I snarled. “Who is it?”
“Yo mama.”
Red’s eyes widened in horror as she started wiping her lipstick from my mouth. Although from the look of her still-red lips, the lipstick hadn’t faded from hers.
I needed to calm the hell down.
Deep, calming breaths. I stepped away from her. Away from her luscious body and the tempting-as-sin scent of her skin.
I had to think of something else. Didn’t want big brother to see I had a raging hard-on when I opened that door. Think!
There are billions of people starving on earth.
People barfing.
Smell of the locker room just after a game.
Gross!
I was feeling better—not entirely calm, but it was a start.
I blew out a breath. “It’s all right. It’s just Ben,” I reassured her. “You still have your lipstick on, by the way. How is that even possible?”
“Kar used this magic, chocolate-flavored Harry Potter lipstick she got. Caleb, hold still!” she hissed, rubbing my bottom lip hard enough to hurt.
“Ow. Red.”
“All right. There. It’s gone. How’s my hair?”
“Gorgeous.”
She glared at me. “Caleb. Be serious.”
“I am serious.” I grinned, grabbing her hips and pulling her toward me.
The knock sounded again. Red’s eyes were filled with panic. I kissed her on the mouth before yanking the door open.
Ben stood at the door, his hand raised to knock again. His eyes shifted from my face to Red’s. Then he smiled charmingly. I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Don’t stare at her,” I barked.
He ignored me.
“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier. You must be Veronica. I’m Ben, Caleb’s older brother.”
“Yes. Older. He’s old,” I inserted.
She ignored me too.
“Nice to meet you, Ben. Thanks for helping me find Caleb.”
“Pleasure is all mine.”
When he reached for her hand—and I knew from seeing his smooth moves with women that he would kiss it—I grabbed her hand and laced her fingers with mine.
“He’s scared you’ll fall in love with me. I’m the better brother, after all,” Ben said, winking.
I snorted.
Red let out a soft laugh and turned to me as she explained, “I was wandering around, looking for you. This place is too big, and I got lost. Ben found me.” Then she turned to Ben, frowning. “Is Beatrice-Rose…?”
“She’s fine,” Ben replied. “Don’t let it ruin your evening.”
“Thanks,” I said.
Ben turned to me. “You. I’m done covering for you. Time to face the music, little brother.”
I nodded, smiling as I glanced at Red. “I’m good now.”
She’s here.
Ben shook his head in surprised amusement. He hadn’t seen me act like this before. Ever.
“I’ll see you both downstairs,” he said, heading to the stairs.
Red stuffed the beanie into the huge paper bag and hid it behind her, out of my reach. I winked at her and lifted her hand to my lips, kissing the back of it as I led her down the stairs, then to the garden where the party was happening.
“Caleb, wait.”
She pulled at my hand, stopping me in my tracks. When I looked at her, her eyes were downcast.
“Red?”
She raised her eyes, and her voice was barely a whisper when she said, “I love you.”
The way she said it—like a whisper, like a promise—clutched at my chest.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I gathered her in my arms, kissing her hair. “I love you, Red.”
She burrowed her face in my neck, gripping me to her. There was something in the urgency and possessiveness of her grip that told me something was wrong. I pulled back a little, studying her lovely face.
“Baby, what is it?”
She shook her head. “I just… Can you wrap your arms around me for a moment? Please, Caleb.”
“Of course, love.”
“Don’t let me go.”
Whatever was hurting her, I would destroy it.
“Never. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Tonight, I won’t let anything be wrong. I don’t want anything to be wrong,” she said. “It’s your birthday, and you’re here with me. That’s what’s important.”
“I wish you would tell me so I can fix it.”
“You already did.” Now she smiled. Her hand reached up to stroke my jaw. She rose up on her toes, kissing my lips tenderly.
There was something in her eyes, the way they lingered over my face just a little bit longer, as if she was afraid I would disappear in front of her.
“Will you tell me later?” I asked.
