Casey
T he doorbell rings in one continuous, obnoxious buzz. I bury my face in my fluffy pillow and groan, knowing it has to be one of two people, and I’m betting Jagger is sleeping off whatever he did last night. That leaves Lily.
Reaching across the bed, I hope to find the insanely chiseled body of the man who sweetly held me all night without even trying to grope me—even if I wouldn’t have minded—but only find cold sheets. I turn my head and peek open an eye. My bottom lip juts out when I see he’s really gone and probably has been for a while.
I hate when he’s gone before I wake.
Flipping over toward my nightstand with a huff, I grab my phone. There are dozens of missed calls and texts from my two besties, and I roll my eyes. I saw them last night. Nothing could be that urgent.
The buzzing stopped a few seconds ago, which means they let themselves in. Why they haven’t barged in here yet, I don’t know, but I better get up before they do.
I’m tossing the covers back when the door opens, but instead of two vapid psychos, sex on a stick walks in wearing nothing but a pair of black basketball shorts, sneakers, a backward ball cap, and a glistening sheen of sweat coating his broad, defined torso.
Why do I want to lick the sweat from his abs? The man has turned me into a deviant.
“Stop looking at me like that, Sunflower. My balls are still fucking blue from yesterday, and your friends are waiting in the kitchen for you.”
“They can keep waiting.” I bite my lip, following the trail of moisture running down the center of his abs as it disappears beneath the waistband of his shorts. His muscles ripple under my heated stare, and he groans.
Leaning down, he catches my bottom lip between his teeth. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I know you wouldn’t want your friends to hear your screams.” He stands up, his jaw clenching tightly. “Give me five minutes to shower off, then you can have the bathroom. I made your favorite frittatas. Feed your friends and yourself while you wait.”
“Frittatas? How long have you been awake?” I glance at my phone again and gasp. It’s almost noon. I race to my dresser, grab a pair of shorts, and slide them over my legs. I spin back around to him with my hands on my hips. “Why did you let me sleep so late?”
“Because you were emotionally and physically drained. You needed it.” He’s right. Yesterday was exhausting. I let one little thing eat away at all the confidence I’ve built over the last few weeks. It should’ve been sweet to know he did so much to ensure I could enjoy my passion. Instead, my mother’s voice echoed through my mind, ripping me to shreds.
Graham apologized for how he reacted to my outburst last night, and I appreciated it. I also appreciated he let me have a minute to myself. I thought I needed a minute to breathe without feeling like I had to do it for him. But the minute he left, I realized I didn’t need space at all. I was still trying to push him away I suppose. Hurt lingered that he kept that from me, but his words turned over in my head for the few hours I was there.
He was right. I lied to my dad to protect him. Now, I know I shouldn’t have. Not about Mom and what she was doing, but the truth is, if I had to do it again to keep his heart intact, I would. Right or wrong, I will lie to protect someone I love. So I can’t be angry if Graham does the same.
He told me he would do anything to keep me safe—to protect me. Nothing was off limits if it meant I would be hurt, and as I sat there slowly sipping my spiked pink lemonade, I knew I would do the same for him. It’s why I’m always so tight-lipped. But with him, my heart is also on my sleeve. It’s a strange conundrum.
“Now go eat.” He turns me toward the door and slaps my backside as he shoves me forward.
Lily and Ashleigh didn’t bother waiting for me. They’re shoving food into their mouths when I get there. They spot me with matching smirks, waggling their brows. “I literally just woke up. I do not look like this for the dirty reasons you’re imagining.”
“Uh-huh, sure,” Ashleigh snickers, making me blush for no reason at all.
“What are you two doing here, anyway?” I fold my arms across my chest as I watch them shovel the egg mixture into their mouths like starving dogs.
“We didn’t get girls’ night last night,” Lily tells me between bites. “I’ve told you; it doesn’t count when Liam is there because you’re no fun. You bailed before freaking ten, . Who does that on a Friday night?”
“I do,” I laugh. “Besides, I wanted to get back here to Graham.”
“Why didn’t he just stay?” Ash asks. “Not like the other two morons weren’t stalking about like assholes.”
I shrug, not wanting to divulge the ins and outs of mine and Graham’s relationship. I know it’s something girlfriends do, but I don’t want to. It feels like what happens with us should stay between us. “He was letting me have girls’ night.”
