Chapter 21
“Made it in the nick of time.”
Amy’s jaw dropped as Max pulled up in front of the Picketts’ house. No, this wasn’t a house. It was a bona fide mansion, and
she’d never even been this close to one before. It was spectacular.
A young man opened her door at the same time Max got out of his car, leaving the engine running. He met her on the passenger’s
side just as the valet was helping her out of the car. Mindful of her hem, she lifted her dress a tiny bit. She’d shown enough skin for the night.
As the valet went to park Max’s Mercedes, Max offered her his arm again. She took it, still marveling. “This is really something.”
“I’d forgotten how impressive it is actually.” He turned to her. “We better get inside. Arthur should be here any minute.”
They walked in just as a sophisticated, impeccably dressed woman was trying and failing to shush the crowd. And it was quite
a crowd, almost filling the large grand hall. Finally, someone from somewhere whistled, and everyone quieted down.
“Arthur is on his way,” the woman said in a soft Texas drawl that managed to sound both sweet and elegant. “We’ll be dimming
the lights in five minutes.”
“Where should we stand?” Amy asked.
Max shrugged. “Anywhere we can find a place.”
They made their way toward the ginormous spiral staircase as a young woman wearing a vintage sixties dress and long white gloves descended the stairs, a man with close-cut, curly black hair in a tuxedo right behind her. The outfit looked like something Britt would wear, not that she would ever go to a huge, fancy party like this.
Then the man turned to look out on the crowd. Amy halted.
His gaze suddenly locked on hers. Her heart hammered in her chest. She’d recognize those green eyes anywhere, anytime, even
though it had been almost twenty years since she’d last seen them. Daniel. Although, it couldn’t be Daniel because he wouldn’t be at this kind of party with these kind of people. Impossible.
The woman stopped at the bottom of the stairs, Daniel almost bumping into her.
Amy’s hand flew to her mouth. Britt? No, it couldn’t be.
“Something wrong?” Max asked.
She couldn’t look at him. All she could do was stare at Britt, who was frozen on the bottom step, gawking at something on
the other side of the room.
Amy’s gaze followed hers just as the crowd cleared for a moment. She couldn’t believe it. Standing near the wall with a modelesque
woman basically glued to him was the man from Britt’s drawing.
“Amy?” Max stepped in front of her. “You’re white as a sheet.”
“I—” She turned to Britt again and saw the familiar look of fear in her eyes. Daniel leaned over and whispered something to
her. Britt gripped his arm.
Another whistle. This time a man’s voice rang out. “Light’s out in three... two... one...”
Darkness descended on the room, although it wasn’t completely without light. Two of the outside lights were still on, but they didn’t give off enough illumination for her to see Britt. She felt Max cover her elbow with his hand. The room was now so silent, Amy could hear herself breathing.
She wasn’t thinking about Max, or his boss. Daniel is here. With Britt. Her daughter knew he was in town and hadn’t said a word to her about it. How long had he been here? Why was Britt here? How could she keep this from me?
The door opened, and Arthur walked in.
***
“Surprise!”
The lights blazed bright again as the crowd’s shouts echoed off the marble floor and high ceiling of the great room. But Hunter
barely heard it and kept his gaze on the staircase, confusion swarming his mind. Britt was here? With the chauffeur? At least
that’s who he thought was standing behind her. She was still on the step, her expression petrified. Daniel—was that his name?—now
had a protective arm around her and was whispering in her ear.
But her eyes are still on me.
“Now the fun begins.” Cara, who had yet to get the hint that Hunter wasn’t interested, stood on her toes and circled her arms
around his neck. “Remember the last time we were together? Right in this house, in your parents’ bedroom—”
“Stop.” He moved her arms from him as politely as he could. And although his focus was on Britt, the shame of that night came
barreling at him. He’d been so drunk he barely remembered what he did with Cara. But he recalled enough, and it made his stomach
turn.
“Hunter—”
He pulled his gaze away from Britt long enough to look at Cara. “Sorry. I’m not interested.”
Her perfectly shaped eyebrows flattened. “Were you ever?”
No more lies. “No.”
Hurt spread across her face. “So you just used me?”
His chest compressed. “Yes.”
A string of expletives that would embarrass a sailor flew out of her mouth. He didn’t try to stop her. He deserved every insult.
When she was done, he saw that a few people were watching. Thankfully, his family was still far enough away basking in congratulations
that they didn’t notice.
“You’re the worst, Hunter Pickett.” She spun on her heel and stalked off.
