Chapter Sixteen
Rainey
I step back and look in the full-length mirror in my bedroom.
The red dress I’d chosen with purpose flows around my legs.
As the story goes, my mom wore a similar gown the first time my father laid eyes on her.
Of course, she’d come with my uncle Alex and he and my dad weren’t friends or even willing half-brothers at the time.
But all that changed, and we are a close-knit family now.
When I’d seen the gown in the boutique, all I could think about was the story of my parents’ first meeting, I couldn’t resist. Somehow my mom had found her happily ever after and here I am doing… I don’t know what.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Lucas so I showed up at the club the other day with nothing but honesty on my mind. I missed him. I can’t say I expected to have sex in his office, but it had been amazing. We have a connection I didn’t expect and for the time we have, I intend to enjoy it.
For tonight, I want to blow his mind with this dress. The slit up my thigh will be a start.
My company is handling this party and I want to help, but Kaylee wants this to be her big event, so when she meets with clients, she can point to this fundraiser as proof of her abilities.
I’ve been in charge of big events, so I deferred to her.
Besides, my family will be there, and I can spend time with them tonight.
If something goes wrong, I’ll be there to step in and help.
The doorbell rings, alerting me that Lucas is here. He’s on my guest list, so the doorman doesn’t need to call up. I pick up my silver purse, check my makeup in the mirror, draw a deep breath, and walk through my apartment to let him in.
I open the door to see a dozen roses before I see Lucas standing behind them, the vase in his hands. “Oh, they’re beautiful! Come in!” I don’t want him to have to stand outside with the heavy flowers and glass holder any longer than he has to.
Once inside, I guide him to the half-circle console in the entryway, and he sets the bouquet down.
“Thank you! They’re lovely.”
“And to think I didn’t know you’d be wearing a matching dress.” He looks me over with a hungry gaze, his eyes deepening to a moss-colored green. “Forget the flowers, you look stunning,” he says, taking my hand in his.
“Thank you. You look handsome in that tux.” Actually, handsome doesn’t do him justice. He looked hot in the jacket and white-collared shirt he wore to the club, but tonight? Debonair is more like it.
He lifts my hand and presses a kiss to the top. “I wouldn’t want to mess that perfect red lipstick,” he tells me. “At least not yet.”
The sweep of his lips, his gruff voice, and the promise of later almost cause me to combust on the spot, and a small moan escapes from the back of my throat.
“Jesus,” he mutters. “We should get going before I strip you out of that dress and we don’t make it to the gala.”
My panties are now wet. “Can we skip it?” I hear the need in my voice. It matches the way my body is vibrating with desire.
“Don’t tempt me. But both of our families will be there, and we’ll have no excuse for not showing up as planned.”
I treat him to an exaggerated pout. “Fine.” But it isn’t. Because once we arrive at the hotel, where the fundraiser is being held, we can’t flirt, hold hands, kiss, or do any of the things that now feel natural when I’m with Lucas.
A little while later, we enter the elaborately decorated ballroom side by side.
I catch sight of my family but before walking over to where they’re gathered, I deliberately brush my fingers over Lucas’s hand.
It’s our official parting for the night, and as I watch him head in the opposite direction, where his parents are seated, I feel the loss.
“Rainey!” I turn at the sound of my mother’s voice.
“Hi, Mom!” I give her a hug.
“You look beautiful. You know, that dress reminds me of…”
“The night we met.” My father joins her and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, honey.”
“Hi, Dad. Having fun?” I ask.
He stares at me. “Do I ever have fun at these events?”
Mom rolls her eyes and nudges him with her elbow. “He’s having a wonderful time.”
“You met at the Meridian Hotel, right? The one your father owned?” I ask my dad.
He nods. “Your cousin, Asher, bought it and it’s closed for renovations right now.” Then Dad says, “I see someone I need to speak to, I’ll be back.”
He strides off and I laugh. “That’s Dad for you.”
Mom grins. “You should have seen his mood the first time we met. He’d come to celebrate his father’s birthday, so you can only imagine.”
I nod. I’ve never met my grandfather, at least not that I can recall, and from the stories my family tells, I’m better off.
I have my mom’s stepmother, Melissa, and my dad’s mom, Grandma Emma, and her second husband, Michael.
Not to mention all my aunts and uncles and, of course, my brothers. We’re an overwhelming bunch.
“Hey, sis! Mom.” Hudson walks over and hugs us both.
