by Robyn Grady
* * *
Standing on the beach, Becca watched Jack pull up, get out of his car and study Hailey’s café before wandering down over the sand to join her.
When she’d answered his call earlier, her hand had shaken, she’d wanted to hang up so bad. But there’d been something different in his voice. Something...real. Had she imagined the self-effacing tone?
It didn’t matter now. She’d agreed to meet him. But she had wanted to choose the place. To finish here in Santa Monica on a more adult, less hostile note would bring this episode full circle. And then hopefully she would be able to put aside this constant ache in her chest...in her heart.
She held her breath as he stopped in front of her. In that moment, she saw only his eyes, heard only the waves.
“Where’s the Bambino?” he asked.
“I sold it.”
“Get outta here. Really?”
“To Hailey’s brother.”
“Wow. Big step.”
“Yeah.” She slotted her hands in the front pockets of her denim pedal pushers and dragged a bare foot through the sand. “Moving on.”
His smile faded and that different tone she’d heard on the phone was there again.
“Thanks for seeing me,” he said.
“Guess you heard about the sabbatical.”
He nodded as the wind combed his hair. “Where are you off to?”
“Haven’t decided yet.”
“The foundation will sure miss you.”
Will you miss me, Jack?
She cut off that thought and focused on the ocean until she’d gathered herself again.
“I’m hosting a final auction night next week,” she said, speaking to the waves. It hurt too much to look at him here like this. “Then I need time away.”
She heard distant barking and turned toward the café. Chichi was scampering down the ramp and onto the sand. He sped right up to Jack, who dropped onto his haunches to play wrestle with him. Becca figured that Chichi would find a stick and the rest of this short time she and Jack had here together would be mediated by this brash third party. Not a bad thing.
But suddenly Chichi turned a tight circle and shot off again. Becca hadn’t heard anything, but dogs had good ears; Hailey must have called him back.
“I want you to know,” she said, “I’m not angry with you.” Not anymore. “In fact, I want to apologize. Being so self-righteous isn’t very pretty. I have no right to judge others when my behavior has been less than glowing. I was frustrated.” And hurt mostly.
Looking up at her, his dark gaze turned stormy. “Then why are you leaving?”
“I need to work on myself. The best way to do that is to help others. Sort out what’s important and what’s not.” He sat all the way down on the sand, facing the waves with his legs bent, forearms resting on his knees.
“I had a long conversation with a friend,” he said. “She thinks we ought to give it a go.”
Becca’s legs went weak. She’d expected something but nothing as direct as this. After all those nasty things they’d said to each other?
“You and me?” she asked. “Like a couple?”
He reached out his hand. She took a hold and knelt beside him, still processing what he’d just said.
“I want us to be together,” he went on. “I want to make it work.”
She let that sink in. Obviously he didn’t know what he was saying.
“What do you mean ‘make it work’?”
“I mean negotiate. Compromise. Maybe move in together.”
Whoa.
If he wasn’t beating around the bush, neither would she.
“Do you want forever?”
A line formed between his brows but he didn’t look away.
“That girl I told you about,” he said. “I told you I’d proposed. In fact, we were going to be married the next day.”
His eyes were reflective now, glassy, like he was living in the past and wasn’t in a hurry to come back. Becca felt sick to her stomach. It was bad enough to have a loved one take her own life, but to be faced with that tragedy a day before they were supposed to begin life’s most wonderful journey together... Unimaginable.
“You still love her,” Becca said, wanting to cry for him all these years later.
“She was my best friend.” He blinked slowly. “I wonder sometimes if she hadn’t met me whether she’d still, you know...be around. The truth is I pushed her too hard. I thought I was helping. So, this is a tough one for me.” He blinked a few times as a pulse beat in his jaw. “I want to push you to stay, but there’s also that part of me that says—that always says—don’t try to hold on. It’s best to let go.”
Becca held her stomach. She didn’t think she’d felt so sorry for anyone in her life.
She got to her feet and forced out the words before they got stuck in her throat. “I honestly wish you nothing but happiness.”
He looked more resigned than disappointed. “What’s happiness? That’s the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question.”
“It’s being at peace with yourself.”
Before she walked away, she squeezed his shoulder and prayed that Jack found his.
Seventeen
One week later, Becca was ready to make an announcement.
