A single, long table sits close to a dance floor. A live jazz band begins to play soft music while we’re served drinks and appetizers from silver trays.
“How did this happen?” I whisper to Hayley once I manage to pull her away from Paxton. I can tell she’s slightly smitten with him, much the way Maggie is. My editor is practically salivating.
“Somehow, he got my number. Some people know how to find what they want to find. He asked me to get everybody together.”
“Did you try to convince him that I didn’t want anything fancy?”
“I didn’t want to look ungrateful—and neither should you,” she whispers. “By the way, you look awesome. I guess a week on the ranch did wonders for you, huh?”
“Like I didn’t tell you I got thrown from a horse.”
“Yeah, but it looks as though you bounced back pretty well.” She drops a broad wink before going over to hang out with her brother and sister.
Grandmother and Peter are chatting with Lois while Maggie practically hangs off Paxton like a pendant.
I find Matt at the bar, by himself. Why did he come? He’s the last person I would expect to find here. Should I go over and say something? No, that might look a little obvious.
“Excuse me. I just need to get some air.” I give Paxton what I hope is a reassuring smile before stepping out onto the terrace overlooking much of the park.
I wish my heart would stop pounding. The surprise is long over—and really, I should’ve seen it coming. When he was talking about it on the jet, I should’ve guessed he had something in mind. But nothing could have prepared me for this.
Dammit, why is Matt here? It’s torturous, knowing what I know, knowing he sees Paxton and me together. Maybe I should’ve tried to talk to him when he got home on Sunday, but I was a coward. It’s not like I could’ve guessed he would end up at my surprise birthday party a week later.
“So, how did the ranch treat you?”
I close my eyes at the sound of Matt's voice. He’s standing behind me and off to the side. I can hear the ice rattling in his glass. Well, he didn’t confront me; he’s not being rude or mean, so I guess I should follow his lead.
“Would it surprise you if I described being thrown from a horse?”
“Not a bit.”
“In my defense, there was a rattlesnake, and the horse reared. Paxton shot the snake before it could hurt us or the horses.”
“What a hero.”
I grit my teeth and shoot him a dirty look. “Could you not tonight? Please? Whatever has to be settled between us can be settled after this.”
Matt looks confused. “What needs to be settled between us?”
What am I supposed to do with that? I’m still struggling to formulate a response when he nods, his mouth falling open.
“Oh, that.”
“Yes, that. I’m trying to be sensitive to your feelings here.”
“Since when?”
“What did I just ask you?”
“Sorry, you’re right.” He sighs, staring into his glass.
The lights from a dozen buildings around us illuminate his profile. I tell myself not to stare, but I can’t help it. Now that he opened the door by kissing me, these thoughts are bound to pop up in my head. Like, what it would be like to wake up next to him in the morning and run my fingers over his scruffy cheek.
He lifts a shoulder, his eyes still downcast. “I was all messed up. I’ve got to come clean with you and say, I still don’t trust him. I’m sorry. I see how much he likes you, but there’s more to it than that. He’s a complicated person. And I guess, I don’t know, I got overly protective. Maybe, deep down inside, I thought I could make you change your mind, make you decide to forget about him. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
I try to process this while the rest of the party goes on behind us. I should be in there, shouldn’t I? But I can’t leave Matt out here either. Not yet.
Especially not when, for some strange reason, his explanation leaves me a little crestfallen. “So, I didn’t, like, lead you on in any way?”
“Oh no! No, not at all. I don’t want you to think that.”
I guess that should make me feel better, shouldn’t it? It should come as a relief. So, why don’t I feel very relieved?
“I’m glad you’re here,” I decide to say, and I mean it. “Somebody’s got to help me get through being the center of attention.”
“There you are!” Paxton joins us—or rather, joins me, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind like he did inside. He’s followed by everybody else, all of them arranging themselves on the terrace.
“What’s going on?” I ask, a little apprehensive again.
“Watch and see.” He points out toward the park. “Just one little birthday present.”
Suddenly, the sky is on fire. Red, gold, blue, green. An entire fireworks show just for me.
“I don’t believe it!” And I don’t, I can’t, even though it’s right here in front of me.
Everybody oohs and aahs at the right moments. I look around at my grandmother, Peter, my best friend, and her family. I see delight on their faces, and I’m glad.
Only one person doesn’t look as impressed.
When the show is over, when everybody files back into the club, where dinner is about to be served, Matt leans in and murmurs just loud enough for me to hear, “Looks like you got your happy ending—finally.”
And for some reason, that makes me want to cry.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“That was one hell of a party.” Maggie sounds hungover, three days later.
“I have to agree.”
“And now that I’ve met that man of yours in person, I can’t help but picture him in all of these spicy scenes you wrote. Did you really have sex in the hot tub?”
I close my eyes and cringe. What would he think if he knew Maggie was talking about him this way? Knowing she was imagining him when she read scenes I’d written between my hero and heroine?
She doesn’t let me come up with a response before continuing, “Honestly, you should include a picture of him on the cover. We’d outsell every book you’ve written so far.”
“If you think he’s swoonworthy in a suit, you should see him in cowboy boots on horseback.”
“No doubt. I can’t believe that you didn’t take any pictures for me.”
“Okay, now, you sound like a stalker.”
She chuckles like I’m kidding. “Did you receive the pictures I sent you from your party?”
“I did, and I’ve already posted a couple of them on social media. Don’t worry; I’m not slacking.”
“Good. So, you think you’ll have the rest of the book finished this week or next?”
“Uh, this week. I know I’m probably jinxing myself by saying this, but this one has gone easier than all the others.” I rap my knuckles against the desk, just in case.
“Would it be too clichéd of me to make a comment about things being right?”
“Maybe a little.”
“I’m going to say it anyway. That man is clearly crazy about you. You’d better lock this down while you still have a chance.”