His words took my breath away. “They are?”
Storm took the sash of my robe and gave it a little tug, pulling me toward him. Surprised, I jerked the sash out of his hand.
He didn’t seem fazed. “Do you have time to talk after the show? Just the two of us?”
I shot a pointed look at Jennika, who looked even more miffed than just seconds ago. “Of course.”
Storm looked me over, not even bothering to hide the lust in his eyes. “Good. I’ll be waiting for you. Have a good time out there, okay? And don’t forget about me when all the lights are on you.”
I blushed. “How could I ever forget about you?”
He leaned in close, surprisingly close, and whispered, “That’s the right answer,” before slipping away and disappearing around the corner to return to his seat.
The nervous flutter in my stomach turned into an all-out hurricane of nerves and excitement.
CHAPTER 35
STORM
I waited at the entrance to the venue while Lexi hung back at our seats. About ten minutes before the show was scheduled to begin, a yellow taxi pulled up, and both Bill and Casey Hunt emerged from the backseat. Bill wore a dark suit that, when you looked closely, might have been a size too small, and Casey wore a deep red dress that reached halfway down her shins.
I met them at the top of the stairs and presented them with their tickets. “Let me take you to your seats.”
As we made our way through the sea of bodies inside, Bill marveled at the décor. Everything was done up for Valentine’s Day. The grand hall was a sea of pink and red with roses all over the place, including petals at our feet no matter where we turned.
We found our seats, and Casey mumbled something about not wanting to sit beside Lexi, who pretended not to hear.
“Sit down,” Bill said through clenched teeth.
Casey sat beside me.
Music began to play, alerting guests that the show would begin soon. I checked my wristwatch. Five minutes to midnight. The show was about to begin.
Casey cleared her throat.
I glanced over at her, but she didn’t look at me. “Is something wrong?”
She sat up a little straighter and kept her eyes straight ahead. When she spoke, she did so out of the corner of her mouth. “I just wanted to make sure you understand something, Thornton.”
Her stern tone and the way she used my last name made my lips curl in a smile. I tried to smother it, not wanting her to misunderstand me and think I wasn’t taking her seriously.
“Don’t hurt my sister,” Casey said, finally turning toward me. “She’s a good person who deserves the world, and if a selfish bastard like you crushes her heart? Mark my words, I’ll come for you.”
A shiver went down my spine. Okay, maybe this wasn’t something to smile about.
“I can promise you that I would never hurt Laila. I care deeply about her—more than I’ve cared about anyone, actually.”
Casey arched an eyebrow. “That’s kind of sad.”
“On the contrary.” I chuckled. “I don’t think it’s sad at all. It’s a matter of perspective. To be honest with you, nothing ever feels sad when I’m with Laila.”
Casey eyed me skeptically. She wasn’t buying it. “Either you’re a real life Casanova, or you’re just saying exactly what you think I want to hear so I’ll get off your back. And personally? I don’t really like Casanovas or try-hards.”
“Tough crowd.”
She flashed me a smile that didn’t touch her eyes. “My sister has always had my back. It’s about time I have hers.”
I knew those words would mean a lot to Laila, and I hoped Casey would have the nerve to say them to her face sometime soon. If not? I might just have to let it out of the bag for both of their sakes.
I considered my words carefully before I spoke. The last thing I wanted was for someone as important in Laila’s life as Casey to misunderstand me. I had to be sensitive and honest. “I understand your position, and I don’t expect you to just up and trust me, especially after Jennika’s stunt,” I added sourly. “The only thing I can ask of you is that you give me time to prove that I’m good for your sister.”
Casey sat there like a brooding teenager. “Fine.”
I offered her my hand. “Does this mean we have a truce?”
She stared at my hand. “What are you, five?”
“What are you, too cool for school? Quit bullying me and shake my hand already. We’re going to be friends, you and I. Mark my words. You choose what foot you want to start on.”
She rolled her eyes, her whole body filled with angst and resentment, but eventually clapped her hand into mine and shook. As soon as we released each other, the lights dropped and the music turned up. After a brief introduction to the night’s events, the show began, and the first model stepped out onto the runway to strut her stuff.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Casey tapping her foot.
Meanwhile, Bill called loudly into Lexi’s ear about how he’d never seen one of Laila’s larger shows like this. Lexi hushed him and told him to watch.
When Laila took to the stage, both Bill and Casey lit up. They sat up perfectly straight and watched her dominate the stage. Laila wore a more modest loungewear set, made of a red lace bralette, boxer shorts cut high on the hips, and a loose cardigan over her shoulders, which she shrugged out of at the end of the runway to strike her pose and show off the garments underneath. Bill averted his eyes, and I wondered if this was weird for him.
This was just business, after all. Laila was a professional woman. This wasn’t sex. It was female empowerment in all forms. It was self-expression and care.
She made it look effortless.
Before she turned her back, I broke one of the rules of attending a fashion show. I got to my feet, cupped my hands to my mouth, and cheered her name.
Laila turned redder than her bralette and laughed all the way back down the runway.
I settled back into my seat.
Casey scoffed. “That was so embarrassing.”
I blew her off with a wave of my hand. “Apathy is embarrassing. Caring about someone and making sure they know it? That’s not embarrassing at all.”
The next time Laila walked, Casey was on her feet cheering with me, and the entire crowd was glaring at us like we were fish out of water. Casey liked that aspect. She had to feel like a rebel in some capacity, so being hated by the audience felt like a win to her.
What a weirdo.
When the show ended, everyone milled around the runway waiting for the models to come out. When Laila did, she made a beeline straight for us and threw her arms around her family. She looked incredible in a slinky black outfit that hugged her curves with sparkly straps and a glittery choker necklace. Her father told her he was proud of her, and her sister said she was the most magnetic one on the runway.
Laila came to me with a shy smile.
I offered her my arm. “Walk with me?”
She nodded.
Lexi took the reins when it came to Laila’s family and escorted them to the after party, where we would meet up with them later. While they did that, and most likely helped themselves to free champagne and appetizers, I led Laila down a corridor of hallways and random storage rooms until I happened upon the one I’d locked.