Chapter 13 #2
Amanda crinkled her nose in response, feeling truly light and free.
“It feels good to be back.” She really had been virtually underground for quite a while now.
And while she hadn’t jumped back into writing or recording, much less performing, she had started to reach out to a select few from the industry.
She and Alex hadn’t announced their relationship, whatever it was, either, but they had been seen in and around town a few times recently.
Twice, sans the circus, though she knew Alex had told his men where they’d be, so they’d had protection, they just weren’t sharing a table with the protection.
Once, Gregor drove them, and they’d snuck into one of her favorite restaurants for a late-night supper after putting the kids to bed.
It was kinda like a first date, at least one that was out and about.
The ma?tre d’ had been thrilled to see her, the waitstaff too. That night, she’d had the most amazing time. He was so frigging smart she could talk to him all night long. And they almost had, at least until well after closing.
She was sure they’d been photographed on the way out, but Alex just shook his head at her, and said “Don’t worry, beautiful.
” So she hadn’t. Later, when she’d searched her name, she came across a few articles, things, like: “A Modern-Day Fairy Tale: Alexander Montgomery Puts Amanda Marceau Back Together Again,” and, “Beauty and the Billionaire: Look Who’s Coaxed Amanda Marceau Out of Hiding”.
The pictures weren’t bad, either. She had to admit, they made a stunning couple.
And now here he was standing outside her door, taking up a considerable amount of space, and looking ridiculously handsome. “Hi, sweetheart.”
“Hi.” The smile was completely reflexive and one thousand percent unstoppable. He just had that effect on her.
He stepped closer. “I missed you. How’s my girl?” Since no one knew which way this would go, as in how she would feel being in such a public forum, she knew everyone was being a bit cautious.
She nibbled her bottom lip as she looked at him, thinking that there was nothing better than getting all dressed up for that guy, being a part of an amazing group of people and going out to enjoy stellar company, great food, a lovely atmosphere, not to mention an outstanding cause.
She really couldn’t remember—all kidding aside on the remember part—feeling so carefree.
Like ever. And, looking at Alex, something clicked, one of those pieces that hit her on such a deep level, she was almost overcome by the wave of emotion that accompanied it.
She knew they were connected from the onset, knew she was comfortable with him, knew so many things as to why being with him felt right, but what she felt now, what she knew now, was that she loved this man.
Deeply. She may not remember him, or them, but she knew without a doubt she loved him. She felt it in her bones.
She shook off the overwhelming part of it and embraced the pure rush of adrenaline that came with the certainty that this was where she belonged, with him, here, now. And tonight was going to be a celebration of it all. “Alex,” she said, “I’m frigging amazing.”
He threw his head back and laughed, like a full-on booming fill-the-room-with-sunshine laugh. “Yeah, you are,” he agreed, stroking her face. “You ready to light things up, beautiful?”
He reached for her hand to help her down from the Nav. Then, upon seeing her dress, a litany of swear words lit the night, making all of her nerve endings zing to life.
“Thanks,” Amanda said with a sly smile. Though she was wearing four-inch platform stilettos, her head was level with his chin, and she looked up to tell him, “You look incredibly handsome yourself, Alex Montgomery.”
She reached out and straightened his perfectly straight bow tie.
She couldn’t help it. She loved touching this man.
While her arms were still extended, his large hands circled her waist, holding her still as he stared down.
She shivered in reaction, and when he bent his head to kiss her, she met him halfway, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Flashes went off as photographers and paparazzi alike started taking shots.
She didn’t even care—she leaned in and let him take the kiss deeper. And, God bless the man, he did.
Of all the scenarios Alexander had envisioned for tonight, Amanda’s joie de vivre was wholly unexpected and so infectious he had difficulty concentrating. Something had changed since he’d seen her this morning, and he couldn’t say he minded.
