Chapter Seven
Piper
I'd worn many dresses in my life, but never one that made me feel like this—like I was finally the person I was meant to be.
The sapphire silk caught the light as I turned before my bedroom mirror, falling in elegant folds to the floor.
I'd splurged on it last week, reasoning that this gala wasn't just another event I was coordinating but my first real date with Rhett.
Well, first official date.
The thought sent a flutter through my stomach. Somewhere between that first reluctant conversation at The Little Red Hen and last night's passionate encounter at his cottage, my holiday fake relationship had become something startlingly real.
A knock at my apartment door sent me scurrying for my earrings—simple diamond studs, a gift from my parents last Christmas. One last glance in the mirror, one last adjustment of the jewel-encrusted bobby pin in my hair, and I was ready.
I opened the door to find Rhett standing there in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, a small wrapped box in his hand. He stared for a long moment before speaking.
"You're breathtaking," he said, his voice low and intimate.
"You're not so bad yourself, Dr. Thornton.
" I tried for lighthearted, but my voice caught slightly.
He really was gorgeous—the formal wear emphasizing his broad shoulders and lean frame, his hair styled just right, a hint of stubble adding just the right amount of ruggedness to his refined appearance.
"This is for you." He handed me the box. "An early Christmas gift."
Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a single charm—a tiny silver star. "Because you shine as brightly as the North Star in the night sky," he explained as he fastened it around my wrist. "Guiding me home when I was lost."
"That's beautiful," I whispered, my heart swelling. "Thank you. I love it."
His fingers lingered on my wrist. "Ready to make our official debut?"
I nodded, trying to ignore the nervous fluttering in my chest.
The hospital gala was being held at the Bayview Hotel, Starlight Bay's grandest venue.
As we entered the ballroom, I marveled at the sight.
Gold and silver decorations glittered under crystal chandeliers, tables draped in white linen surrounded a polished dance floor, and a string quartet played softly in the corner.
As we moved through the crowd, I found myself introduced as "Piper Summers, the force behind the Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge" rather than just Rhett's date. He seemed determined that everyone know my accomplishments, praising my work to colleagues from the hospital with genuine enthusiasm.
"Twenty thousand dollars raised," he told the chief administrator. "In a community this size. Remarkable achievement."
"It was a team effort," I demurred, though his pride in me was intoxicating.
The evening unfolded like a dream—champagne toasts, elegant hors d'oeuvres, and conversations that flowed easily. When Rhett led me to the dance floor, his hand enveloping mine, I felt a contentment I'd never experienced before.
"Happy, Angel?" he asked, holding me close as we swayed to the music.
"Very." I rested my head against his chest, hearing the steady beat of his heart. "Though your hospital colleagues keep looking at us like we're an exhibit at the zoo."
He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "They're just not used to seeing me smile."
"You weren't exactly known for your sunny disposition?"
"More like my single-minded focus on work. I don't think I've attended a social function in years without spending half the time on my phone consulting on cases."
I leaned back to look at him. "You haven't checked your phone once tonight."
"Haven't wanted to." His expression softened. "Not when reality is far more appealing."
The tenderness of his words carried me through another dance, then another, until I excused myself to visit the ladies' room.
As I freshened my lipstick, I couldn't help smiling at my reflection.
Four hours ago, I'd been worried about the age gap, about what people with prestigious jobs and political clout might think.
Now, those concerns seemed insignificant compared to the joy of being with someone who made me feel so completely seen and valued.
The bathroom door opened, and my smile vanished as Adrienne entered. She wore a sleek black dress that probably cost a small fortune, her dark hair swept into an elegant twist.
"Well, well." Her voice dripped with false sweetness. "If it isn't Rhett's little holiday helper."
I straightened, determined not to be intimidated. “I didn't know you'd be attending tonight."
"I wouldn't miss it." She moved to the mirror beside me, freshening her lipstick in a manner that seemed more performance than necessity. The sharp scent of her expensive perfume mingled with the bathroom's floral air freshener, creating a combination that made my nose itch.
"Rhett and I always attended these events together. Tradition, you know."
