Chapter 35
thirty-five
My client. My best paying client is his boss. Of course, she is. The universe would have been too generous to make this simple. Chase’s fingers trail over my exposed back as she talks, but I can barely feel it. This new realization demands all of my attention.
Nicolette. Nicolette is the one who gives him extra work, who tries to control him by keeping him at the office, who got drunk and pounced on him at last year’s Christmas party. Does she know she makes him so uncomfortable he had to bring a fake date? Would she even care? Or would she laugh it off as part of the game?
I don’t even add my clients on social media because I try not to mix business with my personal life, and yet here I am, putting on a show for the client who single handedly changed my life.
This was a bad idea. Nicolette only thinks about herself, and the last thing I want to do is give her a reason to see me as the enemy. Then again, I thought I had Chase pegged until a few moments ago. He’s different than I thought he was, so maybe Nicolette is different too. Maybe there’s a chance she isn’t going to use this as a reason to make me dread our appointments more than I already do. After all, it’s just a date at a company Christmas party.
Despite my pep talk, Chase appraises me and asks, “Are you okay?” The warmth of him next to me only adds to the sudden sweat prickling my forehead.
Taking a breath, I nod. “I’m fine.” But what if Nicolette’s not different? What if she’s every bit as vindictive as I suspect she could be?
His eyebrows furrow, and he glances at the stage again before looking back at me. “What’s wrong?”
“I just . . .” My eyes dart to Nicolette again, her harsh gaze still appraising me like I’ve disappointed her. When I look back at Chase, I try to collect my scattered thoughts. “This might be a bad idea.”
Nicolette wraps up her speech with an enthusiastic, “So let’s have a great night!” and everyone stands to applaud.
The room breaks out into movement as people no longer feel confined to their tables like someone breaking a rack in pool.
“A bad idea?” Chase asks, confusion clearly displayed on his face.
“Not bad .” I shake my head. “I don’t know the right word. I just . . . your boss.” My eyes scan the room, and it isn’t difficult to find the woman I’d rather avoid. Her dress might as well make her a walking neon sign, and I have no idea how I missed her until now. I really was wrapped up in Chase. He completely blinded me. All I could see tonight was him, but that’s all changed. Nicolette heads straight for us, and now, all I can see is her.
Too soon, that cat-like purr of a voice grates down my spine. “Well, aren’t you the last person I thought I’d see here?”
Chase looks past me to his boss, the crease between his brows deepening. “You two know each other? ”
I force myself to put on my best smile. “Hi, Nicolette.”
“We do know each other.” Nicolette’s eyes are practically glittering as she looks between Chase and me. “The question is, how do you two know each other?” She points a well-manicured finger between the two of us.
Chase raises an eyebrow, still looking clueless and beautiful. “Candace is my?—”
“Date. I’m his date.” I step closer to Chase, and his hand immediately finds the small of my back. He would have said girlfriend. It’s what we’ve been saying all night, but date feels like a safer bet right now.
With her lips parted, she does a slow nod. “Well, that’s . . . surprising. How did you meet?”
“At a coffee shop,” I answer pleasantly. If there’s anything being a hairdresser has taught me, it’s how to appease people until I’m blue in the face. “I was behind him in line, and we got to talking.” I glance up at Chase, but his eyes are fixed on his boss.
He inhales, and his hand on my back starts to trace small circles. “Yeah. As soon as I saw her, I knew I was done for.” He grins down at me, and it’s so fake. All of this is so, so fake, and yet I’m hanging on his every word. “But how do you two know each other?” he adds, snapping me from my daze.
Nicolette lets out a humorless laugh. “Oh, she’s my stylist,” she says with a wave of her hand and an air of importance. “In fact, I’ve brought in quite a few of her clients.” She turns to me. “Haven’t I?” Before I can answer, she shifts her attention back to Chase. “Poor thing could barely keep the lights on until I showed up.”
I note the subtle jab, but she won’t crack my mask. I’ve been wearing it every time she sits in my chair for months now. Looking at Chase, I say, “Nicolette was nice enough to refer some of her friends to me, and I have to admit, they’ve become my favorite clients. ”
He nods but still looks like he’s trying to piece together what we’re not saying.
A server carrying hors d’oeuvres passes, and Nicolette stops her, holding out a twenty-dollar bill. “Could you be a doll and get me a martini from the bar? Make sure they use the good stuff.”
The girl looks mildly confused, like she’s debating telling this woman that fetching drinks isn’t in her job description, but she eventually takes the money and says, “Of course, ma’am,” before disappearing into the crowd.
Nicolette lets out a light laugh as the girl walks away. “Money,” she scoffs. “Such a dreadful thing.” When she turns back to us, her eyes unmistakably lock on me. “But it certainly does keep people loyal.” Her eyes flitter up to Chase. “Like this one and his impending promotion. He’s been such a hard worker.” She puts a hand on Chase’s arm, her thumb rubbing over his biceps, and his body tenses next to me. “Putting in all the nights, weekends, and after-hour phone calls. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
I still smile. I still keep my shoulders relaxed and my body soft. But I hate this woman. I hate what she does to him. Minutes ago, he was an easy-going, confident force of a man, and now it’s like something in him has switched off. I could stand here all night and bullshit with Nicolette if he needed me to, but I don’t think that’s what he needs. I think he needs to get away from her.
“Well, it was such a pleasant surprise running into you here.” I intertwine my fingers with Chase’s, and his grip tightens around mine. “You’ll have to excuse us for a moment. I think I may have left my phone in the car.”