“He’s probably not comfortable around Liam, either,” Ashleigh suggests.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. I have a feeling Graham takes great pleasure in making Dad uncomfortable. He just refrains because of me.
“Okay. Onto the subject at hand,” Lily says as she wipes her mouth.
“Lily, leave her alone,” Ashleigh warns, and my eyes jump between the silent war going on between them.
“Why should I? I’m feeling woefully neglected on the friend front lately.” She spins, pointing a finger at me. “And you didn’t tell me about him. You’re supposed to tell me. I’m your best friend.”
My brows sink, irritation growing at her hypocrisy. She and Dad were together for years , and they only told me a few months ago. No . They didn’t tell me. I found out when Dad announced it to a room full of people at Lily’s fake wedding . Any other time, I’d let it go, but suddenly I don’t want to. “You mean like you told me about you and Dad?”
“She’s got you there.” Ashleigh plates another frittata.
Do they not eat at home?
Lily’s eyes drop to the floor, and a little part of me feels bad because she has apologized for all of it. “I was afraid you would hate me, and I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“Yeah, well, you are sleeping with my dad, and I didn’t want him to know.”
“I would nev…” Ashleigh pauses mid-bite, one brow lifting. My own do the same and she trails off, pressing her lips together. “Okay, fine. But you haven’t called me since. And you told Ashleigh! She is with Henry? Why did she get to know?”
“She didn’t tell me.” Ashleigh swallows her food, wiping her mouth. I guess she’s finally done eating. “Henry told me weeks ago. He even predicted it the night of your release party.”
“And you said nothing?” Lily screeches. “You played twenty questions at the club that night.”
“Henry told me not to. I can keep a secret.”
“Oh, we all know how well you can keep a secret,” Lily snaps, referencing how Ashleigh didn’t tell Uncle Henry he had a daughter for years. That might have been a little over the line . In her defense, she thought he would get in trouble.
More lies to protect the people we love.
Maybe we should learn from our mistakes, but protecting those we care about is the strongest, most deeply felt part of love.
“Oh, grow the fuck up, Lily,” Ashleigh bites back, her brown eyes blazing like a furnace.
“Okay. Okay.” I wave my hand before they start swinging while wondering how I ended up with two mouthy, hot-headed, bold-as-hell best friends. “How did Uncle H even know?”
She shrugs and grins. “You’d have to ask your man about that.”
After the other day, I suspected Uncle Henry knew, but that he knew before me… When did he and Graham become so chummy? But then he did tell Graham he needed to talk to him. I assumed it would be some macho don’t hurt her talk, but now I wonder if it was more.
“Earth to .” Fingers snap in front of my face, and I blink. Lily’s hand lowers.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“Me too,” she says. “I was being a hypocritical bitch. I would blame my period but that…”
“Was last week,” Ashleigh and I say together.
We laugh as I turn toward the coffeemaker and start a cup, then grab a plate for food. Thankfully, Graham made plenty because these two starving vultures would have left nothing but crumbs.
“Are you guys going to the gala tonight?” Lily asks as she sips on her mug of coffee.
Ashleigh nods. “Henry is going for GenSec because Aiden can’t. You?”
“Liam told me this morning,” she grumbles. “Ryder offered him tickets because Heaven wants to rest.”
Ashleigh makes the most hilarious sound of amusement. A snort with vibrato, and I can’t help but laugh at her laughter. She rolls her eyes at me, then turns back to Lily. “She wants to rest, or he wants her to?”
“From what Josephine said, the latter is most probable.”
Ash shakes her head as she smiles. “I don’t know how she handles him. Henry is ridiculously overbearing and protective, but Ryder and Maddox make him seem normal.”
I smile into my coffee because I’m willing to bet Graham might give Ryder and Maddox a run for their money.
“Well, Ryder and Maddox both had reasons to worry.” Lily shrugs. “You haven’t answered, Case. Will you be there?”
“Yes.” I leave off that I don’t want to. It’s not really a gala. It is a charity dinner for rich people, and I hate going to those things.
Graham told me a couple of weeks ago before our secret became less so. I immediately refused, for obvious reasons, but he wasn’t having it. He argued it was a black-and-white masquerade, so no one would recognize me anyway.
