CHAPTER 17
I can never fall in love with a man like him.
Evan could still picture those words from Randi, written in her email, over and over again. Of course, she hadn’t been talking about some unknown male. If so, Evan would have been pretty damn happy knowing she was blowing off another guy. However, knowing it had been him she was referring to made him almost certifiable.
Evan rarely got angry, and he still couldn’t figure out why he was so pissed off. After all, did he really think a woman like Randi was going to fall in love with a defective man like him? He was an unromantic, anal type of fucked-up man, focused more on business than anything else in his life.
I’m still trying to prove myself worthy of her friendship, much less her love.
Hell, it didn’t matter, and it didn’t relieve the burning pain in his chest when he thought about the fact that she had written that she could never love a man like him.
I’ll make her love me. She will love me.
Evan wondered if that was even possible, but he didn’t accept defeat well at all. Maybe this wasn’t about business, but it had become just as damned important to him.
It’s more important.
Even as the thought slipped into his mind unconsciously, he admitted it was true. For the first time in his life, someone other than his family took precedence over his portfolio.
“What’s your driver’s name?”
Evan straightened the cuffs of his tuxedo—which didn’t really need fixing—as Randi’s voice jolted him from his rampant thoughts. He was seated next to her in the backseat of the Rolls, on their way to the ball.
She was dressed in a beautiful red cocktail dress that showed off every one of her curves and revealed way too much of her flawless skin, as far as he was concerned. He could have done without the low-cut back and the plunging neckline. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see her in the dress she was wearing; he’d just prefer that nobody else did.
Mine!
It had taken everything he had not to lock her inside of her house with him and keep her there. His dick had been hard from the moment she’d smiled at him when she opened the door.
Her killer smile got to him. Every. Damn. Time.
Finally, he answered her question. “His name is Stokes.”
“What’s his first name?” she asked in an insistent whisper, obviously not wanting the older man to hear.
“I have no idea,” he answered honestly. Evan rarely knew the first name of any of his employees.
“He’s a new driver?”
“He’s been with me for years,” he corrected.
“And you don’t know his first name? Does he have a wife and children?” she whispered adamantly.
“I don’t concern myself with my employees’ personal business. If I did, I’d never get anything done.”
Evan knew he was in trouble from the moment he saw the disapproval on her face. “That’s not true and you know it. He’s a personal employee. He takes care of you. Maybe it’s true that you need to be impersonal with some people, but not the people you let into your personal life.”
Evan shrugged. Truth was, he didn’t let anybody into his personal life. Hell, he’d never really had a personal life. It was always all about business.
Stokes drove the car.
Evan worked in the backseat until he reached his destination.
They didn’t exchange personal comments.
He watched as Randi leaned over the front seat. “What’s your first name, Stokes?”
To give Stokes credit, Evan noticed that his driver seemed completely unflustered. “Gerald, madam. My family calls me Jerry.”
“Are you married?” Randi questioned conversationally.
“Yes, madam. The wife and I just celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary,” Stokes told Randi in a stoic voice.
“Children? Grandchildren?” Randi prompted.
“Three wonderful children, six grandkids, and now three great-grandbabies so far,” Stokes answered, his voice warming as he spoke about his family.
“You didn’t want to retire?” Randi shifted positions so she could lean closer to the driver from the backseat.
Evan hated that.
“No, madam. I lost my job when I was almost retirement age. Mr. Sinclair was kind enough to give an old man a chance instead of hiring a younger body. I needed the work then. My daughter was sick and needed help. He made it possible for me to help her with a more-than-fair income as his driver. I’ll be a loyal employee until the day I can’t drive anymore,” Stokes answered, his voice a little more emotional as he spoke of his employer and his past.
Evan fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat, wondering why he never knew about Stokes and his family. It wasn’t that his driver wasn’t willing to talk. Evan realized he’d just never bothered to ask.
He made a vow to find out if Stokes was financially set for the rest of his life. The man usually traveled everywhere with his car, always there at Evan’s beck and call. If he had family, maybe it was time for him to enjoy some kind of retirement.
“I hired you because you were qualified. I’ve kept you on because you’re one of the best employees I’ve ever had,” Evan stated loud enough to be heard by Stokes.
“Thank you, sir,” the driver replied humbly, his voice filled with pride. “We’ve reached your destination.”
Evan looked out the window to see that they were parked right in front of the Center. People were filing into the building slowly, all dressed for a party.
“It’s an open party, Jerry,” Randi said brightly. “Would you like to come in and get something to eat?”
Stokes turned around and smiled at her. It was the first time Evan had ever seen his driver actually smile.
Stokes shook his head. “No . . . but thank you, madam. I’ll just pop over to that little restaurant with the lobster rolls. Great food there.”
“Sullivan’s,” Randi answered with a kind smile and a nod. “Have a nice dinner.”
Evan waited as his driver got out and opened the door for him. He stood and said quietly to Stokes, “Talk to me when you’re ready to retire. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of, Stokes.”
His driver nodded. “I know that, sir. Thank you.” He paused before adding, “That’s one sweet girl you have there. She’s a keeper.”
