THIRTY-SEVEN
AT THE HOTEL, they didn’t meet anyone else. Didn’t check in either. They went straight up to a ready and waiting suite. No word on their bags or special requests. Though there wasn’t time to ask too many questions. The dinner would start in an hour and she wasn’t that practiced at being glam in an instant.
Coming out of the closet in her dress, she stopped as he turned, framed by the window behind.
“Oh, wow,” she whispered.
“I’ll say,” he said and came over to offer his hand. “You’re breathtaking.”
“I’m breathtaking?” She ignored the hand to put a few feet between them and appreciate the view again. “You’re like, wow!” Sauntering over, she slid a hand up his chest. “Next time we’re going formal, factor in a little extra time.”
Height eluded her, with her boot, she could only wear flats, or, rather, flat. On her tiptoes, she waited for him to stoop to kiss her. They lingered a second until she dropped back.
“We could be a little late…”
Any other day, she’d take him up on that. “I’m meeting a lot of these people you consider family for the first time. What kind of impression would that give?”
“That you’re dedicated to this relationship, and to seizing the moment.” After another kiss, he linked their fingers. “Come meet everyone.”
Yeah, it was the everyone part that scared her a little. She’d be fine. As a rule, she didn’t avoid crowds, but this was important. These people were important to a man who meant the world to her. In the elevator, alone, waiting for the doors to close, this felt like a last chance.
“Zane, I have to—”
“Hold the door!” Zane hit the open button, but a woman squeezed in through the gap before it opened again. “Oh, hey!” The stranger grabbed Zane’s lapels and yanked him down to kiss him hard. “You need to stop disappearing.”
“Yeah, so I’ve been told,” he said and stepped back to gesture at each of them. “This is—”
“I know who this is,” the woman said looking down and then up. “The boot really gives the outfit zing.” The doors began to slide closed again. “You should know, I’m considering having an affair with your boyfriend.”
“Babycakes,” a not so happy male called from outside.
“Just ignore him,” the woman said, diverting Zane’s hand from the button, so this time the doors closed. “He could use the exercise.”
Zane’s amusement bloomed. “You’re going stag?”
“Now you have two dates,” the woman said, taking his other hand to wrap his arm around her.
Oh-kay, this was awkward. Until Zane laughed.
“Before you scare off the woman I love, introduce yourself, Roux.”
Roux?
She quaked. “You’re… you’re his sister-in-law.”
“Minus the Lowe part, yes. We’re not related to that side of the family. Maybe we mix it up…” Roux let go of Zane to come around to her other side and link their arms. “Maybe she’s the stud today.”
Zane squeezed her hand. “And you were worried about your first impression?”
“We’re sisters now, get your mind out the gutter,” Roux said, then faltered. “Wait, if you’re my brother and she’s my sister… How in the hell is the world okay with incest by marriage. There’s really got to be a better way. Better titles. Better labels.”
His sister? “Roux,” she said. “You’re Roux, Rourke’s—”
“I’m not Rourke’s anything. He’s my something, and damn lucky to be, which I make sure he never forgets.” The doors slid open to reveal a guy already waiting for them in the lobby; he crooked a brow. Rourke? “You know I’d be pissed if that wasn’t so impressive. How did you do that?”
Leaning in, he grabbed Roux and yanked her out of the elevator and into his body, hard. “The husband is always right.”
“Not in this marriage.” When he tried to come down for a kiss, Roux jerked back to avoid it. “I already have a date, sleaze.”
Linking their arms again, Roux got to moving and Zane let go. He just smiled and gave her a wave when she looked back. Without protest, he and Rourke followed a couple of yards behind.
“Roux, I don’t—”
“I’ll introduce you to everyone important. You already know Roxie, so you’re halfway there. We’ll make sure you know every story, who to avoid, who to flirt with, and whose hands wander.” She tightened her hold. “There are a few of them in this circle, and it’s LA, the kissing thing gives them an in.”
“Shouldn’t I stay with Zane?”
“If you want,” Roux said, leading her down some stairs at the other side of the lobby. “But the guys are boring when they’re all together. And knowing their women gets you an in without the need to show cleavage. Okay, that probably wasn’t fair to anyone other than my guy.”
“I want to get to know people.”
“Good, because I’ve heard you work in my field. Let me tell you, getting Huddle Hope up and running will take more than hard work, you need to believe in it, you need to dedicate yourself to it. Huddle Hope will be the difference so many people need in their lives.”
They stopped at a stretch of glass panel doors. Light within and fragrant air beckoned. She couldn’t see people yet, but there were definitely rumblings of conversation.
“It means a lot to you. Roxie told me that.”
Roux smiled and touched her chin to raise it an inch. “And if you let me talk your ear off about it, it will mean something to you by the end of the night. You’ve got Roxie’s approval, when you’re one of her girls, you have a whole posse at your back, ready to stand up for you. You’re one of us now, Thea.”
One of them. Acceptance by a stranger, maybe not so unfamiliar, but definitely a little strange. If they could accept her on Zane’s word, she’d accept them on it too. Clarity gave her relief. These weren’t enemies or an obstacle to overcome. If they were Zane’s family, they were hers too.