“I-I,” I stuttered, “I can’t believe it’s me.”
Carlos added a bit more pink to my cheeks and a dab to my lips before standing back and smiling. “You’re stunning.”
It was then the door from Mason’s bedroom opened.
“Oh,” I said, seeing that my brother now wore a gray tuxedo, with a bow tie and pocket square similar to the shade of my dress.
He came behind me and peered over my shoulder into the full-length mirror. “Not bad for two poor kids from the South Side.”
I spun toward him. “Thank you.”
“You’re helping me out, sis.”
I smiled as I fought a new urge to cry. “Mason, this is a whirlwind weekend, but I would never...without you. It’s like a fantasy come to life. I feel like a princess.”
He reached for my hands and lifted one until he brought it to his lips and softly kissed my knuckles. “Lorna, we’ve been through hell. It’s damn time we see what heaven is like.”
I placed my hand in the curve of his arm.
“Ready for a ball?” he asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Oh,” Mason said as he looked around the mess of a suite where things were strewn here and there. “Are you packed? There won’t be time to come back here before your flight.”
Reaching for the small studded clutch purse containing lipstick and my phone, I nodded and tipped my chin toward the door. My sad little carry-on was sitting there. The only items I’d needed that I’d brought from Chicago were the shoes. Patrice had others, but when she saw the embellished Louboutins, she agreed they would be perfect. “Where will I change?”
Mason took a step back and scanned me from head to toe. “I say you wear that.”
“No, I can’t keep it.”
“What the fuck am I going to do with it?”
My shattered nerves broke, bringing a smile to my lips as the brother I knew and loved allowed his true self to show through. He may have his face shaved, smell of heavenly masculine cologne, be wearing a mysterious masquerade mask making his green eyes shine, and donning what quite possibly was a custom tuxedo, but under it all, he was still Mason Pierce, the boy who made sure his sisters didn’t go to sleep hungry.
“I still need to change.”
“Try to be discreet. You can change in the SUV on the way to the airport. But you’re keeping the dress.”
“Mace, it’ll never fit in my carry-on.”
His lips curled into a lopsided grin. “You know, even as a princess, you’re a pain in the ass.”
I put my hand back in the crook of his arm. “And even as a guy, you’re the best fairy godmother.”
He chuckled. “Shit, like that story you used to tell Missy.”
One of the people working with Mason opened the hotel room door as we made our way to the elevator.
“That story is one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time. While I don’t need a prince to save me, it’s ingrained in every little girl’s psyche.”
“You’re talking Disney, not Brothers Grimm,” he said with a smirk.
“Yes. I prefer cute mice and singing birds to chopped-off toes and pecked-out eyes.”
The driver opened the door to the SUV as my carry-on was placed in the back.
Mason winked. “This isn’t a pumpkin.”
“No, but I saw some carriages in Central Park last night.”
Once we were within the confines of the leather back seat, Mason introduced their driver. “Lorna, this is Bruno. He’s a Sparrow, and he’ll be waiting for you at midnight.”
“Miss,” Bruno said, his gray gaze meeting mine in the rearview mirror.
I could hardly contain my laughter. Bruno was the name of Cinderella’s faithful dog, the one that the fairy godmother turned into the footman on the coach that took her to the ball. “Your name is really Bruno?”
“Yes, miss. But my last name isn’t Mars.”
“Too bad, I’d love to hear you sing.” When he only smiled, I added, “Thank you for taking me to the airport tonight. I wish I wasn’t making you leave the party early.”
“No problem. I’m not exactly attending. I’ll be waiting for you. Traffic will be lighter and leaving at midnight will get you to the airport in time for your flight.”
“Why didn’t we stay closer if this was the purpose of the trip?” I asked. Even a girl from Chicago had heard of Bishop’s Landing. Near the north end of Long Island, it was two hours with traffic from the hotel.
“Sparrow had business in New York. There’ll be some very important people at the party, and he wanted to make contact before we’re all wearing masks and monkey suits.”
“Will I meet any of these people?”
Mason nodded. “Yeah, I’ll introduce you. I’ll also need to go off a bit by myself.”
A new wave of anxiety washed through me. “Mace, I don’t know anything about Sterling Sparrow or his father—I mean, other than what everyone knows. I don’t know what you do for him. Shit...I basically know nothing. What do I tell people?”
“Everything you know.”
“That...doesn’t make sense.”
“It does, Lorna. For the rest of the world besides the Sparrows, we can leave out the brother and sister part. It’s none of their fucking business where I found my date.”
I grinned. “And in all honesty, it makes you a bit pathetic.”
Mason laughed. “I am pathetic...we all are when it comes to dates. Hell, Sparrow’s date is his pilot. And Patrick’s is a woman who knows a bit about the Sparrows. Like I said, it’s complicated to have loose ends.”
“They know more than I do.”
“And they know not to talk about it. Basically, from what Sparrow has said, this estate is massive. This party is posh. Think The Great Gatsby kind of wealth. The guest of honor is Tinsley Constantine and the party is at the Constantine estate. You’re friendly. Talk to others about the decorations, estate, food, and drinks. Party talk.”
The sparkle coming from my dress caught my attention. “You made me look and feel like I can do this.”
He squeezed my hand. “You’ve got this, sis.”
7
I clutched Mason’s arm as the SUV came to a stop in front of what looked more like a museum than a home. “Maybe I can’t.”
Behind his masquerade mask, Mason winked. There was an unmistakable gleam in his green eyes. “I wouldn’t have asked you if I thought you’d let me down.”
“Are you sure?”
The door opened, and taking a deep breath, we both got out. A golden carpet covered limestone stairs. White and gold lights twinkled from every column, tree—hell, on every rock. My mouth dried as we waited our turn to be introduced.
Once we made it to the entry, the area was like a wonderland of lights, candles, flowers, tables, and people, each one dressed in the most lavish of attires. Near an ornate pool with lit fountains was what appeared to be a full symphony. Now, granted, I wasn’t exactly sure what constituted a full symphony, but there were a lot of people with stringed instruments, as well as brass, woodwind, percussion, and a conductor.