“Don’t cut me off. I was pissed as hell that some chick thought she could write that shit to my brother and then leave him broken like that. He changed after that. Yeah, the accident took his legs, but it was that note that broke his spirit for a long time after. So, when I saw you on Thanksgiving, it all came back.”
Fidgeting with my hands in my lap, I wonder what I’m supposed to say.
“He told me what happened after that night.” He turns to me as we come to a red light. “The kid’s wanted to be, or maybe he was made to be like me most of his young life, but he’s better than me. Smarter. And he’s got better instincts. So, if he’s willing to stick his neck out for you, then you must be worth it.”
Nodding, I say, “Thank you.”
He shakes his head as the light turns green. “Don’t thank me. He’s the one that spent the last week busting his ass over the holidays to make this happen.”
Scrunching my face, I start to ask what he’s referring to. The holiday party for Townsend has been in the works for weeks, and Mark didn’t have a hand in it. His focus was on the merger. But I’m never able to get the question out because we soon pull up to the main entrance of Townsend Industries, which has been transformed into a mini red carpet event.
As we pull up to the sidewalk in front of the entrance, Connor quickly unlocks the door, and the passenger door is pulled open. My gaze falls on a sharply dressed Mark as he holds the door open.
My heart stutters in my chest at seeing him in a black and white tuxedo, looking even more handsome than I remember.
“You look hot,” he says, grinning from ear to ear.
I run my hand along the red, sequined dress that he must’ve picked out for me to wear.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.”
“Think so?” he asks before doing a 360 in his wheelchair. “Had to give you the whole picture.”
I let out a laugh before taking his hand to exit. Once I get out, I turn to Connor. “Thank you.”
He nods. “You kids have fun.”
Mark chuckles. “You just make sure to get your ass back to the house and take care of my future mother-in-law.”
Stunned, I turn to Mark to see how serious his face is. He gives me a wink, smiling as he nods.
“Shall we?”
I don’t hesitate to take his arm to stroll into the party.
It’s beena long ass week, but the best part of it is yet to come. Things are already looking up as Jackie and I stroll into the Townsend Industries building for the New Year’s Eve party.
“Wow, they outdid themselves, huh?” she asks, staring all around at the holiday decor surrounding us.
The lobby has been transformed into a holiday wonderland with lights and trees, fake snow, and giant screens that display the words Happy New Year. I know that later in the evening, those screens will display the ball drop to welcome in the New Year.
“Yeah, it's pretty decent.”
She laughs. “Pretty decent.”
“As great as it looks in here, the scene doesn’t compare to how you look in that dress. Turn around for me.”
She grins but does a little twirl for me. I allow my eyes to linger on the hump behind her, smiling broadly, recalling the feel of palming her as she rides me.
“You’re terrible,” she whispers, bending low so only I can hear her.
Chuckling, I respond, “You love me anyway.”
“I do.” Her face sobers, and within a second or two, there are a million questions I see running through her eyes.
“You want to know where I’ve been for the past eight days.”
She rubs her lips together and hesitates, but eventually nods.