“Right. Your phone,” Chase says like that was the plan all along. He gives a tight-lipped smile to his boss in the sparkly dress. “Have a great night, Nicolette. ”
He turns away without waiting for a response, but that silk-like voice calls him back. “Oh, and Chase?”
His body goes rigid before he turns to face her again, and I wonder if she notices. I wonder if she has ever seen a happy, relaxed Chase or if this is the only version she’s known. “Yes?”
“I’d like you to come find me later, so we can chat.” Her eyes flitter in my direction before she adds, “Alone.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.” She smiles my way, but there’s nothing nice about it. “Candace will be fine. She can find something to keep her busy. I’m sure the girls in the office would love to get to know her. Either that, or maybe they could use an extra set of hands behind the bar.”
I blink, the shock of her comment fracturing my composure. Nicolette knows I used to bartend after work. She knows because she was the reason I could quit and start doing hair full time.
Luckily, Chase speaks up before I’ve fully processed her comment. “Are you suggesting my guest— my girlfriend— works the bar?”
Well, so much for just being his date. “Chase,” I say quietly, but he only looks at me for a fraction of a second before his attention is forced back to Nicolette.
“Your girlfriend?” Tossing her head back, she cackles. “Please. Candace is not your girlfriend.”
His jaw ticks into a frown. “What makes you say that? You don’t think I’d have a shot with her?”
It takes everything in me not to let my head fall into my hand. That’s not what she’s insinuating. She and I both know it.
Nicolette smirks. “Oh, I have no doubt she’s desperate for your attention. Tell me, how did she get you to bring her here?”
Chase bristles next to me, and I give a tiny squeeze of his hand. I don’t care if Nicolette insults me. She’s been dishing me backhanded compliments for months.
Ignoring my silent plea, Chase lets go of my hand and takes a step toward his boss. “Desperate?” he asks in disbelief. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he shakes his head and drops his hand. Leveling a heavy gaze on her, he says, “Look, Nicolette. The only one desperate here is me.” He gestures back toward me but keeps his eyes fixed on her. “I’m desperate for anything this woman will give me. I want all of her. I’m so fucking lucky that she’s with me, and I won’t stand for you treating her as anything less than the incredible woman she is.”
Nicolette’s wide eyes jump to me. I’m not sure which she’s more surprised by, Chase finally standing up to her, or the words coming out of his mouth, but I’m sure my expression doesn’t look much different from hers.
“This is never going to happen,” Chase continues, gesturing between the two of them. “I’ve told you again and again that this won’t work, but you’re relentless. I’m done with the late-night calls and the suggestive comments. You and I have a working relationship. Nothing more.” He glances back at me, and something in him softens before he looks back at Nicolette. “I only want her. Do you understand? It will only ever be her.”
Without waiting for a response, Chase turns and grabs my hand before pulling me through the crowd of people. Some nervously wave to him, others try to stop him, but every time he politely excuses himself. It isn’t until we’re outside the large double doors of the grand entrance that he starts to relax. Running a hand through his hair, he looks over at me, his eyes wide. “You do her hair?”
I let out a bewildered laugh, because of all of the things for him to say right now, that’s not what I was expecting. “Every Tuesday. ”
His speech to Nicolette is still muddled in my head. Words and phrases echoing out of order.
“Tuesdays . . .” The word drops out of him, slow and thoughtful before he shakes his head and scoffs. “Of course.”
My own eyes widen. “That’s why you always work late on Tuesdays. Because your boss leaves early.”
“Yeah.” The word comes out with a bitter breath. “I never knew why. She always made it sound important.” He shakes his head. “Work-related.”
I rub my hand over my arm to fight the chill. The sun has long since set, and the gentle breeze of the cool night passes right through me. The lights illuminating the decorative fountain are red and green, and I’m overly aware of the fact that I’m wearing a thin, strappy dress to a Christmas party. I should have brought something to wear over my shoulders, but Miles would have killed me for trying.
“Are you cold?” Chase asks, already removing his jacket.
“I’ll be fine once we go back inside.”
He hands the jacket to me. “Do you want to go back inside?”
“Thanks,” I say as I pull it on. My eyes drag over him, appraising this new version of Chase without the jacket. Every subtle change about his appearance makes me pause and appreciate him in a new way. He still looks impeccable, but as soon as he starts to roll up the sleeves of his white button-down, I know I’m done for. “It’s your party,” I manage to get out.
His eyes flick up to meet mine, his fingers still expertly working on rolling the second sleeve. “It’s our night.”
The way he says those three words makes me feel like the possibilities are endless. Chase makes me feel like I could do anything, and I wish feeling this way with him would never end. “Do you want to leave?”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Yes.” With his sleeves rolled up, he crosses his arms before gesturing toward me. “But you did get all dressed up for a special occasion. I’d hate to disappoint you.”
My lips twist, and with a slow shake of my head, I say, “I didn’t get all dressed up for the party.”
His eyes lock on mine, and there’s a hint of surprise behind them. “So, we could go back to my apartment?”
“I would love to go back to your apartment.” I’m dying to be alone with him, to speak freely, to have privacy. I need more than sitting with him at a round table in a banquet hall.
Chase closes the space between us, and my entire body buzzes happily with the contact. He presses his lips to mine, and I melt into him. When he pulls away, he keeps me held against him. His hand tucks a loose curl behind my ear. “Okay, beautiful. Let’s get you home.”