Chapter 8
Last night was,well, simply put, magical.
When my honey wanted to be super sweet, he went all out. We had a nice, long hot bath. We talked about anything and everything. Just us, lost in our own world. After a crazy work week, no matter what was on his plate, he always put me first. My heart has never been so full of love for someone. Never.
The dinner he ordered was eaten on the bed while we watched Pretty Woman. Now, I needed to say that he had never seen it, and I died laughing at his reactions more than once. That movie may have sparked something in him too because... Man, let me tell you. Just laying here, my things still felt like he was between them. I never understood the ‘I want you to feel me for days’ line men said. I did now.
I think I might be hooked.
Grinning, I tugged at the covers and shifted slightly. I could sleep for a week, but I’d miss him too much. My fingers ran over my bottom lip as I replayed last night again. The feeling of him on me, in me, around me.
Stop it, Ella. Good grief.
“Morning, love.”
I rolled over, pulling the covers up to hide a yawn. “Morning.” I debated moving more, but I needed to get up. Right? I mean, he was up. I glanced around as I sat up, taking the mug of coffee he held out. “Come to Mama.”
His chuckle had my face flaming with heat. “Is that clock right? It’s 10:00am already?”
“Aye. I let ye sleep in.”
“I didn’t realize how tired I was. That bath and well…we were up rather late, mister.”
“Ye weren’t complaining last night. If I remember correctly, it was you trying to scream down the walls.”
“Hey! That was your fault. Jesus.”
My pussy started to throb at the memory. The man had done things—shivering, I cut that thought off. If not, we might not get anything done today.
“Ye have an appointment with Roxanne to get yer hair done at 3:00pm. Yes? And yer dress is being delivered?”
“Yes, Sheila will be with her to do my makeup as well. I am pretty sure May and your mom have appointments around the same time. They are using the big suite at the end of the hall. This room will be full of hairspray and powder dust all on its own. This Cinderella will need all the help she can get.” I grinned as I took a sip of coffee.
“Don’t ye say things like that. Yer a beautiful woman. I swear you take my breath away every time you walk into a room.”
Just. Freaking. Swoon. This man.
“I love you for that.”
“I love ye, too, Ella. Don’t ever put yerself down again.”
His brows were tight in a scowl. I reached out and squeezed his hand. “Okay. I promise to work on myself, okay?”
He smiled and leaned in to press a kiss to my forehead. “Da and I are to meet the others in the ballroom to run through the logistics again. Ye’d think this was a beauty pageant or something. Fecking ridiculous. We walk out, strut to the end of the walkway, and turn to come back. It’s not that hard.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s more about logistics, handsome. This is a big event, and they want it to go over well. You know how this crowd can be. You’re going to be very successful tonight.”
“Is that so?”
“Maybe so, it all depends.”
“On?”
“If you ordered me breakfast.”
He chuckled and got up to walk into the main room. He came back with a silver tray covered in silver dishes. I sat up and grinned. This hotel’s room service has been five stars so far. I opened the largest platter, and my stomach growled.
“What in the omelet heaven is this?” I leaned in and took a good sniff. I could see eggs, meat, and cheese.
“Steak and cheese with tomatoes and peppers. Ye also have a bowl of mixed berries and…” He lifted a smaller dome. My grin grew tenfold. “Yer very own custard-filled doughnut.”
“Aw, I’m just…” My gaze met his. “Thank you.”
“Yer welcome, love. Eat up before yer eggs are cold. We have a busy day.”
His cell rang, and while he handled that, I dug into my breakfast. He was right; it was going to be a busy day.
As the day progressed, and I was left waiting for the ladies to come in and make me fit in, my stomach started to churn. I needed to have all of my ducks in a row. I needed to make sure my feet understood that tonight they would be in a pair of heels. They needed to not put me on my ass or my face. I didn’t want to embarrass myself or Rudy and his family tonight.
For once in my life, I wanted to seem as if I belonged in a circle that outclassed me.
When Roxanne and Sheila arrived, we found the perfect place to get me ready. I laughed with them. We all had horror stories of embarrassing moments. I had never been so glad to know I was not alone on clumsy island.
They had me close my eyes, gave me a once-over, then I was brought to my feet where I shuffled to the bathroom to see their work.
“You look absolutely stunning, Ella. Open your eyes.”
“Holy crap!” I reached up toward my hair and face but didn’t touch. I was afraid I’d mess something up. “Wow.”
“That man is going to swallow his tongue. That is a guarantee.”
I blushed as they showered me with compliments. They’d done the hard work. I mean, come on. There was no way I could have gotten my hair or makeup to look like this without them. They were well worth the time and patience, and of course, the money. Too bad I couldn’t have them help me every day.
No, scratch that. I loved the look, but the bobby pins were making my head hurt. The smell of hairspray was choking, and my face felt like it weighed ten pounds even though it looked like I barely had anything on.
I was so not a girly girl. I didn’t know what Rudy saw in me. To be honest, I was just a hot mess who tripped over air and spilled coffee on a ten-thousand-dollar rug. Who needed a rug worth ten grand anyway? Ridiculous. Okay, my poor girl was showing.
Focus, Ella. Focus.
“Okay, enough stroking my ego and fawning over your work. You’re going to get me all flustered, and my new face will melt off.”
They chuckled and continued packing up their things.
“Where is your dress?” May bustled in. “Do you need help?”
“It’s being brought up by the shop. It’s something I can get in and out of on my own.” I couldn’t help the big ass smile on my face.
“Someone is up to something,” Roxanne teased.
“Nah, I just want it to be a surprise.”
“Okay, sweetheart. If you need help, holler. Shannon and I are at the end of the hall.”
