Chapter 27
twenty-seven
. . .
Georgia
Maddox Lancaster loved me.
I’d known it for a while now, but I never thought he’d actually admit it.
I felt it every time he looked at me. Every time he kissed me.
He wasn’t a man who tossed those words around casually.
And he’d taken that risk for me.
I’d had a few guys I’d dated before tell me they loved me, but it never felt like this.
It was the look in Maddox’s eyes when he’d pledged his love to me that felt like my world had shifted in a way.
Like nothing would ever be the same again.
Hell, when Dikota had told me he loved me, it was over a bowl of ramen noodles, and his eyes hadn’t left the TV screen. It was sort of like an I love you, can you pass the salt moment.
I’d known it wasn’t forever.
Nothing had ever felt like forever before this moment.
So, I was going to enjoy it because I knew what we shared was rare. I knew that Maddox didn’t take these words lightly, and he was a man who meant what he said.
He loved me.
There was no question, and I’d never experienced that before now outside of my family.
But then his phone rang a couple dozen times, and he cursed when he realized they were waiting for us downstairs, and we had to hurry out the door.
I knew that Maddox was concerned this would overwhelm me, but it didn’t. I just found the whole thing odd, but I was channeling my inner royal tonight and going with the flow.
“One more,” the guy in the flannel shirt who’d been shouting endless questions at us said, as he jogged along the red carpet, following us to the end before we’d stepped inside the hotel.
Was it weird as hell that we were staying at this hotel, and we had to make our way outside to walk the red carpet and reenter the hotel?
Yes. Not the best use of time, but I guess this was more about appearances tonight, and everyone in the family needed to be seen supporting Davis and Claire’s nuptials.
I hadn’t even met them yet, as we’d been ushered out the back door of the hotel where we’d slipped into a fancy black car, and I’d requested beer in my champagne flute because I didn’t want to get too tipsy on the bubbly stuff before I met his family.
We’d sipped our cocktails and pulled back in front of the hotel, where Maddox proceeded to get out of the car and assisted me and my gorgeous black dress out, as well.
We walked. We smiled. There were a couple of photographers out there taking pictures and shouting questions. Light flashes made it difficult to see, but I just blinked in between stops when we’d walk and try to refocus.
Maddox leaned in multiple times and reminded me not to respond to their incessant questions.
He’d also distracted me by whispering naughty things in my ear the entire walk from the car to the hotel.
“I can’t wait to get you back to the room so I can slip my hands beneath your dress, slide your panties over, and fuck you senseless.”
“I have to keep my jacket buttoned so they won’t see how hard and swollen my cock is right now at just the sight of you in this dress.”
I’d chuckled and tried to play it off, squeezing his hand in warning, as desire pooled between my thighs.
After the last photo was taken, my handsome date held up his hand. “That’s the last one.”
“Mr. Lancaster, is this lovely lady just a friend, or is she someone special?” the eager photographer shouted.
Maddox paused and glanced over at me. I could see his wheels turning, trying to decide how he wanted to handle things. “This lovely lady is my girlfriend, and she’s most definitely someone special.”
“How long have you two been together?” someone shouted.
“Who is she?” another man called out.
Maddox intertwined our fingers and looked over one last time. “You got your story. That’s all I have to say about it. Goodnight.”
And then he led me inside.
Once we entered the lobby, there was security everywhere. At least, I assumed that was who they were because they were wearing black suits and appeared to be speaking into some sort of earpiece as their eyes scanned the area around us.
One of the men approached. “Maddox, you’re looking well.”
“Thank you, Jared. This is my girlfriend, Georgia Reynolds.”
The suit guy nodded. “Nice to meet you. I’ll escort you both to the banquet room.”
They were obviously monitoring who came in and out of the lobby. As we followed him down the hallway, I glanced over to see another man in a suit following behind us.
Sheesh. This was serious business.
“This only happens when there is a big event. You’ve been to this hotel before with me, and security wasn’t necessary.” Maddox kept his voice low, as if he were concerned that this was too much for me.
“I’m not freaked out by this. Jared seems very nice.” I shrugged, and the large man leading us to the party chuckled.
