Chapter Nine
FOR THE NEXT forty-five minutes, Susan smiled and said hello to every person who stepped off the elevator.
Most responded politely and kept going, way more interested in the free drinks and food than in talking with her.
Thankfully. It wasn’t until Maria and Hank arrived that she had to make any kind of real conversation.
“Welcome home,” she greeted the newlyweds with a smile. “How was America?”
“Big. We had a marvelous time. Especially in Hawaii,” Maria answered. “I hated to come back. Don’t worry, though, I’ll be in the office on Monday. I know you’re eager to discuss a few things.”
“Maria, honey, it’s a Christmas party,” Hank said, his voice gently admonishing. “There’ll be plenty of time to talk work next week.”
His bride blushed. They were still in the phase where bickering in public required restraint. “I know, but this is Susan. I’m sure she wants to bring me up to speed.”
Did she do that? Did she spend time at parties working? Susan thought back to different functions. Damn. “Not tonight,” she quickly replied. “It’s Christmas. I don’t know about you, but I have more important things to talk about.”
“So we read.” Maria’s remark had all three of them turning a subtle pink.
“Where is Lewis?” Hank asked. “I was hoping to catch up with him. We didn’t get to talk very long at the wedding.”
Indeed, where was Lewis? Nearly an hour into the party and he still hadn’t arrived.
“He…um…got tied up with business and is running late,” she repeated for the umpteenth time. “I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”
“See? I’m not the only one distracted by business,” Maria said.
“Apparently not.” But as Hank answered, he flashed a sympathetic look in Susan’s direction. It was the look of someone who knew Lewis’s past habits. He’s not the same man, Susan wanted to holler. A hard sell seeing how it was at their wedding that Lewis had a pair of drinks tossed in his face.
Just then the elevator dinged. The doors slid open and there was Lewis looking like he’d stepped off a runway in a black velvet blazer. Susan’s heart leaped to her throat at the sight of him.
So much for faking not being in love. It’d be easier pretending Lewis wasn’t gorgeous or Collier’s sold auto parts.
She broadened her smile. Her feelings—or rather, their repercussions—were an issue for another time.
“I am so sorry I’m late, luv. My meeting went far longer than I thought.” The apology tumbled from Lewis’s mouth as he slipped an arm around her waist. “You look delicious,” he added, kissing her cheek. “Maybe it was a good thing I wasn’t there when you were getting ready or we’d both be late.”
“If you’re trying to flatter me into forgiving your lateness, it’s working,” Susan told him.
“Good. I’ll flatter you some more later. Welcome back from the honeymoon, you two,” he said, turning to Hank and Maria with a smile.
This was one of those times when the relationship felt real.
Although they were sleeping together so it was also real in that sense.
Deeper was the better word. This was one of those times when the relationship felt deeper.
There was a sparkle in his eyes that was easy to mistake as adoration.
She needed to remember though, he was just playing a part.
Tonight he was honoring his half of the agreement by playing the doting boyfriend.
“I can’t believe you two met at our wedding,” Maria was saying.
“I told her when you RSVP’d as single, that you wouldn’t be going home that way,” Hank remarked.
“Which I admit, had me worried. Especially after that thing with Diane and Trish.”
Lewis looked up at the ceiling lights. “Diane and Trish! Those were their names! I am really sorry about that little scene. I met those girls during a dark time in my life.”
“Well, I’d be more annoyed if I didn’t know they’re total gold diggers.
Hey, I love them,” she said to Susan’s stunned expression, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what they’re like.
It’s why I agreed to give Lewis your phone number.
I figured if he was chasing after you, he wasn’t the promiscuous man Hank had made him out to be.
Although you should apologize to them,” she added, turning to Lewis with a reproachful look.
“I agree,” Susan said.
“So do I,” Lewis replied. “Which is why I sent them both apology letters explaining everything after the wedding.”
“You did?” She smiled at him with pride. “Wait a second,” she said. “I thought you just remembered their… You jerk.”
Laughing, Lewis pretended to rub the shoulder she’d playfully slapped. “Hey, can’t a guy joke around about his bad-boy past? I can’t believe you didn’t think I would apologize.”
“You’re right.” She was properly chastised. “I should have realized you’re too good a man not to own your mistakes.”
“Well, I did lead you on, so I can’t be too annoyed, can I?” He leaned over and kissed her temple, causing Hank to offer a mock groan.
