Defiance shines in her eyes.
“You can’t go in there thinking he’s just going to notice you and want to hear your life story. These people will eat you alive.”
“I’ve been smiling and holding casual and meaningless conversations since I was ten. I think I’ve got it covered.”
“Tell me what you’re going to say to him. How are you going to introduce yourself?” I demand.
“I don’t even know when or where I’ll run into him.”
I shake my head. “This is your purpose of the night. You don’t wait around and see if you can bump into him, you make it a point. You’re seeking him out like he’s the quarterback, and you’re a defensive linebacker.”
“Why are you pushing this so much? It doesn’t even impact you.”
“Because I still have a shitload of expectations for you.”
Her shoulders sag, falling against the seat as her chest falls with another breath, as though my words have found some small bit of peace inside of her. I get it. I understand the need to have a focus to feel ease.
I slowly release the brake, our conversation turning into silence as we make the drive to my Dad’s.
A parking attendant dressed in a white jacket waves us forward when I pull into the driveway. Raegan dips her head in an attempt to see the house as we drive forward, following to the next attendant who directs us to a makeshift parking lot to the right of the house.
“This is where you grew up?” she asks.
“I wasn’t here much, but this was the address on my file.” I put the truck in park and turn off the engine, silence enveloping us as she glances at the house again and then me like she’s attempting to picture me here. I’m tempted to ask her what that image looks like, but she frees her seat belt and moves to open her door.
“Hang on,” I tell her, hopping down and making my way around to her. This view is even better, her legs are both revealed, her heels showing off her toned calves.
Rae smirks when I meet her eyes. “I never pictured you being a leg man.”
“I’m not.” Tonight, I’m pretty sure I’m a shoulders man. Or maybe a neck man, I think, gazing over her exposed skin.
She scoots forward in her seat, and I grip her waist, lifting her down to the graveled ground. She makes a sound in the back of her throat, a gasp of surprise as her free hand grips my shoulder.
“Ready?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Not really.” But she’s already walking forward.
I grin, stepping beside her, my hand at her back. “You’ve got this, Kerosene.”
She glances at me, shock rounding her eyes and slowing her steps. I have little doubt that she’s reliving the night I told her I was willing to take the risk—prepared to get burned as long as I had my chance with her. I consider telling her I was burned. That I still have the embers she left behind, ones that grow into a flame and spreads when she’s gone and are insistent when she’s near—a constant distraction.
“This place is the size of a museum,” she says as we reach the stone steps, her head back, trying to take in the house before turning to look over her shoulder. “The front rose garden is bigger than my neighborhood.”
“Don’t get distracted.”
“Trying,” she says quietly, moving her attention to the front doors that are propped open, a woman wearing a silver dress clutches an opened leather book, smiling as we get closer.
“Good evening, Mr. Beckett,” she says, nodding.
Rae turns her attention to me, but before she can say anything, we step inside and are greeted by another member of the wedding planning party who offers to take Raegan’s purse and shawl.
“I need to know the rules,” Rae whispers, watching her things slip away behind a curtain.
“The rules?”
“Expectations,” she says, flipping her hands in short, panicky bursts. “This is beyond fancy. She called you Mr. Beckett.”
“Breathe, Lawson.” I take her hand, threading it through my arm.
She pauses, taking in the large entryway, the impressive staircase, the immense white walls, and white tiled floors. “I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to call me Ms. Lawson tonight.”
I grin. “You know how I feel about rules.”
Her eyes dance across the space as she follows me to the living room where over a hundred people are gathered, crystal glasses filled with champagne in their hands, while a string quartet plays in the corner.
“It started with an f. Was it follow them? Finish them?” she teases.
“Lincoln!” Carol, my dad’s fiancé, appears, wearing an ivory dress that falls to the floor and a tiara tucked into her dark hair. She leans forward, kissing my cheek. “You’re going to need to find your dad. He thought for sure you’d be late.” She turns her smile to Raegan. “You must be Raegan.”
I brush my hand along her back, a gentle pressure in hopes of reminding her I’m swimming with her tonight among these sharks. Rae smiles, a natural and practiced reaction as she offers her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Carol takes her hand but looks at me. “Isn’t she adorable.”
There are a thousand words one could use to describe Raegan Lawson, and adorable is near the bottom. Sexy, desirable, stunning, but adorable is a term one applies to a dog they see on a commercial—or a child who isn’t in the midst of a screaming fit—and a gross understatement to Raegan’s beauty.
“Look who the cat dragged in,” Dad says, appearing in a black tux complete with a black shirt and freshly dyed dark hair to cover his grays, but failing to mask his age. He shakes my hand, his other patting my shoulder before looking at Raegan. He offers his hand, an appreciative smile tugging at his charm. It’s apparent with the way he tilts his head and uses both hands to shake hers. “I’m terribly sorry, but I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Noah.” He’s playing casual, which makes me bristle with unease. The only times my dad is this relaxed is when he’s either flirting, or he’s impressed. He doesn’t know enough about her to understand how impressive she is, which leads me to the initial. I stare at him, my eyes narrowed with a silent threat that I know he reads as he gingerly takes a step back, closer to Carol.
“Raegan,” she says.
“What a beautiful name for such a beautiful girl.” He shakes her hand too long, but she doesn’t seem to mind, smiling, and meeting his gaze. “How do you guys know each other?”
“I’ve known Raegan for several years. She also attends Brighton. She’s in their marine biology program. Her father’s the dean of business there. Do you remember Dr. Lawson?”
Dad pulls his chin back, his brows rising with surprise and pride as I give him the brief biography I know will put her in his good graces and help with the opportunity of introducing Rae to Dr. Swanson.
“I had no idea Dr. Lawson was hiding such a beautiful daughter.” Dad smiles at her again, his gaze appreciative.
“Well, he’s full of surprises,” Rae’s bright smile hides the fact her tone borders on contempt, but I catch the notes, staring at her to decipher the words.
“I was planning to introduce Raegan to Dr. Swanson tonight since they both share a passion for marine biology.”