Chapter 4
Joshua
Two dresses were arranged against my black duvet. Both gowns were Allison’s size. The one on the left was a pale lavender, peppered with real diamonds. It would show off her dazzling skin perfectly and make her form look even more tempting. The one on the right was a night-sky blue lace gown. It would hug her curves and bring out her eyes.
I hadn’t been able to decide at the boutique, and I couldn’t decide now. It seemed most women wanted to show off their favorite features. Honestly, though, it was hard to pick a favorite. I liked all of her. So what did she like best about herself? I pictured Allison in my head, trying to figure out which of her assets were her favorites, and not just mine. Curves, I thought. And her eyes. I placed the lavender one back on its hanger and wrapped it in the plastic cover before stowing it at the back of my closet. I could always ask her to wear it to something later on.
The deep blue gown I slid onto its hanger. She’d look magnificent in it, and it would help boost her confidence. Yesterday she’d admitted that she was nervous about meeting my family, and I wanted to make this as easy on her as possible.
I was nervous, too. My family was going to be shocked to see me with a quiet, dark-haired woman. It would’ve been so easy to find another date, even just for this party. I’d have no intention of taking it any further; just a date to talk to so my family wouldn’t think there was something wrong with me. Finding someone wouldn’t have been hard. Women were always ready to be wooed by a billionaire. And maybe that had been the problem—I wasn’t picky enough.
But now I was in too deep. A brunette or a blonde, it didn’t matter which Allison was. I couldn’t imagine letting her go.
It was a new experience for me, and it made my whole body hum with excitement.
I held the gown at arm’s length, feeling the texture of the soft lace between my fingers, imagining Allison in it.
Then I caved to temptation and imagined her out of it.
* * * * *
Allison held my hand in a death grip as we drove up to my dad’s clubhouse. The club was situated on acres of gentle hills and picturesque woodland, right next to a lake. I watched Allison from the corner of my eye as she took in the landscape. The drive circled up to a large brick building, where valets waited for us. The garden in front was filled with arrangements of flowers and fountains. Stone benches and tiny lanterns were spaced along the meandering paths. Seeing it through Allison’s eyes, I had new appreciation for its beauty.
After we’d gotten out of the car, Allison looked up at the building. The large white columns suggested age and elegance, and the brick front made me think of strong, lasting tradition. Of course my dad loved this place.
Her eyes were huge as she took it all in. She seemed to curl in on herself at first, but then I saw a flash of determination in her eyes and she stood up straighter.
“You look like you belong here,” I told her. “And you do belong here. If you feel strange or nervous, just hold tightly to me.”
She nodded, but she still looked a little pale.
It was incredible how she turned on the protective side of me. I wanted nothing more than to take care of her and make her the most comfortable woman in the world.
“Have I told you yet how stunning you look?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes and smiled playfully. “Only six or seven times.”
“Consider this eight.” I’d been right about the dress. Not only did she squeal with pleasure when she first saw it, but now, wearing it, she looked even more amazing than usual.
When we went inside, my aging aunts descended on us like they were thirsty frat boys and we’d shown up with a keg.
“And who is this?” Aunt May exclaimed, taking one of Allison’s hands in her own.
“This is my girlfriend, Allison Mahoney,” I said.
Allison beamed. I didn’t think I’d ever called her my girlfriend before…she must’ve liked it. I knew I did.
“Oh, what a wonder. Look at your gorgeous skin,” May said. Nudging Aunt Kathleen next to her, she added, “Remember when we had skin like this? I could just touch this girl all day long.”
Allison looked a bit panicked.
“Um, maybe not,” I said, pulling her away. “We still have to say hi to Dad.”
I spied him across the room, telling what looked like a longwinded, humorous story to some of his old friends who’d probably heard it five times already. But the way my dad spun a tale, you could have it memorized and it still sounded new.
I tugged Allison along, giving her a smile of encouragement.
“This place is amazing,” she breathed, her gaze bouncing everywhere, from the giant chandeliers overhead to the classical paintings adorning the rear wall. “I don’t feel like I belong here.”
“You’re doing great,” I said. “Come meet my dad. He’s over there.”
Dad gave me a huge hug and clapped me on the back when we reached him. He tried to ruffle my hair like he’d done when I was a kid, but I dodged him easily. That was a lesson I learned a long time ago.
“Who’s this?” he said, taking in Allison’s beauty. His gray moustache lifted up when he smiled.
“This is my friend, Allison Mahoney. Allison, this is my dad, Roger Tolbert.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Allison said, extending her hand.
