Chapter 14
Henry had never seen so many candelabras and so much caviar in his life. He’d been to enough swanky parties in his career to know that his sister had outdone herself. This French Riviera–themed rehearsal dinner was elegant and sophisticated.
The black-tie event was on a luxury yacht, which was slowly cruising down the Thames. Aboard was everyone from the wedding rehearsal earlier that afternoon and any of the out-of-town guests. Some were sipping Dom Perignon and nibbling on hors d’oeuvres from silver trays, while others spun around the underlit dance floor at the front of the boat.
In the near distance was Tower Bridge, lit up like a beacon with its blue and golden lights, a sight that never got old. Henry tugged his tuxedo jacket closed to ward off the chilled wind kicking up off the water. Even with the heat lamps the night air was cool.
“I’ve always wanted to see it at night,” Wayne said, coming to stand next to Henry at the rail of the yacht. “Sarah has described it and I’ve seen photos, but it’s nothing like the real thing.”
“It’s pretty amazing.”
“This entire week has been amazing. It’s been everything Sarah has dreamed of. And that’s thanks to you.”
Sarah was one of those women who’d had their wedding planned since they were in high school. From the kind of dress down to the flowers, she knew what she wanted. Granted, it had been done on a much more elaborate scale, because their means had changed significantly, but the heart of the wedding had stayed the same.
“I’d do anything to see my sister happy.”
A meaningful silence fell between them, and Henry could tell that the American was choosing his next words carefully.
“I give you my word as a man that I will spend the rest of my life making her happy,” Wayne said. “Her laugh and smile are what get me going every day. I understand why you have your reservations, this was quick, but know that I love her.”
“I wasn’t sure before, but I can see that now,” Henry said. “But as her brother it’s hard for me to trust her heart to someone else. She’s been hurt, and that was my fault. I’ll be damned if she’ll go through something like that again on my watch.”
To his credit, Wayne didn’t shy away from Henry’s carefully veiled threat. Instead, he met Henry’s gaze, man to man, and said, “I don’t have sisters. There was just me, so I didn’t get it at first. But now, after seeing just how close you and Sarah are, how protective and loving you are with her, I do. Which is why, instead of going to Will for permission to marry her, I should have come to you.”
Henry choked on air. “You went to my father?”
His tone must have been harsher than anticipated because Wayne grimaced. “I’m pretty traditional and I wanted permission from Sarah’s family. But after watching you two interact, it is clear that you are the closest man in her world. She adores and respects you, which is why she wants you to walk her down the aisle.”
Even though Sarah had asked him the day she’d become engaged, he still got choked up at the thought of being so lucky as to be the one to give his sister away. Not that he was ready to give her away, but that she wanted him to be that person for her tugged at something deep in his chest that he reserved for only his family.
You felt that tug earlier today,he heard himself think, remembering how his heart had rolled over when Elle had told him about her father and the accident.
Of their own accord, his eyes quickly scanned the area, locking on her instantly. She was on the dance floor with his two sisters. Her hands were in the air as she swayed her hips to each side. Her head was tossed back and there was a smile of pure delight on her beautiful face.
She was wearing a gold gown that hugged her body and fell all the way to the ground. It was held up by two tiny straps and showed just enough cleavage to make things exciting. But where things got interesting was when she spun around, showing off the back. Her back was completely exposed since the dress dipped down to right above the gentle slope of her ass, showing off the two dimples on her lower back, making him wonder if she had on any panties or was forced to go commando.
All if would take was a single tug of the strap and the entire number would pool at her feet. Even though she looked sexy as hell, it was the woman on the inside he was beginning to catch feelings for.
As if she felt his focus, Elle looked over and caught him staring. She missed a beat of the music and he could tell, even from this distance, that her breath had caught. Licking her lips, she held his gaze for a second too long because Wayne said, “She’s pretty special.”
“Sarah?”
Wayne chuckled. “Well, yes. But I meant Elle. If it weren’t for her, I don’t think this wedding would have happened. Or at least not the way Sarah imagined it. Elle really stepped in and wrangled the wedding party together. Camilla is a sweet kid, but she is a mess when it comes to being the maid of honor. Between her studies and all the drama that comes with being twenty, she was driving Sarah crazy. And don’t even get me started on the other bridesmaids.”
Henry knew that Elle had helped out in a pinch, just look how she’d stepped in when his aunt and uncle had missed their flight. Or when they’d had the wine crisis. But he’d never really thought about how much support Elle had provided for his sister. Then again, she was a problem-solver and a nurturer. It was in her nature to help people, he’d come to learn. And he admired that about her. Was drawn to it even.
