Chapter 6 Zombies and Tears
ZOMBIES AND TEARS
Penny
“I cannot believe we’re at the Zombie Ball. I’ve heard about this event before, but never been,” I whispered as if speaking too loud would cause an avalanche of crystal chandeliers raining down upon our heads at the Plaza Hotel ballroom.
“Considering the tickets are three hundred each, I would never have ventured to attend myself. We have Westley to thank for getting us in.” Aunt Brier fussed with the shoulder of her little black dress. “Look at all these costumes. They go overboard, don’t they?”
‘They’ being some of New York’s elite, wealthy, celebs and socialites, none of which Brier and I were. We waded through the crowd at the annual event, billed as New York’s Ultimate Halloween Bash, all benefitting the fight against lung cancer. And sponsored by the Buchanan family.
I’d heard about the family once from Brianne. She was always enamored with their wealth, pleasing her to no end when Archer would get invited to occasional parties in the Hamptons and take her as his date.
Brianne’s life seemed so glamours at the time, but nowadays, Archer wouldn’t have to invite me to events like that. A simple phone call or text or another chance to see him again would be nice.
Brier nagged me daily for the past two weeks about this being the modern ages and how I should text him and invite him out again.
I practically kept my phone hidden from her so she wouldn’t text him for me.
What she didn’t know was that he’d been on my mind too often since the golden hour playdate, but I subscribed to the idea that if a man was interested, he’d make the effort.
The spacious room filled fast with people in ballgowns and tuxedos, sequins and masks, and enough glittering conversation to make my head spin.
In my simple black tulle-skirted short gown and with my face painted like the Bride of Frankenstein, complete with a silver streak through my hair, this small-town girl crashed the big-city party.
We drifted toward the art auction room, where sculptures were on display along with paintings lining velvet-draped walls, each strategically lit by spotlights overhead.
Masterpieces stared back at us, from landscapes of the country and portraits of noble people, to abstracts I didn’t understand but pretended I did.
As we exited the display, Brier’s smile flickered, nerves showing through, eyes always searching the crowd for one man. “Westley is here somewhere. His company handles the artwork security each year. He said he’d find me, but among all these people?”
“You’re suddenly nervous about meeting the man you’ve been talking to for two decades, aren’t you?”
She brushed back a lock of hair behind her ear.
She went with a black velvet dress and a velvet pillbox hat, the netting halfway covering her face.
I had complained about it not exactly being a costume before we left home tonight; she countered she was going for Shy Widowed Countess.
I helped her with her makeup and curled her dark hair, ensuring she was ready to meet her prince.
“Photos and video calls aren’t the same. What if when I see him I’m not attracted to…”
Her words dissolved on an exhale when the crowd parted like the Red Sea, letting a giant walk through. This had to be Westley.
My God—he was enormous. At least a foot and a half taller than Brier, his shoulder muscles and arms so brawny, they blocked out the light behind him.
I feared he might break her if he ever landed on top of her.
Dressed in a sleek black suit, no mask on his face, but a perfectly manicured amount of scruff along his jaw and upper lip, his steady blue eyes locked on Brier as if she were the only woman in the room.
“Told you I would find you,” he said, voice like smoke and velvet. “It’s finally you.”
My aunt—at five-foot-one—swayed on her heels, her head falling back, eyes flittering up at him, the exact picture of a woman physically swooning if I ever saw one.
“Westley?” With the breathy way she spoke, you’d think she’d been holding it in for years and only now remembered how to let it go.
He smiled, slow and certain. “In the flesh, Brier Rose.”
“Um, th-this is my niece, Penny,” she stammered, tugging me forward.
He shook my hand firmly and politely. “I understand I have you to thank for finally getting her to meet me in person?”
“Nice to meet you,” I managed before he turned right back to her.
“You look exactly how I pictured. Only better.” He knew how to make a woman blush. Brier’s cheeks couldn’t be more pink. Their eyes met and held for several seconds. I thought maybe they’d never speak again, inventing a whole new language entirely with their orbs.
I broke their spell. “Brier said you’re here working.”
“As the boss, I’m only backup tonight. My team has it covered. They’re a top-notch group of ex–Navy SEALs, like me. You’ll spot them if you look closely, each dressed in black suits and Phantom of the Opera masks.”
