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He considered that for a moment, a hopeful glimmer flickering in his gaze. “Maybe I will.”
She gave his arm an encouraging squeeze before continuing on her way toward the dining area, hoping that Collin followed through on the idea of reuniting with Raevynn.
Catching sight of her brother Hunter wandering ahead of her by himself, and knowing that he was most likely preoccupied with thoughts of what was going to happen with Maddux tonight, Tempest quickened her steps until she was by his side, then slipped her arm through his. He immediately stiffened, a brooding frown on his face as he turned his head to see who’d latched on to him. He looked relieved to discover it was only her, and she smiled up at him, trying to be upbeat despite how nervous she, too, was about Maddux’s plan to avenge their parents’ deaths tonight, which meant ruining Theodore Cole, the man responsible for their mother’s and father’s demise.
“Are you
okay?” she asked, a ridiculous question when she knew his anxiety level was as high as hers.
His brows furrowed even more as he tugged on the collar of his shirt. “I’d be a whole lot better if I could get rid of this fucking bow tie,” he grumbled, making it known, not for the first time tonight, how much he despised black-tie affairs and wearing a tuxedo.
She rolled her eyes and playfully smacked his hand away before he unraveled the knot. “I loosened it for you earlier, in Maddux’s office,” she said, reminding him of the same complaints he’d issued then, too. “So stop being a drama queen and deal with it.”
A brief laugh escaped him, but the mention of the meeting they’d all gathered for in Maddux’s office earlier, before the ball had begun, made him grow serious again. “I can’t believe, after all these years, Theodore is finally going to get his due.”
“I know,” she said softly as they continued strolling through the ballroom and around other guests, keeping their conversation private. “But he ruined our lives, and it’s time he paid.” There was no arguing that fact. He’d stolen something precious from all of them that they would never get back.
Hunter nodded, though his gaze was troubled. “I just hate that Maddux insisted on confronting Theodore alone. I should be there with him tonight.”
Tempest sought to ease his worry. “I understand how you feel, but Maddy has harbored the most anger and resentment over the years. The past has tormented him, and I believe he needs this moment, on his own, to heal some of his pain. He was the one who was there when our parents died as a result of the fire Theodore had set at Mom and Dad’s restaurant, and he’s always felt responsible for what happened, even though it wasn’t his fault.”
A muscle in Hunter’s jaw flexed as he drank the last of the alcohol in the glass he’d been holding before handing it off to a passing waiter.
“He’s lived with that memory and guilt for fourteen years,” Tempest went on. “That’s a long time for all that burning rage to build up inside of him toward Theodore. We need to let Maddy do this on his own and avenge Mom and Dad’s deaths, then maybe, hopefully, he can let it go and move on with his life.”
“You’re right,” he said reluctantly.
“He promised to text us later and let us know when it was over.” Tempest gently squeezed Hunter’s arm. “So please try and relax and enjoy yourself.”
They stopped near what was one of her favorite areas she’d designed for tonight’s festivities—an enchanted forest within the ballroom that was straight out of any fairy tale. Real trees were wrapped in delicate mesh fabric and twinkling lights, crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, and dramatic up lighting added to the overall effect. Lit candles floated in a huge marble fountain, and dozens of floral arrangements helped to transform the entire room into a picturesque wonderland that the guests seemed to be enjoying.
Hunter glanced at her with pride in his eyes. “You did an amazing job with this year’s charity event. Even if it is a bit fanciful and frivolous,” he teased.
That was a huge compliment coming from her brother, considering he was a no-frills kind of guy. Letting go of his arm, she regarded him somberly. “Do you know why I chose fairy tales for this year’s theme?” she asked, and considering the blank look Hunter gave Tempest that told her he had no clue, she divulged her reasons. “Because everyone deserves a happily ever after. Maddux. Me. Even you, Hunter.” She truly wanted that for each of them.
His mouth twisted in a sardonic smile. “Just in case you’ve forgotten, I had my chance at a happily ever after, and fate decided that I didn’t deserve it.”
The bitterness in his voice was undeniable. After losing his fiancée in a tragic accident—one he’d witnessed and hadn’t been able to save her from—Hunter had mostly closed himself off when it came to women. At least emotionally. Natalie had undoubtedly been the love of his life, but Tempest wanted to believe that there was someone else out there for Hunter. Someone who would make him whole and complete again.
“None of us will ever forget what happened to Natalie,” she said in a soft, compassionate tone. “And sometimes life isn’t fair, but don’t ignore a second chance if it’s offered, because you do deserve it. What happened to Natalie wasn’t your fault.”
Hunter stared out at the twinkling lights around the trees, clearly not wanting to discuss his past or the possibility of opening his heart up to love again.
“Dinner is scheduled to be served in about twenty minutes,” she said, letting the personal subject go so she didn’t completely ruin her brother’s mood and evening. “And I need to go and double-check that there aren’t any problems in the kitchen.”
Hunter slid his hands into the front pockets of his dress pants and arched a brow at her. “Don’t you have people who do that for you?”
She laughed lightly, realizing where this conversation was headed. “Yes, of course, but you know me—”
“You need to be in charge of everything,” he said, knowing her all too well.
She shrugged. So she was a little obsessive about being in control of everything around her and making sure things ran smoothly. It was part of what made her such a good businesswoman. But she also knew that being strong and capable and a perfectionist had stemmed from her parents’ deaths.
She’d been twelve at the time, and losing both her mother and father in one fell swoop had undeniably devastated her. But even though she could have fallen apart, she hadn’t wanted to burden either of her brothers with her internal turmoil and anxiety, and locking down her own emotions had been a necessity.
So many responsibilities had fallen on Maddux’s and Hunter’s shoulders after that life-altering event, including having to take care of her when they’d only been teenagers themselves. She’d tried her hardest to make everything as easy on them as she could. She’d put on a brave face, had become as independent and self-reliant as possible in order to make her brothers proud of her, and all that took immense control that had spilled over into her adult life.
But now, as a twenty-six-year-old woman, finding a man who wasn’t intimidated by her tenacity and confidence or threatened by her growing success had so far eluded her. Even Kyle downplayed her business ideas as frivolous distractions until she settled down, got married, and had babies—preferably with him, she knew. She found his male-chauvinist views insulting and offensive, had even told him so, but he was arrogant enough to believe that she’d come around to his way of thinking. There wasn’t a chance in hell that was ever happening.