She was so different than the way his sister had described. He couldn’t imagine her being the kind of kid to haze someone, let alone put bleach in their shampoo.
“I’ll have to thank her for everything she’s done for my sister,” he said, thinking up all the ways he could do just that. And it wasn’t just in the bedroom. He found himself wanting to spoil her, care for her, be the kind of person for her that she was for everyone else.
“Which brings me to the honeymoon,” Wayne said. “I wanted to thank you for the offer to pay, but I can’t accept.”
“What?” Henry asked, a little thrown by the change of subject and someone rejecting his generosity. “Why not?”
“Because I want to be the one to spoil my wife. You’ve done so much for us already. I want to do this.”
Knowing how much the guy made, Henry opened his mouth to argue, but then thought about how he’d feel if he were in the guy’s shoes. Would he want his wife’s family fronting the bill for everything? No. He’d want to start off his new chapter spoiling his partner.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind. You can think of it as a wedding present.”
“I’m sure. But thank you.”
Before Henry knew what was happening, he was wrapped in a tight bro-hug. Wayne even gave a few sniffles. “Thanks for everything, Hank. You’re a stand-up guy. And I’m going to work hard so that one day you can say that back to me and mean it.”
Wayne pulled back and with a clap to Henry’s shoulder, he walked off to dance with his bride and Henry found himself reconsidering his position on Wayne. On the track, every second was unpredictable, so when it came to his personal life he tried to avoid change. But if this week had taught him anything, it was that change didn’t always have to be a bad thing.
No matterhow hard she tried, Jane couldn’t stop herself from stealing glances across the aisle at Henry throughout the evening. And he’d noticed. She’d told herself to play it cool, but she’d failed miserably. Thankfully Sarah had been so wrapped up in being madly in love that she hadn’t caught on.
That didn’t exonerate Jane from the guilt she felt for going against her client’s wishes about not getting involved with her brother. Not to mention, Sarah may have hired her, but she was pretty sure Henry had been the financier—even if he didn’t realize it.
What was it about Henry that had a self-designated hall monitor breaking all the rules? Especially when it could put her company at risk? Technically Jane was in breach of contract, so not only could Sarah refuse to pay her for her time, Jane would be out the expense that came with attending a seven-figure wedding and being a part of that. Not to mention, if Sarah wanted to, she could sue Bride Buddies. Not that she would be likely to do that, because that would mean going public that she’d hired a bridesmaid to replace her traitor of an ex-bestie. But still, it went against Jane’s ethical code.
Plus, that kind of expense would be a lot for a fledgling company to absorb, and it would mean their expansion would have to wait—if they even managed to scrape by.
What a mess.
And yet, there she was, at the rehearsal dinner, surrounded by fifty people she was supposed to be chatting up and all she could do was scan the room for Henry. Like a homing beacon she immediately found him at a table in the corner, talking with his mom. He happened to look up at that precise moment. He winked. His mom followed his line of sight and Jane immediately turned her back so as not to be caught staring.
So much for keeping their, well, whatever this was, on the down-low.
“This is why you don’t get involved with the family of the bride,” she mumbled to herself. But deep in the back of her mind she could hear Roxy from earlier, telling her to go for it.
“Since when do you ever do something for you? Never, that’s when. Does he make you happy?”
“Yes.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“He thinks I am a completely different person.”
“So he thinks your name is Elle, but he knows the real Jane. Plus, you were honest about the expiration date. Have some fun for once. Let go and chase happy for a little while. Have an orgasm or five while you’re at it.”
She was already two for two; she couldn’t imagine what the man could do in an actual bed with an entire night, let alone four days of vacation time. God, even the thought of it made her squeeze her thighs together.
“Maybe we could grab a pint this week,” she heard a familiar voice say. A voice that belonged to a man who was not supposed to be there.
William Norris.
Jane knew this because earlier that day she and Sarah had gone over the guest list so there wouldn’t be any surprises. Jane knew who she was supposed to say hi to, who she was supposed to be familiar with, and she’d specifically asked if Will was coming. Sarah had said that tonight was too small and intimate, and her mother had requested that her dad not be invited. Yet there he was like a stain on fabric.
Not wanting this to ruin Sarah’s night, and telling herself it had nothing to do with Henry, Jane decided to handle the situation herself. Making sure that bad things didn’t touch Sarah on such an important evening fell under her job description, after all. Only as she turned around, she watched in horror as Will handed his card over to the head mechanic of Apex, whom she’d met the other day.
If Sarah—or, even worse, Henry—overheard this exchange they’d be shattered. Henry had been right all along. Will wasn’t here for the wedding; he was here for a handout. She’d bet it was in the form of money from Henry or a job, whichever came easiest.