He adjusted his tie and glanced around at the small group of onlookers. Unable to defend the indefensible, he turned his gaze
from them and back to Britt.
But she was gone.
***
“Brittany, wait.”
Britt ignored her father’s pleas as she tried to thread her way through the crowd, barely able to see through the tears in
her eyes. She was also lost and had no idea where she was or how to escape. The house was so big, the guests so numerous,
she could go around in circles all night and never find the front door.
“Brittany!”
She could hardly hear his voice above the din, and she wasn’t being fair to him by refusing to respond. It wasn’t his fault Hunter was a creep. No, worse than a creep. He was sadistic. There was no other word to describe him. He’d reeled her in like she was a brainless fish and toyed with her, when all the while he lived a totally different life. Did he even work at a warehouse? And that woman clinging to him—was she his girlfriend? His wife ? She didn’t know, and she didn’t care. Not anymore. All she wanted was to get out of there.
“Britt!”
She halted, almost crushed by the throng of people moving around. But she could hear the one voice she’d never expected. “Mom?”
“Excuse me. Coming through.” Her mother was shoving her way through the partygoers until she was in front of her, eyes blazing.
“Brittany Danielle, what are you doing here?”
“Amy...” A sharp-looking middle-aged man came up beside her, bewildered eyes behind trendy dark-framed glasses. He circled
his arm around her mother’s waist in a protective gesture. “Are you okay?”
“No,” she growled, not looking at him and keeping her ire on Britt. “Where is your father?”
“Right here.” He moved to stand beside Britt.
Mom pressed her lips into a line so tight they turned white.
“I can explain,” Dad said.
“I don’t want your explanations,” she shot back. “How could you do this to me? How could you...” She glared at Dad again,
then took off.
“Amy, don’t.” Dad chased after her, both of them disappearing in the crowd.
Britt was pulling on her gloves so hard they were slipping off her arms. She wanted to run. She wanted to crawl in a hole.
Most of all, she wanted to throw up. But all she could do was stand there and stare at the man who was with her mother.
“Ah... I’m Max,” he said, thrusting out his hand. “You must be Amy’s daughter.”
She stared at his hand in a daze. He knew about her? A person didn’t bring a stranger to a party like this. Max had to be
Mom’s boyfriend. Why didn’t she tell me?
Max withdrew his hand and looked around, his expression uncertain. “Um... can I get you a drink?”
“Britt!”
Hunter. His voice spurred her to move. “Sorry,” she mumbled to Max, pushing past him. But she didn’t get very far before Hunter had
grabbed her arm.
“Britt, what are you doing here?”
If someone asked her that question one more time... She turned and tried to jerk her arm away from him. “Let me go,” she
grumbled, unable to look at him.
“Not until we talk.”
Her gaze went to his, and she was shocked at what she saw. Pain. Vulnerability. Confusion and apprehension. The same things
she’d drawn into the portrait she’d made of him when she closed her eyes. Later she drew a more accurate one that exemplified
his beauty, thinking that she’d finally captured the real man. But she had no idea what was real anymore.
“Please, Britt. If you don’t want to have anything to do with me after we talk, I won’t bother you again.”
She didn’t believe him. But for some inexplicable reason, she couldn’t tell him no. She nodded and let him lead her out of
the crowd and through the numerous living areas. The house seemed endless.
Finally, they stopped in front of a closed door. Hunter opened it, and they both went inside.
***
It didn’t take long for Daniel to catch up to Amy. Halfway down the Picketts’ driveway, she’d stopped to take off her shoes
and throw them in the yard before marching off again. Daniel scooped them up and ran after her, saying her name over and over.
When he reached her, he jumped in front of her, intending to make her stop.
But Amy had always been unpredictable, and she kicked him in the shin and blew past him again. The blow didn’t hurt...
too much. He spun around and grabbed her by the waist, the flowing fabric from her dress twisting around both of them.
“What are you doing?”
He glanced at the house. They were far enough away that no one could see them. He set her back down but held fast.
“Let me go.” She squirmed in his arms.
“Not until you settle down.”
“Settle down?” She glared at him, years of rage in her eyes. “You can’t tell me what to do. Not anymore.”
“Did I ever?”
Amy paused. “No.”
If the circumstances were different, he would have smiled. Nobody told Amy Branch what to do. But at least she’d stopped moving.
“If I let you go, will you stay?”
“No—”
He tightened his arms around her. He wasn’t hurting her. He’d release her before he would do that. But she had to listen to
some kind of reason. And now that she was calmer, her hands resting on his biceps instead of pushing against them, warm memories
flooded him. He missed her so much. Even her red-hot temper. “I’ll ask again. Are you going to stay?”
