Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
A dmit it. Mary leaned against the outside wall of the jazz club, a mischievous twinkle in her brown eyes. They re adorable.
Adorable monsters, Alex grumbled. He d assumed she was driving a bachelor party. He d not only drive but provide protection for the tempting chauffeur. With this party, the only protection Mary needed was from being overly coddled by the grandmotherly ladies.
Who also happened to be party animals and, as he could see through the window, were dancing cheek-to-cheek with men they d just met. Younger men.
He wished he were dancing instead of standing outside this club, hands in his pockets like a chump. Specifically, dancing with the raven-haired beauty who also had her hands in the pockets of her black trousers, her black jacket thrown open to catch the night breeze.
Is chauffeuring always this boring? he asked.
She fluffed up like an angry cat. No one asked you to come.
I m sorry. He winced. I didn t mean it like that. I meant…the waiting. Driving a taxi, I was mostly moving, not killing time. I know you like to keep active, same as me. How do you pass the time?
She shrugged. I listen to audiobooks. Mostly about business. In fact, I ve got one on my phone… She patted her pocket.
No! Why had he said something so thoughtless? He was usually better at conversation than this. Having Mary near him again after all these years was messing with his head. He glanced through the window. The birthday girl was twirling with one of her friends.
Mary. He stepped closer. Dance with me?
Here? She shifted her gaze along the busy street.
It s only tourists. They won t care. He held out his hands, palms up.
She hesitated for a long moment. Then another. Finally, she placed her rough palm on his.
He didn t let her second-guess it. He tugged her toward him, into the circle of his arms, anchoring her with a hand on her waistband. He couldn t hear the melody of the music in the club, but he felt the bassline in the soles of his feet, in the thudding of his heart, and he shuffled his feet to it.
She gazed up at him, her eyelids drooping and her blinks slow enough to tangle her thick eyelashes together.
Ever since she d touched him earlier during their conference call, he d been unable to think of anything but touching her again. And now they weren t limited to a simple press of hands. His palm spanned the curve of her waist. Her fingertips rested on his shoulder, inches from his thundering heart. He clasped her other hand, wishing his palm weren t sticky with nervous sweat.
This was what their senior prom should have been like. Well, not like this, with drunk people catcalling as they stumbled past on the sidewalk. And the club s jazz was much better than their class s song, Can You Feel the Love Tonight. But the neon lights of the Strip glowed in her hair, and he could imagine they were stage lights scattered by a disco ball. Her scratchy polyester pants were nothing like a satin ball gown, but her curves were soft under his hand, and for a second, he let himself imagine tasting her plush lips as he skimmed his fingertips under her starchy white shirt.
He leaned in closer to chase the scent that teased his nose. Lemons. No, it was sweeter than that. Oranges. Like the polish he d smelled on the limo s upholstery. On Mary, it made him remember a citrus orchard he d visited in Tuscany a few years ago, the delicate white petals falling around him like snow. He wished…
What do you wish?
He grimaced. He hadn t meant to say anything out loud. He was not about to reveal that he d been wishing he could whisk her away to Tuscany to see how her eyes would sparkle in the moonlight, away from the neon of the Strip. So, he said another thing he wished as he looked into her sleepy face. I wish you didn t have to work two jobs.
It was the wrong thing to say.
She reared back. I don t have to work two jobs. I want to build up my wedding planning business. And, as I recall, you re the one who begged me to help with Rochelle s wedding.
I know. He tightened his grip on her waist so she wouldn t spin out of his arms. I only meant I wish you could spend more time doing what you love and less time doing that. He tipped his head toward where the limo was parked.
Her chin jutted out. I love working with my brothers too. They need me.
If he still believed in any of the religious nonsense he d been raised on, he d have turned his eyes toward heaven in a prayer to the Archangel Gabriel to help him communicate better. He was skilled at getting his point across. Not tonight.
You can t keep burning the candle at both ends, he said.
Can t I? Her dark eyebrows lifted. I bet you hustle all the time. Why is it okay for you to work hard but not for me?
He closed his eyes. Took a long breath. I was only trying to care for you the way you care for everyone else.
Well, stop. You suck at it. But her lips twitched.
Do I? Suck? He curled the corner of his mouth into what he d been told was a devastating smile. Or do you secretly enjoy being cared for too?
Was that the neon, or did her cheeks turn pink?
I think you do, he crowed. I m going to?—
Alex?
A tall woman in a sparkly dress stood beside them. Caught up in the bubble he d created with Mary, he hadn t noticed anyone else on the sidewalk. This wasn t a tourist. She was…Fi…no, Vi… She danced in one of the shows. And they d fucked a couple of times, more out of convenience and boredom than from any genuine connection.
The woman flipped her blond hair over her shoulder. Her white teeth sparkled. What a surprise to bump into you here. Are you going inside? She stepped closer, almost between him and Mary, forcing his hand off her waist. Though he kept hold of her hand.
