Authors: Ella Celestine
“Dax, for crying out loud get out of here now!” Kurt shouted at his son’s mopey face, which he’d seen far too often in the few days since he’d ruined things with Norah.
“Way to be sympathetic, Dad.” Dax hadn’t been sleeping well because he was tortured by images of Norah’s teary face after she’d heard his doubts laid bare like the arrogant bastard he was. “I’m having a rough time of it.”
“And it’s your own damn fault. I didn’t raise you to be a snob and neither did your mother.”
Damn his dad really knew how to go straight for the jugular. The thought his sweet mother would be disappointed in him was a gut shot. But he remembered, “Mom stayed at home and took care of me. She was your perfect corporate wife.”
Kurt smiled, remembering his sweet wife and her cascade of raven curls. “Yes but Anne chose that role because she wanted to be with you as much as possible. She was also a wild haired bohemian who terrified those corporate wives you’re so worried about.” He laughed at the memories. “She served quinoa before it was fashionable, curry and once she served the largest textile manufacturer Moroccan food. That you eat with your hands.” He barked out another laugh. “You know what? He loved her. Told me I had a wild spirit who would always make my days worth living, no matter how hard they were. He was right.”
Dax had been a young child when his mother died but he did remember her wild black curls, always sticking out like a dented halo. And in nearly all the photos of her she wore long colorful skirts, billowy shirts and bare feet. “I remember,” he said on a whisper. His mother was not at all the perfect corporate wife he thought he needed but there was no doubt in his mind that his dad had loved her dearly. Still did, judging by the look in his eye. “Shit.”
Kurt chuckled. “That sounds about right.”
He turned pleading grey eyes on his father. “She won’t take my calls, won’t answer the door for me and she only responds to emails related to HOLLINGSWORTH.”
“If you’re sure you’re done being pigheaded, I do have an idea.”
“Well dad, you snagged the best woman I know so I’m all ears.”
***
“Okay Kip you’re all done. I just need to find those sapphire cuff links and you will be the best looking man at the party.” She smiled at the blush that stole over his face and ears.
“Oh no, honey! I must be the best looking man at the party, it's part of our relationship agreement.” Thad draped an arm around his handsome boyfriend.
“Don’t worry Thad, you both will look so good all the women will kill themselves because they have no shot with you.”
“Screw the girls, we want the boys to want to take us home, don’t we sweetie."
Kip shook his head affectionately at Thad’s dramatics. “No babe, we just want them to leave puddles of drool in our wake.”
Norah laughed, happy her best friend had found one of the good ones. “You’re up Thad. Now remember, we’re doing this part live so be on your best behavior.” She was especially proud of the outfit she’d put together for Thad. It was elegant and incredibly stylish.
“Aren’t I always?”
Norah and Kip both scoffed. “Do you know yourself,” she asked. “Stand still and be quiet. And smile,” she told him as she slowly tied the silver and white gingham bowtie, explaining each step as she went. “And there you have the perfect bow tie,” she smiled into the camera. Both men looked ridiculously handsome tonight and she knew there would be a string of broken hearts in both genders.
The bell rang and she stiffened, worried it might be Dax. She knew it wouldn’t be because he’d stopped calling. Thank goodness. “I’ll get it,” Kip said and returned a few moments later with a large box that could only hold one thing. A lavish dress. “Someone’s got a gift.”
“Open it now,” Thad demanded.
Norah pulled the top off, ignoring the glittery white bow and pulled out the most gorgeous white dress she’d ever seen. It had Grecian style draping and the white silk appeared to have some type of gold glitter embedded in it. “It’s gorgeous.”
“More importantly you’ll look gorgeous in it. Like a goddess on fire!”
“I doubt that,” she said hanging the dress up and pulling out the gold peep toe stilettos that would accompany it. There was a small gold clutch and a note at the bottom.
Dearest Norah, No one but you could wear a dress so lovely. I’m sorry I was an ass but I love you. Please forgive me
.
She shoved the note into the back pocket of her jeans and swiped at a tear before turning her gaze to the two men watching her carefully. “Okay, cufflinks for Kip and a vest for Thad.”
“First of all, I am not wearing a vest. I’m much too fabulous to dress like a professor at a women’s college. Second of all, hand over the note or tell us what it said.”
“You’re bossy,” she told him with a watery laugh.
“Yes and you love me for it. Now, hand it over diva.”
Thad wore that
don’t mess with me
look so she smacked it into his hand and searched for the cuff links. “Here we go,” she said and gave putting those cufflinks on more focus than it required while Thad read the note.
“Girl you will put that dress on and go to that man. I command you!”
Kip laughed but Norah said nothing, just kept her focus on those sapphire cufflinks that would make Kip’s eyes pop. “Honey,” Kip warned.
“No Kip. The man declared his love for her, she has to go!”
“Thad life is not like a rom-com. Just because he sent over this amazing dress and said the ‘L’ word doesn’t mean this is some happy ending. He doesn’t respect me, finds me
inappropriate
. Or did you forget?”
“Of course not, but he apologized.”
“Thad stop. He’s sorry I heard him and that I got hurt, but he meant it so what do you suggest? Should I continue to date him knowing that it will never turn into anything?”
“You don’t know that,” he argued with a pout.
She nodded. “I do. He’s worked his entire life to become CEO of HOLLINGSWORTH. He wants the perfect Stepford wife to fit the bill and that will never be me.” It hurt to admit that she wasn’t good enough but she knew Dax thought so.
Thad refused to listen to reason. “If that were the case he wouldn’t have started anything with you.”
She let out an unladylike snort. “It’s called sex, Thad.”
“You said you were going to do the red carpet, would it hurt to pop in for a minute?”