“Yes. Tomorrow. First thing.”
I blew out a breath. I knew she didn’t want to tell me because it was my birthday and she was afraid it would ruin my day. But not knowing what it was, not being able to fix it, was doing just that. If she wanted to forget about it tonight, so be it. Tomorrow would be a different story.
“I’m glad you’re wearing your ring and necklace tonight.”
She smiled up at me. “I promised you I would.”
“The ring is a symbol. It lets everyone know that you’re mine when Ben makes the announcement.”
“Announcement?”
“Of our engagement, love.”
Her eyes widened, her lips parted in surprise.
“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I want everyone to know.”
I watched as her eyes warmed with affection, her lips stretching into a tender smile.
“All right.”
A set of stone steps led us to the garden path under arched trellises thick with vines and roses so lush and fragrant that the scent was intoxicating. The shrubs lining the path were green and fresh. A white bench sat conveniently on the side if anyone wanted to relax and enjoy the blooms. At the end of the path was the gazebo, highlighted by soft lighting.
Red’s eyes twinkled with pleasure at the grand display of blooming flowers.
“This is stunning. I can’t believe you grew up here. And the house… It’s incredible—and huge.”
I chuckled. “I used to play hide-and-seek with Ben and my…dad here. They could never find me. I had all the good hiding places. We can hide from everyone now, if you want. They’ll never see us. Wanna?”
“If only.” She sighed softly. “I always knew you were rich. But I was wrong. You are extremely rich. No, scratch that—you’re wealthy.”
I winced. “My mother is. Not me.”
“Same thing. I was very intimidated when the butler ushered me inside your house. It’s ridiculous to call it a house. It’s a castle.”
“I’ll give you one if that’s what you want.”
She let out a soft laugh. “What would I do with a castle? Besides, it’d just give you more floor space to litter with your clothes. I’d be exhausted every day picking them up.”
“I’ll pick them up.”
She rolled her eyes, but I only grinned, bent down to pluck a red flower from the garden, and tucked it behind her ear.
She smiled up at me sweetly. “I don’t want a castle, Caleb. I never did. I just want a home. A simple one. With you.”
My heart somersaulted. How could she still do this to me? I didn’t want it to ever stop.
“Then I’ll give you one,” I said, lacing our fingers together again while we strolled. “I have a couple houses lined up for us to look at. Make time for me this week, love?”
“All right. Let me know when, and I’ll ask Kar for a day off.”
I frowned. “Where is Kar, by the way?”
She was quiet for a moment. “She’s sorry she couldn’t come tonight.”
“Oh. How come?”
She just shook her head and murmured, “Later.”
So that was part of the later too. All right then.
I could see the throng of people and hear the faint sound of music and muted conversation floating in the air. I heard Red take a deep breath, felt her anxiety in the way her hand gripped mine as we walked through the crowd.
“Are you hungry? Let’s get you something to eat before you say hi to my mom. She’s looking forward to seeing you tonight.”
That was supposed to make Red feel better, but when I turned to look at her, worry lines creased her forehead, and she bit nervously at her bottom lip.
“What do you think about snails?” I teased, slowly leading her to the empty dance floor.
That earned a laugh. “I’d rather eat broken glass. I’m not hungry.”
Her eyes suddenly dropped to my mouth. I couldn’t help it; I licked my bottom lip.
When her eyes shifted up to mine, I said quietly, “I am.”
She blushed.
People were looking at us, staring at her, and who could blame them? She was the most beautiful woman at the party. On earth. In the whole wide fucking universe.
It wasn’t just her beauty, although that alone could make anyone stop and stare. But a lot of people possessed beauty on the outside, God-given or man-made. The vulnerability in Red’s eyes made you want to come closer; the secrets in them made you want to know more. And if you were lucky enough, she’d let you have a glimpse.
“Dance with me, Red.”
She looked up at me, her eyes wide and nervous. I just smiled reassuringly, took her small purse and the paper bag from her hands, placed them on a nearby table, and returned to her.
