33. Will
33
Will
I look like an idiot.
Victorian jacket, gothic tailcoat, ruffled shirt, and boots that hit me at the knee.
Ridiculous.
Zoe is never allowed to dress me again. Ever. Even if I did ask her to find me a regal, nineteenth-century get-up. I suppose that’s what this is. But my shirt has ruffles. Ruffles . And my pants are puffy. Did men actually wear this kind of thing?
Am I really going to wear this in public ? This outfit might be worse than lime-green pants and a citrus-themed shirt.
I sigh. Alice is going to Billy’s party. To my party.
Every year I gripe about how much I hate dressing up, about how I think parties like this are ridiculous. Every year I happily skip out, knowing my employees are having fun. I always whine about Billy’s idea of fun to the others. It keeps Billy and me separate. In the minds of my employees—as well as myself. Sometimes I need that separation. I know he’s me. But I’ve worked hard to not be him.
The only person that probably makes sense to, is me.
Still, here I am, in knickerbockers because Alice insisted that if Billy were doing something nice for his employees, she needed to be a part of it.
How can I argue with her? How can I deny her? Not only do I adore the woman, but she’s worked so hard for this company.
Two days ago, Jet Jacobson and his wife came to learn more about our team and see the city, and Alice was so on. Jet loves that girl—I completely get it. She sold Tesoro to him. She sold the Red Tails. He about committed to me right then, right there. And he never once asked to see Billy.
I’m expecting a commitment from the man any day now.
Because of Alice.
My staff has worked hard. They’ve given this team their all. We are truly building something special here. He saw that. But he saw that with Alice as his guide, and I won’t lie and say that didn’t make a difference.
So that—and the fact that I’m crazy about the girl has me all dressed up in a Renaissance costume.
While I haven’t told her I’m going, we have discussed her costume. She couldn’t afford to buy anything new; she wouldn’t let me buy anything for her, and when I mentioned that Billy might enjoy funding everyone’s costume, she slugged me in the shoulder.
So, she’s wearing the purple people-eating monstrosity I met her in.
I’m kind of excited to see it again—with new eyes. I didn’t appreciate it enough the first time.
I pick up the box with the gift I purchased for her—without asking for permission. I’m learning that’s the best way to spoil Alice. Just do it—ask for forgiveness later.
I cross the hall and knock on her door.
Alice, with blonde waves cascading over each shoulder, opens the door. Her dress is still lavender, but far from a monstrosity.
“What are you wearing?” she says to me.
“What are you wearing?” I say right back. My brow cinches as I stare at the dress—did she buy something after all?
“Is that a costume?” she says, looking me over.
But I’m looking at her. “What happened to your puffy-sleeved dress?”
Her brows lift, like the absence of her sleeves is just occurring to her. She steps back, allowing me inside, and peers down at her dress. “I cut them off.”
“This is the same dress, then?” I smirk, my eyes fixed on her.
“Yeah.” She laughs. “I cut the sleeves off, and I ripped out half the tulle and the ruffled lace on the front. I tried to alter it.”
“You transformed it. Are you sure you shouldn’t be a tailor?” I stare at her, at the curves from her bodice to her hips.
“Do you think it’s okay?”
I gulp. “Yeah. More than okay.”
“Now, what are you wearing? You look like?—”
“Mr. Darcy?” I ask. Girls like that, right? That’s what I’m going for.
“Do you know who Mr. Darcy is?” she says through half a laugh.
“I do.” My tutor made sure of it.
She smirks. “You kind of resemble?—”
“Your Prince Charming?” The words are out, and I’m not even gagging on them. Probably because if it pleases Alice, I’m in. “I’ve got something for you.”
Alice clamps down on her pink glossed lip—that’s okay, I’m probably going to kiss her and she’ll have to redo her lip gloss anyway.
I hold the box out toward her, lifting the hinged lid.
Alice laughs, her eyes bouncing from the treasure inside the box to my face. “A tiara? How did you know I’d go as a princess and not just a puffy-sleeved fairy?”
I grin. “Lucky guess.”
“I’m never going to hear the end of it from Theo.”
“You weren’t going to stop hearing ‘princess’ thrown at you no matter what. At least this way, you’re embracing it. It’s your choice.”
“That’s what Lula said too.”
“See? I’m almost as smart as your nineteen-year-old sister.”
I set the box on Alice’s coffee table and pull the delicate—and extremely fake—diamond tiara from its box. Alice would have killed me had it been the real thing. Though, I would have loved to see her face. Her eyes turn into marbles when she’s surprised, and it’s adorable.
“Ready?” I place the piece on Alice’s head.
She giggles. “This is so silly.” But she looks delighted.
“Maybe,” I say. “But that doesn’t make you any less beautiful.”
She swallows, her full lips lifting as she peers into my eyes. Her hand trails up my chest and over the back of my neck. Her fingers splay through the tendrils of my hair, sending goosebumps over my skin. She pulls me closer to her and I oblige. My nose brushes hers before her eyes flutter closed, and she closes the gap between us.
Her soft lips mold with mine and sweetness washes over my taste buds. I coax her mouth open and memorize every edge, every corner, every curve of her lips.
She hums, her eyes closed, her forehead leaning into mine. “Maybe we should stay in.”
I breathe out a laugh. “But you want to go.”
“I did. But do I now? Besides, you don’t want to go, and we really shouldn’t show up together.”
“Who cares?”
Her blue eyes blink open. “I care. You care. Billy cares.”
“Not me. No one is going to be watching for me. No one will even notice me.”
Her delicate touch tickles like a feather at my neck. “I’m not so sure about that. I think they’ll all notice. And what if Billy’s there? He’ll be angry if we violate the one thing he asked us to do.”
“Billy won’t be there,” I assure her. I mean—he will. But not as Billy.
“How do you know? Everyone says that’s why he likes costume parties—so he can go in disguise.”
“That’s crazy.”
She lifts one bare shoulder, no tulle covering up her soft, velvet skin. “That’s what everyone says.”
“Really?” Sure, I occasionally have Billy like something I dislike, but this kind of sneakiness never occurred to me.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble,” she says.
“You won’t.” I lean in and peck her lips once more. How could she? I’m the boss? If I make the rule, surely I can break the rule. Only she doesn’t know that.
“But if I did. If you lost this job because of me?—”
“Alice.” I press my lips to hers once more, letting this kiss linger. Pulling back, I add, “Stop worrying, okay? That’s your homework.”
“So, we’re going, then?”
“We’re going,” I say. “At least for a minute, and then I may need to get you alone.”