Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Lake
I slid my hands down the evening dress, the silk and lace a contradiction against my skin.
Finding the right balance between looking professional, elegant, feminine, yet powerful wasn’t easy all the time. I constantly searched what others wore and what made me feel good.
It wasn’t that I cared what others thought, but I needed to. Because I had people who depended on me. And if I looked like I was trying too hard or not trying hard enough, it could affect others’ livelihoods.
A simple dress where I looked like I was trying to walk across the Venice Festival to showcase a movie meant that others would talk. If I wore a pantsuit, others would talk. If I wore a dress that didn’t make me feel like I was powerful, I would talk.
I liked feeling pretty. And there was nothing wrong with that.
I was keeping with my creams and whites as my color palette for the event. I hadn’t meant to dress in all the same colors, but it was my mood. I liked the look, and I was nervous.
I would go up and give a small speech to thank those who nominated me to be here. And then I would sit down and watch others do the same.
And while I appreciated the event and the excuse to dress up in a way that I didn’t normally get to, I had already achieved what I had wanted to by coming here.
I met with Susanna and eight other CEOs who all had pledged to help with some of the charities I worked with.
These were the networking opportunities that I had come for. That and the larger scale ones that Susanna and I would be working on.
We had a lot to accomplish, but had done so much already in these past couple of days.
And I knew with the connections that I had formed through lunches and drinks and casual conversations in a hotel lobby that I had made something of myself from just this one event. Yes, it was networking at its finest, and it was rude sometimes, and ridiculous, but I was going to help people.
I was allowed to kick ass in business. I was allowed to love my job and do well at it. Even if some of the world thought that women shouldn’t.
I frowned and fixed my lipstick.
And that was enough of that. I didn’t need to get on my high horse, not when I had other things to worry about.
Namely, Nick.
Something was wrong with him. He had growled and had walked away, and we hadn’t spoken since. Yes, I had things to do, and he had gone to work on his art, but something was wrong.
And yet, this was my night. I was grateful that he was here. I was grateful that nobody really questioned his presence. They just assumed I was dating him. Nobody cared that we weren’t married, not that we ever would be. Nobody cared, because he was my buffer.
Tonight was about me. And I was allowed to have it be about me.
I didn’t have time to placate him and worry only about him. I had done that for someone else, and I wouldn’t do it again.
Zach had always made me feel like crap and pushed me down and I hadn’t even realized he was doing it for a long time.
Because his needs were first, and if I wasn’t doing what he wanted, then he would yell at me, or treat me like crap, or persuade me to do what he wanted.
And for a moment, I thought Nick was doing the same, and while he hadn’t been, it had been too close for comfort.
I sighed, grabbed my purse, and knew I needed to talk to him. But not tonight. Tonight was about something else.
Tonight was about an award that I would be happy to get, even if it came with strings.
I walked out of the bathroom, through the bedroom to the living room, where he had gotten dressed.
I froze, looking at him in his tux, and blinked. “How did you fit that in your suitcase?”
He looked up at me then, his hands going down his lapels. He was all broad and muscled and beautiful.
There was something really wrong with me. I couldn’t help it. I had always been attracted to Nick. Which had been a problem, but we were friends, so it wasn’t a big deal. I was allowed to think he was hot, but damn it, why did he have to look so good in a tux? The thing looked as if it had been molded to him, and I could barely breathe.
He cleared his throat. “I didn’t own one, but I actually talked to your dad about it, mostly because if anyone in your family or our group of friends knew how to get a tux, it would be him.”
I held back a smile. My dad was a former model and now was a bestselling author and Oscar winner for screenplays. We didn’t talk about it much because I wasn’t an LA kid or anything like that, but yes, my dad knew all about tuxes.
“Wait, when did you talk to my dad about this? And what does that have to do with you having a tux right now?”
“I didn’t have much time to get one custom-made. So I am wearing one from a shop he took me to, and I bought it, don’t worry. But it needed alterations because, apparently, my shoulders are like a linebacker’s.”
I barely resisted the urge to lick my lips. Because yes, his shoulders were broad. But that was beside the point.
I was still so confused, so I blamed that for my wayward thoughts on Nick in a freaking tux. “Wait, did my dad ship this to you?”
Nick fidgeted, shoved his hands in his pockets, and then pulled them back out as if he didn’t want to leave creases.
“Yes. And he said I could ship it back to him if I can’t fit it in my bag. It was the only suitcase I had. I told you, I don’t travel much, and if I do, it’s usually a duffle. But yeah, I got a tux. Didn’t want to shame you.”
I moved forward, frowning at the odd tone in his voice. “You wouldn’t shame me. Honestly. You could have shown up in jeans to this for all I care. Which I know sounds the exact opposite of what I would normally say, but I’m glad you’re here.” I knew I still needed to talk to him about what happened before. I couldn’t hide in my own feelings all the time.
“Before we go down there, I wanted to tell you something.”
I froze, memories of Zach hitting me again.
“I’m sorry.”
I blinked, confused. “What?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not good at this, and I nearly ruined it. I was in my head and left when I shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have taken out my own feelings on you. Even though they’re just dumbass feelings. I promise I won’t be an asshole tonight. I can’t promise I won’t ever be one again. That would be a lie.” His lips twitched and I smiled. “But I am sorry for leaving you hanging because of my own needs. You didn’t deserve that.”
I was floored. Seriously floored.
Zach had never done anything like that. He never apologized, had never even gone into the realm of being sorry.
I just…I couldn’t focus. And why was I comparing those two?
