Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Kara’s heart fluttered with nerves as she finished putting on the last touches of her golden eye shadow as she stood inside Angelo’s bathroom.
Her hair was still loose in wild waves, but the waves looked good tonight.
She smoothed her hands over the dark emerald green evening gown, trying to quell the butterflies in her stomach.
The gown was an off-the-shoulder design with an A-line neck, but it had a slight V-shaped cutout between the breasts, not enough to be overly done but enough to be flirty with what it revealed.
She’d been a little hesitant to buy something so powerful in appearance when she was used to hiding herself, but when Shana and the other girls had all clapped their hands and squealed, she’d let them add it to the pile of clothing to buy.
The short sleeves draped down against her upper arms and the fabric was a rich green velvet threaded with faint gold as though the velvet had been shot through with sunlight.
She wore a tear-drop pearl necklace and dangling pearl earrings.
Angelo had presented the jewelry to her tonight before she had gone to change, and she’d been stunned to realize how well it matched the ring on her finger.
Kara almost didn’t recognize the woman looking back at her in the mirror. This woman was a goddess, a woman unafraid to live, to let the sunshine warm her face and allow the world to see her.
This is who I could have been… if my father had left me alone…
A slowly building fury like a hurricane upon horizon loomed within her.
She wanted to scream, to tear apart everything that mattered to the man who’d hurt her.
He had taken everything away from her and her mother, all for what?
He was dead and his men believed they had a claim to her.
It was unfair, it was horrible, it was… She gave herself a little shake.
Drawing in a steadying breath she released the anger. Anger would only ruin tonight, and she wanted to enjoy the night with Angelo.
“Kara, we’re ready.” Angelo’s voice echoed up the stairs. She snatched her lipstick off the counter and tucked it into her gold clutch purse. Then she stepped into the golden sandals that wrapped up around her lower calves in a way that made her look like she wore the sandals of the Greek goddess.
“You can do this,” Kara whispered as she descended the stairs.
Asher and Colton were the first spot her.
Both men halted in their respective pacing around the room.
Angelo turned then, his gaze first on her feet, then slowly roving up her body to her face.
The pit of her stomach tingled as she saw the burning longing in his eyes.
Angelo’s lips parted as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
“Well?” she asked, hoping to hear some small praise even though his eyes had already done so much for her self-esteem. She’d never gone to a school dance or prom. This might be her only chance to dress up and feel like a princess in a fairy tale.
“You…” Angelo cleared his throat. “You look incredible.” His cheeks turned a ruddy color and his voice was a little more gruff.
Asher snorted and then shot a wink at Kara. “I think he’s a bit awestruck.”
Angelo, still gazing at Kara, smiled bashfully in acknowledgment. He slipped closer to her, his fingers skimming down her arm to collect her free hand and bring it up to his mouth. The soft kiss he pressed to her knuckles stole her breath away.
“How could I not be? She’s gorgeous.”
Kara swallowed, holding still against the urge to fall into his arms and beg him never to let her go.
He released her hand after pressing one more kiss to it, then he held up her evening coat.
It was so domestic, so caring, the way she turned for him to button her up in the black velvet coat.
Then he offered her his arm. She took it, glancing in the foyer mirror to see their reflection together, a gilded couple out for a gilded night.
Like a princess and her prince in a fairy tale, a fairy tale she had never allowed herself to believe in.
She almost couldn’t believe tonight was the gala at Thad Worthington’s hotel. It felt like she’d gone shopping with Felicity, Shana and Veronica months ago, not a handful of days ago.
When they reached the hotel, Colton pulled into the covered drive and Asher opened the door for them. There were plenty of people near the entrance of the hotel, and she immediately reacted to being in a crowd shrinking in on herself slightly.
“It’s all right, everyone is busy worrying about themselves,” Angelo said soothingly as they walked through the glittering lobby and headed toward a pair of golden elevators. They took the elevator up to the ballroom. Hundreds of elegantly dressed people were queuing up to go inside.
“Angelo!” Thad’s voice cut through the crowd of Chicago’s elite.
Kara spotted the golden haired man weaving through the throngs of people. Veronica was at his side, her hand in his as they joined Kara and Angelo.
