40. Engagement Completion Document
Engagement Completion Document
Sara
Dante holds me close on the dance floor. There’s no place I’d rather be. Hope joins the dancing with a guy that looks vaguely familiar. Maybe if he weren’t wearing a mask, it would be easier to place him.
“Why do I know him?” I say softly.
Dante turns to look where I’m looking. He smirks. “Because he was part of your rescue team.”
I squint at the guy in the darkness, but I can’t really make him out. That whole rescue was a blur. But I know the guys trust him, so that’s good.
Dante brushes his thumb against the small of my back and I return my attention to his eyes. He smiles. “I didn’t get to hold you like you’re mine the last time we danced.”
My cheeks flush with heat. Anticipation floods me. “No, you didn’t.”
He lowers his head to my ear. “Want to disappear for a little, pip? Find a quiet corner.”
My gaze meets his and the buzz of anticipation flows through my body. I nod.
He puts his arm around my waist to lead me off the dance floor. But we don’t make it five steps before we notice his uncle and the woman from the restaurant dancing. Unfortunately, his uncle notices us before we can sneak off.
David and his partner turn to us. The woman I saw dining with him smiles. She keeps her hand on his arm.
“Dante. I wasn’t expecting you to be here tonight.” David seems put out by our presence.
“Our company bought a table. It’s a good charity to donate to.” Dante is stiff against my side. We haven’t talked about his uncle since that dinner when his mother finally stood up for him.
David nods.
“I’m Sherry.” The woman holds her hand out to Dante. “Your uncle has nothing but good things to say about you.”
Dante takes her hand and shakes it. “This is my girlfriend, Sara.”
Sherry turns to me with a smile. “Sara Morris. David says you’re smart and beautiful and Dante is lucky to have you. I can see you’re beautiful. I wish I could pull off a dress like that. You look absolutely lovely.”
“Thank you.” I glance up at Dante and touch his arm.
When he glances down at me, his eyes soften. “We were just going to get some refreshment.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful.” Sherry looks up at David with a wide smile. “Weren’t you saying you needed to reach out to your nephew?”
David takes a breath, like Sherry is saying too much. “Your mother and I had a long discussion. It seems I’ve been taking advantage of you.”
Dante doesn’t say anything, but he pulls me in tighter against his side.
“I wanted to apologize for my behavior.” David glances at Sherry and then lifts his gaze to meet Dante’s. “Not everyone is built for an arranged marriage. There’s something to be said about finding someone you love. If that’s Sara for you, then I wish you both a happy future.”
Dante clears his throat. “We’re in a somewhat different relationship.”
His uncle arches an eyebrow at him.
“Sara is with me. And Finn, Wyatt, and Drew Young.” Dante squeezes my hip. “We’re all in this relationship together and for the foreseeable future. I know it doesn’t align with your plans—”
“David! What plans?” Sherry turns to him with a frown. “You said you were going to let him live his life.”
Dante and I make eye contact. Sherry isn’t David’s wife. She’s probably only a few years older than Dante.
“There are no plans.” He takes her hand and brings it to his lips. His focus only on her.
She searches his eyes and whatever she finds seems to settle her.
“I think we should get a drink,” David says to Sherry. “Let these two get back to their party. Dante?”
Dante inhales and meets David’s eyes.
“Whatever works for you.” He glances at Sherry and something softens in his gaze. “This world isn’t easy. If you find someone who makes you happy, you keep them.” He looks at me. “A pleasure, as always, Sara.”
I nod to him and Sherry waves to us as David pulls her away.
Frankly, I’m speechless, but I’m sure that’s not the only confrontation we’ll have to deal with tonight, and that one went better than I ever imagined.
Drew
I smirk and nudge Wyatt as Dante and Sara walk off the dance floor and duck through a hidden door.
“What?” Wyatt turns.
“I never took Dante to be a rule breaker.” I shake my head, knowing Sara will come back warm and satisfied.
Wyatt chuckles. “We wouldn’t be with Sara if we didn’t break a few rules here and there.”
“Good point.” I take a drink from my glass as someone says my name. I turn and Owen Matthews walks my way. My smile grows. “They let you out of the kitchen?”
He grins. “For a good cause. We’re offering a dinner with me as the personal chef in the silent auction. My publicist thought it would be best if I attend tonight and make the rounds.”
“Excellent.” I turn to Wyatt. “Wyatt, this is Owen. The closest thing I have to a best friend.” Wyatt arches an eyebrow and takes Owen’s hand. “Owen, this is Wyatt, my fuck buddy.”