Zach had nothing on Nick, and Nick wasn’t my boyfriend or anything. Why was my brain doing that?
Nick frowned before he took a step and blinked, his gaze going down my body, his eyes so heated that I nearly blushed, wanting to press my thighs together.
“Fuck. I didn’t say that before because, like I said, I was in my head, but damn it. You look amazing. I guess you clean up nicely, Montgomery.” He cleared his throat and put his hands back in his pockets.
Why did it feel like when he said Montgomery, it was to remind him of who I was?
And where had that come from? Damn it. I could not think like that.
This was just a night that we were dressed up like we were going to prom. As friends. Practically cousins.
Not kissing ones.
Don’t think about kissing.
I laughed awkwardly. “Oh, well, thank you. And, you look great too. I mean, I’ve never seen you in a tux.”
“I’ve seen you in dresses, Lake. This one’s different. You look fancy.”
I froze, putting my hands on my hips. “Too fancy? I brought an extra dress, just in case I was going overboard, but everyone else is in tuxes, and all the wives are in ball gowns. I thought about wearing a tux too, but then I realized I liked dresses more so…”
“You look fine, Lake.”
“You said it was better than fine before,” I grumbled.
“I’m not going to win this conversation, so are you ready to go?”
I took a step forward, then put my hand over my chest, my fingers brushing my neck.
His gaze went to that motion, and I remembered the last times my fingers were touching my neck in front of him. When I had gone to him for help.
No, I wasn’t going to think about that. Because that didn’t matter. Zach didn’t matter in this moment.
“I need help with this stupid necklace. Can you help me? I know your hands are big, but you work with a tiny needle all day. You should be fine.”
I winced as I said it, rambling, and he narrowed his gaze, his pupils dilating.
Was it suddenly hot in here? Was I losing my mind?
He let out a deep growl, his chest rumbling, or maybe I was just imagining things. It wasn’t like he was a werewolf in some shifter romance. He was just Nick. Tattoo artist, friend, practically my cousin.
And if I kept calling him my cousin, it was going to get weird really fucking quick.
I turned when he held up a finger and spun it in a circle, and then he slid the necklace over my neck, his calloused fingertips brushing along my skin. I pressed my lips together, trying to breathe through my nose, trying not to hyperventilate.
But he worked the clasp quickly, and I swallowed hard, the heat between us pulsating.
It was just my imagination.
It had to be.
“You ready?” he asked after a moment before he cleared his throat.
I nodded and turned, both of us staring at one another, his deep breaths in sync with mine.
“I’m ready.”
He held out his elbow, and I took it with my fingers, grabbing my purse with my free hand, and I followed him.
I was going to walk downstairs in a gorgeous dress, feeling like a princess, and my panties were damp.
I was in such fucking trouble.
* * *
The award ceremony went quickly, and I barely remembered what I said. Thankfully I had had a speech written, so I just needed to recite it word for word, smile, take a photo, and then sit back down and eat.
We sat with Susanna and her husband, so Nick had someone to talk to. I liked football, but I didn’t like it as much as Nick apparently did. So he was happy, and I was trying to scramble to find two brain cells to work together.
When the dancing began and people went out to the dance floor to do random versions of the chicken dance and other things that nobody ever needed to see me do, I stood up and grabbed my purse.
“I need to powder my nose. I’ll be right back.”
Nick snorted into his beer and I rolled my eyes.
“Fine. I need to use the restroom. Better?”
“It’s just me, Montgomery. You can say what you want.”
I rolled my eyes and caught the glance between Susanna and her husband, but I ignored it. I passed by a few other couples, smiled at them, and made my way to the restroom area.
I nearly tripped over my feet as Ned and Joseph stood there, both of them vaping. They blew smoke in my face, and I coughed at the marijuana smell. I didn’t care what they did, but I didn’t want to be part of it.
“Excuse me.”
“No, how about you excuse me.” Ned came closer and I backed up. I shouldn’t have done that, but it was instinct. I pressed my back to the wall, as he hovered over me and grinned.
“You always think you’re too good for us. All high and mighty in your little silver tower. But nobody cares about fucking Colorado. You’re nothing. You’re not in the big cities. You just pretend that you know what you’re doing in the Mile High City. You always think you’re better than me. Won’t even give me the time of day. But I see the way you watch me. I see the way that you lick your lips when I’m around. You want me.”
I smelled the booze on his breath, the whiskey tainting his lips along with whatever he had just smoked.
Joseph giggled behind him, too far gone to care.
And then Ned was closer, his hand brushing my shoulder, and I put my own hand on his chest.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
He leaned forward, his hand going lower, and I pressed again.
But then Ned was on the floor, holding his bleeding lip, and Nick was standing there.
I blinked as Nick stalked forward, ready to punch the man again. I pulled him back, holding his elbow.
“Stop.”
Nick looked at me. “What?”
“Don’t.”
Mortification set in as others came forward, and Ned’s wife came to his side. “I’m sorry. I’ll watch him better. Damn it. I knew he was going to get another bloody lip. Every time.” She dragged him back, Joseph going with them.
I just stood there as people started whispering. And I stared at Nick, at the way that he shook out his hand.
“I don’t know.”
I wasn’t even sure what I was saying, but then others were staring at me. Not at Nick.
Because Nick hadn’t done anything wrong. Had he?
No, I was the one who hadn’t been able to take care of myself. I was the one who people were staring at. And as the panic set in, I turned on my heel and left, knowing I couldn’t let anybody see this. I couldn’t let them see me break.
I couldn’t let Nick see me break.