Chapter 26
My feet hurt. I wanted to ditch my heels with the skinny straps biting into my ankles, peel off my dress, and consign my shapewear to the fifth circle of Hell.
I usually loved dressing up. It made me feel as if I could conquer the world.
I was about an hour and a half past that feeling.
I swear I’d walked every inch of the ballroom, introducing John to the people he needed to meet, smoothing the way between him and the planning commission.
Not that it required much smoothing. Despite his tendency to want to rush, he’d been charming, saying exactly the right things to bring the council members around to his side.
He’d charmed my friends too, engaging Meredith with his newfound love of beignets and sharing his favorite feminist authors with Alex.
He’d talked law with Erik and Charlotte and raved about Ford’s restaurants and even managed to make Meredith’s date—the man he replaced—laugh.
He’d been attentive and complimentary both from a business and personal standpoint. The perfect date.
And the exact wrong one.
I’d spent the night on John’s arm, scanning the ballroom between introductions, looking for Jake, and the last half hour trying to hide.
I’d claimed a spot on the balcony where I could survey the ballroom and search for a glimpse of Jake without having to disguise my intentions or fend off unwanted familiarity from my date.
John hadn’t been creepy or inappropriate, but he clearly thought we were together in more ways than just business.
He had every reason to make that assumption.
Until things changed with Jake, I’d been considering it as well, if for no other reason than John seemed like the perfect man on paper.
He was perfect in real life too; he was just the wrong man for me.
Jake was the right one. He was also nowhere to be found.
“There you are.” John came to stand beside me, his hand resting on the small of my back while I fought the urge to squirm away.
I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. He hadn’t done anything wrong, and then there was the complication of him being my biggest client to date. I didn’t want to fuck that up either.
“You were amazing tonight.” He let his hand drop and turned to face me. I mirrored his action. “Beautiful, poised, always steering me in the right direction. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.”
“I was happy to help, but you are the one who put the commission members’ minds at ease.
It’s a great project. They just needed to hear about it from you.
” I wasn’t flattering him; he seemed to have a sense of exactly what people needed him to say.
I supposed it was part of what made him so successful.
“We make an excellent team, you and I.” He searched my face. “And you are so beautiful.” He murmured the words as almost an afterthought.
I dipped my head in acknowledgment, not sure what to say that would get me out of the awkward situation I’d created for myself.
“I know you have reservations about dating a client.”
“John, wait.” I put my hand on his chest, trying to stop him from saying more. He covered my hand with his, curling his fingers to my palm.
“I understand your concerns. I’d have to be a fool not to.
There is a difference in power between us that could make things awkward.
And you have more to lose.” He focused on me with the attention he’d used to charm my friends and everyone else.
“I don’t want you to worry about any of that.
I have a proposition for you. None of which has anything to do with the project.
That’s yours. You’ve earned it for tonight alone.
You’ve saved me tens of thousands of dollars in potential delays.
That’s on top of providing a stunning design that will ensure our guests keep coming back. ”
The tightness around my chest eased a bit. Maybe I’d misread his intentions. “I appreciate that. I’m excited to work with you on the hotel. It will be a real asset to the city.”
“You are an asset to me. I’d like an opportunity to expand our relationship.
Personally.” He brought my hands to his lips and brushed a kiss over my knuckles.
“I don’t have time to date. Not beyond the occasional socialite on my arm for events.
Nothing that would lead to a real partnership.
But I know a good thing when I see it, and we could be very good together. ”
“I’m sorry. I have to stop you.” I stepped back, putting some distance between us, and prayed he’d meant what he said about the work.
“You are an amazing man. Under other circumstances, I’d be very interested in seeing where things went.
But I can’t. Things have changed since the last time we spoke.
I’m in a relationship. It’s new but I want to give it a chance.
” As soon as I said the words, I realized how much I wanted them to be true.
I had no idea how Jake and I would navigate the day-to-day things like closing cabinet doors and putting away deliveries, but I wanted a chance to find out.
John straightened, his mannerisms shifting to something more professional. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but I understand. I hope it’s everything you’re looking for. I meant what I said about the project. If you are uncomfortable dealing with me, we can send everything through my assistant.”
