by Nana Malone
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jaya fiddled with the strap of her dress. Alec would be here any moment to pick her up. They’d agreed to meet in the lobby, but he was late. She checked the understated silver Timex on her wrist. He was exactly three minutes later than the last time she checked. She’d worn this wholly inappropriate dress. The one-shoulder vermillion red number smoothed over her hips and curves. It was beautiful and she loved it. But red. Her father would have a fit. But no one will be looking at your sister.
The two halves of the argument cancelled each other out. Impatient, she sent Alec a text. Where are you? Before she could check her watch again, she saw him stride through her lobby in a tailored three-piece suit that looked like it had been made for him. She could only stare. He stopped as soon as he saw her. For several beats, neither of them moved an inch and Alec's mouth hung open.
Eventually, he moved woodenly toward her. His sandalwood scent enveloped her and she knew she was home. Don’t try and hold onto this one. He'll break your heart.
Alec leaned in to give her a brief hug and she wanted to do nothing more than stay there. “Jaya, you look beautiful.”
She smiled up at him. “You know how to flatter a girl.”
He didn’t return the smile. “I swear to God, if you ever go back to wearing grey, I'll tan your hide.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “My hide's already tanned.”
The sexy smile of his flashed over his lips. “You’re magnificent, do you know that?”
She ducked her head and whispered a thank you. “We need to go if we're going to make it up to La Costa in time.”
He escorted her out of her building, hand placed lightly at the small of her back and she pretended for just the briefest of moments that this was real. That he was a real date and he loved her.
“I've got the perfect ride for the trip.”
Jaya paused when she saw the Rolls Royce, complete with driver. “Oh Alec, are you serious?”
His smile was tight and she scrutinized him, trying to figure out the nuanced layers of what was wrong with this picture.
Alec's jaw ticked. “Jaya, I'm sorry.”
Something unpleasant rolled in her belly. Something icy, and rotten and slimy. He did not have a good news face on. “What's wrong?”
He brushed a hair off her cheek. “Look, I'm really sorry to do this to you. I couldn't leave without telling you to your face, but I have to go. Tonight.”
The hollow wound of another shoe dropping pounded in her head. “What do you mean you have to go? Where are you going?”
“I can’t really explain right now. But I didn’t want to just not show up. I'm on my way to the airport now. I didn't want you waiting around for me.” He indicated the car. “I wanted to do something to make up for it.”
No, this wasn't happening. She'd gotten dressed. She could see her father's face when she walked in without Alec. She needed him. He was leaving her. Rage coursed through her veins. Her voice chilled to frigid temperatures. “What the hell is so important you'd break our deal? An emergency expedition to Africa? Or maybe this mysterious project you've been working on? Or an emergency bartending project?”
The last one was a low blow. He didn't deserve that. She knew it. But she didn’t care. She'd known what to expect from him, but she hadn't paid attention. This was her fault. Not his. Hers alone. She’d failed again. How the hell was she supposed to walk into that wedding now? She may play brave well, but at the core of it, she was a coward.
“Jaya, you have to know I’m sorry. But you know, you don’t even need me.”
“Can you hear yourself? If you were me, would you believe what you’re saying?” something struck her. “Does this mean the gala job goes away as well?”
He frowned. “What? No. Adele hired you. I have nothing to do with it. Just because I have to leave right now doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. You—”
“You know, I find it interesting that the moment you have to make the barest of commitments to something, you up and bail.” She folded her arms. “You’ve never stuck to anything in your life. I was naive enough to think you'd stick with me.”
“I know you’re upset, but there is literally nothing I can do. It really is a matter of life and death.”
She shook her head. “You’re right. I don’t need you. But this was a big deal to me. Maybe you're so used to bailing that you can’t see that. You know what? Just go. Go on your mysterious adventure. I'll handle tonight by myself. Just like always.”