“You have the invitations, remember? Now get out of here and have a wonderful time. Tell me all about it tomorrow over brunch, yeah?”
Thad gave a reluctant nod and dropped a kiss on her cheek. “Fine.” Kip gave her other cheek a kiss and soon they were out the door.
“Finally,” she blew out an impatient breath and locked the door. Now she needed to do her live party prep and get to the red carpet. After that she would grab a giant lobster burrito and make a pitcher of margaritas and enjoy a quiet night at home.
Hello new normal.
***
Where is she?
Dax had been watching the door for the past hour while he pressed flesh with every fashion blogger, wannabe model, spokesperson and critic in Los Angeles. Everyone wanted a scoop on the HOLLINGSWORTH new line of affordable luxury goods that had, as of this morning, broken all kinds of sales records. He knew much of those sales were due to reputation alone. For so many years the non-wealthy had coveted HOLLINGSWORTH products and now that they had a chance to have it themselves, they were scrambling to get it. But he knew that plenty of this had to do with Norah because ‘how did you hear about HOLLINGSWORTH’ was a standard question for every visitor.
And she was nowhere to be found, despite the gorgeous white dress he’d sent as well as his proclamation of love. Well she had to be here, this was her celebration too.
“You’ve done it Dax. Good job.” Kurt was proud of the work he’d done. He could only hope Dax would be able to fix his love life as well.
“Thanks,” he snorted, “but I believe you did it. I merely took your strong suggestion about Norah.” He was glad his dad had pushed him otherwise he may have gone his entire life without knowing Norah.
“I only wanted you to meet her. I’d hoped…well, never mind.”
Dax looked at his father’s coy smile. “You sneaky old man.”
Kurt turned his grey eyes to meet an identical pair. “Watch who you’re calling old, son.”
He smiled, shaking his head at his father. “You set this up.”
“I admit nothing, son. Enjoy your success tonight.”
“Dad?”
Kurt turned to look at his son. “Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you my boy.”
Dax couldn’t believe that all of this was an elaborate setup. But he had to admit that his dad had been dead on. He’d taken on look at Norah and he’d been instantly attracted, so much that he’d stepped outside his comfort zone several times just to be with her. It had all worked out so well, at least until it hadn’t. He sighed and flashed a smile to anyone who might be watching. It wouldn’t do to get photographed with a scowl, or worse, a lovelorn look on his face. He’d spotted two well dressed men down below and squinted in recognition. A smile spread over Dax’s face at the sight of Thad and his boyfriend Kip.
When he reached them, he pasted on a smile. “Gentlemen, so glad you could come.” They, like many, had arrived fashionably late and the party had been going on for two hours.
“Dax.” Thad’s smile disappeared and he gave a bored look around the room.
“Hey Dax, how’s it going?” Kip extended a friendly welcome, at least.
“Well the launch is going well, so that’s good.” He knew his tone indicated otherwise but these guys no doubt knew everything.
“Great, congratulations.” Thad grabbed Kip’s arm and tried to leave but Kip wouldn’t budge.
“Excuse him, he’s quite protective of Norah, as you can imagine.”
“How is she?” He was desperate to know anything, he was starving for information about Norah.
“How do you think,” Thad glared. “She’s a wreck but she’s pretending to be fine.”
Dax winced at the way Thad spat the words. “Is she here? I really need to talk to her.”
“Did you mean it?”
He frowned until he realized Thad had seen the note. “Yes, I mean it. With everything that I am.”
Thad swooned a bit. “If you hurt her again I’ll put a hit out on you.”
Dax nodded his acceptance with a smile.
“She’s not here. She came earlier for red carpet promotions but she’s probably at home. Wallowing.”
In an uncharacteristic move, Dax pulled him in for a hug. “Thanks man.” He had to go to Norah, the woman he loved.
***
“About damn time,” Norah grumbled as she got up to get her burrito. After her stop at the launch party she didn’t have the energy to stop for food so she’d called them on her way home. “And it only took them a million years to get here.” She pulled the door open to see the last face she expected to see.
“Delivery for Norah Tompkins.” He smiled at her stunned expression. Giving the delivery kid a hundred bucks to let him take the food up had been an inspired idea.
She snatched the bag but Dax was too quick and pulled it just out of her reach. “Fine,” she turned and slammed the door.
“I don’t think so, sweetheart.” His hand shot out to stop the door from shutting and Dax walked inside, shutting the door behind him. “We’re going to have a little chat.”
She whirled on him, surprise in her deep brown eyes. “I think we’ve said all that needs to be said. One of us, at least.”
He faltered for a moment at her words. Dammit she was right. “Maybe so, but you never gave me a chance to explain or apologize.”
“How
inappropriate
of me.”
A small smile curved the corners of his mouth. “I deserve that, I do. But dammit Norah I’ve missed you and I didn’t mean it.” He chuckled at the skeptical look on her face. “Okay I did mean it, or at least I thought I did. My mind was so focused on how I thought things
should
be that I ignored how they were already.”
Hands on her hips, Norah refused to let her body respond to his words. She would not hope and she would not let her heart begin to hope. “What the hell does that mean?”
He smiled again. “It means that I was so worried about how you would fit in with the wives that it never occurred to me that
they
would have to fit in with
you
.”
“Am I supposed to be overjoyed by this news? Get down on my knees in gratitude?”
“I wouldn’t say no if you wanted to get on your knees, but no that’s not what I expect, Norah. I’ve fallen in love with you and I want another chance. Please.”
She felt her resolve crumbling and her heart kickstarted at his whispered plea. She loved this man but she couldn’t be sure his emotions were genuine. “Why should I give you another chance?”