Chapter 9 #2
“Yes!” I practically screamed. “There, I said it. I have always wanted him to see my underwear. And it’s a problem. Because he works with me. He’s older than me, and now he’s a new dad and needs to be focusing on Bella and not the fact that I want him to see my underwear.”
“Well. You better wear the good ones. Though I don’t know your underwear drawer precisely, I assume you have something lacy that will go with the dress?”
“Aly, what am I doing?”
“You’re going to an event where you’re going to be stressed out because you have to see people who haven’t respected you, and remind you of a painful time, and you’re going with a man who you want to climb like a redwood tree, and yet feel that you can’t.”
“I didn’t mean for you to be so precise in your explanation and description.”
I ignored Aly’s snort. “It’s true though, is it not?”
“Maybe. I don’t have time for this. I don’t have time for this event or dealing with Chelsea and the others. But here we are. I have to go and I’m bringing a date, and they’re going to hate me.”
“But they hate you already anyway because they’re not seeing the truth.”
I swallowed hard, rubbing my hand over my chest. And that was the kick of it, wasn’t it? They all hated me.
“Wear something pretty, feel pretty. You are young, beautiful, successful, talented, and a good person, Brooklyn Montgomery. You are allowed to desire someone else. You are allowed to be yourself. If Reece wants you too, and you find a way to make it work, even if only for a night, go for it. It doesn’t have to be forever.
And you’re both adult enough to make sure that you can deal with the consequences. ”
“I don’t feel adult enough.”
“Trust me, you are. Especially compared to some of the people I know.”
“I’m surprised you’re not going tonight,” I said, broaching the subject that we both were careful about. “I almost asked you to go with me instead.”
Aly was silent long enough I was afraid I had said the wrong thing. “I sent in my regrets. But don’t worry, I know you can handle this.”
I let out a breath and went over my outfit for the evening one more time, before saying my goodbyes and sliding into my dress. I already had on the sexy underwear.
Thankfully I was right on time because the doorbell rang as soon as I walked downstairs. I grabbed my small clutch, and my wrap in case it somehow got chilly in the evening, and opened the door.
Reece stood there in a suit, his shoulders broad, practically straining the fabric, and I nearly fell to my knees.
Dear God.
How was it fair that a man could be this handsome?
It was one of those suits that was narrow in the chest, but not constricting, and he didn’t wear those skinny pants that so many others did.
These molded over his thighs, but gave him room to breathe.
He’d trimmed his beard, but hadn’t shaved it completely, and he’d styled his hair so it didn’t look as messy as usual.
You could still see his ink, it wasn’t as if he would ever hide it, but that just made him even harder to resist.
“Brooklyn,” he whispered.
I looked down at my silver dress, the one with the heart-shaped neckline that accentuated my hips, and swallowed hard.
“I’ve worn it before, but it’s comfortable.”
“We’re going to this gala.”
“I know,” I said with a frown.
“I have to say that because if I don’t, I’m going to take you inside and strip that dress off. You have no idea how hard it is for me not to glide that dress up your thighs and slide my cock right between your legs.”
I pressed my thighs together, my mouth parting. “Reece.”
He shook his head. “I should probably be sorry for saying that. For being so crass, but I don’t fucking care. You know I want you, Brooklyn. And I know you want me.”
“I thought we were doing very good not talking about that.”
“True. But for tonight? Let’s go do this.”
I nearly staggered. “Do what?”
“Show the world that you’re Brooklyn fucking Montgomery and you can do anything.” And then he took my hand, and I was lost.
“Tonight is going to be a long night.”
Reece, his hand on my waist, stood beside me and let out a deep breath. “Honestly, it sounds like it’s going to be an excruciatingly painful night. At least from the speeches so far.”
I looked up at him, wondering once again what we were doing.
But this was not the time to be too focused on that.
Not when there were at least two hundred people milling around us, and we were waiting on the seventh speech of the evening.
One where they would congratulate themselves on how gratuitous and giving they were, and would then do their best to one-up one another when it came to donations.
“Honestly, it hasn’t been this bad before.”
Reece raised a brow at me and looked down at the two flutes of champagne in our hands.
“Are you sure about that? Or were you just infatuated with somebody who was part of this world?”
I wanted to be offended at that, but I looked inward, wondering if he was right. I shook my head. “No. There didn’t use to be so many speeches. And it didn’t use to be this elegant.”