Even though a lot has changed in those few short weeks, the thought of being that public makes me nauseous.
I love Graham. He loves me. It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. But the thought of all that scrutiny makes me shudder. People are cruel and petty. My heart isn’t strong enough to be ridiculed by everyone.
“I hate last-minute shopping,” Ashleigh grips as her head drops back and she covers her face. “But I haven’t had time to even look for a dress.”
“I’ll just wear something I already have,” Lily says, making herself another cup of caffeine. “I own an excessive amount of clothes because they send them to me. May as well use them. It’s what I get paid for, right?”
“You’re still doing that?” I ask. Lily has been an influencer for a while. She was also a model when she was younger for a hot minute. I assumed once her album dropped, she wouldn’t do that anymore.
“Yep. And I have too many things to let them go to waste.”
“Same.” My shoulders tip toward my ears. “Not the excessive clothes part, but the rest.”
“, no. You have to get a new dress. Apart from your dance costumes, you barely have anything,” she demands.
“I have plenty.” It’s true. My closet may not be full, but I have the necessities. A few shirts, hoodies, jeans, shorts, sweaters. Even a couple of cocktail dresses and one evening gown. Nothing extravagant, but the job gets done. “I’ll wear my black strapless dress. Besides, my budget doesn’t include designer evening attire.”
A tan, thick hand slams down on the counter between all of us. We jump and gasp, so deep in our conversation that we didn’t notice him slip up behind us. His hand lifts and he slides the black credit card toward me with two fingers. “You don’t have a budget,” he growls, then leans across the counter, getting right in my face. “You never had a fucking budget. If I hear that word or anything remotely insinuating you can’t afford whatever you want, or that anything of mine isn’t yours, I’ll find a creative way to remove those words from your vocabulary.”
“Yes, Daddy, please,” Lily says with a smirk as she brings her coffee cup to her lips.
My eyes cut to her, narrowing as a slow heat crawls up my throat. I’m not sure if I’m embarrassed or turned on. “Cut that out.”
“Why?” she asks. “I’ve read about that in books, but holy shit.”
“My dad isn’t like that?”
“Liam isn’t clinically insane, and you’d have to be to give me that kind of power.”
“Henry is,” Ashleigh crosses her arms and narrows her eyes at Graham as if he’s just spit in her orange juice. “And it’s fucking annoying how, because you have too much money, you think you can swoop in and take care of us. We can take care of ourselves without you or your millions, billions, trillions, or whatever.”
“Says the girl driving a Range Rover she didn’t pay for.” Lily snorts.
Graham ignores them both, his eyes never leaving mine with promises and warnings sparkling in them as he drags his bottom lip between his teeth. I’m captured in the salacious gaze, my entire body flaming with need. My breathing picks up along with my heart as unspoken desire passes between us.
“Oh my God. If you two don’t look away from each other, the fucking apartment will melt.” Lily’s tease replaces the heat of lust with embarrassment at getting caught.
I drop my eyes first, and Graham chuckles. He lifts my chin with his finger, a playful smirk pulling his lips up. “I booked you—all of you,” he looks at Ash and Lily for a moment before returning his attention to me, “appointments for everything you could need today. Natasha at Bancroft’s has arranged a private showing for you to get dresses. When you’re ready, Will will take you to the resort where I have hair and makeup along with any spa treatments you want ready when you get there.” My jaw drops because oh my God. I may have grown up in the Davis household, but my mom didn’t want time wasted on someone who would never appreciate it . I’m not sure if I’ll appreciate it the way she wanted, but I’m flabbergasted that he’s done all of this. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. He kisses me quickly, then walks to the door. He pauses and looks over his shoulder. “Will won’t leave your side today. When I see you tonight, I expect you to be in nothing less than what you want.”
*****
“Ashleigh, no.” My hand flies up to cover my eyes as I sink into the comfy leopard print chair. “Uncle Henry will kill you.”
She turns, looking at herself from behind in the three-way mirror as her naturally pink lips curve into a positively devilish smile. “Every time he throws a dress into a fireplace, I buy another worse than the last. It’s a game we play. He tries to control me, so I dress slutty as possible. Then we have fun.” She waggles her eyebrows at me through the mirror.