“It’s her first family event,” Maddox said, his hand tightening around mine.
“Welcome to the family.” Jared paused in front of a door and held out his hand for us to step inside.
Maddox leaned down close to my ear. “You ready for this?”
“Of course. Stop worrying. So far, so good, Bossman.”
He kissed my forehead and pulled the door open.
My jaw dropped, and the extravagance of the room nearly stole my breath.
There were multiple crystal chandeliers overhead, a live band playing jazz music, and there were tables with white linens and chairs around each one.
This wasn’t a large party. It was intimate, yet there was definitely something very formal about it.
Starting with the way we entered the event to the fact that there were several security guards standing in the corners of the room here, as well.
“About damn time,” Wyle said as he glared at his brother before smiling at me. “You look beautiful, Georgia.”
“Thank you. You look very handsome in your tails.”
The woman beside him cleared her throat, waiting for an introduction.
She wore a body-hugging long, red dress with cutouts that left very little to the imagination.
But she pulled it off, and gravity was definitely on her side.
She had some giant knockers, and they looked like they were standing tall and proud without any support from the gown.
“Sorry. This is Brandy. Brandy, you remember my brother, Maddox. And this is his girlfriend, Georgia Reynolds.”
“Oh, my. You’re a lucky woman to land one of the Lancaster boys, huh?” Before I could respond, she whipped around, her back knocking me in the chest, and she held her phone above her head and took a photo of us. “Should I tag you?”
“Um. Sure?” I shook my head, startled by her greeting.
“What’s your username?” she asked as she quickly typed into her phone.
“It’s just Georgia Reynolds.” I glanced up to see Maddox shooting his brother a look, and he didn’t hide his annoyance.
“We’re going to go get a drink,” Maddox said, tugging me away from Brandy, and Wyle frowned, clearly not wanting us to leave him alone with her.
“There he is. You sure look sharp tonight, son.” A man who was the same height as Maddox, but built more like Wyle, stood in front of us and shook my boyfriend’s hand.
He had dark, familiar eyes, the same as his son’s.
His hair was dark, with gray mixed in, and it worked for him.
But I couldn’t imagine my father shaking our hands.
The whole exchange was very formal and cold.
It wasn’t hard to see that they weren’t close.
They behaved more like acquaintances. There was a beautiful woman beside him who looked to be about my age, maybe a few years older, and I assumed she must be his new wife.
“Congratulations, Dad. This is Georgia Reynolds. Georgia, this is my father, Davis Lancaster, and his wife, Claire.” I’d heard all the details about her being his best friend’s daughter and a childhood friend of Maddox and Wyle’s.
I knew that this was uncomfortable for them to wrap their heads around.
Especially with all the anger around the way he’d treated their mother toward the end of her life.
“Georgia, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My father sang your praises.
He tells me you’ve got quite an eye in the publishing world and have brought on a few new authors at Lancaster Press.
” He shook my hand, as well. “You’ve obviously been busy, seeing as you started as his personal assistant, and now, you’re here as his date.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it, Maddox? ”
His words startled me because he was smiling and laughing, yet he’d just insulted me. Maddox’s entire body stiffened beside me, and I could feel the anger radiating from his shoulders.
“Davis, that’s not funny.” His wife gave me an apologetic look. “Hey there, I’m Claire. His better half, obviously.” She had a genuine smile and gave me and Maddox each a hug.
“I’m sorry if that came off harsh. I meant no offense. It’s the Lancaster sense of humor.” Davis patted me on the shoulder, and Maddox’s gaze moved from me to his father.
“It’s not. It’s just your sense of humor, which is interesting, seeing as you’re celebrating your nuptials to your best friend’s daughter, who is half your age.”
I squeezed his hand and smiled. “You don’t need to apologize. I’m a lucky girl, no question. You have an amazing son, and I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees it. Congratulations to you both. I’m so happy to be here to celebrate your special day.”
“Thank you, Georgia. It means a lot to us that you’re both here. I know it’s a bit strange for you, Maddox, and I am sorry about that.” She looked from me to the brooding man beside me, and his shoulders relaxed a bit.