“You have to wonder how much of the donations went to this one hundred dollars a bottle glass of champagne and the tablecloths alone.”
I winced. “These were all donated by different families. Including Duke’s.
It’s outside of the foundation itself. They’re going to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars tonight to keep children in the arts, to feed them, and to help any after-school programs so kids don’t go hungry, and parents can work.
They do good things, but it’s not always so pretentious. ”
“And you were going to marry into this family.”
My stomach hollowed out at that, and Reece lowered his head and cursed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t judge. Especially because the man isn’t here to speak for himself. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Tears didn’t prick my eyes, though I thought perhaps they should.
“I liked coming to these things with him. I felt like a princess. And that we were doing good things. Maybe you’re right. Maybe now I’m on the outside looking in.”
Reece set down his drink and turned me in his arms, cupping my face. “I was wrong. I’m sorry. You always have a good heart. I’m the idiot.”
I looked up at him then, wondering what I was doing once again.
“Reece...” I began.
“Brooklyn. I see you arrived.”
Guiltily, I turned to see Duke’s family standing there, the Rochesters looking gorgeous in their expensive dresses and tuxes and suits with diamonds covering their necks.
“Mr. Rochester, Mrs. Rochester. I’m glad I was able to come.”
“Hmm,” the older woman said, her gaze on Reece. “I don’t know you.”
“This is Reece. He works with Montgomery Construction. And he’s lead on the home that is part of the donation to the foundation.”
“I see,” she said. “You two seem comfortable.”
Guilt clawed at me, but I stood straighter.
Because this woman, I knew now, had never liked me.
I had never been good enough for her son.
And now, he was gone, and perhaps I was the one who had moved on too quickly—only I hadn’t moved on.
I was just standing here with a man who couldn’t stop looking at me, but I wasn’t with him.
Yet, from the look on their faces, I was the terrible woman who had broken their son.
“Reece Fox, I know you,” Duke’s dad said, and my gaze shot to him.
“You have me at a disadvantage, sir,” Reece said, his voice low, assured.
“You should know the Longs are here as well. They would usually be here early tonight but have personal issues. Personal issues that surround you.”
I froze in Reece’s hold, just now aware that his hand was still on my waist.
“It’s a small world,” Reece said, and I wasn’t sure what else there was to say to that.
“And it gets smaller every day, Brooklyn.” Mrs. Rochester shook her. “When Chelsea came to me and told me that you had found a new life, I was disappointed but not surprised. Now that I see who you’re associating with, it can either be a good move for you or not. The Longs have reach in this town.”
“As you’re talking to a Montgomery, I’m pretty sure that she understands the reach in this town. This town being Denver,” Reece said dryly.
I wanted to curl into a ball. I didn’t understand what was happening right now.
“You were never good enough for my son,” she snapped. “He’s gone. And you’re here. And I will never forgive you.” And with that, she rolled on her heels and stomped off, leaving Duke’s father standing there.
“I would apologize for her and my daughter, but they’re in pain.”
Tears pricked my eyes and I nodded. “I know. You don’t have to apologize.”
“They need to,” Reece snapped.
Mr. Rochester’s gaze went to Reece’s. “I would be careful about who you anger. Especially if you want to keep your daughter.”
“Are you threatening him?” I asked, taking a step forward.
“I’m just telling the truth. The Longs have connections. Just like the connections you wanted when you were going to marry my son.”
“That’s not— I didn’t—” I sputtered, so fucking confused.
“You’re going to want to watch the way you talk to her.”
“Don’t threaten me, boy.”
“I’m not a boy. I’m a father, I’m a friend, and I know people too.
If this is how you treat somebody who was going to be your family, I have to wonder how you treat everyone else around you.
Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a bid to make, as this is a foundation to help raise money for children.
Something you don’t understand apparently.
” Reece pulled me away, leaving me staggered, and Duke’s father just stared at us, a nonplussed expression on his face.
“Reece.”
“Not here. Not now. I can’t.”
We milled through the event room, and I muttered to a few people, trying to act calm, but I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
Why did they hate me so much? Were they threatening Reece?
“Don’t cry,” Reece whispered into my ear, his breath warm against my skin.
Tears threatened to come and I shook my head. “I won’t.”