I focused on washing my hands, unwilling to engage with her obvious baiting. "The gala's lovely. The hospital will be thrilled with the fundraising total."
"Yes, charity work. So fulfilling for those without real careers." She turned to face me directly. "You know this thing with my husband is temporary, right? A holiday diversion, nothing more."
Her words landed like ice water down my spine. My fingers curled around the edge of the marble counter as I maintained my expression. "You mean your ex-husband. And I think that's between Rhett and me."
"Oh, sweetie." She laughed, the sound like glass breaking on tile. "Do you imagine he's serious about you? A planner from a coastal backwater barely older than his daughter?"
"I should get back—"
She shifted, blocking my path to the door. "He's been offered the chief of cardiothoracic surgery position at Boston Memorial, in case you weren’t aware. Everything he's worked for his entire career. He'll be accepting it after the holidays."
The certainty in her voice made my stomach clench into a tight knot. "If that's true, I'm happy for him."
"It comes with a reconciliation package." She examined her manicure. "We've been discussing getting back together. For the sake of our family, our social standing. He told me this morning he's been thinking about it seriously."
"I don't believe you." My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.
"No?" Her smile was almost pitying. "Why else do you think I'm here?
We're meeting with the board chairman tomorrow to discuss terms." She leaned closer, her pendant earrings catching the harsh bathroom light.
"Rhett's having his little midlife adventure with you.
It's cute, really, this attempt to maintain his youth.
But when the magic fades, he'll return to where he belongs—in Boston, with me, living the life he's built over decades. "
I wanted to dismiss her words, but doubt crept in like fog rolling off the harbor. Hadn't I wondered myself if this was too good to be true? If someone like Rhett could really be satisfied with someone like me, with a life in a seaside village after the excitement of the city?
"You're lying," I said, but my voice wavered traitorously.
"Am I? Ask him about the Boston offer. Watch his face.
" She adjusted her diamond bracelet, the stones glinting like tiny daggers.
"He hasn't told you, has he? Because he knows this—" she gestured vaguely at me, "—isn't going anywhere.
You're nothing, dear. The Christmas equivalent of a summer romance.
Fun while it lasts, but ultimately forgettable. "
The door opened as another guest entered. Adrienne smiled sweetly and departed with a final whispered comment: "If you care about him, you'll step aside. Don't be the selfish little girl who kept him from his real family and the career he deserves."
My fingers turned white against the counter as I fought for composure.
It couldn't be true—could it? Yet some of what she said rang true.
Rhett hadn't mentioned a Boston offer, though he'd spoken vaguely about decisions pending.
And reconciliation wasn't uncommon after divorce, especially with children in the picture.
By the time I returned to the ballroom, I'd plastered on a smile that felt like a crack in thin ice. Rhett immediately tensed, concern etching across his features as I approached.
"Are you alright?" he asked, taking my hand. "You're pale."
"Just a headache," I lied. "Maybe the champagne."
He didn't look convinced but didn't press the issue.
As the evening continued, I felt myself going through the motions—picking at the lavish courses placed in front of us at the catered dinner, laughing at appropriate moments, making small talk.
But inside, I was crumbling, Adrienne's words echoing with each heartbeat.
If you care about him, you'll step aside.
Did I care about him? The answer came immediately. Yes. More than I'd realized, more than I'd allowed myself to admit. Enough to want what was best for him, even if that meant losing him.
When we stepped outside for air on the hotel's terrace as waiters began clearing tables, I knew I couldn't maintain the pretense any longer.
"You've been offered a position in Boston," I said quietly.
Rhett's shoulders went rigid. "How did you—"
"Adrienne told me. Chief of cardiothoracic surgery."
He turned to face me. "Piper, it's not what you think."
"She also said you're considering reconciliation."
"What?" His expression shifted from concern to disbelief. "That's absurd. When did she tell you this?"
"In the bathroom. She said you discussed it this morning." I hugged myself against the cold, both physical and emotional. "And it makes sense, Rhett. Boston is your world. Your career, your family—"
"Piper, stop." He reached for me, but I drew back.