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Eighteen
The night of Mags Dumond’s Winter Party came fast.
Normally, Hallie would be preparing to segue every conversation to business, or to her twin sister. The idea of a spotlight on her was overwhelming, which might explain the case of nerves as well as her lack of appetite.
There would truly be nowhere for her to hide tonight. Once she and Gavin entered the party hand in hand, him dashing in his black tuxedo and her glowing like a red beacon, all eyes would be on them.
Since the night in her bed, when she and Gavin agreed they were fine, thank you very much, she’d convinced herself she didn’t care what anyone thought of their relationship. But her hard-won confidence had been gradually chipping away. While she showered this morning, dressed this afternoon and, now, as they crested the hill atop which sat Mags’s mansion.
She squeezed her hands together tightly as he revved the engine. They climbed the driveway in his shiny, outrageous Candied Apple red sports car. She shook her head helplessly. There was no way they’d blend in tonight.
As if he sensed her nerves, his hand landed on top of both of hers. “You’re going to do great.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not stepping out like Cinderella at the ball.”
“From what I recall,” he said as he pulled up to the valet stand, “things turned out well for her at the end.”
She sent him an impatient glare, but he only grinned.
“Hals. We’ve been to Mags’s mansion a million times.”
True. Mags had thrown her own birthday parties, black-and-white balls, costume parties and dinner parties. Tonight’s shindig was an evening of cocktails and snacks with a band. Without rigid structure, there would be lots of mingling and free time, which might have been what worried Hallie the most. She didn’t mind talking shop or chatting up prospective clients, but she wasn’t comfortable when she was the topic.
“Maybe no one will notice me,” she said, hoping against hope she’d been overreacting.
“Sweetheart.” He unbuckled his seat belt and then hers, sliding a seductive gaze down her dress. “Everyone is going to notice you.”
Her stomach tightened and then fluttered. A perfect illustration of how he affected her. He both riled her up and put her at ease.
Her feelings for him had grown and matured from the crush she’d had on him before. Now he was a real, layered man who shared stories with her in bed at night and nuzzled her neck in the kitchen in the morning. He had doubts and hated failing. And even though he’d die before he’d admit it, she knew the idea of a future with her—with anyone—was less about him losing control and more about fearing what the future might bring. The thing was, she understood. Hell, she could relate. She wasn’t quite ready for forever and ever, amen, either.
Not that her heart had listened to a single of her head’s warnings. She fell a little more for him now, in spite of the lectures she’d given herself not to involve her heart in what they were doing.
Enough.No more overthinking tonight. She didn’t need the added pressure.
He placed his Stetson on his head and then they walked into Mags’s immaculate mansion overlooking the lake—a palace, really—and into a sea of well-dressed people. To Hallie’s relief, she spotted a few other red dresses. Although none of them sparkled or had a train, at least she wouldn’t be the only woman in red at the party.
Hannah, having recently returned home from France, approached in a pale pink dress. She grasped Hallie’s shoulders, holding her at arm’s length. “I knew it. I knew it. I knew you’d look scrumptious in this gown.”
Gavin, at Hallie’s side, shook his brother Will’s hand and accepted a kiss on the cheek from Hannah. She gave him a playful shove and said, “You lucky guy.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He curled an arm around Hallie’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple. Hannah and Will didn’t appear alarmed. Neither did the people milling around the party turn and gawp. Maybe Hallie had been overreacting.
“Champagne?” Hannah offered.
“Yes, please.” Hallie nodded, hoping the bubbles would settle her nervous stomach.
Gavin enjoyed hanging out with Hallie. And only partly because most of their dates ended with exquisite sex. The other night when she’d fallen asleep in his arms, he’d held her close and stared at the ceiling, feeling grateful for the time they’d had together. To think he once believed she’d hated him. They’d come a long way.
He’d issued the challenge tonight for one reason. She was in the habit of putting herself in second place. Of comparing herself with the women around her. Especially Hannah. Hannah didn’t try to take the spotlight; it was more like Hallie gave it to her.
He wanted Hallie to step into her own spotlight. To be noticed and revered for who she was, rather than who she was related to.
Some of that insight was thanks to his own past experiences. He’d been in the shadows of his three older brothers for a while, and at one point had felt separate from them. Especially when he’d gone to law school instead of into the music business. Sure, he’d parlayed his degree into a music-themed career, but at the time he might as well have been on a different planet from the rest of them.
Once he’d honed his skills and his calling, he’d carved a niche for himself and became wildly successful. Confidence had been a by-product. He wanted the same experience for Hallie. She deserved wild success, too, and the easy confidence that came with knowing she was in exactly the right place.
“Well, if it isn’t my beautiful granddaughters.” Eleanor Banks embraced Hallie and Hannah, showing no preferential treatment. To Gavin, she offered a lingering gaze he couldn’t read at all. “You and Hallie are getting on well.”
