Chapter Thirty-Three Always There
SUTTON
The Bright Hearts Ball is as glamorous an event as ever.
When Mom, Dad, and I make our way into the Four Seasons’ ballroom, we’re met with crystal chandeliers that scatter light across marble floors and a sea of evening gowns and crisp, black tuxedoes.
There’s at least two hundred people here.
It’s old money elegance and I move through it with practiced ease, dressed in a shimmering blush gown with a simple swooped neckline, my hair curling around my shoulders.
My hand is resting lightly on my mother’s arm.
Dad walks on her other side, and as we make our way through the room, people turn to greet my parents and compliment my mother on how lovely the event is.
“Everything seems to be going smoothly so far,” Mom murmurs, looking around, approval in her gaze. “Good. Tonight needs to go perfectly. I’m glad you came home for this.”
“Me too,” I reply. “I’d never miss this, Mom. You know that.”
Mom smiles up at me and pats my hand. “I know, sweetheart.”
I’m dead serious. Even if part of me is somewhere else, thinking of someone else, I want to be here tonight, as I always have been. For Mom. For Colson.
“Ah,” Mom declares, raising her hand waving. “There’s that dramatic sister of mine..”
I laugh, turning to find Delilah sweeping into the ballroom like she owns the place, glittering and impeccable in her floor-length shimmering crimson gown, her hand looped through Jackson Romero’s arm.
Jackson looks handsome in a custom tux, eyes sharp as he takes in the room.
I knew I’d be seeing him tonight, but I feel a surge of nervousness, thinking of my presentation next week.
I start going through my list of tasks, mentally checking things off to reassure myself that I’ll be ready in time.
The blueprints are sketched, the slides for the presentation are done…it’s really just the presentation now…
“Hello, my dears!” Delilah exclaims, dropping her hand from Romero’s arm to kiss Mom’s cheek before turning to me. “Sutton! You look radiant.”
“Thanks,” I grin, brushing my hands down the front of my gown.
Jackson smiles. “Hello, Sutton! It’s good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too.” I’m proud of how confident and calm I sound.
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” He turns, gesturing over his shoulder. “My nephew, Gared.”
A man I hadn’t noticed before steps forward.
He appears to be about my age, and he’s quite handsome with dark-hair, a clean shaved face, blue eyes, and a tailored tuxedo that fits his broad frame perfectly.
Definitely good-looking and he holds himself with obvious confidence.
Any woman would be thrilled to have his attention, except me — I’m just politely pleased to meet him.
Truth is, I can’t help but wish Jayce was here instead.
I shoot a questioning look at Delilah, who just grins and shrugs.
Gared grins as he offers me his hand. “Hi, Sutton. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good things, I hope,” I chuckle, shaking his hand, my engagement ring glinting.
“Only the best,” he assures me.
At that moment, music begins to play and people start moving toward the dancefloor. Gerard glances around, his eyes following the couples, then looks back at me “Would you like to…”
“She’s already taken.”
The deep, familiar voice cuts smoothly through the air, making my heart race and my breath stutter.
Slowly, I turn and am shocked to find Jayce standing behind me, dressed to the nines, smirking.
He’s wearing a dark tailored suit that fits him like a fucking glove, the jacket hugging his broad shoulders and tapering cleanly at his waist. A crisp white dress shirt stretches across his chest, the top button undone just enough to reveal the strong line of his throat.
His tie is loosened, like he’s already ditched the most formal part of the evening.
His eyes lock onto mine. They’re dark and burning with something that sends heat straight through my chest. A slow smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
Before I can recover from the surprise, he steps closer. The faint scent of his cologne wraps around me, stealing my breath. His hand reaches for me, his fingers sliding between mine before tightening into a firm grip.
The contact sends a sharp spark of heat up my arm.
“Jayce,” I breathe, startled as he pulls me toward the dance floor.
I glance back once and catch the surprise on Gerard’s face, the curiosity in Jackson’s eyes, and the delighted smiles on Mom and Delilah’s faces. When we reach the middle of the dancefloor, Jayce turns me to face him.
“How are you here?” I ask, immediately wincing at the silly question.
His gaze roams over me and his expression is warm. “I couldn’t miss this. I know how important it is to you.”
“I…” I shake my head, still stunned. “I thought you had a game.”
“I hopped on my private jet right after the game and got dressed on the flight. I landed and came right here.”
The next song starts, and his hand settles at my waist. He pulls me close, surrounding me with his strength and heat.
My smile is shaky and I’m overwhelmed with emotion. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“What’s important to you is important to me,” he murmurs. His eyes move over my hair. “Wish I could see the teal.”
The words settle into my chest and a flutter of giddiness rushes through me as we move together beneath the chandeliers. For a few minutes, there’s nothing else, no donors, no expectations, no careful balancing act. Just the music and the thrill of him being here when I didn’t expect him to be.
I’m so happy he is. I don’t think anyone’s ever made such an effort just to be there for me. To support me and demonstrate just how much they care.
This is significant, right? A guy doesn’t just fly half-way across the country to be with someone he has an arrangement with.
I feel a surge of hope, but I quickly try to tamp it down. What am I thinking? Jayce is a good man who goes out of his way for his friends. I’m reading too much into this.
But…what if I’m not? What if he really does care for me on a deeper level?
Gah! I need to get a grip. I shouldn’t get ahead of myself and just enjoy this moment and being in his arms.
I can feel the bulge of his bicep beneath his suit coat, and I feel heat pool between my legs at the thought of him holding me…naked…while I’m tied up…
And just like that, I’m soaked in the middle of the dance floor.