After a second’s hesitation, she nodded.
Daniel slowly loosened his arms, ready to grab her again if she went back on her word. When she didn’t, he dropped his hands
to his sides and took a step back. “Sorry I had to do that.”
She lifted her chin, still glaring at him. “You have no right touching me. Or ordering me around.”
“I know, but—”
“What did you do to Britt?”
He frowned. “I didn’t do anything to her.”
“Have you brainwashed her? Bribed her?” Her hands were fisted at her sides.
“No, Amy. I wouldn’t do that to our daughter.”
“Oh, that’s right.” She sneered, crossing her arms. “You wouldn’t do anything with Britt and couldn’t be bothered with her.
Until now.” She heaved out a breath. “You must be here for a reason. What do you want?”
“I—” After tonight’s fiasco, this would probably be the last time she’d speak to him. Hopefully she wouldn’t be hard on Britt
for keeping their secret. “I want us to be a family.”
She scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“I’m serious. And don’t be upset with Brittany. Please,” he added, showing that he was trying not to tell her what to do.
“I reached out to her three months ago.”
Her nostrils flared. “Three months! You were sneaking behind my back for that long? I don’t know why I’m surprised. You did
that most of our marriage.”
“I know, and for that I’m sorry. It’s another reason I moved back. To apologize and try to make up for the past.”
“Don’t waste your breath.”
Daniel opened his mouth to speak, but the bright lights from the house reached far enough that he could see the furious anguish in her eyes. He knew he’d hurt her. She’d refused to speak to him during their divorce, requiring that all communication be done through her lawyer. He’d easily obliged, still too much of an alcoholic to care at that point. But after all these years... she was still dealing with the pain he’d inflicted. “Amy,” he said, going to her. “I—”
“Back off.” She held out her palms. “I don’t care what you’re going to say. You should have been man enough to come directly
to me instead of going through Britt. She’s vulnerable. Fragile.”
“She’s stronger than you think.”
Amy’s eyes narrowed into slits. “You know nothing about my daughter.”
“Three months ago, you’d be right. But I’ve gotten to know her, Amy. She’s talented, kind, and strong.” He paused, his chin
trembling with emotion. “She’s also a grown woman. She can make her own decisions.”
“Amy!”
He turned around to see her date jogging toward them. It was the same guy from the movie theater. Clearly, they were in a
relationship. Jealousy twisted inside him again.
“Are you okay?” he said, moving to her side.
Without a word, she turned to the guy, grabbed the back of his head, and kissed him. Hard. Full. And a knife stabbed into
Daniel’s heart when the man drew her against him, eagerly returning her kiss.
She pulled away, giving Daniel a triumphant look. “I am now.”
The guy looked dazed and confused. “Do you want to go back inside? Or I can take you home. I got the keys from the valet,
so we can leave now.”
“Take me home.” She grabbed her shoes from Daniel and stalked away, her date or boyfriend or whatever right on her heels.
Daniel thrust his hands through his hair, his senses reeling as he watched them walk away. His hope for reconciliation disappeared. Amy was right. He should have gone to her first, even though she’d just proved his assumption that she wouldn’t be willing to talk to him or even be civil. Now Brittany was stuck in the middle again, having to choose sides—
Brittany! In his haste to talk to Amy, he’d left her at the party. He hurried back to the house, kicking himself for doing the exact
thing he’d promised he wouldn’t do. I left her alone.
***
Hunter turned on the light and shut the door behind him. They were in his father’s office, which had more square footage than
his entire apartment. He yanked at his bow tie, almost ripping it off. The thing was strangling him. Or maybe it was the mix
of panic and fear making his throat feel like it was closing.
When he unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt, she backed away, running into the emerald green chaise longue opposite
his father’s mahogany desk. “W-what are you doing?”
He stopped his movements, realizing he was scaring her. “This stupid shirt and tie... It’s like a noose around my neck.”
But that didn’t appease her. She looked like a beautiful ingenue that had just walked out of an old movie, albeit one with
fear in her eyes and her gloves bunched around her wrist. “Britt—”
“Don’t come near me.”
This was eerily reminiscent of when she found out who he was—or rather who he’d presented himself to be. He held up his hands.
“I’ll stay right here. Promise.”
“You said you wanted to talk.” She bit her lip, hard. “So talk.”
This wasn’t the way he wanted things to go down, not by a long shot. But all he could do was tell her the truth. “I—”
“Are you married?”
“What?”