“It’s fine. Have a good night. I’m going to go introduce Georgia to Grandmother.”
With a curt nod, Maddox led me away. I gave a quick wave and hurried to keep up.
“Let’s get a drink first,” he said. “I could use one.”
“Hey.” I tugged on his hand to force him to face me.
“I’m not upset. This is actually fun for me.
I’ve never been to a party like this, and I’m having a good time because I’m with you.
Your father did not offend me. It’s not my first rodeo with the backhanded compliment.
I can handle myself, so please stop worrying. ”
“He’s such a fucking hypocrite,” he hissed. “I don’t even like him being around you.”
“He’s your father. Your entire family is here, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone. Let’s get that drink and then go find your grandparents.”
His face relaxed, his eyes softened, and he nodded. “Always the little fairy, spreading all that goodness, Tink.”
I pushed up on my tiptoes and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips just as a server approached. “What can I get you both from the bar?”
“A whiskey straight up for me, and the lady will have whatever the best beer you have is. Pour it into a wine glass, please.”
The woman smiled and nodded. “I’ll find you with your drinks.”
“Bossman, the fact that you just ordered me a beer in a wine glass at this fancy party means you’re not nearly as stuffy as I give you credit for.”
He rolled his eyes. “Keep up that smart mouth, and I’ll show you how stuffy I am when I bury my face between your thighs and make you come so many—”
“Maddox. It’s been way too long. Introduce us to your special friend.”
He didn’t miss a beat. The man could go from dirty talk to small talk faster than most people could change a TV channel.
“John, it’s good to see you here. This is my girlfriend, Georgia Reynolds. Georgia, these are Claire’s parents, John and Bev Strauss. They were also very close friends of my mother’s.”
“It’s so lovely to meet you, Georgia. We’ve known this handsome guy since he was in diapers,” Bev said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sure you’ve got some good stories.” I chuckled. “Congratulations on your daughter’s marriage and the new baby.”
“Well, obviously, her marrying one of our best friends was a bit of a surprise at first, but at the end of the day, she’s happy. And that’s all that matters,” she said.
“You were all right with this?” Maddox kept his voice low as he studied John.
“What have I been telling you these last few years, Maddox?” He paused to sip his champagne just as the server found us and handed Maddox and me each our drinks. She winked at me when she glanced at the beer in the wine glass, and I smiled.
“Yeah, yeah. Life is all about forgiveness,” Maddox groaned. “Not everything is forgivable, John.”
“Agreed. And trust me when I tell you that we didn’t speak to your father for some time all those years ago when he was acting like a fool while your mother was sick.
You know that. And we didn’t speak to him for weeks after Claire told us about their relationship.
But cutting them off hurts us, not him. He’s always been a selfish man, Maddox.
There’s no argument there. But he’s not the devil that you think he is.
He does love you and Wyle, and I do believe that he loves our daughter.
She certainly seems to love him. We raised her to be a strong woman, and we need to trust that she knows what she’s doing. ”
Maddox sipped his whiskey and contemplated the older man’s words. “I hope you’re right about that. And I certainly hope he does better by her than he did by my mother.”
“The thing that you didn’t see was the years that your father grieved for your mother, both while she was sick and after her passing.
You and Wyle were so angry that I don’t think you were able to see it.
You blamed him, and I do understand your anger about what happened.
But, Maddox, ALS is a horrible illness, and that’s what took her life.
And carrying all this anger around is not good for you.
” He placed a hand on Maddox’s shoulder.
“Well, thank you for the insight. I do appreciate it, and I will keep it in mind. But tonight is a celebration, so let’s focus on that, shall we?” Maddox tipped his glass and then pulled it to his lips.
“I could not agree more,” Bev said, blinking her eyes a few times as they were wet with emotion, and she looked over and smiled at me.
“All right. Nice to see you both. We’re going to go say hello to my grandparents. If you’ll excuse us.”
We said our goodbyes and walked a few feet away to where his grandparents were standing and chatting with another couple.
When they turned to look at us, they excused themselves, and all their attention was suddenly on me.