“Thanks, May!”
When my room was once again empty, I went to look out of the window. We were so high. The city below looked like a sea of lights. With a sigh, I pressed a hand to the window. The coolness was calming.
I stood there, letting the plan for tonight roll through my mind. I had, according to Shannon, an unlimited budget to bid on Rudy. I wasn’t going to take advantage of that. I was going to play this like a poker game. Save my big bet for the last second. Rudy knew I was going to do this. He agreed it would be a sure-fire way to step up the game. He, too, assured me to do whatever I had to.
He was panicking that someone would grab him up and he would be stuck with either a woman wanting in his pants or one wanting in his wallet. Either way, it wouldn’t be fun for him. Or me. I loved that big hunk of man. And with everything that came up with his ex and her need to send dead flowers…her creep factor was making me stabby. I could cut a bitch for messing with my man.
A sudden knock on the door had me jumping. Laughing at myself, I moved to it and said, “Who is it?”
“Ms. Edwards, it’s?—”
“I have your dress, ma’am.”
I reached for the handle but stopped. Was that two different voices? I let out a long breath and shook it off. I was losing my mind. I opened the door to find a woman holding up the dress.
“Come on in, honey.” I turned to grab my wallet. I had a tip for her. “Thank you for?—”
Suddenly, I was falling into darkness.
“I don’t see Ella in the crowd. Mum and the others are at the table in the corner.”
“She’s around, no worries, pal. She’s my ace in the hole,” I assured Dorian.
We were lined up, ready to be paraded around like the prime rib at a five-star restaurant.
“Good evening, ladies and gents. My name is Kandyce MacIntyre; some of you know me, some do not, but let me tell you why we are here in this beautiful setting tonight. Firstly, we appreciate you all coming to fund this great cause of ours. The MacIntyre Foundation is a heart project of mine and the MacIntyre Family. Every day, women, men, and children are having to stay in situations that are not ideal. May that be an abusive partner, parent, brother—abuse has no real face. It could come from anyone, at any time.
“We all know someone, sometimes multiple people, that are or have been in this situation. It’s silent. Most of the time, it’s unseen. It can be not only physical abuse, but mentally draining. You and I are lucky enough to not be in that situation. Though, I have someone here to tell you her story.
“Dorcus MacIntyre, everyone.”
I listened along without the others to the story unfolding on that stage. My heart hurt for her. No one deserved that. Thankfully, she had a family that was willing to fight for her. When Dorcus was done, she went and sat at the table in the back.
Kandyce once again took to the podium.
“Thank you, Dorcus.” She gave the other woman a sweet smile. “It’s women like Dorcus that this foundation is for. Unlike Dorcus, who had a family to run to, and means to do so, there are many who lack the knowledge of what they can do. Lack the funds to do so as many are controlled by their abuser. They’re cut off from resources, family, and friends. Putting their abuser in the driver seat of their life.
“Tonight, with your help, we will be raising money to help them find new housing, jobs, vehicles; anything they need to restart a better life. Tonight embarks this foundation’s promise to help anyone in need. No one will be turned away.”
I shook out my hands as I listened to Kandyce. Dorian was all grins as he watched his wife.
“She’s a passionate spitfire. I got lucky.”
“Aye.” I looked around, trying not to be seen from where I stood behind the large curtains. I couldn’t see Ella, but like I’d told Dorian, she was around. We had a plan. She would let everyone else bid, then jump in at the last minute. I hoped this would work. I could see Celeste in the crowd along with a few other familiar faces.
Gods be damned gold diggers.
Thankfully, Dorian and I were toward the end. I could only hope that some of these women ran out of money fast. Good thing was they could only ‘win’ one bidding war. Had to keep it fair.
Glancing at my watch, I started to fidget. There was no sign of Ella at all. She wasn’t answering her cell. I wasn’t as worried a few minutes ago, but seeing May and Mum walking around talking to people at different tables, worry on their faces, I got a bad feeling.
“Dorian.”
“Aye, what’s up?”
“Ye have security on the doors. No one without a key or an invite got in?”
“Aye. Why?”
“Ella isn’t out there, and she isn’t answering her cell. It could be nothing, but it’s not like her to not answer me.”
He pulled his cell out and hit a button. “Gavin, Ella isn’t in the ballroom, find her. Aye, thanks.” He turned back to me. “Gavin is going to grab an employee and check the room, then work his way around if she isn’t in there. Don’t worry. I’m sure she’s all right. Ye said she wasn’t coming straight in.”
“Yeah. I should go myself.”
“If you go running out of here, you’ll start a panic. People will get?—”
“What if?—”
“No, ye said she wasn’t coming straight in. Let the boys do their jobs. We will do ours. Okay?”
I looked at the door behind us.
“If they aren’t back in twenty minutes, I will go out of that door with ye. I get it, pal. I’d do anything for my Kandy. This is a secure facility. I’m sure she’s okay.”
Twenty minutes later, the men before me were moving out onto the stage. The bidders were nuts.
“Let me just tell ye now, if that lady with the fur wins, I am giving her a refund. She has a reputation that my wife would go to jail to keep me from.” Dorian chuckled.
As the line moved, I straightened my suit jacket. “Yeah, that’s for the best.” Chuckling, I rolled my neck.
Dorian stopped just shy of the stage and pulled out his cell. “Aye? Thanks, Gavin.”
“Gavin and Ella will be down in a few minutes. She’s fine, just a wee bit pissed off.”
His features were tight. But before I could ask more, he was announced. The crowd of ladies cheered; some of them had husbands beside them, some were alone. There were a few I was sure had hired their dates. To each their own, I guess.
I had my girl coming to save me from this mess and not a moment too soon.