Page 53 of Almost True
I’d spent the rest of the call and the rest of the night, for that matter, shaking my head and smiling into the empty spaces of my house. It was stupid to feel so giddy about this date, and yet I couldn’t tamp down my excitement or hopes. His resistance to me and the idea of us being involved romantically hadn’t dissipated entirely.
Or so I hoped.
There was the outside chance he’d invited me to Night in Bloom because I’d helped. But a ton of other people had, too. And I wasn’t going to demur and pretend like I didn’t think he liked me. I knew he did. He always had. But he hadn’t been up for all that was Madeline Reynolds after finding out. That’d changed, thank God, and now I hoped it would stay that way.
I also hoped tonight would be as good as I’d imagined. That we’d click like we did when he rescued me from more blinds dates courtesy of Annette Reynolds or more simply, when we were just chatting over tea while Luca read next to us. I wasn’t going to hope it’d be like that first night, that first meeting, because our inhibitions weren’t down. We weren’t living in that fantasyland anymore. But I hadn’t been able to shake the sense of calm and groundedness he created in me, and I hoped the pressure of a date at a big public event wouldn’t spoil that.
As I stepped out of the car and thanked the driver, my hopes reached sky freaking high. I’d had no luck taming them, so might as well embrace it. I’d arrived a few minutes after the start time to avoid showing up in a crush of people. I didn’t want attention on me though there’d be far more famous than me. Still, I wanted a quiet entrance. Aidan had been there almost all day, side by side with Dahlia and a few other volunteers. I’d asked if they needed help, but they’d shooed my offer away. When I’d delivered Dahlia’s dress last night, she’d promised me they had preparations in hand. She’d sent me a selfie earlier and she looked stunning.
I wasn’t so bad myself. I wore a deep rose-colored gown that swooped across my shoulders and left my décolletage on full display. Along with ornate diamond earrings and no necklace, my hair artfully pinned so the sides had been pulled away from my face and it all fell down my back. The bodice was fitted to the waist and the skirt fell straight, though the silky material moved generously.
Anthony had grinned and told me I would be arrested for murder tonight. I’d told him he was crazy, but I did feelgreatin it. More than anything, I felt ready.
“Oh, now there she is,” John said, drawing my attention to him as I walked through one of Aidan’s archways.
“Hey, it’s good to see you. I—wow. This is incredible.”
Flowers burst from everywhere. I’d seen many of them last weekend, but I hadn’t been around to see Dahlia’s additions. Along with the planted items, arrangements had been placed on every tall bistro table and practically everywhere I could see. Apparently, all of Dahlia’s were portable and would be auctioned for the benefit or given away to volunteers so none of them would go to waste. They’d strung fairy lights across the open areas, and tucked into several alcoves were bars with servers. The space wasn’t packed, but the general hum of talking and laughter made it feel lively. A feeling of expectation hung in the place that I related to completely.
“It’s impressive. Even seeing it as they did it, I’m always amazed at the final product.” John glanced around.
I took him in. He’d cleaned up well. Nice suit, shiny smile as always, and hair styled rather than tucked under a hat like I usually saw him.
“You look nice, John,” I said, biting my tongue before I asked him if he’d seen his cousin.
He smiled. “Thanks. I clean up okay. I’d say you do, too, but I’m guessing Aidan is about to make that very clear.” He nodded to someone behind me.
My stomach flipped and dipped as I turned, knowing who it’d be. Bracing myself, I looked at the vision of Aidan approaching in a tux.Wow.
There was nothing special about a tux. I’d been to a thousand events with men in tuxes, and the suit itself never particularly thrilled me. But Aidan Wallace in a tux? Aidan with a trimmed beard and hair styled? Aidan with his purposeful gait and that look on his face like he’d been waiting all day to see me?
Deadly.
“Hi, wow.” And yes. That’s what I said, because despite all my social skills, the man had struck me senseless.
Aidan didn’t waver on his course to greet me. He kept coming, right up until he set a hand on my upper arm and leaned down. I couldn’t tell whether his movements slowed or if it was a kind of hallucination, but it felt like he moved at half speed, his face dropping slow, slow to mine and his lips pressing gently into my cheek.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, those eyes on mine making my heart pound.
“You are, too.” Because it was true.
He grinned, furthering the stunning effect of the encounter. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too.”
“And I, too, am glad we’re all here.” John’s voice pierced through the hazy, thick feeling.
“You just had to bust into their moment, didn’t you?” Dahlia patted my hand, appearing out of nowhere.
“Of course I did. I—I, uh…”
His words faltered so suddenly, I looked up, then immediately ducked my head to hide my grin.
He appeared to be utterly winded as he gazed at Dahlia. She did look stunning. The dress was a cream-colored princess style that cinched in at her tiny waist. As though growing from the dress itself, little stalks of embroidered lavender twisted up the bodice and the tiny purple hand-stitched flowers edged the delicate swooping neckline which did gorgeous things for her. A friend of a friend had hosted a party for her designer friend—the woman who’d made the dress. With a call, some begging, and Anthony working his magic, the dress had arrived just in time and, miraculously, in just her size.
Dahlia clearly loved it, and she’d gone all out to coordinate and accentuate her own beauty along with the dress’s. Her dark hair was in spirals, her makeup perfect, and I honestly thought John might’ve swallowed his tongue.
“What my cousin is trying to say is that you look beautiful, Dahlia. And everything is perfect.” Aidan gestured to the flowers surrounding us.
