Brides, Babies And Billionaires. Rebecca Winters
‘There will probably be someone inside to help you with all the make-up stuff, too.’
‘Blake—’
‘No, don’t say it. Don’t tell me that you don’t want this. Because this isn’t about you. This is for you. You deserve this. After all you’ve done...’ He lifted a hand to her face and she thought that it was as if he needed her to believe him. ‘You deserve a few hours of relaxation. When people do things for you. Let me do this for you, okay?’
She wished she could just accept his words at face value. Her heart was full of him, of his compassion, of his gesture for her. But something told her that he’d said them out of obligation. Out of a need for her to accept this from him. And how could she resist such a plea?
‘Okay.’
He leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘I’ll see you in a little bit. Go and have fun.’
BLAKE WAS SURE he would burn a trail in the carpet if he didn’t stop pacing.
But he felt unsettled and couldn’t stop. Not when some of his employees passed him, smiling politely to hide their curiosity, or even when guests did, aiming puzzled looks at him as he walked back and forth in front of one of the rooms. He wasn’t sure if it was adrenaline for what was to come during the evening that fuelled his legs, or anticipation at seeing Callie when she finally emerged from the room she was using to get ready in.
He hadn’t seen her when she’d got back, so he didn’t know what she had thought about the limo he had sent to pick her up. It might have been overkill, but he wanted her to feel like a princess tonight. He wanted her to know that the effort she had put into the hotel hadn’t been for nothing. He wanted her to know that what they’d shared together meant something to him. Especially when he wouldn’t be able to tell her himself...
He paused. He didn’t want to think about those plans. He didn’t want to think about the way he had put distance between them, about Callie’s face every time he’d done so. He didn’t want to think about leaving her when it was all too painful. When he was doing it because he couldn’t bear to lose her, to disappoint her. He just wanted to spend one night with her without worrying about what it would do to them when he left. Or, worse, what it would do to her if he stayed and couldn’t give her what she wanted.
But he wasn’t running, he assured himself. He was just saving them both from the potential hurt.
But all thoughts froze in his head when she opened the door and hesitantly took two steps towards him.
The neckline of her gown lay lazily over her chest, hugging her curves and accelerating his heart. Especially when he saw a diamond necklace sparkling just above her breasts, as though it wanted to distract him and draw his attention to them at the same time. The rest of the dress was just as flattering, clinging to her curves and revealing legs that Blake now realised he had vastly under-appreciated. She wore silver shoes that wrapped around her legs from just below her knee, and never before had he found a pair of shoes more attractive.
Finally, when his body had settled, he rested his eyes on her face. Her hair was like silk, tied into some kind of intricate knot at the base of her skull. And her face was glowing, slightly red at his appraisal, and absolutely gorgeous.
‘Hi...’ she said huskily, and Blake had to check himself before he could speak.
‘Hi. You look amazing.’
She smiled hesitantly, closed the door behind her, and Blake had the pleasure of seeing how much skin the back of the dress revealed. He wasn’t sure which side of it he appreciated more, he thought, and smiled when she turned back to him. Just one night, he promised himself—and his conscience—and offered his arm.
‘Thank you,’ she said as she straightened the tiny train of the dress behind her.
When they got to the elevator he looked at her in question.
‘It would probably be best if we took the elevator today,’ she said, without moving.
He squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t worry, the electricity won’t go off tonight. And if it does I’ve made sure the generator is working, so we won’t get stuck.’
‘Famous last words...’ she breathed, and then straightened her shoulders and walked into the small box.
He smiled at her bravado, and selected the button for the rooftop. He knew she held her breath as they steadily moved up, and when the doors pinged open she let out a huge sigh of relief.
‘You ready?’ she asked, and turned to him, the tension of a few moments ago only slightly abated.
He refused to think about what the remainder of that tension meant.
‘I think so.’
‘Then let’s do this.’
* * *
‘Dance with me.’
Callie turned to Blake and had her refusal ready when she saw he had the same look on his face as that afternoon when he’d kissed her.
But he didn’t wait for an answer. Instead he took her glass and placed it with his own on the closest waiter’s tray. Then he led her to the dance floor and pulled her in close. Every nerve in her body was awakened and prickled with awareness at the feel of him against her. His hand pressed against her naked lower back and sent shivers down her spine, and when she looked up at him her breath caught.
He looked at her with longing, with a sadness she hadn’t expected. But she didn’t want to think about it. She didn’t want to think about all that had plagued them over the last few days. No, tonight she wanted to stand in the middle of the dance floor on the rooftop, under the moonlight, and sway to the music with the man she loved.
‘Callie?’
She lifted her head and the illusion of a few moments ago was gone. And it had taken any thoughts she had about love with it.
‘What is it?’
He looked at her, his eyes filled with an emotion she knew only too well.
‘We need to talk.’
She clenched her jaw as a voice in her head told her that she wasn’t being paranoid. She stiffened in his arms and looked at him, trying to read him even though it pained her to do so. And what she saw gave her the answer to all the questions she’d had.
‘You’re leaving.’
His arms tightened around her, and she had to stop herself from pulling away from him.
‘Callie—’
‘Don’t.’ She didn’t look at him, and was grateful when the song ended. ‘Just don’t.’
She wanted to hate him for it—for doing this to her after making her feel like a princess. After making her fall in love with him. But she forced all feelings aside and worked the room, pretending everything was normal.
She clapped along with everybody else when Blake walked up onto the stage to thank everyone for coming, and laughed jovially when he told them he looked forward to taking their money the following week. But when the formalities were done she couldn’t take it any more. She slipped away to Connor, and asked him if he could wrap things up for her.
‘Yeah, sure. Things shouldn’t go on too long anyway.’ He looked at her, and then frowned. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine.’ She brushed a kiss over his cheek. ‘Thanks. I’ve spoken to all the investors, so I know they’re happy with the event. You just need to facilitate the clean-up afterwards. I’ll see you soon, okay?’
She didn’t wait for his response, though she could tell that his gaze was on her as she walked away from the event. She didn’t look back as she took the