Jane jumped into action. Moving with intent, she closed in on Will. When she reached the bar, she plastered a bright smile on her face and a hand on his back. “Mr. Norris! It’s great to see you again.”
Will turned his head to see who was greeting him and the mechanic took the moment to duck out. Will turned back to the now empty spot, disappointed that the man had slipped out of his grasp before he was able to close the deal, then reluctantly faced Jane.
“Elle, isn’t it? You’re one of Sarah’s friends.” He didn’t sound thrilled, but he was faking it well.
Jane was too angry to fake pleasantries. “I am. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
“Pardon?” He blinked at that as if she’d slapped him. But Sarah’s happiness came before politeness, so she went on.
“This dinner is for the wedding party and out-of-town guests.”
He puffed out his chest to intimidate. “I’m family.”
Jane had faced down enough overzealous parents in her day to not be intimidated, still she was surprised at her bluntness when she said, “I don’t remember seeing your name on the guest list.”
Well, this was turning bad very quickly. Elle would never be rude to a guest, but Jane was a take-no-shit spitfire, just like her mom. And her inner Jane was coming out to play.
“I’m sure it was an oversight,” he said with a charm she was sure worked on women all the time. But it didn’t work on her. She knew what kind of man he was. Henry had tried to tell her, but now she was listening.
“Maybe or maybe not. But I want to remind you that tonight is about Sarah, and she’d be heartbroken if she knew you’d come here to grow your LinkedIn following.”
He pretended to be aghast, but she saw the guilt lurking beneath those brown eyes. “I’m here for my daughter and nothing else.”
“Great. Then stop handing out cards and asking people for introductions. And I swear to god, if you ask Henry for a handout, I will personally kick you out myself.”
Blustering and puffing, he said, “Who the hell are you to threaten me?”
“She’s the bloody bridesmaid,” Henry said from beside them, and dang if her heart didn’t leap into her throat.
They both turned to look, and in a single glance Jane’s tongue went as dry as the Sahara, which was the exact opposite of what was happening down south. Henry was looking tall, dark, and deliciously dangerous in dark gray slacks, a blue button-down, and gray tie that made her think of just how handy it would come in if she had access to a bed post. But it was the fierce protectiveness in the set of his jaw that had the oxygen leaving her lungs in one whoosh.
“Henry,” Will said with a nervous smile. “I didn’t see you standing there.”
“That’s clear.” Two words, but that was all it took for everyone in the conversation to know that it was over. “The water taxi is on standby over there.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“Deadly.”
“I haven’t even said hi to your sister.”
“No, you’ve been too busy trying to kiss every industry ass in here. She invited you tomorrow, so you can come tomorrow. But if I see you speaking with a single person from my world, I will toss you out myself.”
“Son…”
“It’s Henry, and you’ve overstayed your welcome. So do what you do best and walk away.”
They both watched Will walk through the crowd and Henry didn’t stop watching until his father exited the ballroom. Jane’s heart broke for the man who still carried the scars from childhood, and the little boy who was left behind by the person who was supposed to love him unconditionally.
Jane had lost her father too, but he hadn’t had a choice. Henry’s father had. He’d chosen to leave his family behind, knowing that his son would have to grow up too fast. She supposed that their mutual loss was what initially drew them together, but it was their lost souls, still searching for a safe place to call home, that held them together like magnets in a storm.
She rested a hand on Henry’s arm and turned to face him. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I just don’t get how a father could do this to his own daughter.” His voice was so thick with emotion, it sounded like crushed stone. “Why would he come at all? There are easier ways to kiss ass in this industry.”
“My mom is a lot like your dad when it comes to advancement,” she admitted, giving away another Jane Fun Fact. “She just can’t help herself when a professional opportunity presents itself.”
“What do you mean?”
“At my thirteenth birthday, we’d just moved to Japan for her work, and I didn’t really know anyone. I didn’t want a party. It had been the first move after losing my dad and inviting a bunch of strange kids over didn’t sound fun. But she insisted that it would be rude for someone at her level not to host a party for her daughter, so she invited the kids of every higher-up that went to my middle school, regardless if they were in my class.”
It had also been the start of her first tale about the great Frank Pearce. When one of the kids asked where her dad was, she knew the looks and pity that would follow, and not wanting to relive that over again at her new school, Jane had said he worked for the DOD on classified projects and was at the White House giving a briefing.
