Chapter 26
KATE
Jane barely made it through the car ride from the airport to the hotel. We were around the corner when she started turning a delicate shade of green that had me silently praying she didn’t redecorate the interior of our luxury SUV.
“I’m so glamorous,” she murmured weakly when we finally walked into the lobby, her fingers tight around Alex’s arm.
“You’re glamorous,” he insisted, completely serious. He guided her to the private elevator like she was made of glass while Nate went to the reception desk to check in. “You’re glowing.”
“I’m glowing because I’m about to either pass out or vomit,” she replied. “It’s called breaking out in a sweat.”
“You’re still gorgeous.” Alex steadied her when she swayed slightly on her feet and I had to admit, seeing him with her like this redeemed him a little in my eyes.
Only a tiny bit, but he clearly wasn’t the heartless bastard I’d initially thought. I didn’t say anything while we waited for Nate to meet us at the elevator bank, just watching her lean into Alex like he wasn’t partially responsible for making her feel this way.
My heart stuttered when Nate appeared around the corner, his blond hair perfectly styled and those blue eyes serious but also soft when they met mine.
He wore a navy suit with a white button-down underneath, his broad shoulders filling out the jacket in ways that made me remember holding on to them when he’d kissed me, my nails digging into the fabric.
I felt my cheeks flush at the memory. My body tingled as he glanced at me once we were in the elevator.
Alex and Jane talked quietly behind us, but Nate ignored them completely.
His gaze alternated between looking at me beside him and looking at me in the faint reflection of us in the elevator doors.
Electricity thrummed between us, making me supremely aware of every shift and every movement either of us made. When the doors slid open, depositing us on floor where Nate had booked a two-bedroom suite for us two, it was a relief as well as a disappointment.
We spilled out of the elevator. Jane grabbed the key from Nate and rushed ahead, Alex hot on her heels. Nate didn’t say a word to me, but I was still so aware of him that I had to bite my lip to keep from either moaning quietly or saying something stupid.
I mean, what are you supposed to say to your arranged fiancé the day after he gave you the best orgasm of your life?
We walked into the massive suite together, but he left me in the sprawling living area while he darted after his brother and his sister-in-law. I went over to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan.
Home. Shit. So much in my life had changed since I’d last been here, but instead of feeling comforted by the view of the familiar skyline, I was too attuned to the sounds of Nate, Alex, and Jane to really enjoy it.
“I’m so sorry,” I heard her groan after Alex had gotten her settled on the bed. “Kate! I swear, I’m normally a lot more fun than this.”
I chuckled, immediately abandoning my quiet moment and the view to head over to the bedroom. Since I didn’t really want to intrude, I hovered in the doorway, smiling when I saw her already curled up on her side. “Don’t you dare apologize. You’re growing a human. You get a lifetime hall pass.”
She gave me a weak smile while Alex hovered, pacing, checking the thermostat, adjusting pillows, and asking if she needed crackers, water, ginger ale, even a priest. Finally, Nate dragged him out by the shoulder.
“Come on, man. Let her rest. She’ll be fine.” He glanced at me for the first time since we’d walked in. “Kate will check on her while we’re gone.”
I nodded immediately, even though I hadn’t known they would be going anywhere, but clearly, Nate needed Alex for whatever they were going to do and I didn’t mind keeping an eye on Jane. “Absolutely. If she needs anything at all, I’ll make sure she gets it.”
“We’re just going to check in with Harrison at the satellite office,” Nate said, his voice gentler than usual as he glanced between Jane and me. “We’ll be back before the party.”
Jane waved them off without opening her eyes, but Alex still hesitated like he was physically rooted to the carpet.
“She’ll be fine,” I promised, prepared to shove him out the door if I had to. “How about this? We let her nap and I’ll text you as soon as she wakes up.”
He gave me a long look before he blew out a breath and nodded. “Yeah. Okay. That sounds good. Thanks, Kate.”
A hint of a smile appeared on Nate’s lips when he looked at me again. His gaze swept across my face, making my knees a little weak. God, I really need to get a grip. It was one orgasm, Katherine. He didn’t buy you a pony.
Thankfully, the Westwood brothers left and Jane was already asleep before the door had even closed behind them, so I didn’t have to explain why I just stood there for a moment, my cheeks heating and my heartbeat too fast. Alone again, I inhaled a deep breath and wandered back to the windows, the party tonight looming like a ticking clock in the back of my mind.
