Chapter 17 #2
LaShay’s tinkling laughter cut between them. “A sheep rancher with deep pockets. Sounds absolutely juicy. We’ll have to plan a meet up before the weekend is over.” She glanced over her shoulder at the ballroom floor. “But speaking of raising money, we’d better go work the crowd.”
She dragged Emmett away, but Emmett cast one last furtive glance between her and Justin. What was her ex’s perplexed expression for? He didn’t believe she could’ve, or would’ve, moved on after him? Or was her own expression so full of disbelief and indecision that he was concerned?
No time for Emmett. Justin was here.
“What are you doing here?” she asked tightly.
“Apologizing.”
She stared at him. Where was that server with all the champagne?
“You look beautiful,” he whispered, his voice full of longing.
“You’ll have to do better. I was already called gorgeous tonight.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. Were those suits designed just to make the male figure more devastating? It didn’t help that she knew what he looked like underneath it. “By who? The ex with the fiancée with the giant rock?”
“Yes. That’s Emmett. The one I never told you about,” she said flatly.
He winced. “Priya.”
“Save it. I’m here to raise money for a worthy cause and I’ve been standing around long enough.” She spun on a heel and promptly lost her balance.
Justin caught her elbow and steadied her. “When this shindig is done, we’re talking. Really talking.”
She pinned him with a hard glare.
He softened his grip, then reluctantly released her. “Hear me out. Please.”
“Only if you think you can do the same.” Switching her concentration back to staying upright, she strutted away.
That ass. He drank in the sight of her rounded backside swaying away like a man who’d been stranded in a desert for a week. She was upset with him, and he couldn’t blame her. She’d put herself out there and he’d scorned her. He was willing to do his penance and win her back.
His check was already written, his donation made to the children’s hospital. Tonight, his only mission was winning Priya Patel back. But first, he’d wait for her to work the crowd like Natasha had warned him she needed to. Priya was here for a more important reason than both of them.
I’ll let you come if you can be her most fabulous arm candy. Her ex just told me that he recently got engaged and his fiancée will be there. I haven’t had a free moment to tell her. Oh, and how much can you donate?
His mouth quirked. That conversation had been a ride.
Her ex was a distinguished man who exuded confidence and intelligence.
Money. Style. Taste. He saved lives and still had time for eighteen holes at the country club.
Priya could have a guy like that. But instead, she’d wanted to be with a sheep rancher.
What the hell had he been thinking? That she would coerce him into a relationship? He’d realized way too fucking late he should be thanking every star in the sky that he was the one she’d chosen to be with.
He scanned the elegant ballroom. This wasn’t his first black-tie event, but at the moment, it felt like the most critical, despite the fact he didn’t have a dime riding on the outcome. Only his heart.
The next two hours, he worked the room. Anyone who wasn’t already engaged in conversation, he hit up.
Are you a doctor or a donor? I’m here with an OB/GYN.
She delivered my son. Saved him, actually.
Our little town has less than ten thousand people, and his mom was taken by a sudden illness.
If Dr. Patel hadn’t operated when she had, he would’ve had severe complications.
Where we’re at, the ambulance ride to a bigger hospital would take at least an hour.
And getting a life-flight plane or helicopter wouldn’t have saved my son.
This was summer. In winter, the weather can put a stop to anything with an engine.
Then he went to his speech about how Natasha’s children’s hospitals helped provide long-distance support and care until children could get to a bigger facility.
It wasn’t long before he’d gathered groups of people to listen to the story of Isaiah’s birth. One he’d gladly tell over and over if it would benefit more kids.
Once the latest crowd dispersed to talk finances and arrange donations, a waiter skirted around him, pausing long enough for Justin to grab a drink. He refrained from draining the flute like a shot glass. He wasn’t used to all this talking.
Priya appeared at his shoulder, a bemused expression across her pretty face.
She stopped next to him, shoulder to shoulder.
He turned to face her. She hardly wore any makeup.
Her thick, dark lashes framed her golden eyes better than any mascara could.
A touch of glittery shadow was powdered across her lids, and any gloss or lipstick she had donned was long gone. He liked her natural lip color better.
She glanced sideways at him. “I think you’ve scored yourself an invite to every fund-raiser Natasha puts on.”