Wyatt closes his eyes and counts to maybe five before he glares at me. “That’s not how that term is used and you know it.”
I shrug and lean into Owen. “He’s a little stiff when you first meet him, but eventually he warms up.”
“How’s that going for you?” Wyatt asks dryly.
“I figure I’ll be a bestie before Christmas this year. If not, Christmas will seal the deal.” I glance toward the dance floor and find Hope and Juliette heading back our way.
“You’re still with Sara, right?” Owen asks. He knows to ignore my oddness.
“Yes, but she’s also with Wyatt, Finn Lawson over there dancing with Nancy Anderson, and Dante Stone who took our girl off somewhere private.” I smirk.
Owen shakes his head with a small smile. “You always did like to watch.”
He’s not wrong.
Sara told me how she wants to set up Hope with someone, potentially Owen. Knowing Owen, he’s more likely to be a one-night stand than a steady thing, but I can’t say no to my girl. Since he’s here, I might as well introduce them.
“Hope, Juliette.”
Hope stops and gestures to Juliette. They both come over.
“I wanted to introduce you to my friend, Owen Matthews.”
“Now, I’m just a friend. Demoted already.” Owen chuckles. He watches Hope’s hands as she translates for Juliette.
“I’m fickle,” I say. “This is Hope Williams and Juliette Somerset.”
Owen takes Hope’s hand and brushes his lips across her knuckles. What I can see of her cheeks turn pink. Then he shifts his attention to Juliette.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Juliette.” He speaks to her and glances at Hope’s hands as she translates. “Your mother has the top bid in the silent auction for my services.”
Juliette flushes and holds her hand out. Owen lifts her hand to his lips and lingers a little longer in his kiss on her knuckles. When he releases her hand, she signs and Hope translates for the rest of us.
“Your services?” Juliette asks.
Owen gives her a cocky grin. “I’m a chef. You might have heard of my restaurant, Indulgence.”
Hope’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t say anything because Owen’s attention is firmly on Juliette. I hope Sara isn’t too disappointed, because I know when my friend has his eyes on someone.
Besides, I’m pretty sure I saw Hope dancing with Sebastian Cross.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sebastian dance with anyone.
Especially at a benefit, because usually he doesn’t attend unless he’s working.
Either he was staking a claim on her or…
Hopefully, his work doesn’t have anything to do with Hope.
I let it go as Owen asks Hope how to ask Juliette to dance with him. He mimics her signs while Juliette blushes. She nods.
“Would you like to dance?” I ask Hope.
She looks up at me and nods. “That would be nice.”
“Don’t wander off to find Sara.” I tap Wyatt on the shoulder and he shakes his head.
He glances toward where they disappeared, like he hasn’t been considering it. I’m sure by the time I get back, Wyatt will have tracked down Dante and Sara. I’d give anything to watch, but I’m going to do Sara a solid and dance with her friends while the others keep her occupied.
Two months later
Sara
I have books spread out across the dining room table. Even though we have a room for me to study in the basement, I don’t like being down there unless the others are working. Currently, I’m the only one home.
For a moment I let the weirdness take hold. For months, I’ve been constantly with one of the guys. And even after I went back to school, Colin insisted on having a man on campus to make sure I was safe. The bodyguard didn’t come into classes, but I could feel him shadowing me.
At dinner this weekend, Colin declared everything could go back to normal. Anyone who had an issue with the transition had either been rounded up by the Feds, taken out, or given enough money or power to satisfy them.
So, this is the first time in months I’m truly alone. No guys watching the house. And while I need the time and space to study, it’s a little unnerving. I could pack up and head back to campus, work in the library, but I want to catch glimpses of my guys as they get home.
That’s the other thing with finishing up my internship. I don’t get to see Wyatt, Finn, and Dante all day. I enjoyed working with them, and yes, they took time to play with me when Tom was out of the office.
The door opens and I glance toward the foyer. My heartbeat quickens. But I take slow, steady breaths like my therapist taught me. If I have a panic attack, I can always text the guys, but it’s better if I get ahead of it.
I’m home. I’m safe.
“You here, princess?” Drew’s voice travels from the foyer as he heads into the living room.
“Dining room.” I release my breath and smile.
He comes in and looks at the books spread out. He rounds the table and leans down to kiss me. “What are we studying today?”
He drops into the chair next to me and pulls over one of the books.
“Everything. Midterms.”
He nods thoughtfully. “You need a study buddy?” His brown eyes meet mine.
“Not if that study buddy is going to distract me.” I arch an eyebrow.
“How about we compromise?” Drew slides the book back to where I had it.
I cross my legs. “What kind of compromise?”