“I plan on keeping her,” Evan answered fiercely. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”
He saw Stokes smile in the dim light. “Very good, sir.”
Evan moved to the other side of the vehicle, but Randi was already out of the car and headed straight toward him. She seemed totally unconcerned that she had to open her own car door. Most of the women he knew would have sat and waited for somebody to do it for them.
Not his woman. He needed to be faster if he wanted to keep up with her.
Randi had been independent most of her life, and she knew nothing about the rituals of the super-rich.
That was one of the things Evan liked about her. Randi was unpretentious and as real as a woman could get.
She just found out more about my employee in two minutes than I have in all the years Stokes has worked for me.
He offered his arm as she reached him, and he dismissed Stokes to go have his dinner.
“It wasn’t that painful, right?” Randi asked quietly as they walked arm in arm to the front entrance of the Center.
“What?”
“Learning something about your employees. He idolizes you.”
“I pay his salary,” Evan replied solemnly. “But you’re right. I’m glad I know his situation. I can set him up for retirement as soon as he’s ready.”
Randi nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with caring, Evan.”
He didn’t reply. Obviously there was a problem with caring. He wanted Randi, but she only wanted him for the short time he was here.
For the first time, he did care, and it fucking hurt that she didn’t.
I can never love a man like him.
It was going to take a long time for Evan to forget seeing those words, and exactly how he felt when he thought about them.
Micah had seen her the minute she walked into the ballroom. There was no way he could miss her.
“Are you headed out tomorrow?” Julian asked him as he wolfed down another plate of food from the buffet.
“Yeah. I have to go. I have early meetings Monday morning,” Micah replied.
Micah liked Amesport, and he didn’t like the thought of actually leaving. He hadn’t been back to Sullivan’s since his run-in with Liam, but he’d been tempted.
“Me too. I have an interview in Los Angeles,” Julian admitted.
“Good. Then I can have my jet back. You can get your own now, you know,” Micah told him testily, still watching Tessa move around the room gracefully.
“I know,” Julian replied with a grin. “But I never really went anywhere before. I didn’t have to.”
Julian could have always afforded to buy any private jet he chose. He might have been a “nobody” in Hollywood until he hit the big time just recently, but he was still a very rich Sinclair.
The orchestra kicked up the volume a few notches, obviously ready for people to start dancing.
“I’ll be back,” Micah told Julian without looking away from Tessa.
If his brother answered, Micah didn’t hear it. He was determined to make his way to the beautiful female across the room before someone else did.
He approached her as she was talking with two elderly women, one of them dressed in deep violet, the other in a rather flamboyant hot pink.
As he got closer, he heard Tessa speak. “Beatrice, I appreciate the present, but you know I don’t believe in miracles.”
The woman in bright pink beamed back at Tessa. “It’s your turn, dear. Your destiny.”
“She knows,” the woman in purple said excitedly. “Beatrice saw it clearly.”
“You’ll hear him, but not in the way you might expect,” Beatrice told Tessa, patting her on the cheek. “You’ll need to listen with everything in you to understand what he’s trying to tell you.”
“Hello.” Micah finally spoke, touching Tessa on the shoulder so she knew he was behind her.
“Micah Sinclair,” Beatrice said, staring at him with a radiant expression. “I’ve been looking for you. I’m Beatrice, and this is Elsie.” She waved toward her friend.
Tessa turned to read his lips.
“Why were you looking for me?” he asked, confused. He’d never seen either of the women before.
Beatrice extended her hand and Micah automatically reached for the item she held out to him. He looked curiously at the stone that dropped into his hand, turning it over and over. “I can’t accept this. I don’t even know you.” He had no idea why an elderly woman he didn’t know had just given him a rock.
“No, but I know you, young man. That’s your destiny.” Beatrice waved toward his fingers.
“I don’t understand. I just came over to ask Tessa to dance.” He looked at the two women, perplexed.
“I’ll dance,” Tessa squeaked, taking his hand in hers and making their escape. “Thank you, ladies. It was nice to see you both.”
Micah dropped the rock into his pocket and lifted his hand at the two ladies in a farewell gesture. Tessa started dragging him away like she was running from a fire.
What in the hell had just happened?
As she came to a halt in the middle of the dance floor, Micah asked, “Are they crazy?”
“No. But they’re both very eccentric. Beatrice is the town matchmaker and resident psychic, and Elsie writes the gossip for the paper. They’re harmless, but I needed to be rescued. Thank you.”
He looked down at Tessa. “Can you really dance?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t tried since I lost my hearing. Can you lead?”
“Of course,” he replied immediately. “I’m good at most things that require physical participation.” He winked at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Show me.”
Micah clasped one of her hands and put his other arm around her waist. “This is a waltz.”
She nodded at him and kept her eyes on his face.
Surprisingly, she was a very graceful dancer, better than anybody he’d ever danced with before. She followed him easily, and she felt incredible in his arms.
He stared down at her and remarked, “You’re very good.”
“Thanks,” she answered politely.
Micah was surprised when she winked back at him and then laid her head against his shoulder. He continued to lead her, and she followed him every step of the way.
Neither of them spoke as their bodies communicated without words . . . and they danced.