Chapter Eighteen #2
Mr. Fresby grinned like a teenager, and then swept his arm out. “Please. I’d like you to meet a few colleagues of mine that are interested in your services.” He paused. “You’re professional services.” He chuckled and walked away, expecting us to follow.
We did.
We met tons of different CEO’s and CFO’s and all other kinds of acronym big dogs.
They were all interested in Lion Security’s services.
Apparently, Mr. Fresby had been raving about them, even with their more “personal” touches that had occurred so far on the job.
He just plain liked ‘em, I think. Plus, their reputation had preceded them; so many already knew about their excellent work history.
Sensations employees were all around, either dancing or eating at the tables or consuming drink from the open bar.
Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.
Boisterous voices and tinkering voices and booming laughs surrounded us.
I stared at the dance floor as pairs twirled around, the woman’s dresses reminding me of a swirling rainbow as the beat picked up and they glided faster.
The black tuxes were the only breaks in the kaleidoscope’s vibrancy.
Cole bent down and whispered, “Dance with me.” A demanding statement. Not asking.
I stared at the swirling masses longingly.
“I’m not very good at the classical numbers.
” Un-der-state-ment. I could pass muster in the masses, when all you had to do was swivel, but add in my feet and I was a walking – dancing – disaster.
The bastard had made me learn, but it hadn’t been pretty. Still wasn’t.
“You’ll be fine,” he rumbled in a deep, throaty voice, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me into the twirling couples before I could blink.
And then we were moving. Dancing. I felt like I was floating as he expertly maneuvered my body, so I naturally placed my feet where they were supposed to land. I stared down at my normally two left feet in shock as I glided across the dance floor in time to the music and everyone else.
Oh. This was fantastic. I threw my head back and laughed. I guess you were only as good as your teacher.
Cole watched me with a quiet smile. His eyes roved over my face. “You are absolutely stunning.”
I blushed and rolled my eyes. I was so anything but.
He pulled me tighter, our body aligning perfectly.
My short to his tall, and somehow it was just right.
He leaned his head down so that our faces were very close and he whispered tenderly, “You are perfect, sweetheart. You’re beautiful and smart and sassy and sexy and feisty.
And even a little shy and you get flustered and prattle, which is adorable.
You somehow manage to bring out a side of me that I didn’t know I even had.
My eyes are wide open when I’m with you.
You are perfect…and…and I love you, Ember. ”
My breath caught as he said those last words for the first time.
I stared at his flushing cheeks and proud, earnest eyes, knowing that – other than with Brent a few days ago – he probably hadn’t ever spoken those words to anyone.
I knew his pain. The “L” word was so hard to say when the other person may not reciprocate in kind.
Especially, in our situation where another man was vying to win me over.
I didn’t take them lightly either. I had never said them to anyone. The situation had never been right. It still wasn’t. When I said them for the first time, I wanted them to be with my “forever” and be for those ears alone.
But, I did love him. And although it wasn’t enough, I gave all I could, and whispered, “Ditto.”
I pleaded with my eyes for him to understand the importance in that little word and forgive me for not saying it back as honestly as he had. He blinked for a moment and I worried that I had hurt him deeply.
But then, he appeared thoughtful. He chuckled softly as the music started to die down.
My eyebrows rose in surprise – not the reaction I thought I would get - and he murmured, “I just remembered Ally griping that first night about how she loved your drunken butt, even if all you ever said was ‘ditto’. I didn’t know what she was babbling about then, but now I understand.
” His grin shot straight to my heart as he wrapped his arms around me, cocooning my small frame in his large sheltering heat.
He kissed me right there on the dance floor with enough warmth and passion that I was afraid we would light the place on fire.
Our mouths were still meshed together as a fast song began, and Brent’s was suddenly there, asking, “May I cut in?” Without waiting for an answer, his arm slid between Cole and I, wrapping around my waist.
Then I was twirling again.
I sputtered to Brent, hanging on for dear life, “You can’t dance to stuff like this!”
His eyebrows rose and he spun us faster.
He had never had lessons for this style of dancing when we were young, so he must have learned while living in New York.
