Walking into the kitchen, Jeremy realized he really did have a lot to celebrate. Not just about the dance and Bethany either. He had Gunnar now, and it looked like, no matter what, Gunnar was always going to have his back.
CHAPTER 25
“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow.”
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson,
“Ring Out, Wild Bells”
Kimber was back in the city. But this time, instead being crammed into her tiny apartment with her girlfriends, she’d been put up in the penthouse suite at the Lexington Hotel. Instead of taking the subway like she always had, a black town car and driver were parked nearby, waiting to take her wherever she wanted to go.
In addition, there had been champagne and flowers in her suite when she’d arrived, along with a note from the general manager that pretty much stated that the whole staff would be delighted to move heaven and earth in order to make her happy.
The first few minutes that she’d been in the room, Kimber had wandered around the suite, nibbled on grapes, and simply beamed. This was the life she’d always hoped for when she’d started her career.
But now, after a very long day posing in ball gowns and getting pricked and prodded by a half-dozen people for six hours? She was simply tired.
She could care less about all the over the top extravagances. The suite was beautiful and the attention was appreciated, but it felt strange. She was now used to living in a cluttered room in the middle of Ohio. She was used to wearing old sweatpants and hanging out in the kitchen and helping old ladies and little kids learn to dance.
She was used to thinking about Gunnar and his snug-fitting shirts and his gruff ways. And his love for Jeremy.
She’d become a Bridgeport gal.
After checking in with all the girls and texting Gunnar back, Kimber had taken Brett’s call . . . and set her mind to playing this game one more time.
Which was why she’d said yes to his dinner invite. It had been the right thing to do, but it was awkward. Because, here she was with a full face of makeup, a clingy emerald green dress that she’d borrowed from the designer, and four-inch heels, sitting at a table near the front of Gotham Grill across from Brett.
From the time she’d met him there, he’d been either on his phone or holding court with everyone who walked by. He’d also been drinking some kind of frou-frou rye concoction. He was on his third already.
She was nursing the same vodka tonic that she’d ordered almost an hour ago. After bypassing most of the choices on the menu and sticking with a piece of grilled fish and some veggies, she was eager to get out of the restaurant and call her sisters.
“Kimmy, what’s wrong? Is the fish not done to your liking?”
She really hated it when he called her Kimmy. “It’s exquisite, but Robert’s ball gowns show every bump.”
“You don’t have any bumps to worry about, darling. I know, because I asked Robert to show me a couple of the proofs. You’re as perfectly gorgeous as ever.”
“Why did you do that?”
“You know why.” He carved off another two-inch piece of his steak. “You’ve been down in Ohio. No telling what you’ve been doing. I didn’t want there to be any surprises.”
Surprises? She was a professional. “I don’t need you checking up on me.”
“Oh, don’t be sensitive, Kimmy. It’s my job to make sure my little star is still at the top of her game. That’s all I was doing.” He popped the piece in his mouth and started chomping. “Now, I think we ought to start talking about your next steps.”
He was driving her crazy, and that was putting it nicely. “My next steps involve going back home.”
“That’s great news.” His eyes brightened. “Was your loft still available?”
“I’m going back to Ohio, Brett.”
“For how long?”
“For as long as I can. I’m done.”
“Don’t be that way. Kimber, I promise, princess, you’ve got at least another year.”
The way everyone she’d once been so close to kept reminding her about her age was starting to really grate on her. What was wrong with them all? They were making an inordinately big deal about her age—even for people in the industry. “I have a lot of years left,” she bit out. And yes, she probably sounded defensive.
Some of the gloss left his tone. “To do what? No offense, but if you’re not going to model, what will you do?”
“I don’t know.” She waved a hand. “Something. Everything.”
“Well, that’s hopeful.” Stirring his drink with its little cocktail straw, Brett smirked. “You know, you’ve never told me what, exactly, you were leaving me for.”
It was weird how he was making her decision so personal. “I’m not leaving you, Brett. Just this career. And I’ll figure something out. I’ve got time.” He, of all people, knew how much money she’d made over the years.
His expression turned hard. “You’re making a huge mistake. You’re going to regret this. I know it.”
“Life isn’t all about work, Brett. I’m connecting with my sisters. Making friends.” Staring down at her very fancy, very expensive plate of food that she’d only been able to pick at, she smiled slightly. “Eating . . .”
“Eating what in the middle of Ohio? The blue plate special at the Bob Evans?”
“Sarcasm doesn’t serve you well.”
“Neither did living in the middle of the rust belt.” He drained his glass. “You forget that I grew up with those people. They’re going to grate on you sooner or later. Mark my words.”
Those people were her sisters. And Gunnar. Boy, just imagining how her construction worker would react to Brett’s pretty boy disdain, she couldn’t help but smile. Gunnar would have chewed him up by now.
“I see you smiling, girl. Don’t laugh at me.” Just as he drew in a breath of air, obviously in order to spew more advice, he smiled at the couple approaching.
None other than Esme and some older man who she was clinging to.
“Tommy! Esme!” After shaking the older man’s hand, Brett turned and kissed Esme on the lips. “Darling, you look gorgeous.”
Tommy stiffened while Esme laughed.
The whole thing felt icky. In no hurry to enter the conversation, Kimber stood up far more slowly. “Esme, hey.”
Esme hugged her. “Kimber, I know I said I’d call as soon as you flew in, but I’ve just been swamped.”