“They like hearing my perspective.”
“You make them like hearing it. A handsome single father gushing about how well his baby came out of a traumatic situation.” She rolled her eyes toward him. “You make me sound like a hero.”
She still wasn’t facing him, so he stepped in front of her.
“Two things. One, you are a hero. You’re not just my hero, but you’re the hero of every baby and mom you treat.
You’re the hero of every nineteen-year-old whose ovarian cancer symptoms were blown off by her regular doctor.
You’re the champion of every woman trying to talk herself out of a—what do you ladies call them? Slammogram?”
The corner of her mouth lifted. “It’s my duty as a doctor.”
“And it’s Caleb’s duty to pull people out of burning buildings and car wrecks. He even gets paid for it. Yet we still call firemen our heroes. You, Priya Patel, don’t get to decide.”
“All right. What’s the second thing?”
He let a slow smile spread across his face. “You think I’m handsome?”
She huffed but couldn’t hold back a laugh. “That’s what you gleaned from my comment?”
He rubbed his bare face. Clean-shaven wasn’t bad, but the beard had grown on him. “It’s the new look, right? And my haircut?”
“It’s the expensive suit that looks like it was sewn onto your body.”
“This old thang?”
She chuckled, but her smile faded. “Why are you here, Justin?”
“To prove how sorry I am.” If only she’d tell him what he needed to do to make it right between them, to reignite the magic that still simmered, ready to boil. The only ingredient missing was her trust. Her trust that he wouldn’t hurt her, and that he’d always support her.
“Why? You were right. We were supposed to be friends and we didn’t open up to each other.
” She paused to chew her lower lip, something he missed doing so badly.
“And you were also right that I lied. Once you and I grew close, I should’ve told you what Maisy said.
I should’ve trusted you enough to confide in you about that. ”
“I thought a lot about that, and what you said about hiding behind the actions of the women in my past. Maisy put you in a tough situation. She used your job as a way to confess what she’d done without facing any consequences, hurting both of us.” It had taken him too long to see it.
“I’ve been talking to Katherine and Martin.”
He smiled. Katherine had been so relieved when she’d last spoken of Priya.
“I heard. They adore you. Two of your biggest supporters, and everyone with a vagina Katherine runs across is going to get glowing recommendations about you. She singlehandedly dismantled any rumor mill regarding you and quality care.”
“I missed them.” A gentle crease formed in her brow and her eyes misted over. “Between us, we actually have a lot of decent memories under the hurt.”
“I’d like to think we’re like that.”
“Oh, Justin.” She sniffled. “I wanted more, and you didn’t. I’ve learned to be okay with it.”
“I’m not. I didn’t know what I wanted.” He wished he could make himself sound like a deal she couldn’t refuse.
“Actually, I had what I wanted, and I was too scared to realize it. I took it out on you. I took everything out on you. You got me through the toughest time of my life. Not only did you get me through, you made me look forward to each day. I knew that as long as you were around, I would be okay, and my son would be okay.”
Her eyes glistened with moisture. “How is he?”
She missed Isaiah. How could he have been so oblivious? She’d rocked him to sleep. Fed him. Rejoiced when he hit all his milestones. Isaiah wasn’t just his kid. He was important to her. And she hadn’t gotten to see him for six weeks.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that not seeing him…
” He pinched the bridge of his nose. Do better, Justin.
Complete honesty between them. “She didn’t just use me.
Gabrielle. She convinced me to change myself.
I went from the kid you knew in high school to this guy.
” Waving a hand down his body, he scowled.
“I was avoiding my family because each time I came home, it reminded me that I’d always wanted to come home.
I like Wrangler’s and Levi’s jeans. I prefer boots to loafers.
Farming and ranching is in my blood and I don’t want to sanitize it. ”
“And you thought I was doing that with my soap in the shower?” He couldn’t fault the blush of sarcasm in her voice. She’d been nothing like Gabrielle. Or Maisy.
“I was afraid because you could’ve. I would figure out any way possible to make you happy. As long as I get to sit by your side every night, clinking our glasses of wine together and talking about everything under the big blue sky.”
She blinked back the moisture in her eyes. “I think I proved I wasn’t farm wife material.”