Chapter 27
Can I have this dance?
You’d think selecting a wardrobe for others would make picking an outfit for myself simple. Oddly, it wasn’t. Veronica Freeman, daughter and Chairperson of the Freeman Benefit, was my client. She invited me to her family’s event, and I couldn’t very well refuse to attend.
Ever since that day Exquisitely Yours was mentioned in The Post, my client list grew with socialites. Not that I was complaining, but I was much better at being the dresser rather than the dressee.
Dark cranberry silk clung loosely to my curves. The way the draping on the back rested just above my lower spine was sexy, but not too revealing. I had to admit, with my strawberry blonde curls neatly wound on top of my head, my reflection didn’t look half bad.
My buzzer rang and I knew it was Adam. The look in his eyes when I pulled the door open relaxed me.
“Wow, sis, you look gorgeous.” He leaned in and gave me a kiss. “It’s a good thing I’m there tonight to keep an eye on you.”
With my clutch and keys in hand, I rolled my eyes. “You’re ridiculous. Is Cade outside?”
When Adam told me that Noah wasn’t going to be there tonight, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, but on the other hand, I was relieved. Even though I assumed he’d been seeing other women—I mean, how could he not be—It didn’t mean I wanted to see it up close and personal.
“He’s meeting us there.” Adam glanced at his platinum Tag Heuer. “We should get going. We’re already an hour late.”
The ride to The Plaza was quicker than normal. It could have been my nerves that made everything feel as if we moved at super-sonic speed, but nonetheless we had arrived at our destination.
Crystal chandeliers and arched walls, framed with antique columns, created a palatial environment. Round tables with numbers on them filled the room. At the end of the space was a dance floor where couples were dancing to soft dinner music provided by a ten-piece band.
Adam guided me through the crowd. I did a quick scan of the room to see if I recognized anyone, and aside from Ms. Freeman, I didn’t know a soul except for Cade, who was talking to a blonde woman at the bar.
An older gentleman approached Adam. He introduced me, and then asked if he could borrow my brother. The man looked important, and of course, I was a big girl who could take care of herself.
“I’ll be at the bar.” Before anyone could say a word, I made my way to where Cade was. His eyes caught mine and the blonde was forgotten. “Well, don’t you look gorgeous tonight?” He bent and kissed my lips, catching me off guard. “It’s good seeing you. Champagne?”
“Sounds good.” The bartender handed me a flute of bubbly. The effervescent liquid slid down my throat. “This is good, thank you.”
Cade set my glass on the bar. “Come on, let’s dance.”
“One second.” I detoured toward our table to drop off my purse before we hit the dance floor.
He spun me around once before pulling me into a dancer’s embrace. Cade was an incredibly handsome man, and I could tell the women in the room would love to exchange places with me.
“Thank you for dancing with me, but wouldn’t you like to dance with someone else?”
His eyes met mine. “No, there will be time for them later.” He winked. “Plus, you’re the prettiest woman here.” The band started playing “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz, and like a bow and arrow, Cade pushed my arm to the right until it was perfectly straight. “Tango?” His brows waggled.
Not having a moment to protest, our cheeks met, and he started guiding me around the wooden floor. We changed direction more than once, had a few spins, and my laughter matched his when he ended it with a dip. When he righted me, all of the air in my lungs evaporated. Beautiful light blue eyes—eyes that I hadn’t seen in weeks except for in my dreams—stared back at me. Noah.
“May I have the next dance?” Low, stern, and possessive were the descriptions that came to mind.
Cade turned, still smiling. “Hey, I didn’t think you were coming tonight.”
“I’m here now.” Noah’s eyes never left mine. Ninety percent of me wanted to jump into his arms, the other ten kept me rooted to the floor. “Hello, Margo.”
Poor Cade looked as if he was watching Wimbledon. His eyes darted back and forth between the two of us, waiting for the line judge to shout a command.
“Hello, Noah.”
The three of us stood in the center of the floor. I might as well have been naked, because even I felt completely exposed. When it came to the one man I wanted more than anyone else, my feelings couldn’t be hidden.
Cade’s voice broke the awkward silence. “I’m parched. Does anyone need a drink?” When Noah and I didn’t answer, Cade let out a little chuckle. “Okay, then. I’ll be at the bar. You two lovebirds have fun.”
Warmth created a hoop around my body. If I were into sci-fi, I’d say it was a heat shield, but since I wasn’t, I knew it was nerves combined with lust.
Lust for someone who I hadn’t seen in a month.
Lust for someone who owned my heart.
Lust for someone who I’d never have again.
Time had no effect on my feelings. If anything, I craved him more. Like being on a diet and going without cookies for a year, but when Christmas came around, my willpower failed.
As the drummer tapped the skin of his drum, Noah took my right hand in his left. I stared at the connection, so normal . . . so right. His hand splayed on the small of my back, forcing my left hand to his shoulder. Goose bumps peppered my skin from my toes to my neck. Even the roots of my hair tingled. There was no way he didn’t notice.
Our bodies moved in sync to the music. It didn’t take much to get lost in his scent, his eyes—his touch. Old MacDonald could have been playing and it wouldn’t have mattered.
Noah’s breath tickled my ear. His cologne invaded my senses. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Sadness laced his words, but it was when I craned my head back and saw his eyes that mine pricked with tears. “I’ve missed you, too.” God, did I ever. How did we lose ourselves so fast? Part of me told me to check my stubborn head at the door and take from this man what he was willing to give.
Not much more was said with words—they weren’t necessary. When the song was over, the band announced dinner was being served. Noah and I let go of each other and walked off the dance floor. Adam met me at the edge where the wood met the carpet.
He brought his focus to Noah. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
“Jan guilted me into it.”
