Page 90 of Last First Date

“He saw something in you, Waverly,” I said, my tone serious. “He’s not a man to take chances unless he’s certain.”

Her eyebrows rose, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. “You think?”

“I know,” I reassured her, placing my hand gently over hers on the table. The contact was electric, sending shivers down my spine. She didn’t withdraw her hand. Instead, she turned it so our palms were touching, fingers interlacing.

“It’s late,” she murmured but made no move to withdraw her hand or stand up from the diner booth.

I sighed, knowing she was right. “It’ll be another early morning.”

“I’ll set my alarm and make sure I’m up and ready to go.”

37

WAVERLY

The next two days were a whirlwind of activity, entirely dedicated to prepping for the much-anticipated launch party. The air was thick with tension and stress, given the impending presence of celebrities and important people. The entire board of the lingerie company would be attending the party. Every detail had to be meticulously arranged to ensure the success of the event, leaving me with little time to focus on anything else, including the burgeoning feelings I had for Knox.

I could sense Knox’s nervousness. This was important to him. It was a double-edged sword. If it was the huge success it was shaping up to be, Knox would cement his place in the event-planning world. Other New York businesses were going to want him on their event team. Richard would have no choice but to send him back. The Utah office would be handed over to someone else or Richard would call off his retirement.

Every scenario ended with Knox in New York. This thing that we may or may not have was going to end before it ever got started. The shitty thing was, I felt like he was a different man when we were together.

I couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was a side of Knox that he revealed only to me. His laughs were more genuine, his smiles warmer, his eyes more expressive. He let his guard down around me, which was a rare sight considering the poised demeanor he usually held. Why did it have to be so complicated?

I found myself watching him from across the room while he coordinated with the caterers and decorators, his brows furrowed in concentration. There was something about his authority and confidence that was inexplicably attractive. He was in his element here. This morning he had hit the ground running. It helped that we were staying in the hotel that was hosting the party. I could feel his excitement for the big night. I didn’t know if it was because he was looking forward to rubbing elbows with beautiful, powerful people or if it was because he wanted to prove he could pull off something of this caliber.

He caught me watching him and offered a smile. That was something else I noticed. He smiled more. Correction, he smiled at me. There was a genuine happiness about him. He seemed to be enjoying himself. Yes, the work was stressful and there were about a hundred balls in the air, but he was handling it like a pro. I had to admit, the man born with a silver spoon and a golden ticket to the CEO’s chair was actually talented. He wasn’t just a pretty face. He could do the job, and from what I had seen, he could do it well.

“This is incredible.” The director smiled as she approached me. “When I made that emergency call to your company, I never expected things to actually be better than we planned for. I was just hoping to have something pulled together to pass for a launch party. But this?” She gestured expansively, taking in the room which had been magically transformed from a drab hotel conference room into an elegant, glittering wonderland of twinkling lights, billowing white silk, and crystal accents that glowed with a soft, inviting light. “This is simply extraordinary.”

“It is beautiful,” I agreed.

“Your man Knox is a miracle worker,” she continued, her voice filled with genuine awe and appreciation. She cast me an impressed glance before her gaze was drawn back to Knox, who was at that moment instructing a group of waitstaff with a firm yet patient hand. “He’s transformed a disaster into something phenomenal. I’ll be forever grateful for him stepping in at the ninth hour and saving my bacon. I should have been paying more attention to what the other planning team was doing. I truly thought this was a lost cause. I was ready to pack my bags and kiss my job goodbye. I know you have been a huge part of the planning, so I want to thank you as well. And of course, your runway appearance upped our visibility as well.”

I nodded, accepting her gratitude gracefully, though all I could focus on were her words about Knox. My chest tightened with a mixture of pride and longing. Pride for his success, longing for the man himself.

“Thank you,” I managed to reply, my gaze wandering back to Knox. He was now deep in conversation with the DJ, a playful smile dancing on his lips as he nodded enthusiastically to whatever the man was saying. As if sensing my gaze on him, he turned to glance at me, his eyes glinting with an inexplicable emotion that made my heart skip a beat.

“I should check on him,” I said. “He’s going to wear himself out with the pace he’s setting today.”

“I will see you tonight,” she said, smiling.

I joined Knox. “Do you need anything?” I asked.

“I’m okay.”

“Coffee,” I said, nodding as I studied his face. “It’s been a few hours. You run on caffeine.”

He looked at me with a warm smile. “You’re worried about me?” he asked, the corners of his lips tugging upward in amusement.

“No,” I replied quickly, too quickly maybe. I was denying it more to myself than to him. I knew he could see through my lies but maintained my facade. “I just think you haven’t had a break since morning. You’re always making sure I eat, and I like to make sure you have your coffee mainline.”

He laughed. “I’ll be fine,” he said quietly.

“I’ll get you some coffee,” I said, nodding firmly.

“Have it your way,” Knox conceded with an amused shake of his head. I caught the affectionate glint in his eyes before he returned his attention to the DJ.

As I maneuvered my way through the bustling crowd to fetch him a coffee, I overheard conversations talking about how awesome things looked and what a great job had been done. I had to take some pride in the compliments. I was part of the planning as well. But I was glad Knox was getting his well-deserved praise.