“You’re the best, Ken.” She smiles, giving my arm a squeeze, then rushes back to no doubt finish whatever I interrupted.
I let out a long exhale and walk back through the dressing area to double-check all the gowns are ready to go. I find Lunden doing the same, counting the gowns and checking name tags.
“Seriously, has Clarice had an extra dose of bitch pills today? What was with that speech? It’s a fashion show, babes, not the Met Gala.”
I laugh. “I know, but I really need this job, so if she needs me to wipe her ass, I’d do it at this point.” I tap my index finger along the rails, mentally counting the hangers to make sure I have all twenty dresses.
“What do you say to visiting that new bar once we get out of here? I hear if you get there before midnight, you get free shots,” Lunden says, waggling her eyebrows. “And the men are hot.”
“Sure, sounds fun.”
Lunden has been trying to get me to date since I told her all the gory details of my relationship with Carson and my one wild night with Beckett. She listened to me cry, rage, and laugh about every moment of it, and even though our friendship has beenshort, I feel like I have known her my whole life. She’s the type of friend I need.
Voices crackle through the headset, giving us another twenty-minute warning to opening walk. I find Ali’s dress on the rack and plan to take it to her room so I can help her get ready when my feet suddenly become rooted to the floor. I can’t move; my voice catches in my throat. I am unable to respond to what I see just meters away from me.
There, talking to Clarice, dressed all in black, is the man I have spent the last eleven months trying to forget. Ali’s dress slips from between my fingers and floats to the ground. The only sound I can hear is the erratic thumping of my heart when his head turns and his eyes lock with mine. His expression looks just as shocked as I suspect mine does.
Holy shit, it’s Beckett.
Chapter Fourteen
Beckett
Noelle. She’s here. I have not been able to shake her from my thoughts. Leaving that hotel room the way I did was my biggest regret. I know how it must have looked, and had it not been for my trip, I’d have tried to track her down right away. The joys of military life. But seeing her here, looking as beautiful as I remember, this has to be a sign from the universe that this girl is meant to be mine.
I don’t even hear what this woman, Clarice, is saying. I’m completely star struck by Noelle. The violet gown she was holding is now crumpled by her feet, and it gives me flashbacks to seeing her standing in her red underwear, her own dress on the floor in my hotel, and the memory of that night has my chest so tight I want to rip this security vest off.
My company has been hired for Violet Magazine’s annual fashion show. I have all my best guys working, and it is our job to not only keep the models safe, but staff, guests and our VIP client, Miss New York Darling, Grace.
“… is that okay?” Clarice asks, stroking my arm. She’s been flirting with me since I met her earlier today, but I haven't heard a word she’s said since I clocked Noelle.
“Yes, sorry, please excuse me,” I say, taking strides toward a shocked Noelle.
“Noelle,” is all I manage to say.
She bends down, grabs the dress and tries to push by me. I wrap a hand around her dainty arm to stop her, the feel of her skin making me feel a type of way that only she can do.
I lower my voice and lean into her ear. “Please, let me explain.”
She shrugs me off and glares at me with the same annoyance she did the first time she met me on the train, and it crushes me. It’s clear how big I’ve fucked up.
“Explain what? How you fucked me and then left me without even saying goodbye? I wasn’t expecting a marriage proposal, but just walking out without a word? That was a dick move. I deserved more than that,” she hisses quietly.
Her words are like a slap to the face, because she did. She deserved so much more, and I need to explain to her what really happened. “You’re right, will you give me a minute to explain?” I plead.
“I’m busy.” She holds up the dress.
“So, you work here? For Violet?”
“Yes, what are you doing here? Scoping out the place for your next one night stand?”
I jolt, her words hurt, but how can I be mad. I hurt her.
“No, my company is running the security for tonight.”
Her eyes widen. “Your company?” I nod.
“Yes, remember, I told you I worked in security?”