Adam chuckled. “Sounds like her. Anyway,” he turned to me, “we’re at table number nine. Where are you?”
“The same one, I asked Veronica to sit us together since Louisa wasn’t coming.”
Noah walked next to Adam; it was then I realized we were at adjacent seats. Fantastic. I picked up my clutch. “Please excuse me.”
My fingers gripped my satin bag as if it were going to run away. The ladies’ room gave me space to breathe. Clicks of my heels echoed in the small room, back and forth on the tiled floor, doing my best not to watch my reflection in the mirror behind the sinks. Some form of composure was necessary before I sat down at the same table with Noah.
I stopped, turned on the faucet, and washed my hands with frigid water, hoping it would calm me the hell down, but it just made me cold. My eyes caught my own, and my pep talk began. “You can do this, Margo. He’s just a man. A man you love, but still just a man. Who cares if you never love someone again or if it takes another twenty plus years to fall in love? He can’t give you what you want.” On an exhale, I grabbed my lipstick and ran it over my lips. “There, much better. Now, go out there and be strong.”
A toilet flushed and my heart sank when I saw Veronica Freeman walking out of the last stall. “Margo dear, are you okay?”
Doing my best to laugh it off, I replied, “Yes, sorry, I thought I was alone.”
Her perfectly quaffed head bobbed. “From the sounds of it, you are.”
Well, shit. That stung.
“Can I give you a piece of advice?”
“Sure.”
“If you love the man you were just chanting about, don’t let him go. True love doesn’t come along every day, and just because it isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it isn’t right. Life isn’t flawless, but it’s what we make of it. Like this dress, for instance.”
Oh my God, she didn’t like the dress? “What’s wrong with the gown?” I did a quick body scan, and it looked beautiful on her. Nothing made me happier when a client wore the dress rather than the other way around. It wasn’t ostentatious, but classy, just like her.
“Nothing now, but as you can see, I’m not of model stature. That’s why you asked for my measurements, and I attended fittings. Sometimes, things need to be altered to be beautiful. Love is a lot like this dress.” She patted my arm. “Think about it. Just because it may need adjustments doesn’t mean you’re settling for less. It would be worth it in the end because you each made sacrifices, and you’ll appreciate it more. Love isn’t easy.” She turned to wash her hands and spruce her lips up as well. “Now, I’m going back in there because I’m hungry, and I left enough room in this dress so I could eat more than a salad.”
“Thank you, Veronica.”
On a nod, she walked out with me not far behind.
Just beyond the bathroom door, Noah stood, leaning against the wall in the hallway. Head down, hands in his pants pockets, right foot planted against the wall, he looked sexier than sin.
“Hey.” His head snapped toward my voice. “What are you doing in the hallway?”
With a push of his foot, his body moved from the wall to stand in front of mine. “We need to talk, and not here.”
“I can’t leave right now.” Plus, I thought in my head, I’m confused.
“Please, Margo?” Noah rubbed the back of his neck. “We owe it to each other.”
My brows scrunched together. “You’re the one . . .” I gave my head a slight shake.
Noah’s jaw ticked. “Yes, I’m the one who was closed-minded. I’m the one who couldn’t give you everything you wanted.” His cheeks puffed out before blowing out a long stream of air. “Are you happy without me?”
The nerve endings in my face prickled. “No, not as happy as I was when we were together.”
Three women walked by us, giving Noah an appreciative look before going into the ladies’ room. “Happy is the last thing I am without you. If you want to wait until the end of the event to talk, fine. I’ll wait, but we will be having a discussion.”
“I should get back before Adam sends a search party.”
Noah nodded. “Let’s go.” He laced his fingers with mine. When my fingers stiffened, he gave them a gentle squeeze. “I need to feel you. I hope you don’t mind.”
I shook my head, because I needed to feel him too. When we made it back to the table, the meal had been served. Food was the last thing on my mind. Adam looked at where I was joined with Noah and grinned.
“We’re leaving.” I kissed my brother’s cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Cade cleared his throat. “No sugar for the best dance partner you had tonight?”
After I gave him a kiss as well, Noah tugged my hand. “Can we go now?”
Veronica caught my attention right before I walked out of the ballroom. She gave me one nod, and that simple gesture spoke volumes.
When Arthur pulled up to my building rather than Noah’s, my nerves calmed down a bit. He was giving me home-field advantage, if you will. But I didn’t need it. Even before we walked into my apartment, I knew Noah and I had something special. The war between my head and heart was over—my heart won.
“Would you like something to drink? Beer? Wine?”
“No, I want a clear head.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Can we sit?”
Silk fabric crawled up my legs as I tugged the material up to be comfortable. I peeled my stilettos off and wiggled my toes to renew their circulation before tucking them under my ass.
Silence filled the room. If one of us didn’t say something soon, blood was going to come out of my bottom lip from my gnawing on it.
Finally, Noah scooted toward me, took my hand in his, and let out a sigh. “I want you back.” I went to reply, but he didn’t let me. “Please, let me finish. I’ve been thinking about you—well, us, and the fact that there isn’t an ‘us’ anymore. But more than that, I’ve been thinking of why that was.”
“Noah . . .”
He once again took control of the conversation. “You told me a long time ago that I was hardheaded, and you were right. It’s served me well over the years, until we connected. Then once I had you, I didn’t want to let you go. I find myself wanting to watch chick flicks, and to go shopping, for the slight chance I’d run into you. What all of that made me realize was, never once do I remember my dad wanting to be with my mother or my mother caring enough to find out what my father was doing. They were relieved when the other wasn’t around.”
How sad to grow up that way. “I’m sorry.” Well, that was profound. The man just opened up, and I had a two-word retort.
“The only thing I’m sorry for is being closed-minded.” He paused. “That’s not true. I’m also sorry I lost you.”