The lights dimmed and softened as she placed a hand on my shoulder. Watching her lovely face, I offered her my hand, palm up. She smiled warmly and took it. I smiled back before curling my other hand around her waist and pulling her closer.
“You’re so beautiful. It almost hurts to look at you,” I murmured, wishing that we were alone.
A breeze blew gently around us, carrying the scent of roses. It mixed with the alluring scent of her skin. I heard her sigh softly as she rested her cheek on my chest. Music drifted around us. Janacek, I realized. Ben must have chosen the band’s playlist tonight. I closed my eyes, slowly swaying her body with mine.
“I thought you weren’t going to come,” I whispered in her hair.
Gently, I stroked my fingertips along the exposed skin of her back. It felt so smooth, so warm. When I felt her shiver, I smiled knowingly. I wanted to be alone with her.
“I wouldn’t miss your birthday for the world.”
“Half an hour more without you, and I’d have been out of here to pick you up. You weren’t even answering your phone.”
“I’m sorry, Caleb.”
The sadness was back in her eyes. I wanted to make it disappear.
“I’d ask them to put on your song so you can do that magic thing with your hips—”
She laughed. I would forever remind her of this, even tell this tale to our kids once they were old enough.
“—but that dance is exclusively mine.”
When she looked at me, the sadness in her eyes was replaced with amusement. “What did you say to Beatrice-Rose? She looked really angry,” she said.
“I told her you’re my fiancée.”
“Ah.”
“I don’t want to talk about her.”
“She has the same dress.”
“What?”
“She has the same dress as me.”
I pulled back to look at Red’s face. “Really?”
“Caleb. You didn’t even notice?”
“I wasn’t paying attention to her. I know what your dress looks like.”
“And you didn’t notice that she’s wearing the same dress as mine?”
“Um…”
She rolled her eyes, laughing softly. “Caleb.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not my fault.”
I only had eyes for her. Was that a sin?
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?”
The band stopped playing. I looked up to see Ben on the stage in front of the band, holding a glass of champagne, ready to make a toast.
“I have a very joyous announcement to make.”
And suddenly, I was grinning. A very, very wide grin that hurt my face. I looked down at the face of the only girl I’d ever loved, the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And I knew, as I knew every time I looked at her, that she was the one. Even after I died, even in the next life and all the lives after, she was the only one.
She stared back at me, her eyes shining with the same excitement as in mine as we listened to Ben say, “I am overjoyed to announce the engagement of my only brother, Caleb Nathanael Lockhart, to Veronica Strafford…”
A round of applause broke out around us, and I blocked out everything else after that. Ben was still talking, and as soon as he finished, the band started to play another song, but all I could think about was my girl in my arms.
Her eyes were shimmering, her cheeks flushed, and she was the most beautiful thing I could possibly dream of.
But the most unbelievable thing was that she belonged with me.
This girl belonged with me.
There were congratulations after that, invites to several parties and dinners, pats on the back, women asking to see her ring. And all I could think about was when I could get her alone again. When at last the commotion died down, I led her back to a table, snagged two champagne glasses from the server, and handed one to her.
“Thirsty, love? I could get you water if you like.”
“Mr. Lockhart? I’m sorry to disturb you, but you have a phone call from a Mr. Darcy. He said it’s urgent.”
Damn it.
I nodded at Ben’s assistant. “Thank you. I’ll be there in a moment. Red? I need to find Ben and deal with this. This particular deal is time sensitive. Come with me?”
She shook her head and smiled at me reassuringly. “I’m okay here, Caleb.”
“Cameron is around. Find him for me, will you? Stay with him until I get back. Mom is probably busy socializing right now.” My gaze roamed around us, looking for my mom, but she was nowhere in sight. “When I get back, we’ll find her.”
“Sounds good.”
I pulled her into a close embrace and kissed her hair.
“I’ll be right back, Red. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I won’t.”
