He’d have to give it to Julie, he looked as good as he possibly could tonight. His only problem? The nerves that he couldn’t get ahold of. All the confidence and eagerness he’d built in getting MAC International off the ground, faded under the weight of this one evening, leaving a giant pit in his stomach that began to balloon into full-fledged nausea.
“You look dashing. I knew you would,” Julie said, coming through their suite of rooms at the hotel cattycorner to his new training facility. His anxiety was so high he couldn’t fully appreciate how beautiful she looked in her floor-length gown that fit her body like a glove.
“I’m not sure I can breathe,” Connor answered, unbuttoning his jacket while backing up to a chair. He’d meant it as a joke, but shit if he wasn’t going to pass out right here.
“You’re fine, honey,” Julie said, following him to the seat. When he dropped his head between his thighs, he didn’t even care that his love stood over him laughing.
“It’s just dinner, Connor,” she said, patting his back again before walking toward the dresser.
“It’s not just dinner. I should have never let Prescott do this for me,” Connor said, rising until he leaned back against the chair, taking in deep breaths. Well, as deep as the tightly knotted tie would allow. “Normal people start their business and build customers, then send gift baskets at Christmas. Why are we having a party before we have a signed contact?”
“You have contracts, and this will show how steady you guys are. How much capital you have. I get why we’re doing all this. It’s not a party. It’s the grand opening. Your facility’s amazing. The world needs to see,” she said, fastening her earrings in place as she came to stand in front of him again.
“The world’s here. We have four ex-presidents right next door. The current vice president. The prime ministers of Britain, France, and Japan. I hate talking to people. I’m terrible at understanding accents. I never know what to say. I’m gonna embarrass myself and ruin this whole thing.”
Julie’s hands went to her waist, her voice turning stern. “No, you’re not. Stop saying that. You have to get ahold of yourself. We’re late. And I don’t want to sound too much like Cole, but you’re seriously being a baby, Connor.”
He stared at her several long seconds, knowing she was right, but not caring in the least. Put him dead center in any combat zone in Iraq, or hell, drop him on a front line in Syria. He’d even rather spend another week at Walter Reed, having his brain scanned in every possible position while trying to find a damned obscure dark spot that they were certain was there… He’d do all that and more to keep from having to navigate a party full of “type-A Reed Prescott in business mode” personalities. He hated this kind of thing.
“You wore that to make me feel better,” he finally said, after getting a good look at her standing in front of him. She had the silver bracelet he’d bought her for Valentine’s Day dangling at her wrist. The bracelet’s links were bound together by small connecting hearts symbolic to him of their connection. His gaze lifted to her neck. He’d gone back weeks later and purchased the matching choker in the same design. Oddly, he found peace in Julie wearing his jewelry.
Abruptly, his eyes narrowed at the manipulation tactic that seemed to be working.
“Not only that, I picked this dress because it fits the style of this jewelry that I love so much.” She bent at the knee, balancing on her high heels as she took his hand. “Remember, let Reed handle the talking. You stick to the talking points they gave you. You’re prepared. We practiced all your answers, and I promise I won’t leave your side. You’re going to see it’s really easy. You won’t mess anything up.”
Like he was a skittish child, she held out her hand as she stood. It took a second, but he did take the offering, letting her pull him up. Julie took a step back, then buttoned his suit in place and dusted off the side. In her high heels, she could almost look him straight in the eyes.
“You’re sexy.”
“That’s not helping. Stay close tonight,” he said, patting his jacket to feel for his phone and wallet.
“Of course, I will,” she said, reaching for her clutch before going to the door. “Now, come on. You’ve stalled us long enough. We only have about twenty minutes before dinner’s served.”
Julie opened the door. Bruno stood right outside and looked past her to smirk at him. Secretly, he and Bruno had become pretty good friends. They talked quite a bit, mostly about weaponry, but since Connor loved that stuff, it worked out well for him. He estimated that particular sneer on Bruno’s face as a show of sympathy, a very clear message of too-bad-for-him. Bruno detested these things as much as he did.
In building the corporate headquarters, Reed had designed a large compound for a complete training experience. The sizable gymnasium with built-in classrooms wasn’t more than fifty yards from the on-site hotel he’d constructed to house all the out-of-state and international business he anticipated gaining. Connor had a suite of rooms on the first floor for his personal use. He’d thought that was overkill, until tonight. They had effectively given him a space to hide in.
He walked hand in hand with Julie toward the main doors with Bruno trailing several feet behind. They crossed the parking lot, and as he opened the front doors to the training facility, his heart drummed violently in his chest. He could hear the loud volume of chatter coming from the makeshift reception area, decorated for tonight’s event. His nerves skyrocketed as he took a breath and let Julie pull him inside.
All the training equipment had been pushed aside. The partitions separating the gym floor from the classrooms were open, making enough room for the tables to seat the five hundred or so guests who had accepted the dinner invitation to today’s grand opening event.
When they rounded the corner, the one photographer hired to document the night for future corporate promotions immediately targeted Julie. She gripped his hand tighter, knowing he always retreated when the cameras came out. She turned his way, adding what he now knew as her work smile.
“Pose with me, babe.”
With no other option, he wrapped an arm around her waist and stared at the camera. He didn’t crack a smile—he never did during the public pictures they took together, figuring she smiled enough for both of them. As the flash struck, a hand clamped on his shoulder. He knew that hold. Cole. Thank God. Cole could talk to anyone, anywhere. People loved Cole. He turned, abruptly leaving their pose, taking Cole’s outstretched hand.
“I figured you were late because you’re nervous.” Cole handed him a pilsner glass full of beer.
“You have no fucking idea,” he said quietly, taking a long drink.
“Come on up here with me. Reed’s been negotiating for the last hour. Come shake their hands,” Cole said, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, moving him toward Reed. He looked back to see Julie talking with a group of people, watching him walk away, giving a thumbs up as he went.
What the hell? She had just promised to stay by his side. In no plan they shared did he agree to a thumbs up as he walked away.
“I’m not supposed to say anything, Reed wants to tell you, but I figure it’ll help the nerves. The Dallas Police chief brought a contract signed by their mayor. They want what we have to offer with sixty officers trained.”
“You’re kidding,” he said, forgetting the anxiety of Julie leaving him behind.
“Not even a little. You’ll be a success.” Cole stopped a waiter making his rounds and grabbed a beer off the tray before lifting the glass to clink against Connor’s. “Congratulations.”
“Shit, that’s huge,” Connor said, absently tipping the glass against Cole’s.
“I know, right?” Cole took a drink while Julie came up behind Connor, wrapping her arm around his back.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“We got the Dallas PD contract. They brought it with them tonight,” Connor explained. Julie squealed with excitement, coming around to hug his neck. He wrapped his arm around her, grinnin
g over at Cole as he held tightly to her.
“I’m so proud of you, Connor. You’ve battled back so fiercely,” she said right in his face. He couldn’t help the broad smile looking at her always produced. Her happiness was just infectious.
“It’s because of you,” he said honestly.
“No way. It’s because of you.” She broke every protocol she’d taught him about PDAs and kissed his lips right there in front of everyone. “Let’s get this done so I can show you just how proud I am of you.”
He heard Cole’s playfully disgusted voice telling whoever might be in earshot, “You gotta ignore them. They do this all the time. Very inappropriate.”
“You’re on,” Connor said, ignoring Cole.
No way life got any better than this.
The End
Books by Rylie Roberts
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Meet the Authors Who Inspire
Nicole Edwards
Kindle Alexander
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Mission Happy (A Texas Desires Novel Book 3) Page 33
