Page 40 of Back in the Texan's Bed
“What’s not to enjoy?” she replied, glancing around the crowded, cavernous great room.
Whoever Ross and Billy hired to decorate needed a fat tip. The designer had turned what could’ve been an austere room with its cross-beamed cathedral ceiling and dark wood floors into a winter wonderland. White lights and flowers with boughs of greenery wound around tall pillars and along the massive fireplace. Crystal centerpieces adorned the round tables and mini trees painted white, and entwined with more lights, added an almost fairy-tale air. And strategically placed in all that ethereal beauty were brochures, pamphlets and even samples from Soiree on the Bay’s attending vendors, sponsors and the charities benefiting from the donations. Before she’d left work earlier, she’d overseen the samples from Sheen—an Alaskan king crab cake with a sweet and spicy roulade sauce and squares of ham, feta and sweet potato quiche. Last time she’d checked, there’d only been a few dishes left of each.
As if reading her mind, Billy murmured, “Great wine. Great food.” He cocked his head. “Your samples have disappeared, and dinner hasn’t even been served yet. I’d claim that as a ringing endorsement of Sheen and its chef. Congratulations.” He toasted her with his glass and grinned, his blue eyes gleaming. “Far be it from me to brag, but I unashamedly accept full credit for bringing you into the fold.”
Charlotte chuckled. “Well, I’m so glad you’re above an ‘I told you so,’” she drawled. “I admit, I had my reservations about joining the festival, but they’ve mostly been laid to rest. This is a great move for Sheen.”
“And for you, Charlotte,” Billy added, briefly cupping her elbow before dropping his arm back to his side. “A restaurant is only as strong as its chef, and your reputation as an extraordinary culinary artist precedes you. So thank you for taking a leap with us.”
She nodded, unsure how to respond to the outpouring of praise. Ross’s words from earlier floated through her head.Consider this a training ground for the future.According to him, she belonged here, receiving compliments as her due.
Of course, that had been before the blowup that had decimated all the ground they’d recovered.
Billy cleared his throat, and stared down into his glass, lightly swirling the wine. “Charlotte,” he murmured, lifting his head to meet her gaze. “I don’t mean to pry, but Ross is my best friend. And I can’t help but notice there seems to be some—” he hesitated “—distancebetween you two tonight. Is everything okay?”
The “We’re fine” danced on her tongue, but it lodged in her throat, the lie refusing to be uttered. Instead, she avoided that concerned scrutiny under the pretense of surveying the room. And inevitably, her perusal landed on Ross. Surrounded by his brother, sister and a small crowd, he appeared to be the charming, charismatic playboy she’d always known. Not a care in the world. As she watched, a beautiful brunette in a slinky gold dress inched up to his side and laid a hand on his arm. He bowed his head over her, and—
Nope. She turned away, raising her glass for a healthy gulp of wine. Not even going to do it to herself.
“That’s the daughter of one of our largest investors besides The Edmond Organization. Believe me, there’s nothing inappropriate going on between them,” Billy said, his gentle tone almost painful.
Was she that obvious?
How could Ross’s friend see what she tried so hard to hide?
“Doesn’t matter,” she replied, and the smile she forced felt brittle to her own self. “Ross and I are just co-parents. He’s free to do whatever—or whomever—he wants.”
“As long as I’ve known Ross, things have seemed to come easy to him. Most definitely because of his last name and family. Then add in his looks, which would make a lesser man completely insecure,” he said, flashing her a smile, “and a magnetism that just seems to draw people to him, and he hasn’t had to struggle. Not that I’m implying he isn’t a hard worker, because he is. But it hasn’t been until you came back to Royal and he learned about Ben that he’s been truly challenged for the first time in his life. And he’s risen to it. Being a father has given him new purpose, and yet, I can’t imagine how scary all of this must be for him. So please, as his friend, I’m asking you not to give up on him. You and Ben, you’re good for him.”
“Yes, we’re so good for Ross that his father disinherited him because of us,” she said, battling back the warmth that skated too close to hope. “Did you see the two of them tonight? Rusty barely spared Ross a glance.”
Billy sighed, slipping a hand in his front pocket. “I admire Rusty. He’s a brilliant businessman, and no one can deny that. But the personality that makes him a force to be reckoned with in the industry is also the same personality that he brings to his family. C’mon, Charlotte, you worked in that house, you’ve been around the family enough to know there were issues way before now. They’ll get through this—they’re strong, and underneath the stubbornness is an abundance of love. But I don’t know if Ross will make it without you and Ben. You two were the catalyst for this change, and he needs you.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “Like I said, I don’t know what happened between you two before tonight, but my friend is more focused and happier than he’s been in a long time. So again, please hang in there with him. Don’t give up.”
Billy squeezed her hand, then walked away, his plea echoing in her head.
My friend is more focused and happier than he’s been in a long time... Don’t give up.
There was so much between her and Ross—too much. Mistrust. Hurt. Resentment. Insecurity. As their argument earlier in the closet proved.
And yet... She glanced across the room and unerringly sought him out. Though still surrounded by people, for once, a smile didn’t curve his mouth. Someone wasn’t commanding his attention. He stood there, an island in a sea of admirers, hangers-on and wannabe lovers. Alone. Untouchable. Lonely. Did any of them truly see the real man behind the tuxedo, the magnetism, the playboy exterior? The man who longed for a domineering father’s approval and concealed a wounded heart behind an indifferent demeanor? The man who’d unconditionally accepted a son he hadn’t known about and loved him without reserve.
No, none of them sawthatman. But she’d been gifted with glimpses of him. And those glimpses only made her crave more of him. Made her yearn for the impossible.
That he would someday give her the same uninhibited love he so freely offered Ben.
What would it be like to love him without fear of rejection, without baggage from the past, without dread that outside forces would come between them? With the security that she was enough?
It would be the kind of dream that slowly faded when morning arrived, but which she desperately tried to cling to even if only for a few sacred moments.
As if he felt her gaze on him, Ross glanced up, and their eyes met. And even though a room separated them, she reeled from the intensity of that stare. In spite of the harmful words she’d hurled at him earlier, she needed to feel connected to him. Needed to somehow work toward erasing the distance that she’d placed between them.
God, she just needed him.
Heart thumping against her sternum, she tipped her head to the side, hoping he understood her message to follow her. Not waiting lest she lose her nerve to go through with this, she turned and slipped out one of the side doors. She walked past several closed doors, and randomly choosing one that was far enough away from the great room, she twisted the knob and entered. A large and curtainless picture window dominated one wall, allowing moonlight to stream through and illuminate what appeared to be a private and informal meeting room. A stone fireplace, several big armchairs, a small couch and a couple of coffee tables filled the space.
She didn’t make it past the first chair when the door opened behind her and clicked shut. Inhaling a breath, she held it for several seconds, and then slowly released it, pivoting to face Ross. In the semidark, his large frame loomed larger, and her belly fluttered. With his impassive expression, he betrayed nothing of his thoughts or emotions. But he was here. And she’d take that as a positive sign.