Hinds’ retirement was the official celebration of everything changing. Tonight, my engagement stopped being a rumor and became a spectacle. As I looked out at Manhattan, I realized I was glad it was happening here.
On my home turf.
But knowing that the eyes of the city—if not the nation—would be on me was still a damn intimidating prospect. As I moved toward the second bedroom to start getting ready, I tried not to wonder if Nate and I would be sharing this bed tonight.
A small ripple of nerves ran through me. If he and I were going to be sleeping in the same room behind a closed door, I honestly wasn’t sure I would be able to keep my hands to myself, but I shoved those worries aside.
There were bigger things to deal with right now. Like the fact that I hadn’t packed anything even remotely appropriate for a high-profile party thrown by a billionaire. Mostly because I hadn’t taken anything like that with me to Chicago to begin with.
I opened my suitcase anyway, rifling through my options with dwindling optimism. Business chic. Corporate cocktail. All of them polished and expensive outfits, but still utterly wrong for a party like this.
I can always run across town to my apartment. It wasn’t far. I had some dresses there, still nothing really fancy enough, but it was worth a try. Worst case, I’d stop somewhere for a fresh blowout and maybe find a boutique.
Slipping into my heels with the intention to do just that, I was balancing against the edge of the bed while I fastened the strap when a sharp knock echoed through the suite. I froze, but there was no sound of Jane stirring.
Another knock followed, firm but polite, and I abandoned my heels to dart across the suite before the knocking woke her. A hotel staff member stood on the other side of the door, smiling professionally as he motioned to the rolling cart in front of him.
“Delivery for Ms. Vanderhaul,” he said.
“Oh.” I frowned. “I, uh, thank you?”
When I stepped out of the way, he pushed the cart inside and placed a bottle of red wine on the marble counter in the living area, along with a glass and some snacks. Next, a large, elegant dress box appeared from under the tablecloth covering the cart, a satin ribbon wrapped around it.
The man placed that next to the wine and then nodded, slipping back out and quietly shutting the door behind him. Meanwhile, I just stared at the box.
Before I’d even touched it, my heart kicked into a higher gear.
I took a step closer and eyed the ribbon for a moment before I finally convinced myself it was okay to open it.
The guy had said this was for me, so I gave it a gentle tug and the bow slid free with a soft whisper of fabric. The lid lifted easily beneath my hands.
The gown inside stole the air straight from my lungs. Light blue silk was pooled in careful folds, the color luminous and soft. I knew without even having to put it on that the shade would make my hair pop and my eyes look brighter.
The neckline was elegant without being showy. The structure of the dress itself was absolutely flawless. The longer I stared at it, the more I realized that this was expensive in that real expensive way, the kind that didn’t need logos or labels to announce itself.
Something warm and disorienting bloomed between my ribs as I reached for the card tucked neatly beneath the tissue paper. Nate’s handwriting was clean and crisp, almost annoying in how neat it was for a man.
I think this is your size.
See you soon.
That was it. There was no romance to it. Nothing that should’ve made my heart go as wild as it suddenly did, but it was just so Nate that I could help it.
He really is a man of few words, even if they’re written, it seems. When did he even have time to sign this?
A laugh escaped me, but I pressed the card against my chest as I looked back at the gown. He noticed things, alright, but he did it quietly and without asking or turning it into a moment that demanded attention or gratitude.
I traced the edge of the silk with my fingertips and my stomach fluttered. As soon as my mind drifted to wondering whether he would be taking this dress off me tonight, I poured myself a glass of the wine to calm the heck down.
After filling the glass just a touch more than halfway, I took a slow sip, letting the warmth of the liquid sliding down my throat settle my nerves. The shower I took after helped too, the hot water working wonders on the tension I’d been carrying around in my shoulders all day.
By the time I was done and my wine was back in my hand, I felt steadier. Functional, at least. I plugged in the hair dryer I’d packed, eyeing my reflection as my damp hair began to frizz and curl in uneven spirals around my face and shoulders.
Normally, this was where I’d wage war, my weapons an army of products, heat tools, and sheer stubbornness, but I paused as I lifted the dryer. Then I lowered it slowly back onto the counter.