“Oh, man,” his friend said. “You are smitten with a capital S. Never thought I’d see the day. Must be a Christmas miracle. Say, the four of us need to go out after the holidays.”
Susan tensed. “You mean, in January?” What was it with people suddenly inviting them places?
“Sure. Lewis can help me lie about my glory days before I left academy league.”
“Left?” Lewis said. “You were dismissed because your foot couldn’t find the ball. You sure you want to ruin whatever lies you told your bride?”
While the three of them laughed, Susan drifted away into thought. January was only a few weeks away. She and Lewis would be done. This marvelous fun-filled night out they were planning would never happen.
“Tuesday?”
Giving a blink, she realized Maria was talking to her. “I know you usually choose to eat at your desk but the wedding proofs will be in so I thought maybe you’d like to join us for once.” Maria and several other women went out for lunch every Tuesday.
“Um…maybe,” Susan replied.
Maria looked pleased. “Great.”
“Hey, babe, I want to grab a drink before the lines at the bar are too long,” Hank said. “We’ll catch up with the two of you later.”
She waited until the couple disappeared into the ballroom before turning to Lewis. “Did I agree to go to lunch and look at wedding photos?”
“Yes, why?”
“No reason. Other than I’m surprised she asked.” In the past, when Maria made the offer to join the group for lunch, Susan assumed it was because she’d happened across them as they were headed out.
“Perhaps she’s seeing you in a new light,” Lewis replied. “Congratulations. Means both of us are getting the makeover we wanted.”
“Maybe.” Changing the subject, she asked, “How did your business meeting go?”
“I’ll tell you all about it later. When we have a chance to talk,” he replied.
“We can’t talk here?”
“Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “This is your night. I’m going to help you make the entire company jealous.”
“That was never my goal,” Susan said. “Not all of it anyway.”
“What was your goal then? Because I seem to remember a woman telling me she wanted to show the whole lot of them.”
“I did. I…do. At least that’s part of it.”
“What do you mean?” The way he looked at her, his expression direct and focused, it felt like he was trying to read her mind. He played with a tendril of hair by her ear. “Is there another reason?”
How did she explain? “I’m not sure I can put it into words,” she told him.
“Try.”
“All right, but not here.” Looking around for a quiet area, she saw that the staircase was empty. It was too early for anyone to venture to the roof. Most of the partygoers were still busy milling about near the bar. “Come with me.”
“This is cozy,” he said when they stepped outside. “I like the way you think.”
“I didn’t want anyone listening,” she told him. She’d been right about the crowd. The rooftop was empty except for the bartender who was tucked away behind the Plexiglas wall of the bar, out of the cold.
The flames in the gas firepit flickered brightly. Susan led Lewis to one of the sofas making up the surrounding circle.
No sooner had they sat down than the bartender emerged from his shelter, carrying a plaid blanket.
“Welcome to the rooftop,” he greeted as he handed the blanket over to Lewis who promptly draped the material around them.
“Wouldn’t want you to get cold,” he murmured, his breath warm against her temple.
The shiver that followed was anything but cold.
“Can I get you something to drink?” the bartender asked. “The special tonight is peppermint hot chocolate. Guaranteed to warm you from the inside out.”
“Depends,” Susan mused. “Does it have a holiday name?”
The man looked confused. “Peppermint hot chocolate,” he said.
“Then I think we’re good,” Lewis replied. “We’ll create our own warmth.” He scooped Susan’s legs up over his lap. She gasped as the cold from his hand touched her leg, but then snuggled against his chest. Being in his arms was like being nestled in a wonderfully safe cocoon.
“Now,” he said. “Tell me this reason you can’t put into words.”
For a second, Susan had forgotten what they’d been talking about. “I hate this party,” she said, laying her head on his shoulder. “All parties really, but this one most of all. Usually I make up an excuse and stay home, but this year Thomas didn’t give me a choice.”
“Why do you avoid it?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” She was always alone, in a room where she felt like everyone was dreading having to talk with her. “Think of the wedding times ten.”
A frown formed on Lewis’s face. “It makes you feel like a pathetic loser?”
“Bingo. All these groups of people who know each other chatting away and there I am, with a stupid smile on my face, wondering if any of them will invite me to join them.”
“And you were too afraid to join them yourself.”