Chapter 4 #2
It would be way too easy to develop a crush. That can never happen of course. This is just a job for him, I remind myself. I have to settle for knowing how impressed everybody will be to see us together.
And they are—but, of course, none of them can bother to be gracious about it when we find our table in the ballroom.
Paul is already standing behind a chair with his suit jacket hung over the back, talking to Aunt Mary.
He lifts his glass, smirking a little when we approach.
“So Ainsley finally found a guy willing to be seen in public with her. This is a day for celebration.”
As usual, outrage swells in my chest, dangerously close to my heart. But if I let myself take anything he says seriously, I’d be in pretty sorry shape. He’s been doing this to me my entire life.
He has not, however, dealt with Talon. “That’s pretty big talk for somebody who doesn’t have a date with him,” he points out. The smile he wears could easily be mistaken for a snarl.
Paul laughs it off. “Hey, it’s all in good fun. Ainsley knows that by now, don’t you?” The worst part is he actually believes that. Like I should be able to take it on the chin because he’s been treating me like this since he was old enough to talk.
“Talon, this is my cousin, Paul, and my aunt Mary.” I lean down to kiss her on the cheek, which she returns without her gaze ever veering away from my date.
“Tell me,” she says once I straighten back up. “If your date understood the dress code, how is it you became so confused? This isn’t a black-tie event. And you know Michael’s father does business with yours. How do you think this makes the family look?”
“I doubt Caroline’s in-laws care one way or another,” I murmur, though I can’t help but look across the room to where that side of the guest list is congregating.
“You know he can’t afford any negative talk in his line of business.”
“Tell me, ma’am.” Talon’s tone is respectful as he speaks up behind me. “Exactly how does Ainsley wearing a pretty gown affect a lawyer’s business?”
She sputters, blinking rapidly, then very deliberately turns back to Paul. We’ve been dismissed. Normally, that would bother me, but all I can feel right now is satisfied.
I turn to Talon, still a bit stunned. “How do you know my father’s a lawyer?”
“What, you think I show up unprepared?” he murmurs, careful to be sure nobody’s listening. “I like to know my client and anybody else who might be involved.”
“What else do you know about me?”
I expect him to make a joke, but he couldn’t look more serious. “I know you’re better than what these people put you through.” When he looks me in the eye, I can almost believe that.
“Ainsley.” Suddenly, Mom is here, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me aside. Maybe not a bad thing since I was dangerously close to swooning. “Honestly, could you not at least sit down to hide that ridiculous gown? Do you ever get tired of being the center of attention?”
“You know I hate attention.”
“Excuse me if I find that difficult to believe when you put yourself on display like this. And you know you don’t have the sort of upper body required for a sleeveless gown. Have you done a minute of weight training in your entire life?”
She nods, looking across the room to where Caroline and Michael are having professional pictures taken. “Do you think your cousin would be caught dead in a dress like that if she didn’t already have her upper body toned?”
“I know Caroline is the daughter you deserve.”
“I didn’t say that,” she whispers, huffy. “Just the same. If you see areas where you could improve, why don’t you go through with it?”
“Pardon me.” I didn’t know Talon was listening in until now, when he practically places himself between Mom and me.
“I was hoping to catch you when you weren’t being overly critical of your daughter, but it seems I’m going to have to break in or else risk never getting the chance to introduce myself.
My name is Talon, and I’m Ainsley’s date this evening.
And I think she looks just great the way she is. ”
It takes my mom only a few seconds to recover from the verbal slap, but I do appreciate those seconds of shock and embarrassment written all over her face.
“Don’t worry,” she responds, laughing. “You don’t have to go out of your way to compliment her, thinking it’ll score points with me.
There are no illusions between my daughter and myself.
She loves nothing more than embarrassing me whenever she has the opportunity. ”
What a perfect time for Dad to wander over with a martini in hand. “We’re used to it by now,” he says with a dry chuckle. “Though I suppose the fact that she managed to get a date for once means she’s getting out in the world a little.”
He blurts out a laugh that tells me this isn’t his first martini. “Unless she hired you or something like that. I wouldn’t put it past her.”
I’m going to die here and now.
“If she had, I’d be lucky to have such a kind, thoughtful, and charming client.” Talon doesn’t bother hiding his disdain as he looks my father up and down. “It’s clear her upbringing had no part in it.”
Whoa. This time, my mom is unable to hide her feelings. Her eyes are about to fall out of her head, while Paul just about chokes on his surprised laughter. Aunt Mary wastes no time hustling over to the bridal party, where my aunt and uncle are having their pictures taken.
“Was that meant to be an insult, young man?” my father demands.
“I’m only speaking the truth as I see it.” He straightens his spine, wearing a shark’s smile. “If that truth insults you, maybe that’s something you need to work on.”
This never happens. I thought he said he knew things about my family.
That can’t be true, or he wouldn’t speak that way to my father.
Nobody talks to him like that, not ever.
As much as I’ve wished they would. If I ever found a genie in a bottle, that would be my first request. For somebody to take him down a peg or two.
Now, I guess I’ll have to wish for a small fortune or something.
“Oh, look, they’re getting ready to serve dinner.” My mother wastes no time, grabbing Dad’s arm, practically shoving him into his chair as he sputters and growls and glares at Talon.
“I have to say, I admire your balls.” Paul lifts his drink in a mock salute. “What a shame you probably won’t have them by the time the night’s over. I would offer my condolences to Ainsley, but I can’t imagine her finding any good use for them.”
“Do you spend a lot of time imagining your cousin playing with balls?” Talon fires back in a light, almost playful voice. “Seems like a pervy thing to do.”
Okay, this is fun to watch, but unless he cools down, we’re going to end up in a viral brawl video before the night is over. “Enough,” I whisper once we’re seated. “I appreciate it—like, you have no idea. But I’m used to this.”
Talon’s eyes blaze when they meet mine. “That’s the thing. You shouldn’t have to get used to it. And I’ll be damned if I sit here and watch them tear you down. Not tonight.”
He’d better be careful. We both need to.
Or else I could end up falling for a guy I just met.