gold always did look amazing on you.” Case’s eyes traveled down the length of her. He let out a sigh of satisfaction. “This dress was made for you.”
Blue and gold. Her two favorite colors. Not many people knew that. But Case did. He’d known everything about her right down to the freckle on her left ear.
Could it be? Was it possible?
“You!” Fancy said in a shocked tone. “It was you.”
“Me what?” Case said, eyes twinkling. She could tell he was trying to keep his expression shuttered, but he couldn’t manage to control his facial expressions. An impish grin lit up his face. He was totally giving himself away.
“You bought this gown for me. Didn’t you?” she asked as her heart pounded like a jackhammer inside her chest. She felt as if everything in her world hung in the balance. If her hunch was correct, it changed everything. “It was hand delivered at the house by Lily. She wouldn’t say who had purchased it for me, only that it was someone who knew how lovely I would look in blue and gold.”
He went silent for a moment. She could see the wheels turning in his head. After a few beats he answered her. “Yes, I did. I overheard you and Charlotte talking the other day at Savannah House. You were both lamenting the fact that you couldn’t purchase this one-of-a-kind gown. Once I saw it, I knew it was meant for you. No question.”
“C-Case,” she sputtered. “I don’t know what to say. What a kind, wonderful thing to have done for me. I-I don’t know why you would do such a generous thing on my behalf.”
Case shrugged. “I’m not an ogre, Fancy. Even though I may have been acting like one for a while now.” He clenched his jaw. “I still care about you. And believe it or not, I want good things for you. This gown was a first step in us releasing all the bitterness and anger from the past. I can’t carry that around with me anymore. It’s not good for the soul.”
Fancy choked back the raw emotion that rippled through her like wildfire. Case’s generous gift warmed her heart. Never in a million years had she dreamed that Case was her anonymous benefactor. It made the gown feel even more special knowing that Case had been responsible for buying it for her.
She shook her head in agreement. “No, it’s not. It’s hard to walk around in the world when you’re carrying the weight of it on your shoulders.”
“I agree,” Case said with a nod. “I don’t want to carry that around anymore.”
“How does Meryl feel about you buying this gown for me?” she asked. Fancy knew she wasn’t being subtle, but she was dying of curiosity about Case’s date. If he was out here with her, where on earth was Meryl?
He shrugged. “I didn’t tell her about the gown. It’s really none of her business.” He quirked his mouth.“By the way, Meryl went home. For the record, she and I are not together. We went out a few times, but I quickly saw that there wasn’t anything between us. She hasn’t evolved as much as she was pretending to.” He made a face that spoke volumes.
“I could have told you that,” Fancy muttered. “Some people never change.”
“I’m sorry if seeing her upset you. I know you’ve had your issues with her in the past,” Case said in a contrite voice. “This is your night to shine. I’m sorry if anything I did has taken away from it.”
Relief flooded her at the realization that Meryl had left Savannah House. Fancy knew some might view her feelings as petty, but having Meryl in attendance had been tantamount to having a dark cloud hovering over her. And judging by Case’s tone and the fact that Meryl had been sent packing, there wasn’t anything romantic going on between the two of them. That development made her want to click her heels and do a cartwheel on the lawn.
She grinned at Case, suddenly feeling as if she was floating on a cloud. “Tonight is magical. Nothing can ruin it. Thank you for checking in on me, Case. That’s one of the things I miss most about…us. You always took such good care of me.”
He walked toward her slowly so that there were only mere inches between them. He reached out and brushed her hair back from her face. Their gazes locked. Something flickered in the depths of his amazing gray-blue eyes that caused goosebumps to rise on the back of her neck.
“You must be chilly,” he said. She watched as he shrugged off his jacket and placed it gently behind her. She placed one arm through a sleeve, then the other. Immediately she felt infused by Case’s heat. She wrapped her arms around her chest, enjoying the light, spicy scent of his cologne. The tux jacket smelled just like him. If she could, Fancy would take the jacket home with her, so his scent would never be far away from her.
Stop it! You’re being ridiculous. You’re not a schoolgirl pining away for a boyfriend. Act like an adult, for goodness sakes.
She looked up at him, reminding
herself that staring into the sweet oblivion of his eyes might be akin to touching fire. Fancy knew far too well that being burned by love was an incredibly painful thing to bear. She wasn’t certain if she could ever take that chance again. Not even for a man she loved. The price was far too high.
“Why are you being so nice to me? We’ve made our peace, but all this kindness seems above and beyond.” She blurted out the words without even thinking. Although she loved this truce between the two of them, she knew how dangerous it was to be on the receiving end of Case’s charm and goodness and tenderness. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself. Falling deeper and deeper in love with him wasn’t an option. Loving Case was too dangerous. She didn’t think her heart could take it if they got back together and then it all fell apart. Again.
Case winced at her comment. He recovered by giving her the slightest of smiles. “Perhaps because for a very long time now I haven’t been very nice to you.”
“I haven’t been deserving of it,” she said, bowing her head down. She felt a pulse of electricity as Case tipped her chin up with his fingers. She didn’t want to look at him right now. Fancy knew love must be blazing in her eyes. There was no way Case wouldn’t see it. Hiding her love for him was an impossibility, especially when they were so up close and personal with one another.
“That’s not true. I’ve been walking through my pride for a long time now. I’m sorry,” he said. “Finding out about your…close relationship with Marc was painful. It rocked me to my core. And the whole city was buzzing about it, which added to my humiliation.”
“I’m sorry. I never considered that my friendship with Marc would ever lead to the destruction of our relationship or a mini scandal here in Savannah.” She shook her head, pain ricocheting through her as hurtful memories crashed over her. Case, as well as the Duvall family, meant the world to her. It stung to know she’d been the instrument of their pain and humiliation. She’d come face-to-face with them earlier this evening and the tension had been acute.
The Last Kiss (Secrets of Savannah Book 3) Page 9