This Lassiter Charity Foundation Auction Night had been wildly successful, with exceptional items up for grabs and an astounding amount of money having been raised. The high-neck black sheath she wore somehow suited her bittersweet mood. The foundation would not only survive, it would flourish under Angelica’s reinstated reign at Lassiter Media. But this was also Becca’s last public appearance as director of the Los Angeles-based charity she believed in so much.
A moment ago, Sarah had suggested it was time to offer the guests a final thank-you. Becca had been on her way to the lectern when she’d glimpsed someone standing alone in the back of the ballroom.
He was exceptionally tall with dark hair. His masculine physique was made all the more eye-catching by the tuxedo he wore. As he headed for an exit, she actually considered for a third of one second to simply let him go. However, in her professional capacity here this evening, that wouldn’t be right.
Becca wove through the crowd. In her hurry, she bumped into one gentleman’s paunch and then immediately knocked darling Mrs. Abernathy and her glass of punch. She apologized profusely to both and kept rushing toward the exit. She caught up the moment the man pushed open the door.
“Jack. Jack!”
He turned around. He was so handsome...when he smiled, the entire room seemed to light up.
“I’ve tried to contact you today,” she said. “I spoke to your PA. Jack, I can’t thank you enough for your generosity.”
“She passed on your invitation. I’m glad the bow and arrowheads brought in a good price.”
Good price? More like incredible. “I’ve never seen such a bidding war. I’m so glad they went to a museum, even if it’s overseas.”
“I’m glad, too.”
They held each other’s gazes while music wove through the room and crystal flutes tinkled.
“I’d better let you get back to your guests,” he said at last, and turned toward the exit again.
“Wait.” She had something she wanted to ask. “Have you heard from Angelica?”
“We spoke today. She’s feeling right at home in the CEO’s chair. Sage and Dylan are happy for her, too. I’m not sure what’s happening with Evan McCain, other than there are rumors he’s going to start up his own company with the money J.D. left him via that codicil. Guess he was very generously compensated but he still feels burned by the whole thing.”
“It’d be nice if those two got back together. But I understand why she might think Evan somehow conspired with her dad to get
controlling interest of the company. That’s a lot of hurt to get over on both sides.”
“Miracles happen.”
When his broad shoulders rolled back and he glanced at the door, she threw in another question.
“How’s your brother?”
“We touch base every other day. And I’ll see the whole crowd on Turkey Day. And Christmas will be here before you know it. I’ll have to do some research on buying gifts for people under sixteen.”
“You’ll have fun with it.”
Sarah appeared at Becca’s side.
“Sorry to interrupt. Becca, we need you to announce the total amount that was raised tonight. The mayor’s about to leave.”
Becca nodded. “I’ll be right there.”
“Duty calls,” Jack said. “Good luck, Becca.”
She took a deep breath and let it out on a wistful smile. “Same to you.”
* * *
When the last of the guests left the ballroom, Sarah gave Becca a congratulatory hug.
“This has to be the most successful fund-raising night in history.”
Becca laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I just hate that you’re leaving the charity. It’s been such a buzz working with you. I’ve learned so much. But I understand. You have things you need to do. It must be hard leaving, though. Letting go.”
“I’ll find another job in charity when I get back.”
“I mean leaving Jack Reed. You two have some amazing chemistry going on.”
Becca hadn’t spoken much to Sarah about her dealings with Jack. Of course her assistant had seen those shots taken at the lake...who hadn’t? But the look on Sarah’s face now—it was as if she believed in fairy dust or something. Real life wasn’t like that.
The women said good-night. Sarah had shared a ride with a couple of the other girls from the office. Becca said she’d get a cab home.
Alone in the elevator, Becca hit the button for the ground floor. A moment later, she was crossing the quiet hotel foyer. The click of her heels on the marble tiles echoed through the large glitzy space.
But she didn’t want to go home just yet. She wanted to do what she’d never given herself permission to do before: be idle and simply waste time window-shopping on one of the world’s most famous streets, Rodeo Drive. It was strange to think that next week it would be a hard task to buy necessities that most people who lived in the States took for granted.
This street was lined with fairy-lit trees and filled with the boutiques of some of the most revered names in the fashion world. She studied the displays, clothes, jewelry, ridiculously priced handbags. And then she came across a window filled with exquisite gowns...beautifully crafted. Most of them were white.
One in particular caught her eye.