The surprises just kept on coming. He wasn’t as smooth at maneuvering me as Cole’s obvious upbringing had afforded him, but what he lacked in polish he made up for in style.
I started to falter and he lifted me straight off my feet, holding me snug around the waist. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and gasped. I was having the time of my life on this dance floor. I grinned at him, squeezing him tight.
But, he was serious as he stared into my eyes.
Serious green on joyful blue. He spoke quietly, “I’m sorry I was a coward.
I never should have left you.” He faltered and my grin slowly faded as I realized what he was saying, watching him struggle to find words.
“I’m sorry for so many things, darlin’. I’m sorry that I was blind about your father.
I’m sorry that I wasn’t man enough for you five years ago.
I’m sorry that I took advantage of you. And I did.
I knew that you wanted me to leave so I could start a career for myself and I grabbed that excuse like a life line. ”
He stared at me hard. His features turning so fierce and determined that it startled me and I gasped.
He stated with a determination that was unbreakable, “I won’t ever leave you again.
I could say that I was young and foolish back then.
I could give you many copouts for my actions, but I won’t. The truth was that I was scared silly.
“And I won’t say that I’m not now, but I’m not going anywhere ever again.
I’ve learned my lesson. I know that it’s better to be frightened and with you than to guard my heart and be without you.
I just pray that it’s not too late. Ember, you are my world.
My…,” he choked on emotion, “My heart. You always have been. Every laugh, every smile, every tear, every fight, your smell, your taste, the feel of your skin. You’re it for me. Do you understand?”
I nodded rapidly, knowing exactly what he meant and trying not to tear up. Two men back to back pouring their heart out to you will do that to a woman.
They were my home.
I gripped him as tight as I could. “Ditto.”
“I love you, Ember. I love you,” he whispered hoarsely, stopping right in the middle of the dance floor, couples gliding around us.
With one arm holding me around the waist, he reached up with his other hand and cupped my cheek.
He brought my face closer and kissed me like I was his oxygen, taking it all – me - with possessive fury.
Oh. My.
I was dizzy and giddy with love bubbling over when we exited the dance floor. Yes, without a doubt, they wanted me to choose, but right now, in this one moment in time, I glowed from their combined claiming’s. They were my world. And my world had just gotten that much brighter.
Stash was talking quietly with Zane and Cole when we strolled up to our group. Cole was listening, but his eyes were intent on Brent and me. Sam was trying to talk Ally into dancing. She wasn’t getting very far. Chloe, Peter, and Bas were sipping Champaign and trying to not look fatigued.
“Why don’t we sit down and eat?” I asked, thinking that would pacify everyone. Plus, I was hungry again. I hadn’t had a chance to eat lunch today since I’d had to find an outfit for this shindig.
Everyone agreed, even if Sam appeared a smidge put-out.
After we found an empty table large enough to fit our crew the waiters brought us our dinners.
I stared down at my plate. There was a roasted chicken drizzled in something pink, a twice baked potato with all the fixings, baby carrots, green beans, and a side salad.
By now, I knew what the three of us ate, so I started placing the carrots on Brent’s plate and then pushed my salad over to Cole.
Brent and Cole were already in the process of reaching over me – they sat on either side of me – and doing the same thing, except they added their potatoes to my plate.
Brent reached for a whole grain roll next to him and plopped it on Cole’s plate while Cole reached for the bread basket closest to him and handed Brent and I a biscuit with butter.
I peppered my potatoes and handed the shaker to Cole and then grabbed the salt and handed it to Brent.
I got settled now that food was where it needed to be and placed my napkin in my lap.
I took a sip of the Champaign in front of me.
And almost spit it out. Yuck! It tasted stale or something.
I sat it down and grabbed my water and a fork, ready to dig in just like Brent and Cole.
I placed a small portion of potatoes in my mouth, trying not to drop it, and Cole forked salad into his mouth and Brent started munching on his carrots.
I closed my eyes and moaned. “This is so good.”
Cole nodded his agreement, eyes merrily lit in food euphoria.
“Carrots need more salt,” Brent said around a grinning mouthful, grabbing the saltshaker again.
We sat in amicable silence and continued plowing into our food.