He wasn’t sure they’d ever had an opportunity to be completely at ease and carefree. When she’d first come to him in his time, there had always been the underlying worry that her stay may not be permanent. And, thinking about what had ultimately happened, they had been right to be worried.
He heard swearing in his ear from the men stationed around the perimeter as more flashes lit the night.
They were just trying to keep his and Amanda’s life as private as possible.
An impossibility for sure, but at least until they had things—like their life—figured out, it would be simpler to not have to worry about what was being bandied about in the press.
Though, while they could still sweep things from the internet as best as they could, they really hadn’t been of late. Amanda wasn’t hiding anymore. Not that he presently didn’t wish she was. She looked spectacular tonight.
When she gave him a nod to let him know she was ready, he laid a hand on her bare back and led her inside.
There wasn’t a man present who didn’t turn as they passed.
Benefactors, patrons, and employees. Her full-length dress was classy as hell and fit like a glove.
The plunging halter in front was held together by a measly tie behind her neck and the dress was entirely backless, not to mention the slit up the side, which ran the length of a long, beautiful leg.
Once inside, they grabbed drinks from the bar and mingled with some of the guests.
Amanda and Sam did their best to provide color commentary before making introductions.
He knew some of the guests, having worked with or for them, but anytime Amanda wasn’t sure if he’d know someone, she was quick with an introduction.
His wife excelled in the art of etiquette.
A few times she looked surprised by his own display of social graces. Coming up in eighteenth-century Britain had its advantages.
Why he’d expected trouble he wasn’t sure.
Everyone was happy to see Amanda and only a few people asked questions that crossed the line, using exaggerated hushed tones and referring to the video.
Nosey and obnoxious, yes, but in light of Amanda’s present state of mind, seemingly harmless.
They laughed the questions off more often than not.
After an extended period of hors d’oeuvres, the dinner bell rang as was apparently custom at these events.
Alexander scanned the room, conducting a visual check-in with the crew.
Stephen was alongside Sam—who was laughing at something someone said—and he clearly couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
After a moment, he did look at Alex, giving a bashful nod when he caught his eye, confirming he was walking the line between business and pleasure.
Alex turned to Gregor, who smirked, taking in the entirety of the room from where he stood against a back wall, sipping a drink.
Yeah, Gregor loved this shit. Stan gave him a salute, while he noted that the boys were doing their best to look serious while checking out women.
Alex chuckled as Evan and Chris walked by them, giving each a knock upside the head.
“Hey,” Amanda said, drawing his attention back.
She placed her hands on his chest, fingering his lapels.
Jesus, no pun intended, but Jesus Jones’s “Right Here Right Now” was playing, and its lyrics about how there was no other place he wanted to be mirrored his sentiments exactly.
And for the first time, he didn’t care if Amanda remembered.
Maybe everything that had happened, everything they’d been through, was leading to this. Right here, right now.
People were still finding their seats when their group reached the ballroom.
Between himself, Art, and this year’s cochairs, they had three tables.
The crew was divided among them and each table also welcomed an honoree of the night’s affairs, their family, or guests.
The rest of the room was filled with a few celebrities, mostly local but a few other headliners, too, besides Amanda.
That left a mixture of the town’s socialites, law enforcement, and retired military to make up the rest of the tables, with most of the latter group either working for or having trained with Calder Defense in some capacity.
Being used to large dinners, Alex considered their table of ten an intimate gathering.
The conversation flowed easily as they moved through three courses before the main entrée was served.
At one point, he was laughing at something Rick, the honoree sitting at their table, said.
When he glanced at Amanda, she wore an odd look on her face, her smile faraway. “You okay?” he asked.
She leaned in and whispered, “When you laugh, it’s like my whole world is right.” She shrugged. “I don’t know why, it just is.”
Overcome, Alex bent to kiss her, then took a long pull of his drink before extending his glass to her.
“Like I drink scotch, Montgomery,” she teased, rolling her eyes and fingering the necklace he’d given her the other night.
He loved her so much it still hurt.