Hi, V, he said smoothly. Let me introduce you to my date, Mary Forza. This was nothing like a date, but it was easier to explain than that he was driving a limo and relieving their boredom by dancing on the sidewalk.
Mary s eyebrows had all but disappeared into her hair. She stuck out her hand. Sorry, I didn t catch your name?
Violette. She scanned Mary up and down, her gaze lingering on her frumpy chauffeur s suit. Call me sometime, Alex. We ll…dance.
He gave a noncommittal head bob and turned his back to Violette. But Mary s stare followed her into the club.
Her lips thinned. Why do I not think Violette was complimenting your actual dancing skills?
He stepped closer. Why? Am I not a good dancer?
Oh, you are. As I recall, your mother made you take lessons. But I think she was referring to something more…horizontal.
I have no idea what you re talking about. Mary s smile told him he could get away with the playful lie. But it doesn t matter. I m positive I don t have her number anymore.
Oh. She tugged her hand from his.
What s wrong?
She fiddled with her shirt cuff. I was having such a good time I forgot what you re like.
He put a hand over hers to still her fingers. What am I like?
She fixed her gaze on her hands. You, um, back in high school, you dated. A lot.
For one dizzying, heart-stopping moment, he thought she was finally going to ask him why he d stood her up at prom. Heat washed over him and prickled in his cheeks. What would she think of him if she knew his secret? She d walk out of his life and never return. He couldn t risk it. Especially not now, with the Richardson wedding and the Paradise on the line. As much as he hated it, he summoned up the old lie he d prepared but never had to tell her.
Miraculously, Mary didn t go there. She kept at his dating history like it was relevant. You do the same thing now. But now it s flashier. More dramatic. Like you re trying to prove something. You re not trying to prove anything to me, are you? I know you called me your date, but we re friends, right? She finally looked him in the eye, the type of vulnerability Alex could never show shining right there on her face for anyone to see.
Of course we are, sweetheart. Sweetheart? Where had that come from?
Mary stomped her foot. You don t have to turn on all that bullshit for me, you know. I m your friend. Not one of the women you dance with.
But you did dance with me. Alex stepped closer until the front of his suit jacket brushed hers. He let his gaze fall on her red lips. They beckoned to him, soft and plump. He didn t know if it was the neon or the music or the way his hands had mapped the shape of her while they danced, but suddenly, he wanted to have her lipstick smudged across his lips for Violette, the birthday party, and all the tourists to see. Friends can dance.
She blinked her eyes wide for a moment. Then she planted her hand on his chest and shoved him back a step. Her lips twitched with a smile that didn t make it to her brown eyes. Right. Friends. Call me up the next time you need a platonic dance partner.
Platonic was the farthest thing from his mind right now, and he opened his mouth to say it, but the club s door opened, and the birthday partiers spilled onto the sidewalk, their voices still loud from talking over the music.
Mary! Alex! one of them shouted. We re ready to sit while someone else dances. Take us to the strip club. The women all hooted.
With a wicked grin, Mary handed the key fob to Alex and said, Yes, ma am.
* * *
A couple of hours later, Alex pulled the limousine into the porte-cochère of the birthday ladies hotel and stepped out to open the door. Mary beat him to it, and by the time he d rounded the long hood, she was already helping the ladies heave themselves from the low vehicle.
Have a good night, she said. Thanks for using Forza Elite Motors.
Thanks, Mary. Thanks, Alex, the birthday woman said.
His smile froze as his phone buzzed in his breast pocket in the specific rhythm he d assigned to his mother s care facility. Ice careened through his veins.
Turning his back and stepping to the other side of the car, he reached for his phone. Hello?
Mr. Villa, I m sorry to call so late, but she s gotten pretty wound up. She s asking for you.
He tried to suck in one of those calming, blue breaths, but it was no use. His lungs could only take in fast sips of air. He d seen her two days ago, on Sunday. What could have happened?
It s no problem, he said. I want you to call me when she needs me, no matter the hour. I m on my way.
Thank you. We ll see you soon.
Mary was all alone, leaning against the limo, when he turned back toward her. He hated to end the evening like this, but he had to get to his mother.
I m sorry. I have to go. There s a situation I have to deal with.
Oh. Her lips turned down. I guess a hotel runs twenty-four-seven.
It does, but— He stopped. Telling her about his mother would open parts of himself he d rather conceal. Then his gaze fell on the limo. His car was parked in the Forzas lot. I ll call a rideshare.
That s silly. I ll drop you at the hotel. It s just down the street. If you ll give me your keys, Rafe and I ll drop your car at La Villa in the morning.
No, I…I m not going there.
Oh? Ohh. Her eyes widened. You re meeting Violette? She grimaced. Or someone else?
No. No! As easy as it would ve been, everything in him rebelled at the thought of Mary thinking he was leaving her for another woman. His shoulders slumped. It s my mother.