Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
Bennett
S tanding outside Eve’s door, I struggle to take a breath, and not just because of the black bowtie cinched around my throat. For the first time in my life, I have pre-date jitters.
I swipe my sweaty palms over my black suit pants, then glance in the mirror beside the door. My hair remains in place, thanks to the hairspray Ezra insisted I use. I turn back for the door and raise my fist to knock.
“Wait,” Maverick whispers. “You’re forgetting these.”
He pushes a haphazard bouquet into my hands. We crafted it along the way, snatching random flowers from vases we passed on our way to Eve’s room. I don’t know that I would call it pretty, and it just smells like dying plant matter to me, but maybe Cat will appreciate the gesture.
With the wilting flowers clutched to my chest, I raise my hand again, then knock. Seconds later, the door swings open.
Eve stands before us in a dazzling silver gown that drags the floor. Thin straps fall over her shoulders and crisscross her back as she turns to guide us into her room. “She’s just applying the finishing touches in the bathroom,” she says. “She’ll be right out.”
I crack my neck to relieve the tension ratcheting my spine into an unbending line. More sweat collects on my palms, and I pass the bouquet back to Maverick so that I can dry them once more.
“Oh my gosh, how sweet,” Eve whispers. “This was your idea?”
I roll my eyes and take the bouquet from Maverick again. “Yes.”
“Let me see that.” She plucks the bundle from my hand and glides to the bedside table. After pulling out the top drawer, she digs around inside and lifts a few colored ribbons from the shadows. She places the flowers on the bed, then studies how the colors look against the blossoms.
“Pink is her favorite,” I whisper.
Eve and Maverick slowly turn to look at me.
“What? She wears it all the time, so I noticed.”
“You really do have it bad,” Eve says with a smile as she pulls the pink ribbon from the group and fastens it around the stems. “I love that for Cat.”
I grumble my thanks and snatch the flowers from her hand. That’s when the bathroom door opens, and Cat steps into the room.
If anyone speaks, I don’t hear it. I don’t hear anything as Cat comes toward me in a pale-pink dress. The shimmering satin hugs her body. A slit runs up either side, revealing her gorgeous legs with every step she takes. Clear rhinestones glisten at her waist, catching the light and throwing a rainbow of blinding colors against the ceiling and floor.
“Goddamn,” I whisper. “You have never looked more beautiful than you look right now.”
I hold out my hand, and she slides her fingers across my palm. As I pull her into me, I don’t care that we have an audience. Even if they throw my sweet words back at me later, I won’t care. If I don’t kiss this woman right here, right now, I’ll implode. That’s my greatest concern at the moment.
Leaning down, I press my lips to hers, reveling in the way she can’t help but smile. My hands want to dive into her hair, but I keep them planted on her waist. There’s no telling how much time she spent styling the curls to sit so perfectly on top of her head, and I don’t want to ruin this moment.
I pull back and look into her eyes. “I don’t know how I’ll keep my hands off you, kitten.”
“Hopefully, you won’t have to,” Eve says. “That’s where we come in. Dinner starts at seven, and the ballroom opens at eight. We can’t do shit about dinner, but the ball is a different story. If we all work in shifts, we can keep Kindra away from the topmost western corner, where you two can dance and fuck around in peace.”
“What’s in that corner?” I ask.
Cat giggles and looks up at me. “Let’s just say that Eve and I did a little redecorating, with Kindra’s permission, of course.”
“Kindra’s big surprise was crowning Cat and Maverick as king and queen of the ball. We talked her out of it, and I mentioned that it might be fun to set up a couple of private play areas for people who may need them. She loved the idea. That’s where you guys will be, safely tucked away from everyone.” Eve grins, clearly pleased with herself.
“What happens when Kindra wants to know where Cat is?” I ask.
Eve’s smile drops. “You can’t keep her in there the entire time, Bennett. Jesus Christ. She’ll need to do a little mingling, but you two will have a place to go when you need to blow off steam.”
This woman grossly underestimates just how much steam I have inside me.
“Where does that leave me?” Maverick asks.
“You can do whatever you want. If Kindra spots you without Cat, just say she went to the bathroom or had to run to her room for something.” Eve flicks her hand through the air. “I don’t know. Just think on your feet.”
“Okay,” he says, though I’m not convinced.
But it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. I’m holding a goddamn goddess in my arms right now.
“So, are we ready to head to the dining hall?” I ask.
Eve holds up a finger. “Not quite yet. I had one more surprise in store, but we have to wait for the signal.”
As if on cue, someone knocks on the door. Eve shuffles toward the sound, her long braids swishing behind her as she walks. Tiny gems sparkle on some of them, and one falls to the floor as she sticks her head through the gap between the door and the frame. She says something, then opens the door wide, revealing Grim and Rose on the other side.
“Everything is ready,” Eve says with a broad smile. “Follow me.”
A speaker crackles in the natatorium, and then Maverick’s voice comes through. “Can you—” Feedback squeals, and he lowers the microphone.
Eve balances on stiletto heels as she squats and fiddles with something beside the podium. When Maverick raises the mic once again, it doesn’t make the horrible sound.
“Testing, testing.” He pulls the mic away from his mouth, then clears his throat. “If everyone would turn their attention to the doors, I would like to announce our first couple. Everyone, put your hands together for Mister Bennett Carter and Miss Catarina Novak.”
Grim, Rose, and Eve clap their hands and pop tiny confetti cannons as Cat and I walk through them. This is stupid, but when I look at Cat and see the smile on her face, I just smile back. If she’s happy, I’m happy, even if I feel like an idiot.
“Now, everyone grab a partner for the first dance,” Maverick says. He leans over and dims the lights as Eve hurries back to the sound system to start the song. Seconds later, a romantic melody drifts through the speakers.
Grim and Maudlin Rose cozy up together as Eve grabs Maverick and pulls him onto the thin strip of concrete between the pool and the wall. I place my hands on Cat’s waist and hold her close, resting my cheek on top of her curls.
Cat doesn’t know it, and I’ll probably never tell her, but I don’t dance. No matter the occasion, I prefer to stick to the punch bowl and keep pumping booze into everyone. But for Cat, I’ll dance. Whenever she asks, the answer will be yes, because moving with her like this feels amazing.
As the song nears its end, Cat sniffles against my lapel. I reach between us and place my fingers under her chin. She tilts her head upward, and I see the tears in her eyes. There’s no need to ask why she’s crying. I already know why.
She’s crying because she feels bad that we have to keep this hidden. She’s crying because her heart is too big, and she’s worried that she’s hurting me. But most of all, she’s crying because we have some pretty amazing friends who went to a lot of trouble to give us a really special moment.
“This is enough for me,” I say. “Not forever, but for right now, this is enough.”
That makes her cry harder, and everyone is looking at us as the song ends. Maverick hurries to the light switch, and Eve comes toward us, her eyes trained on me.
“What did you do to her?” She blinks and shakes her head. “Sorry, old habits die hard. What I meant to say is, what’s wrong with Cat?”
“I’m just . . .” She raises her head, and I bite my lip. She should have gone with the waterproof mascara. “I’m just so happy.”
“Oh, honey, come here!” Eve pulls her against her chest, careful to keep the runaway mascara away from her expensive gown. She looks up at me. “Bennett, you take everyone down to the dining hall. I’m gonna get her cleaned up, and she and I will enter together.”
I like this plan. It means I won’t have to hear Cat’s and Maverick’s names announced like a couple.
With a nod, I motion for everyone to follow me. I just hope these are the only tears Cat sheds tonight.