“That woman who was hanging all over you. Is she your wife?”
He shook his head. “No. Not even a girlfriend.”
Hurt flashed in her pretty eyes. “You sure looked cozy.”
“Britt, I used to know her...” He rubbed his left eyebrow. “I haven’t told you the whole truth about myself.”
“No kidding.”
At her biting tone he said, “And what about you? Why were you here with my dad’s chauffeur? You didn’t say anything about
going to a party tonight.”
“You didn’t either.” She bit her lip again and then her eyes widened. “Arthur is your dad?”
“Yes. Lila is my mom. I didn’t know they invited Daniel to their party.”
“ What? You know my dad?”
So Daniel was her father. “I met him once.” Hunter tugged on his collar, even though it wasn’t constricting him anymore. He
dropped his arm to his side. “When I was reserving this tuxedo. See, my dad likes to shop—”
“I don’t care.” She put her hands over her ears like a child.
Unable to stop himself, he went to her. “Britt, please listen. I didn’t tell you about my family because talking about them
would lead to other things I wasn’t ready to tell you.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“I don’t know anything about your family either.”
She lifted her chin. “You never asked.”
“And you never asked about mine.”
Britt stared at him, and if they weren’t fighting, he would have kissed her senseless by now, just to reassure himself he hadn’t lost her. But the dark dread pooling in his gut told him otherwise.
“It was a game to you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You and me?” He shook his head. “No. Not by a long shot.”
“I don’t believe you.” She started to shake. “I don’t think I ever did. It never made sense to me that someone like you would
waste his time with me. I always thought you could have any woman you wanted. Like that one tonight.”
“I don’t want her, Britt.” He put his hands on her trembling shoulders. “I want you.”
“I don’t believe you.” She shrugged him off. “And now that I know your obscenely rich—”
“That’s my parents’ money, not mine. I live in an apartment and work—”
“Sure you do.” She moved away from him. “I’m such a fool.” She shoved past him and opened the door.
“Wait, please.”
She looked at him over her shoulder, tears streaming down her face.
“Britt,” he rasped.
She shook her head and disappeared.
He sank onto the chaise, his head in his hands, trying to collect himself, struggling to figure out if he should go after
her or not. He wanted to, but right now she wasn’t going to listen to him.
Hunter lifted his head. Her father was Dad’s chauffeur. He almost laughed it was so ironic. All this time he had a connection
with her, although tenuous at best. Had she mentioned him to Daniel? He had to wonder, considering how secretive she was about
her family. Even if she did, whatever she told him wouldn’t be the complete truth. Because I held it back from her.
They would figure this out, though. He’d give her time to cool off, and he’d talk to her again. Explain everything and pray she understood. And if she did—no, when she did—he would spend as much time as it took to make things up to her.
“Have you seen my daughter?”
Hunter turned and stood. Daniel was in the doorway, looking as wrung out as Hunter felt.
“I thought I saw her coming from this direction, but she disappeared again.” Daniel’s eyes held a note of pleading. “She’s
wearing a white and red dress—”
“I know who she is.” Hunter walked toward him, feeling slightly panicked that he didn’t know where Britt was. “I was just...
talking to her.”
Daniel eyed his open-collared shirt. “About what?”
“Long story.” He guided Daniel out of the room. “We need to find her first and then I’ll explain everything.”
“Seems to be the night for explanations,” Daniel muttered, and they hurried toward the front of the house.
***
Britt ducked into the kitchen where a staff of four were preparing food for the guests. She whipped off one of her gloves
and wiped her eyes with it, only to discover it was useless. Satin fabric didn’t absorb anything. She ran the back of her
hand over her face and willed herself not to cry again. She went to the bay window and hid behind a corner wall, pulled her
phone out of her purse, and called Savannah. “Please answer, please answer...”
“Hey, Britt. Long time no talk.”
She lowered her voice, not wanting to be detected. “Can you pick me up?”
“What’s wrong? You don’t sound good.”
“I’m not. Here’s the address, but I’ll be standing in front of the house next door.”
“You’re in University Park? What are you doing there?”
She inhaled a shuddering breath. “I’ll explain later. Please hurry, okay?”
“I’ll be there ASAP.”
Britt put her phone back in her purse and slipped through the back door, wishing she’d paid more attention to the layout of
the neighborhood. Arthur and Lila’s backyard—oh, and Hunter’s —was as overwhelming as their house.
Unsure of the direction, she started walking. If she had to, she’d call Savannah back and give her better directions. But
she had to get out of here now . Away from Hunter, the party, even her father. Away from them all.