First off, gross. Second off, she doesn’t look slutty at all. She’s stunning. The dress has strategically placed crisscrossed pieces of sparkling white over a flesh-colored underlay. Nothing is technically exposed, but it definitely looks like it is, which is what will make Uncle Henry have a coronary.
“It will piss him off and doesn’t cost more than my first car.”
“And I’ll take this one.” Lily’s black dress, on the other hand, doesn’t have an underlay disguising where lace filigree cutouts trail from her right mid-thigh to below her breast. The lace design continues up over her breast to her neck. The other side has intricate beading from the top to the end of the small train. It clings to her curves before flaring at the bottom the slightest bit. She looks like a gothic princess.
“You haven’t tried on a single thing, Case,” Ashleigh points out much to my annoyance.
Everything Natasha brought us has been beautiful, but none of it appeals to me. It’s either too tight or revealing, or it’s absolutely matronly. And, honestly, I hate black and white. I love colors. Bright splashes here or there. That’s why my apartment has random items scattered throughout with big bold splashes of yellow, red, purple… every color of the rainbow. I swear it doesn’t look like a color explosion.
“I’m sorry, but none of these are me.” I smile warmly at Natasha, then pat the simple black sheath dress next to me. “I’ll just take this one.”
Natasha’s brows dip, and my eyes drop. I’ve upset her. Ugh. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“Why would you ever settle?” My head snaps up, shocked she’s not upset with me, but by the fact I was just going to take whatever. “You should never settle for less than you deserve.”
“Say it louder for the ones in the back,” Lily says as she peeks her head from behind the deep navy velvet drapery that separates the individual dressing rooms.
“I mean, it’s black and white required. Nothing is going to be me .” I shrug. “Besides, I don’t want to be a bother.”
“Sweetheart, it’s my job to find what you want. But anyone who thinks you are a bother is not worth your time. Get rid of them.” She winks, her red lips spreading wide. “Now that is settled, it so happens, Mr. Davis asked for us to ask you to try this on if you couldn’t find anything else you liked.”
I lift a brow and squint an eye with doubt. I’m not sure Graham could pick a dress I liked for an event like this, but I watch and wait as she leaves. Moments later, she returns and my jaw drops. She holds a beautiful crimson organza dress. It’s got a strapless, fitted bodice that flares away at the waist. More of the organza is loosely draped a little around the hips and at the bust. It’s decorated with gorgeous yellow tulle flowers
It’s so pretty. It’s so me .
“But it’s a black-and-white party,” I whisper as my fingers drift over the pretty fabric.
“He said you might say that.” She hands me a slip of paper.
Lily and Ashleigh, both changed into their clothes, sit next to me as I unfold the paper.
Sunflower,
Fuck the rules. Fuck what anyone thinks. You have never been a boring black-and-white girl, even when you try so hard to be. Your thoughts and feelings don’t belong in a box. We will never fit social expectations, and if I have to give you up to do so, then let me be different.
I hope you wear the dress and show them all what it means to shine. I had it custom-made for you because it is you. Free and bright. And I want the world to see you as I do. Beautiful and vibrant as the flowers you love so much.
Don’t be afraid of what they think. I’ll be right beside you the entire time. You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried. And let’s be honest, you have.
I love you forever.
Graham
“Try it on,” Lily whispers as she bumps my shoulders.
And I do, but I don’t really need to. It’s perfect. It’s more than I could have imagined for myself. And I think my heart might explode because, not for the first time, I realize this man doesn’t just know what I need and want; he knows before I do.
When I exit the dressing room, Ashleigh and Lily gasp. “, you look like a princess.”
“Better,” Lily says, and I’m pretty sure her voice cracks a little.
When I face the mirror, my hands come up to my cheeks. They’re right. It’s like something from a fairy tale—my fairy tale.
Lily wraps her arms around me and lays her head on my shoulder. “Told you so,” she whispers.
All I can do is nod. I feel stupid about getting misty over a dress, but I know it’s about so much more. No one will ever know me like he does. He knows my heart and mind. He’s my safe space, and he always has been. I missed him so much the years after he vanished, but he’s more than made up for it since he’s come back.
“Now,” Ash says, wiping under her eyes and blinking rapidly. “Let’s get to the resort, get our spa on, and become the fierce bitches we are.”