“I can’t imagine it being uncomfortable to work with you.” I couldn’t. Even his response to rejection was perfect.
“I think we’ve accomplished more than enough tonight. Can I have my car drop you at your place?” He stepped toward the elevator.
“Thank you, but I’ll get a ride with one of my friends.”
I followed him into the elevator, catching a glimpse of us together in the mirrored walls. We looked like the perfect couple. He met my gaze in the reflection, and I had a feeling he was thinking the same thing.
“Let me know if your relationship status changes.” He tipped his head in my direction and smiled, just the barest of curves to his strong lips.
I nodded, then the doors opened and I stepped out into the still bustling ballroom to try to find the man who was perfect for me.
I’d almost given up when I saw Jake’s doctor friend sitting at a table near the front, nursing what appeared to be a glass of bourbon on the rocks.
A beautiful dark-haired woman in a red dress with a sweetheart neckline and three-quarter sleeves sat next to him, sharing a piece of dark chocolate cake.
She licked chocolate off the tines of her fork while he watched with an expression that made it clear he was hungry for more than the cake.
It was Dr. Mark and presumably his wife, which meant this was Jake’s table. I moved close enough to catch Mark’s attention, but instead of matching my smile, he scowled. The woman followed the direction of his gaze, confusion creasing her forehead when she saw me.
“I’m so sorry to bother you.” I scanned the table, looking for any evidence Jake was around.
Dancing didn’t seem like his thing, but what if he brought a date?
Someone who wasn’t too foolish to really see the kind of man he was—brilliant, generous, and sexy as fuck—and they were together on the dance floor.
“I’m looking for Jake.” I squeezed the words past my suddenly too tight throat.
“It’s not a bother,” said Mark. “Elena Patrick, this is my wife, Julianna.”
The woman offered me her hand, clasping my fingers for a moment longer than necessary as she looked at me.
“You’re here with John Essex, the developer.
I recognize that gorgeous dress from the red carpet,” she explained.
“I was hoping to connect with Mr. Essex while he’s in town.
I’m chairing an animal shelter fundraiser, and I hoped I might convince your date to become a sponsor.
The community goodwill would be a benefit for him as well. ”
She glanced over my shoulder, looking for her prey. I felt an immediate kinship with this woman. I had no doubt when she set her mind to something, she got what she wanted. Which meant Jake should be here.
“He’s a client, not a date, and he’s gone for the night. I was hoping Jake might still be here. He did come, didn’t he?” I glance from Julianna to her husband, who suddenly seemed less concerned at shooting daggers my way.
“He made it as far as the entrance with us and then said he wasn’t feeling well and left.” His gaze held mine, as if he was trying to communicate something telepathically.
It took me a few seconds to put things together. Jake had been with them when they saw me arrive with John. I tried to think back over our entrance. To picture what it must have looked like to Jake.
He knew it wasn’t a date. He knew I’d been there with a client.
I imagined what I’d feel like if the situation was reversed and I’d had to watch Jake walk in with a beautiful woman on his arm.
If everyone around them had assumed they were together.
If he’d put his hand on the small of her back. Kissed her knuckles.
My stomach tightened, and I reached out to rest a hand on the back of an empty chair. If the gala wasn’t somewhere I was inclined to go anyway, I could easily imagine feigning sickness to get out of going inside. I felt more than a little sick just thinking of it.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your evening.”
“Not at all,” said Mark. “It was good to see you again under much better circumstances.”
Julianna’s eyes widened, and I realized she’d just put together a few things of her own.
“It was lovely to meet you,” she said, checking me out with renewed interest.
It only took me a second to make up my mind. These people were Jake’s friends. If I was very lucky, they might be mine.
“I don’t think I can help you with Mr. Essex,” I said, not about to push my luck any further than I already had.
“But I know someone who might be interested in supporting your cause.” I slipped a business card out of my clutch and passed it to Julianna.
“Call me next week if you’re interested, and we can set up a meeting. ”
“Absolutely.” She tucked the card into her bag and then paused, considering. “Jake is an exceptional person. He deserves someone who recognizes that.”
“I know. I do,” I said, determined to convince Jake it was true.