She remembered just how enrapt the kids became. They didn’t ask her how he died or if she was in the car with him or how gory it was, they said her dad was cool in a hero-worship tone that her dad deserved. Because he might not have been a spy, or a rocket scientist, or Taylor Swift’s roadie, but he was the coolest dad ever.
“That sounds rough.”
“No rougher than what you’re going through. Hell, what you went through. I mean, it must have been so hard when your mom told you that he wasn’t coming back.”
“She didn’t tell us. My dad told me about the job in Spain and handed me the responsibility to tell the family. He wrote a letter to my mum, but it was up to me to tell my sisters.”
A complicated knot of professional obligation and personal protectiveness tightened in her stomach, making her wish she’d forced Sarah to come clean with Henry about her and her dad’s relationship. As of now, all he knew was that she’d invited him to the wedding, not that they’d been in communication for the past few years.
Once again, Jane found herself torn.
“Camilla was too young to really get it, but Sarah was heartbroken. At first, she didn’t believe me, waiting up at night as if he’d suddenly decide his family was worth more than a pit crew job with Formula 3. He thought it was his ticket into Formula 1.”
“What finally was her breaking point?”
“When he missed Christmas without even a call or sending presents. To this day, Sarah doesn’t like to celebrate the holidays. She will for my mum, but she’s always melancholy.”
Jane’s mom might not have known what to do with her, but at least she’d tried in her own way. Holidays might have been lonely, but her mom always made sure to get the day off. Will hadn’t even made the effort to call his kids. What kind of parent does that? And how deep did those scars run within the family?
“Maybe this marriage will be a fresh start. A way to make new traditions. That’s what college with my friends Georgia and Roxy had been. A fresh start, where we made our own family traditions. It helped me find closure so I could finally move forward with my life.”
“I’ve moved on. Trust me,” he said with so much venom that she didn’t believe him, and that hurt her stomach.
Jane took his hand and placed it against her chest. “It’s okay if you haven’t. You lost a parent. Even if he didn’t die, the loss is the same. Maybe even harder.”
He looked down at her and ran his thumb across her lower lip in a tender way that had her lungs stop working all together. There was a vulnerability to him, as if he had mixed feelings about chasing his dad away. But when he spoke, he said, “You wanted discreet, remember?” and his hand dropped to his side.
Without another word he walked away, and Jane wanted to call him back. To finish their conversation. But this was what she’d wanted. Right?
“Where’s my dad?”Sarah asked Jane. “I thought I saw him earlier.”
It was nearly midnight, and she was dead on her feet. Between her conversation with Henry and knowing he could be around every corner, her nerves were frazzled. The boat was docked, the crowd had thinned out, the party was almost over, and Sarah and Wayne were getting ready to leave. This was Jane’s chance to let Sarah in on Will’s doings.
“He left a while ago,” Jane explained. She was used to getting in the middle of family drama, but this time it felt different.
“But he didn’t even say hi.”
Jane’s loyalty was to her client, bottom line. So then why did telling her that Henry had asked Will to leave feel like such a betrayal?
Because your heart is involved.
Jane knew she had to tell Sarah about what her dad was doing. Even though it was going to hurt, it was her duty. It would hurt less than finding out on her wedding day. Was there a way to be truthful without bringing Henry into this?
“I caught your dad asking industry people for their cards and jobs.”
“What?” Sarah looked horrified. “He promised he wouldn’t do that.”
“I’m really sorry, Sarah. I can’t even imagine how this must feel. And I know I should have asked you, but he was making the other guests uncomfortable, so I called him out on it.”
“You did?” she asked, and Jane prepared herself for the brunt of the anger. Prepared herself to be fired. Only she found herself being swept into a hug. “Thank you so much. I really wanted him here, but not if he’s going to do that.”
“So you aren’t going to let me go?”
Sarah pulled back. “Are you kidding? I’m going to give you a bonus. This is why I hired you. I never would have had the courage to do that, and it needed to be done. I can’t even imagine what Henry would have done had he seen that go down.”
Jane grimaced. This was where things got tricky. She’d tried her best to avoid bringing Henry into things, but her client had mentioned him directly. Normally, Jane would just lay out all the details, but this was different, so she just said, “You should talk to Henry about that.”
Sarah covered her mouth, and her eyes went shiny with tears. “He saw?”
“Like I said, you need to have a long overdue chat with your brother. And Sarah, if I were you, I’d just come clean about everything. He deserves to know how long you and your dad have been in contact, about Elle, about everything.”
Even as she mentioned Elle, she wanted to take it back, because Sarah coming clean about Elle would mean exposing Jane’s true identity, and she wasn’t sure how Henry would react to that. She’d shared so many deep truths about herself she wondered how he’d react to this one tiny white lie.