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“I’m real sorry to hear she went through all that.”
The sinking feeling stayed with Dane long after he’d left Olivia’s suite. He’d been there. He wasn’t about to admit it to a perfectly sweet stranger, but he could certainly relate to that unbearable pain of having your heart ripped out from you without notice by someone you thought you could trust, someone you thought who had your back.
Heartbreak was probably one of the most soul-crushing emotional pains he’d ever experienced. He’d never trust a woman again. He could relate to Olivia’s pain. And man, he really wanted to make her feel better tonight—and tomorrow. He’d think of something.
“Well, one man’s loss is another man’s treasure,” Chase smirked, trying to lighten the mood in the office.
“Now what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, you know.” Chase shot Dane a knowing glance.
“No, Chase, I don’t know.” Dane sighed heavily.
“Short memory. Dad just gave us an ultimatum, remember?”
“And?” Dane arched his brow.
“Well, you’ve got a bride who needs a groom.”
“Chase, I’ve got a bride in our hotel, who needs a good friend, not a groom. Besides…” Dane’s voice choked. “I’ve been down that road before with my ex. I already told Dad, he can cut me out of the will, if it pleases him, but I’m not forcing myself to marry for any reason. Besides…”
“Besides, what?”
“You know what they say about rebound relationships.”
“Oh, man, I know Sophie hurt you real bad. I shouldn’t have brought it up. It’s just that I want us all to honor Dad’s last wish.”
“I love Jonah, you know that. It’s just this wish of his is ridiculous. Speaking of which, what are you going to do about honoring his last wish?”
“I don’t know about me. Dad can’t really be serious about forcing me to pick up any girl to put a ring on her finger after what I’ve been through. Hooking up with media-chasing models who don’t mind talking about me to the tabloids. I can’t trust any woman again, Dane. I’m going it alone. I have no choice.”
“You know what Jonah always says, Chase: We always have a choice.” Dane lowered his timbre, impersonating his father’s robust voice.
“Well, some choices are better off not being made,” Chase retorted, grinning.
Chapter 4
Jack Laster replaced the phone on the receiver, his palms were sweaty, his heart raced. He could feel pain centering in the middle of his chest. He’d just told Olivia McAlister their wedding was off. But it was for the best. He was planning on leaving her anyway, might as well be now. She’d have found out he didn’t get the job at Krysten & Gorb Law Firm as he’d told her. Because he never really graduated law school—technically. He’d flunked out in the last semester. The shame was too great for him. When he should have been studying at the library, as he’d told her, he was out running numbers.
His cell phone rang. His heart pounded in his chest. He looked at the number on the display screen.
S. Leeson.
“Yes?” he answered.
“Hi, Jack, it’s Silveen. You left me a message saying it’s urgent.”
“Don’t bother showing up tomorrow. It’s over.”
“It’s over? What are you talking about, Jack?”
Jack drew in a deep breath. “I called off the wedding with Olivia. I just couldn’t go through with it. Cold feet. I don’t think things will ever get better.”
“Oh, Jack. That’s awful. I’m so sorry to hear.”
“Yeah. I had no choice.”
“No choice? What do you mean you had no choice, Jack? I don’t mean to pry but I thought things were going well between you and Olivia. You seemed crazy about her. She seemed to be very caring.”
“Yeah, I know,” Jack said quietly, holding his head as he sat at the desk with his elbow propped on the table.
“Is this about your problem?”
“You could say that.”
“Jack, you’re not making any sense. I mean, why didn’t you sort this out before now? The wedding is tomorrow. Olivia must be devastated!”
“So am I.”
“So why call it off, Jack? There must be something more to this than you’re telling me.”
“Well, I can’t lie to you, Silveen. If she found out about my…situation, I don’t think she’ll understand anyway.”
“You don’t know that, Jack. Gambling is an addiction. You can get help. You told me Olivia is a social worker. Why surely…”
“Yeah, she’s real sweet, but I don’t know how long she’ll stay that way when she finds out what happened to the savings. I lost everything.” Jack combed his fingers through his hair, sweat beading his skin. “Damn it! I really screwed up big time. I just hope it doesn’t affect her down the road.”