We both scanned the art auction behind us, and sure enough, men in tailored black moved like shadows along the perimeter. Their masks covered half their faces, blending with the costumed crowd if needed.
“Impressive,” I admitted. “So, where do you live now, Westley?”
“Vegas,” he said, like it was both fact and dare. “My company is headquartered there. I travel often, but it’s home.”
Vegas. The word hung in the air. I knew what it meant for Brier if this thing between them became something more. Possibly a new life and a move out west?
She’d been my lifeline here for the past few years—job and home.
What would I do without her? I’d half-heartedly sent out a few resumes since seeing Archer, using him as a reference.
Now with even more resolve, I vowed to keep going, setting my sights on a career that didn’t involve dogs—one making use of the education I paid for in monthly financial aid installments.
“Can I buy you a drink? I hear they have pumpkin-tinis, and if memory serves, a good martini is your favorite.” He winked at Brier.
“It is but…” She let her eyes wander down his body, at least to about his navel, then back up. “I think I’ll keep my wits about me tonight.”
“Good idea.” His gaze smoldered at her. Before I could analyze their innuendos, the band struck up a new tune. Westley extended his hands. “Shall we dance, ladies?”
Brier blinked. “Right now? You dance?”
“More like I stand in place and sway. And yes, right now,” he confirmed, unwavering. We took his hands, and the Red Sea of people parted ways for him again, as if he had the innate ability to command everyone around him by his sheer size alone.
On the floor, I hung off to the side a little, letting them have the dance they deserved after all these years. Couples circled around us, gowns swishing, masks bobbing. It became rather awkward for me. I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to be the third wheel tonight after all.
One look at Brier and I knew her heart had been swept away.
Literally. Westley lifted her clean off her feet, his large hands spanning her waist as if she was made to fit there.
She laughed, clung to his shoulders, and he swayed her gently, whispering something in her ear that made her eyes shine.
Watching them was like destiny taking a bow with a very deserving big boost to its ol’ ego.
Drowning myself in a pumpkin-tini sounded like a great idea, when a short and creepy vampire danced near me, smiling with fake fangs on display.
I grinned politely and we continued to dance until a shadow came between us, blocking out the disco ball light. I jumped at the sight of Archer.
Was this him finally making an effort or simply saving me from an awkward dance with a scary-looking bloodsucker?
“This is the last place I thought I’d run into you,” Archer yelled above the music, glaring at the other guy.
“I’m here for a good cause,” I quipped, glancing over at Brier. She arched her brows, realizing who I was with and mouthed something that looked like Go, go, go! If I read lips.
Archer didn’t move a muscle, but his eyes danced on my hips.
“If you’re not going to move, mind letting me finish this song with the neck biter behind you?” I pointed.
“You’re not dancing with him.”
“Why not?”
He took my hand, and brought me close, his other landing at the small of my back, annoyingly possessive for a man who’d ghosted me.
My body betrayed me and kicked into action, moving in time with him.
Who did he think he was, shooting a bolt of electricity through my body at every touch point—Dr. Frankenstein?
I couldn’t keep my eyes off him, with his dance moves that should be illegal for a CEO.
Whatever his costume was, dressed in all black, distressed tee, holes in black jeans, it didn’t matter, given his nice ass.
His gyrating hips moved to an old punk rock Buzzcocks song about falling for someone you shouldn’t.
Talk about the perfect anthem for my life.
When the tune melted into a slower beat, he drew me nearer, my chest brushing his, nipples flaring. Heat simmered low in my belly. Against his shoulders, my fingers tingled. For one dizzying moment, I let myself imagine Archer was mine.
“Did you manage to remove all the traces of dog hair from your clothes?” I referenced our last meeting as we swayed, in case so much time had elapsed he had forgotten about it.
“Had my dry cleaner deal with it.” Of course the rich man would. “Did you put my letter of recommendation to good use yet?”
I chewed my cheek. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my future lately.”
“Penny, get on that. Go for it.” Mm. I definitely would like to go for him and get on something. “What’s holding you back?”
I glanced across the floor at Brier and Westley. She seemed in good—and big—hands with him now. Nothing should stand in my way of doing something more with my life, reaching for my dreams, having it all. A career, staying in the city versus moving back home, and… a man.