“Kara, you look amazing! I knew that green would show off your red hair.” Veronica released Thad’s hand to hug Kara.
“You look amazing too,” Kara said. Veronica’s silvery blue dress looked stunning with her luminous skin and dark hair. “Is your daughter here?”
“No, we left her with a babysitter along with Hayley, Jared and Felicity’s daughter. I imagine they’re in the middle of a Frozen movie marathon right about now.” Veronica chuckled.
“Have you seen Jared or Roarke yet?” Thad asked Angelo.
“No, we just got here,” Angelo replied. “How is everything? I really should go check on the kitchen staff…” he glanced at Kara. “Could you stay with Veronica and Thad for a few minutes?”
She nodded. Angelo leaned down, feathering his lips over hers, and that spot in her guarded heart throbbed painfully with a longing for a deeper kiss.
The moment Angelo left, she scanned the crowd.
Asher stayed a dozen feet away, wearing a tuxedo and blending in with the crowd.
But Kara was grateful for his presence as Angelo disappeared into the hotel kitchens.
“So, how does this work?” Kara asked Veronica because Thad was suddenly surrounded by half a dozen guests.
Veronica snatched two glasses of champagne from a passing server’s tray and handed one to Kara.
“So we’ll have a brief cocktail hour, then we’ll head into the ballroom, eat an amazing dinner followed by some speeches about the literary efforts before we break for dancing.”
“Dancing?” she glanced down at her golden sandals. Thank goodness she hadn’t chosen high heels.
“Aren’t you glad we knew what to help you wear?” Veronica giggled. “Because none of us were going to be wearing heels for dancing either.”
“People really dance at these things?” Kara couldn’t quite believe that. Most of the people around her were too nicely dressed, at least in her opinion.
“Not everyone does, but trust me, we will. Angelo loves dancing.”
“He does?” A nervous lump settled in Kara’s belly. She didn’t really dance. Sure she bounced around her apartment when she listened to music but actual dancing? Never.
“It will be fun,” Veronica promised. “You look terrified Kara. Trust me. It’s fun.”
Shana and Roarke were the next pair to find them a few minutes later.
Roarke and Thad exchanged nods, but Shana immediately gathered into a cluster with Veronica and Kara, oohing and ahhing over everyone’s dresses as though they hadn’t all seen each other trying things on during the shopping expedition.
“See? I knew you’d look like a mermaid,” Shana smiled in pride at Kara.
Kara actually laughed. “I barely remember trying on all those dresses. I was so overwhelmed I forgot which one we actually chose until I opened the garment bag tonight.”
“You really do look gorgeous, Kara,” Shana said honestly. “Where’s Angelo? I thought he’d be attached to your hip right now.”
“He’s checking on the kitchen staff. I think he’s a bit nervous,” Kara admitted.
Angelo found her a few minutes later as he walked to the cluster of friends with Felicity and Jared. None of the nervousness she’d sensed in him remained, and she allowed him to lead her after their friends towards the ballroom.
Angelo tucked Kara’s arm in his as they passed through the ballroom doorways.
Kara’s eyes widened as she took in the immensity of the room and the absolutely beautiful art deco style of the room.
Blue and gold silk hung in elegant drapings across the ceiling between glittering diamond chandeliers. It was something out of a dream.
The tables that covered a third of the room were decorated in blue and gold tablecloths.
Servers had artfully folded napkins and tucked them into the water goblets.
Programs for the night’s events were placed on every seat.
Thad led their party to the front where everyone sat down at one of the primary donor tables.
“Did you have something to drink?” Angelo leaned in to ask so Kara could hear him over the orchestra that played in the back corner of the room.
“I had a glass of champagne,” she said.
Angelo nodded and then he waved the server over to pour water in their glasses.
“Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated at these events is important. And don’t forget to eat,” he said.
Kara could tell that he was a little nervous about the event.
There was a tightness to his mouth that tugged at heart.
She had learned on the way to the hotel that he had never catered something so big before.
By the way he was watching the servers bringing out the salad course she sensed he was afraid something might go wrong.