He pulled her into a hug. “Pleased to meet you, too!” he exclaimed. “Please, call me Roger.”
Allison looked startled, but she grinned. “Okay. Happy birthday…Roger.”
My dad took Allison’s hand. “I just have to tell you, the way you carry yourself, it reminds me of Joshua and Jamie’s mother. She was a wonderful woman.”
“I would’ve liked to have met her,” Allison said.
“Nice talking to you, Dad. We should make the rounds.”
It was a flimsy excuse, but I didn’t want to talk about Mom tonight. I steered Allison away from Dad and looked over the rest of the reception room. Dad’s birthday was an excuse for our largest family reunion, and I hadn’t seen very many of my cousins since last year. As we moved across the room, a waiter wandered past with a tray of champagne flutes. I plucked a couple of glasses for me and Allison.
“So how are you doing?” I asked her as I handed her a flute.
She sipped the champagne absentmindedly, her attention on the giant picture windows opening out to the front gardens.
“I’m actually doing okay,” she said. “Nobody’s asking me how much money I make, or whether my family’s old money or new money, or whether I was bred into politics or business.”
“Yet,” I smiled. “You still haven’t met my grandmother.”
Her gaze swung back to me. “Joking! I’m just kidding.”
She punched me on the arm. “Don’t do that to me.”
I couldn’t help my smile, but she looked like she’d forgiven me.
Jamie sauntered around the corner with a stunning woman on his arm. I’d never seen her before, but I couldn’t help notice she looked a little bit like Allison. Dark hair, an oval face, bright eyes. That’s where the similarities ended, though. She wore a dress that looked like it had been painted on, and she had the biggest tits I’d ever seen in my life.
“Whoa,” Allison said. “Who is that? I didn’t know Jamie had a girlfriend.”
“Neither did I.”
“How can she walk with that chest?” she mused. “She can’t even see the ground in front of her.”
I nearly spewed champagne from my nose. My eyes watered painfully as I choked it down.
“What?” Allison asked, a pout playing on those gorgeous lips of hers. “I’m not saying it to be mean. It just…it must be tough. I don’t think they look good, but the problem is more that it’s gotta be hard to move around.”
“No, you’re right. You’re totally right. I just wouldn’t have thought you’d comment on it.”
She shrugged. “Sometimes I say what I’m thinking. Maybe it’s not always appropriate.”
I reached around her waist and pulled her in close to me. The lace of her dress was softer than it looked. I wanted to gather it in my hands and rip it all off of her. “It’s never inappropriate for me,” I said. “I always want to know what you’re thinking.”
Allison and I chatted with one of my uncles and his newest wife. I sipped my champagne, watching how she moved in that lacey dress. Irresistible. She gestured as she spoke, subtle movements that accentuated her words. She had a quiet confidence to her. Other girls I had dated had rarely ever met my family. Those that did only talked about themselves and how wonderful they were. Allison was different. Much different.
“Hey,” Aunt May said, sidling up to me. “I think you’ve found yourself a keeper.”
“You’re a keeper,” I said, kissing her cheek.
“You’re a flatterer,” she said, smacking my shoulder. “You keep this one happy, you hear?”
“Loud and clear, Aunt May.”
It occurred to me, all that I’d done before with my past girlfriends, trying to keep them happy. Buying them things. Expensive dinners. Clothes, shoes, cars. Vacations. And it had never been enough. But Allison didn’t seem to expect any of that, and she didn’t even seem to want it. She was truly shocked when I’d asked if I could bring a dress over for her to wear to the party. Actually, she’d sounded offended at first, until I said it was a gift, and not because she needed it. I’d seen her in gorgeous dresses before. This was just how I wanted to show I cared. Plus, I’d added, it would look damn sexy on her. It had seemed to reassure her. Then when she opened the garment bag and actually saw the dress, she seemed to fall in love with it at once.
Aunt May wandered off to harass one of my cousins, and Jamie came over to introduce his date. I tried to keep my face straight as I watched her totter forward on her stilettos. It looked like she was having exactly the trouble Allison had mentioned. Too hard to walk when you can’t see where you’re going.
Jamie grimaced, but I think he meant to smile. “Hey Josh,” he said. “This is Emma Johnston. Emma, this is my brother Josh.”
“Joshua,” I corrected as I shook her hand. Jamie didn’t bother to introduce Allison, who was standing right next to me. What a jerk. “Emma, this is my friend, Allison Mahoney.”
The two women greeted each other and I stared Jamie down. He snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and chugged it without even offering anything to Emma. It was clear that Jamie had something else on his mind.