Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“I wasn’t waiting another second,” Lucas tells me, his gaze holding mine.
“I’m fine.” Shaking, but fine. I didn’t realize how much adrenaline the confrontation took until now.
Blaire looks to each person in the room, and I almost feel sorry for how humiliated she must be. Almost.
Without another word, she runs from the room.
My father’s jaw is clenched tight. “Go after her,” he tells Lucas.
I shake my head. “It’s not like there’s anything we can do about her actions. I’ll turn the information over to the police and let them deal with her.”
Despite his hesitation, he agrees.
“Dad? I’m sorry this happened at your party.”
He shrugs. “A party will never be more important than you. As far as the guests go, nobody knows a thing.”
I smile at him, grateful I have him as my father. It takes a while, but I manage to convince everyone to go back to the main event. Despite wanting to be alone with Lucas, I have an event to run. We all exit the office and return to the party.
Microphone in my hand, I step onto the stage where the speeches will take place. “Can I have everyone’s attention?” I ask, and wait until things quiet down. “It’s time for the speeches, so I’m going to turn the microphone over to the president of the Miami Thunder, Ian Dare.”
My father accepts the microphone, and I slip away from the crowd and find Lucas hovering by the hallway entrance. He snags my hand and leads me back to his office where he shuts and locks the door.
Two steps and I’m where I need to be, in his arms. I soak in his warmth and the strength of his embrace, allowing myself to fall apart for the first time. My body shakes but I hold back tears, knowing I’ll need to return to the other room looking professional.
“I can’t get over the fact that she hates me so much she’d go to those extreme lengths to destroy me and my business,” I say.
He places a hand beneath my chin and tips my head up to face him. “I don’t think she dislikes you as much as she does herself. It’s sad,” he says.
I nod. “A part of me doesn’t want to go to the police. I feel sorry for Ashlynn and Blaire obviously has issues.”
“My concern is if she’s unhinged enough to throw the brick just because you won the bid on this event, what will she do next? Maybe if the police get involved, it’ll scare her enough to leave you alone.”
I sigh. “That makes sense.” And it would make me feel better to know she has something to fear. “But not Ashlynn. She was desperate and I really don’t think she wanted to hurt us.”
“You have a soft heart,” he says, brushing his knuckles over my cheek. “You also have mine.”
The words mean everything to me but even more importantly, he backs them up with actions every single day. “You have my heart,” I tell him. “And I’ll do my best to show you how I feel. To never take what we have for granted.”
He kisses me for a brief moment before he lifts his head and his gorgeous green eyes stare into mine. “We have a bright future ahead of us, sweetheart. I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” I tell him.
And then his lips come down on mine and he kisses me for real.
EPILOGUE
Lucas
Rainey sandwiched the Thunder’s winning season with another party at Midnight to wrap up the 50th anniversary celebrations. The Super Bowl win is a bonus for the team. I’m proud of all she’s accomplished for them this season and how she handled both Blaire and Ashlynn with class and grace. With Blaire’s admission and arrest, she ultimately pled guilty and was sentenced to community service, and had to pay a hefty fine. Rainey hasn’t seen or heard from her since the night of the party.
Now, Rainey is mingling with her family at a successful final event. Wearing a black minidress with chunky gold jewelry, she sparkles.
“Hey.” Jack comes up beside me, two drinks in his hands. He gives me one. “I realize this is six months late in coming, but I was wrong. You’re the best guy Rainey could have chosen.” He lifts his glass and touches it to mine.
We both take a sip of bourbon. I appreciate his admission. But things between us have been normal and after that day at my house and the one punch, we’ve been fine. I never blamed him, assuming if I had a sister who fell for a guy with my background, I’d feel the same way.
“How are the building permits coming along in Charleston?” I ask of the place we’ve agreed to open our second nightclub.
“Slow. But that’s city bureaucracy for you.” He looks around the party, going quiet.