When the song ends, he doesn’t let go right away. He leans in and presses his forehead to mine.
“You okay?”
I nod, letting out a small breath as I clench my thighs together. “Yeah, more than okay.”
He brushes his lips over my brow.
“How about a drink?” he asks.
“I’d love one.”
He begins leading me toward the bar when someone calls out my name.
“Sutton! Hold on there!”
Turning, I spot Uncle Kevin hurrying toward me with a big smile on his face.
“Hello, my dear!” he exclaims when he reaches me and pulls me into a hug. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I grin, returning his hug. When we step back, I turn and gesture toward Jayce. “Uncle Kevin, this is Jayce Vaughn. My fiancee.”
The two shake hands and Kevin eyes him up and down curiously.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Kevin says.
“All good, I hope,” Jayce chuckles.
Kevin laughs. “Anyone who shows up like this for our Sutton earns major brownie points. Great game tonight, by the way!”
When Delilah and Jackson approach, Jayce’s arm slips around my back. His touch is familiar and firm and being so close to him only makes my blood run hotter.
“Jayce Vaughn of Parker Global, I presume?” Jackson asks, his tone pleasant but assessing.
“Yes, sir,” Jayce nods.
“I’ve met your grandfather before,” Jackson says. “A rather intimidating man, but he’s got a brain for business.”
The corners of Jayce’s mouth twitch. He maintains his composure, but I can tell the comment makes him proud.
“Indeed he does.”
Aunt Delilah pipes up then. “We weren’t expecting you tonight, Jayce. It’s a delight that you could join us.”
Jayce flexes his fingers against my back. “Sutton said it was important to her. I wanted to be here to support her.”
Delilah smiles. “Is that so?”
My cheeks flush and my breath leaves me in a rush. God, this man knows exactly what to say to get me hot and bothered.
Throughout the rest of the night, I notice the way he steps in when conversations stall, rescuing me with a question or a quiet comment, but never taking over or moving focus off of me.
The way his hand tightens just slightly when someone’s gaze lingers too long.
He’s attentive. Playing the part of the perfect fiance and it’s doing things to my heart and head.
He’s making me fall harder and harder for him…
honestly, how could I not? When he makes me feel like I’m the most important person in the world to him?
That I’m worthy of his attention and care?
By the time the last speeches for the night wrap and the crowd begins to thin, my feet ache and my head is buzzing. I’m exhausted, but incredibly happy with how the night has gone.
The ballroom is still glowing with warm golden light, clusters of guests lingering around the tables. Laughter and conversation hum softly through the space, but the frantic energy from earlier in the evening has finally begun to settle.
I shift in my heels, trying not to wince.
Jayce’s hand slides to the small of my back, steady and warm, and he leans down so only I can hear him.
“You’re exhausted,” he murmurs.
I blink up at him, surprised.
“I’m fine,” I start automatically.
One brow lifts. “Sutton.”
Somehow that’s enough to make me sigh in surrender.
“Okay,” I admit. “Maybe a little.”
His thumb brushes against my back.
“Do you want to head back to your place?” he asks. “Get out of here?”
For a second I just stare at him knowing he means my place here in New York, but that’s not what I want.
“I want to go home to Colorado.”
Jayce goes still beside me. I glance up at him, suddenly aware of the weight of what I just admitted, but his expression is unreadable.
“I just…” I swallow, struggling with my words now. “My presentation is only a few days away. I really can’t afford distractions, and I need to focus.”
He studies me for another moment, then smiles and nods.
“Okay.”
Relief floods through me, until another thought hits.
“Oh, my mom is probably expecting me to stay through tomorrow,” I mutter, glancing across the room where she’s laughing with a group of socialites. “If I leave now, she might think I’m…”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Jayce’s voice is quiet but firm.
Before I can protest, he gently squeezes my waist and starts guiding me across the ballroom floor straight toward my mother.
My stomach flips nervously as we approach. Mom turns when she sees us, smiling brightly.
“There you two are!”
“We just wanted to tell you goodnight,” Jayce tells her with a charming grin. “Sutton’s heading back to Colorado with me tonight, so we should get going.”
My mom blinks in surprise.
“Oh? Already?”
“She has her presentation in a few days,” he continues. “I want to make sure she’s well-rested and focused. I promise we’ll come spend a long weekend here in New York very soon.”
His tone is calm, respectful, but there’s an underlying finality to it that makes it clear the decision has already been made.
Mom studies me for a moment, then, to my surprise, her expression softens.
“Well,” she says with a small sigh. “I suppose I can’t argue with that.”
Relief loosens the knot in my chest.
Jayce’s hand remains steady at my back as he thanks her politely and we say goodbye to the rest of my family before he steers me away again.
Only when we reach the doors of the ballroom do I finally glance up at him.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
His gaze meets mine.
“Of course I did,” he says.
Jayce and I leave to find his waiting car.
As we’re driven to the airstrip, I rest my head against his shoulder, my eyelids fluttering as sleep tries to claim me.
When we get to the airport and board the jet, it’s quiet and dimly lit.
I curl into a seat, the hum of the engines strangely soothing as we take off.
Jayce drapes a blanket over me.
I look up at him, smiling softly. “Thanks for always taking care of me, Jayce.”
He reaches down and brushes his fingers along my cheek, before running his hands through the teal of my hair before whispering, “Always, Starling.”
He takes the seat next to me, and the last thing I feel is his hand covering mine as I fall asleep, the lights of New York disappearing beneath the clouds.