“There’s my charming brother. I haven’t talked to you in too long.”
Although I did hear from the twins after the rock through the window incident, I reassured them Dad had a company redo the security at the office and had a talk with my doormen. I knew better than to argue. A Dare man would do whatever he wanted.
Kind of like Lucas. At the thought of him, I glance across the room to see him laughing at something his father said. As if he senses my stare, he turns and meets my gaze. He treats me to a wink, and I feel better for having connected with him.
Turning back to Hudson before anyone notices I’m ogling someone across the room, I ask, “Anyway, what’s going on?”
He grins, his smile reminding me of Mom’s and mine. “Work has me buried,” he admits. “Miles too. But I should have been in touch more.”
“Did I hear my name?” Miles walks over.
Both my brothers look handsome in their tuxedos, but where Hudson is light in his personality, Miles is serious, more like Dad. But they both have Dad’s jet-black hair and the Dare indigo eyes.
“Hi!” I step up and give Miles a hug. “I was just complaining to Hudson that I haven’t heard from him lately. Same for you!”
He winces. “I’m sure my reason is the same as his. Work. But that’s no excuse.”
“It’s okay. I’m just giving you both a hard time. I’ve been crazy busy too and could have reached out.”
“I’m going to check out the auction items. Let my kids catch up.” Mom touches my shoulder. “I’ll see you at the table.”
“Bye, Mom,” Hudson and Miles say at the same time.
A waitress walks by and I accept a glass of champagne from her tray, taking a sip of the bubbly liquid.
“How’s the Thunder anniversary party planning going?” Hudson asks.
I tell him about the huge glitch but make him promise not to repeat the issue to our dad.
“I’ve ordered replacement banners, and the swag for the party should be arriving soon.
All the items for the museum exhibit were delivered and are being set up.
I’ll be going to check those out soon.” With Lucas, though I don’t mention that to the twins.
“So basically, things are almost moving along as planned,” I say.
“And nothing more from whoever threw the brick?” Miles asks, his brooding expression growing more thunderous as he asks the question.
I shake my head. Since they don’t equate the two issues, I don’t mention it, either. “So let’s talk about more interesting things!” I say, eager to change the subject.
We catch up some more before splitting up to network.
This might be a fundraiser to raise money for a good cause but at the end of the day, with all the important people here, be here and be seen is the motto of the night.
There are many guests here who might be impressed enough to hire our company, so I need to start chatting.
I spend twenty minutes or so stopping at various cliques I recognize and accepting the accolades for the gorgeous décor and anything else that impressed them thus far. I’m sure to mention Kaylee’s name as I circulate so she gets the well-deserved recognition.
A hand rests on my shoulder and I turn, surprised to see Lucas standing beside me. Apparently, I’ve worked my way around the entire room.
“Hello, beautiful,” he says in a low voice.
I can’t help but smile up at him. “Hi, yourself.”
I stare into his green eyes, our gazes connecting. And lingering.
“Lucas, who is this pretty girl?” a woman I recognize as his mother asks.
It’s been years since I’ve seen her, back when Jack lived home and still needed rides to see his friends and vice versa.
“Mom, this is Rainey Dare. Rainey, my mother, Jacinda Carras.”
Her eyes open wide. “Rainey, it’s been years. You’ve grown up! I didn’t recognize you. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s good to see you.” I smile at the pretty woman with a blonde bob framing her made-up face. I want to hug her for taking Lucas in when he needed parents so badly, but I know that’s inappropriate. And weird. But I think it just the same.
“Actually, I’ve heard so much about you!” she says.
“You have?”
“Mom!” Lucas’s cheeks turn red on his clean-shaven face.
I think it’s adorable.
“Lucas tells me he’s helping you with the Miami Thunder anniversary and you’re doing a wonderful job.”
I meet his gaze, surprised he’s mentioned me. “Oh. Well, thank you both. I’m doing the best I can. It’s been… stressful but things happen during planning. Lucas has been a huge help.”
“Of course he has.” She looks to him, her smile wide. The pride in her expression is obvious and makes me smile.
“Jacinda?” a male voice calls.
She shrugs and sends me an apologetic glance, her eyes soft. “I have to be going. My husband is calling. It’s been wonderful seeing you, Rainey.”
Before I can reply, she leans close and whispers, “You make a beautiful couple,” before turning and gliding away in her beautiful, royal blue gown.
My cheeks are burning as I look up at Lucas. “What was that about?”