Page 73 of Beyond Expectations

I felt torn. Were these empty promises, and he was simply trying to appease me, or did he mean it then? I knew this wasn’t the time or the place for this conversation, and as I looked into his crystal blue eyes, I felt reassured by the sincerity I saw in them. I willed myself to forget what had happened so far and just let myself enjoy the rest of the evening.

I stayed true to my word for the next hour and had fun. We joined in on the charity raffle. I won a private afternoon trip for two to the zoo, full of a champagne picnic, feeding and petting the animals, plus the choice of adopting an animal of my choosing. Rhett won a week away to Nuremberg and a full day pass onto the infamous Nuremberg ring for himself and his guests.

The raffle was followed by dancing. He seamlessly spun me around the dance floor as one song rolled into the next. The band and the singer were phenomenal. They were currently playing a set that consisted of Rat Pack classics.

Mr. and Mrs. Chambers walked over, and my smile faded slightly.

“Son, may I interrupt and ask Ms Parker if I could have the next dance?”

“Please call me Serena, and I would be honored.”

His father gave him a playful wink before we began to dance to another favorite of mine, Dean Martin’s Sway.

I hadn’t bothered to look at Mrs Chambers when they walked over, as I knew trying to engage with her was fruitless.

“So, are you enjoying yourself this evening?”

“Yes, it’s been a lovely evening, and it’s for such a worthy cause.”

He tilted his head slightly as he looked at me, almost making me wonder if he knew what I said was a slight exaggeration.

“I’m glad to hear it. When I see Rhett at these events, he usually has a face like thunder from start to finish and never seems to enjoy himself. But tonight, he seems like a new man. Seeing him smile the way he does every time he looks at you makes me happy. And I have you to thank for that.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. It made me think of my father. I knew he’d probably be saying the same thing if he were there. It was clear that Rhett had inherited his father’s dancing skills. The band was halfway through the song as I looked at Max. It was then that I could see sweat forming across his brow and upper lip. He must have realized what I had noticed.

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid this old man may have exhausted himself.”

I suddenly felt terrible. I let myself be swept away and dance with a terminally ill man, encouraging him to spin me around and make circles around the dance floor. I was kicking myself inside.

“Why don’t we go to the bar and get a drink? I know my feet could use a break.”

“That sounds like a great idea.”

He took my arm and led me to the bar.

By the time Rhett and his mother found us, Max seemed himself once again.

I was welcomed with a kiss from Rhett, and as I looked at him, I could see tension around his eyes. He held onto me, almost as if he were making some hidden statement. As I leaned into him, about to ask him if everything was okay now, Max handed each of us a drink and made a toast. We all clinked glasses, and as I took my first sip, Mrs. Chambers spoke.

“Serena, I meant to say earlier, your dress is lovely. Is it a Jenny Packham?”

For a split second, I froze, then, not wanting to seem rude, I cleared my throat and answered.

“Thank you. No, it’s by Marchesa.”

“Well, nevertheless, it’s a beautiful dress.”

I was slightly bewildered. Was this her attempt at engaging in conversation? Being welcoming? I watched as she glared at Rhett as if they were having some unspoken conversation with one another.

For the rest of the evening, he stayed vigilantly at my side. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but we got swept up in conversation with other couples, and the moment was lost. We danced some more and then decided to call it a night.

Once we got into the car, it was clear that he wanted me to stay at his place.

As soon as we stepped into his apartment, he was on me like an animal. He carried me into the kitchen before setting me on top of the marble island. My pulse was racing like a hummingbird as I watched him get down on his knees, pushing my dress up to my waist. He started kissing his way up the inside of my leg before his eyes met mine.

“I hope you’re not tired, as I plan on enjoying every single inch of your body.”

Chapter 20

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