Page 40 of Call it Reckless

“Me.”

I might not care what people like Sybil thought of me, but I found myself caring what Reid thought.

* * *

I roundeda large potted plant in the lobby and saw Reid and Lexi waiting in the area outside of the banquet hall where the formal dinner was to be held. Lexi sat on the couch while Reid paced in front of the double doors to the room.

“Sorry I’m late. I know that’s the first rule of good manners.”

Reid whirled toward me, a smile on his lips dropping while his eyes passed over me.

“What’s wrong?” I smoothed my hands down the front of my burgundy-colored sheath dress, checking to make sure I hadn’t spilled or ripped something. It didn’t have a lot of embellishments, just a little lace overlay across the bodice, but the satin band that crisscrossed below my ribcage accentuated my waistline nicely. Paige had helped me get my smoky eye makeup right—subtle but still a little dramatic—and had pulled my dark hair into a twist at the nape of my neck with a few tendrils hanging along my face.

“Wow. You look so pretty,” Lexi exclaimed. “Doesn’t she, Dad?”

Reid swallowed hard. “Very.”

The blatant appreciation I saw on his face made me feel like I’d brought down the checkered flag.

He moved a step closer, and I caught the subtle scent of pure masculine spice. He wasn’t the only one having a hard time keeping his eyes off the other. While he filled out and looked great in his work clothes or jeans, he looked positively gorgeous in a dark grey suit that fit him to perfection.

As if we coordinated, he wore a cranberry-red tie which was slightly askew. Without thinking about it, my hands reached out to straighten it. As soon as my fingers felt the warmth beneath his shirt, they froze in place as I realized what I was doing. Awkwardly, I smoothed the material into place against his broad chest, noticing how his breath hitched at my touch.

“Um, sorry. I used to do that for my dad all the time. Old habits, I guess.”

His eyes never left mine. “It’s fine,” he murmured. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself.”

I probably could have stared into those beautiful blue eyes for hours, but a flash of white in my periphery broke the spell.

“Speaking of beautiful,” I said, turning to Lexi, “you look very pretty.”

She beamed and spun around, making her skirt flare.

“All students will please take their places at the back of the room while guests should take their seats at their tables,” a voice that would never leave my memory said from inside the ballroom.

“That’s our cue,” Reid said. “We’ll see you inside, cupcake.” He bent far enough that Lexi could place a kiss on his cheek, then she started to walk quickly to the door, where I watched her straighten her shoulders and slow to a more acceptable pace.

“Shall we?” Reid presented his arm to me, and I slid my hand into the crook of his elbow.

I’d hoped Miss Pettigrew had followed her students to wherever they had gone, but she remained a stalwart post at the doorway. Despite holding a cane with a pearl-like handle, her back was ramrod straight, and her gray hair was pulled into a tight bun. She wore a white button-down silk shirt with sleeves that flared at the elbows and a long black skirt. Large pearl earrings clasped her ears, matching the three ropes of pearls around her neck.

I leaned close to Reid. “She looks like she just stepped off the Titanic,” I whispered.

He snorted just as we drew close to her, earning him a reproachful glare from her hawk-like eyes.

“Mr. Braxton. Welcome. I see you brought a guest.” Her eyes narrowed as if she were trying to place me.

“Miss Pettigrew, this is my guest, Bristol Allen.”

I gave her my best smile, determined to put to rest any ideas she had that pegged me as being the unapologetic tomboy she obviously hadn’t forgotten. “Miss Pettigrew. How lovely to see you again.”

Her eyes narrowed as her head jerked back slightly, and I knew only years of training enabled her to keep a straight face. “Miss Allen. What an unexpected surprise.” Her eyes raked over me from top to bottom. I was sure she was looking for a fault, but I knew she wouldn’t find one—shoulders covered, no cleavage showing, and dress length below my fingertips.

Once again, her eyes returned to stare at me over her half-moon glasses. “Well, I must thank you and your friend’s efforts this afternoon. The girls and their mothers who participated are all raving about how wonderful it was.”

“We’re glad to have helped.”

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