Chapter 16
Celani
I finish dividing the cupcakes and cookies into small paper boxes making sure that each box has a few of each before I close the lids carefully.
“Can you help me take these out to your team?” I ask Killian as he puts on his jacket. “I’ll save some for when Malakai gets back, and of course you can have whatever you like too.”
His eyes glide over the boxes of desserts on the counter before moving down my aproned body. My skin tingles on every inch that his eyes roam over, and he stalks over to me, reaching a hand behind my neck and pulling me closer to him.
My eyes flutter closed as he leans down and the feel of his warm lips greet my forehead. He holds a kiss there for what feels like an eternity but somehow not long enough.
“You’re the sweetest angel I’ve ever met. You know that?” He murmurs.
I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my smile against his chest. He somehow always knows exactly what to say to make my heart turn into a puddle in my chest.
“Thank you, Killian,” I say, looking up at him.
The corner of his mouth rises. “Anytime you need to hear just how amazing you are I’m more than happy to tell you, sweetheart,” he says, gently stroking my hair.
His eyes fall down to my lips, but then he takes a step back from me.
“You better go start getting ready,” he says, moving to stack the boxes of desserts and lifting them up. “I’ll take these out to everyone. I know they’ll really appreciate it. Thank you.”
I nod and untie my apron, realizing that the time has really gotten away from me during my baking haze. I sigh knowing that as much as I need a night out right now, this networking event disguised as a charity fundraiser is not what my soul has in mind.
I spend the next hour getting dolled up for the night.
I take a long shower and shave, before doing my hair, makeup, and slipping on my long black gown.
It has a slit up one leg that I wasn’t sure about wearing to the event, but now I just say to hell with it.
It makes me feel sexy and I take what I can get where that’s concerned.
Pierce comes home and showers, not mentioning the conversation I tried to have with him earlier. He gets dressed in his tuxedo, and soon we are heading out the door.
We don’t say much to each other on the way there, but when we get to the hotel he takes my hand and slips into his role as a devoted boyfriend.
Pierce insisted that Killian and Malakai both escort us, and even though they are keeping a bit of distance from us to blend in I can still feel Killian’s attentive gaze on me.
An hour into the event I am feeling bored out of my skull, and tired of faking a pleasant smile. We’ve already had dinner and now the live charity auction has begun.
Pierce’s sour demeanor that he has been carrying around for weeks has magically lifted since being with his colleagues tonight. He has spent the night talking to so many people that I’ve barely been with him at all.
Instead I’ve been awkwardly sitting at our assigned table since dinner ended, stuck with the wives and girlfriends of Pierce’s colleagues. They are all gossiping and complaining about things that the average person would love to consider a problem, and I have pretty much tuned them all out.
I glance over at Killan who is standing with Malaki by the dessert table, surveying the room. The two of them are both in formal tuxedos trying to blend in with the rest of the men in attendance.
Their clothes may fit the dress code, but there is something about each of them that makes it clear they are not a part of this stuffy crowd of insurance industry, and finance insiders.
Despite the fancy tuxedo he is wearing, Killian still looks just like who he is.
A man that could kill you with his bare hands.
Killian’s eyes finish scanning the room and fall back on me, his gaze moving down appreciatively over the bodice of my body-hugging black gown. His eyes meet mine again and he arches an eyebrow at me.
I lift my champagne glass to my lips and hide my smile. I’m on my second glass and I can feel it bringing back out my playful side.
Up on stage, Tom Riley is announcing the winner of a luxury stay in some resort in Colorado, but I barley hear him as I continue to stare over at Killian.
I pull the glass away from my mouth and lick the bit of champagne lingering on my bottom lip. Killian’s eyes follow my tongue, his face looking almost hypnotized as I swipe the champagne away and give him a slow smile.
He tugs at the neck of his dress shirt and shakes his head at me in warning almost imperceptibly.
I stifle a giggle knowing that I’m riling him up at the worst possible time, but I can’t help myself right now.
I’ve been holding back from exploring another mind-blowing kiss with him again for days now.
Seeing him tonight in his tuxedo, I’m damn near drooling over the way his colorful tattoos are peaking out of the bottom of his jacket sleeves and snaking onto his hands.
His broad shoulders and big arms are testing the limits of how far the fabric of his jacket can stretch, and I squirm in my seat again as I admire him.
“Is that something you would like to do, Celani?”
My head swivels back to the group of ladies sitting around me, and I blink at them in confusion. “Excuse me?” I ask, completely lost.
Margaret Elmsworth gives me a tight smile, fiddling with the pearls around her neck. I can tell she’s not pleased that I was ignoring their conversation, but it’s truly not my fault I gave up listening.
The conversation was floating between tips for Botox one minute, then Pilates studio recommendations the next.
It was hard to stay awake.
“We were discussing the next fundraiser David and I are having for Redland General’s Pediatrics’ Ward in the spring,” Margaret says, motioning to me. “I was saying that since you used to be a nurse at Verona Memorial, maybe you would know who I can contact there to start organizing things?”
I smile over at her, happy to finally discuss something that has some substance. “Sure! I’d be happy to help,” I respond sincerely.
Margaret gives me a genuine smile, and the women around her follow suit, all except the one next to her. The woman sighs dramatically and I try to remember her name. I’ve never really paid attention to it since every interaction with her has been unpleasant.
“Margaret, you know I’d love to help too but I’m just soo swamped with the boys' schedules for the next few months,” the woman whines in the same way I would imagine her kids probably do.
“Between their sports and tutoring, I’m just so busy. It really is better to have Celani work with you,” she continues looking over at me. “She probably has much more time for it.”
She gives me a sympathetic smile and I keep my expression neutral, digging my nails into the palms of my hands.
It’s interesting to me that I couldn’t even bother to remember this woman’s name who I’ve met once or twice, but she seems to think she knows all about my schedule just because I don’t have children?
I don’t know why some women feel the need to subtly remind me that I don’t have kids like it’s a major life event that I would somehow forget.
The table goes quiet, everyone obviously uncomfortable after (whatever her name is) makes her unnecessarily rude comment. Luckily for her I decide to ignore it, not willing to let some miserable woman I don’t even know ruin my happy buzz.
I turn my attention to Margaret and slide my smile back in place.
“I’m more than happy to help, Margaret. I know a few people in the Pediatric Department at Redland General. I’ll give you a call early next week with the information I get,” I say, grabbing my clutch from the table and standing up.
“Thank you so much, Celani!” Margret chirps.
“My pleasure. Please excuse me ladies. I need to go to the restroom. Bit too much champagne!” I laugh, giving a wave as I leave the table.
The rude woman continues to frown at me, but the other ladies all titter and nod in understanding as I make my exit and let out a relieved sigh.
I see Killian moving out of the corner of my eye and turn my head to wink at him. His eyebrows shoot up, and I stifle a laugh before continuing on to the bathroom without him. I don’t actually need to go there, I just need some time away from everyone.
I find another hallway that I hope will be less occupied, and I’m about to slip inside of a bathroom there when I feel fingers lock around my wrist and pull me in the other direction.