The gown was antique-white with a fitting, puff-sleeved satin bodice adorned with a sparkling sea of crystals. The skirt was extra full, flaring from low on the waist. The outer layer was gauzy with a satin band three-quarters down and a floral wreath in the same satin embroidered on the lower front half. It was a reflection of a bygone era when a member of the fairer sex had been encouraged to be fragile and endlessly romantic in the hope of finding her prince.
A dress like that, a dream like that, would need nothing more than the perfect ring. And, needless to say, the perfect groom.
Becca let the illusion wash over her a little more. She saw herself in that gown, her face beaming and eyes filled with love. Beside her stood a man, exceptionally tall, with dark hair, his masculine physique made all the more eye-catching by the tuxedo he wore. And then, the reflection spoke her name. As in...
It actually spoke.
Becca spun around. Embarrassment and panic set in so fast, her cheeks caught light. “I thought you’d gone.”
Jack only smiled and commented on the window display. “That’s some dress.”
How must it have looked, her fawning over a whimsical wedding gown alone late at night?
“It’s a good street to window-shop,” she mumbled.
Jack followed when she set off at a brisk pace, putting the dress behind her.
“I thought it might be something you were thinking of for Felicity’s wedding,” he said, easily keeping up.
“Oh, she wouldn’t have anything so...big.”
“Would you?”
She kept her gaze dead ahead. “I might.”
“It was very, well, sparkly. I don’t think I’ve seen you wear a piece of jewelry other than a watch.”
Slowing her pace, she slid over a defiant look. “I might be saving it all up for one revoltingly gaudy occasion.”
“A dress like that would need a pretty impressive ring.” He stopped and pulled a small box out of his pocket. “Maybe like this.”
As he opened the clasped lid, Becca’s jaw dropped. The most amazing piece of jewelry sat glittering up at her from its white satin bed.
“It’s sapphires and a pearl.” His finger circled the setting. “But you also like diamond and rubies, right?” He pulled out another box. When she stood rigid, overcome with shock, he prodded her. “Go on. Open it.”
This couldn’t be happening. It felt like everything was moving in a weird kind of slow motion. Someone reached to open the lid. Becca realized it was her. A beautiful white diamond shone up at her. It was mounted in a pool of blood red rubies. Both rings were just as she had imagined they would be way back when she was a girl.
Becca finally formed some words. “Jack...what is this?”
“I want to marry you.”
She swallowed against the ache of so many emotions clogging her throat. “We said goodbye...God, I’ve lost count how many times.”
“I worked it out. It’s really quite simple. The fact is I love you. And if you love me, why wouldn’t we try to work through this...through anything to stay together?” One dark eyebrow lifted as he leaned closer. “You do love me, don’t you, Becca?”
Tears stung behind her eyes. No matter how much she tried to hide the truth, everyone else seemed to see it. What was the point in denying it now?
“Of course I love you,” she told him. “So much it hurts.”
His dark eyes glistened as he gave her a grateful smile. “Let’s fix that.”
His mouth took hers and, in that instant, sparks tingled and fell through her body. Nothing seemed impossible. She could surmount any problem. Achieve any dream.
When he broke the kiss, Becca felt light-headed, floating, as if her feet no longer touched the ground.
“Are you going to choose?” he asked with his lips still close to hers.
She couldn’t argue with him. Not this time. She wanted to say, I choose you. I choose love. But he meant the rings. As she looked down to study them again, her vision grew misty with tears. They were both so beautiful. So...her.
“I don’t think I can choose.”
“Then you’ll have both. As soon as you say yes.” He put the boxes in his pocket and drew her close. “I love you, Becca. I want you to be my wife. I don’t want to lose you. We can’t lose each other.”
“You really want to do this?” she asked.
“Yeah.” He dropped a kiss on her brow and murmured, “I really, really do.”
“I have a condition.”
He grinned. “Sure.”
“That we respect and honor each other for the rest of our lives.”
“Just give me the chance.”
“We’ll both make the rules.”
“I only have one.”
“Tell me.”
After he whispered in her ear, she laughed and wound her fingers into his jacket’s lapels. “I think I can handle that.” Then she cupped his jaw and fell into a tender gaze that held nothing but adoration for her. “I guess sometimes
there really are happy endings.”
“Oh, baby.” Jack got ready to kiss her again. “Now I know there are.”
* * * * *
DYNASTIES: THE LASSITERS
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Ten years ago one devastating night changed everything for Austin, Hunter and Alex. Now they must each play their part in the revenge against the one man who ruined it all.
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