“Down the road? What have you done, Jack?”
“Everything I shouldn’t have done, Silveen.” Jack’s voice sounded more grim, even to himself. “Something she’d never forgive me for.”
Chapter 5
“So, is he cute?” Bria asked her sister, her wide eyes bright as sparkling jewels. “The hotel manager.”
“Bria!”
“What?”
“How could you ask me a question like that at a time like this?”
“Hey, just trying to make you feel better.”
“I know,” Olivia said quietly, her heart feeling heavy like a bag of sand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that.”
“S’okay, sis.” Bria shrugged then fidgeted with the seam on Olivia’s wedding gown that lay on the bed. “So…is he cute or not?”
“Bria!”
“Hey, this isn’t like you, big sis. You don’t normally talk to guys, even before Jack came along. You’re always so shy and reserved. Now Jack goes and pulls a thing like this on you and you agree to go to dinner with a stranger. I’m just saying…he must be really hot for you to want to see him tonight.” Bria winked.
“We’re going to have a discussion about what to do about tomorrow. All the guests are already here for the day. And Dane’s right about what he said. Why stop family and friends from gathering for a festive celebration? Everyone had already agreed to be here on Christmas Day. Everyone has already pushed their plans aside.”
“True. Well, he seems like a really cool guy for even coming up with that suggestion, considering you were going to call it off after Jack, well…you know.”
“I know.”
Olivia had to love her younger sister, Bria, who was very mature for her age. Her sis had a lot of street smarts and was more into grown-up stuff than Olivia was at that age. She was a freshman at college who was nineteen going on twenty-nine. She really spoke her mind a lot. Luckily, Bria had been staying with their aunt Sasha since her mother passed away. But Olivia was always there for her.
When she’d first told Bria the news about Jack, Bria was heartbroken and burst into tears, not because she thought Jack was great, but because she knew how much Olivia thought she was in love with Jack and how this should have been the most glorious time of her life.
* * *
Moments later, when she was left alone, Olivia rummaged through her luggage to find something suitable to wear. Suddenly, panic jolted through her. All she had in her suitcase was sexy lingerie. Stuff she would have worn on her wedding night. She picked up a red, silky gown and placed it back in the suitcase. Then her fingers sifted through the clothes to find her burgundy lace baby-doll set with matching thong panties that she would have worn the next evening. Her honeymoon. These were things she likely wouldn’t bother wearing now. She’d probably spend tomorrow night in an old t-shirt and fluffy slippers.
Her heart gave a squeeze at the thought. Wait a minute. Why should she punish herself? Why couldn’t she still dress sexy as hell, even if she would be spending the night alone?
Olivia flopped herself on the bed. What was she doing? Going out with a gorgeous hotel executive? Only moments after being dumped by her fiancé? Was she that desperate?
The rumbling in her stomach reminded her that it was only dinner. Nothing more. Nothing less. That was all. Two mature individuals grabbing a bite to eat. Together.
Just then, the phone rang. Olivia's heart lurched again.
Who could it be? Was it Jack confessing a change of heart?
Olivia hesitated at first. She squeezed her eyes shut. No, she couldn’t answer it. But then again, it could be Dane calling to see if she was still coming. She was not some desperate damsel in emotional distress. She’d made up her mind. Even if Jack had changed his. She was through with him. End of story.
Despite herself, she reached over to grab the phone.
“Hey, bride-to-be! How are you doing? Nervous about tomorrow yet?” It was her cousin, Macy, on the other end of the phone. Oh, great! Another reminder that her world had come crashing down before her very eyes. Her cousin flew in all the way from England for goodness sake! What was she going to tell her?
“Oh, Macy…I…” was just dumped by my groom-to-be, Jack, and now I’m going out on a date with another man in a few minutes. “No. I’m not nervous,” she whispered instead.
