I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut.
The sip of champagne I’d just taken felt like acid sliding down my throat.
CHAPTER 26
Chase
The fact that Maryellen and I weren’t arriving at this party together bothered me. I wanted her on my arm the entire night, from start to finish. It made sense when she explained that she and Evie would take a car.
But she was leaving with me.
Even though I brought my guitar, I hadn’t decided if I was going to sing. I told Gage it would be a game-time decision, and I’d see how the party was going. Bottom line, I didn’t want my singing to take the spotlight away from their night. People were still overreacting to me doing it in public.
Gage asked me to arrive early. Turns out my father and Sara arrived early as well. He wanted to have a sit-down with Gage and me since our meeting with him about the company had been canceled.
It was always about business with him.
The three of us went into one of the empty rooms to talk shop. I tried hard to make it look like I was paying attention, but it was Saturday night for fuck’s sake. There was no need to do this. My girl could be out there looking for me.
My father asked how the new role was going in addition to my new assistant. He was happy to hear my praise of Mallory. Idid my best to make it seem like I knew what I was talking about with my new job, but I was only a week into it. I had no fucking idea what I was doing yet. Gage knew that and took over the conversation.
Eventually, I excused myself and returned to the main room of the party. There was no longer a need for me to be involved in their discussion.
I found Mitch and got a beer.
“Are they here yet?” I asked as we sat.
“Nope, but Evie said their car is pulling up.”
My focus flew to the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of her as soon as she arrived. There was something about this party that had her spooked, and I wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe the idea of marriage was something she didn’t like to think about. That was the only thing I could come up with. But I wanted to make sure she had a good time tonight, that was my goal.
My brother texted me asking where I ran off to. Choosing not to answer, I placed my phone upside down on the table. As I did, Mitch tapped me on the arm.
“They just walked in,” he said.
When I found her, my breath left my lungs. It was as if she brought the sun into the building on a dreary night. The room lit up around her, and everyone stopped and stared. And she was completely unaware as she made her way directly to me.
Standing, I was lured to her like a moth to a flame. “Jesus Christ, Mare, you look amazing.” I kissed the smooth skin along her neck, and my dick twitched. “This was the perfect choice, and I wouldn’t have thought it.”
She was in pants, and it was the fucking hottest thing I’d ever seen. The top was this backless thing that wrapped around her neck.
And they were bothleather. White leather. Fuck me.
“You don’t look half bad yourself,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Then her friend tore her from my arms.
“OK, you two, knock it off,” Evie said. “I’m stealing her and we’re heading to the bar.”
And they did. But I got to watch that fine ass in those leather pants walk away. And my dick twitched again.
“Fuck,” I said as I returned to my seat. “This is gonna be a tough night to get through.”
Mitch laughed with his beer bottle at his lips.
“Got a stiffy already?” He barked out another laugh. “From what I can see, there are plenty of empty rooms here, go find someplace.”
“Oh, yeah right, with my dad here. That’s the worst possible idea you’ve ever had.”
