Dreams of Perfection (Dreams Come True) (19 page)

Chapter 37

Josh nervously adjusted his black tie, scanning the room for anything that might be amiss, as the hotel staff put the finishing touches on the table settings for the Silver Linings Ball to benefit the Women’s Legal Fund of Harlem. The Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria sparkled like the grand dames of old who once frequented its luxurious accommodations.

He glanced at his watch. The guests wouldn’t begin arriving for another half hour or so, leaving plenty of time to correct any problems that arose. He’d never taken on an endeavor of this magnitude. As the event’s working chair, he’d put together a committee of dedicated volunteers who, like him, had put their heart and soul into this event, and it showed.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find the Legal Fund’s Executive Director, Sherry Stevens, and the Mayor’s wife and Honorary Event Chair, Meredith Stokes. Both wore broad smiles to complement their elegant evening gowns.

“Josh, what a job you’ve done!” Sherry said, assessing the room’s silver and white décor. “It’s more than I ever could have imagined. We hope to raise a good deal of money for the Fund tonight—more than we’ve ever raised.”

“I can’t take credit,” Josh replied. “I have the event committee and Mrs. Stokes to thank for their hard work and constant support.” The Mayor’s wife had been instrumental in recruiting New York’s well-connected movers and shakers. Laura had also been crucial to the event’s great attendance because of her many business connections.

This was the first year the gala had such a high-profile honorary chair. Being introduced to her by one of the firm’s senior partners at the opera in April had been the first step to getting her on board. 

He glanced up to see Laura gliding toward them in a silver lamé gown reminiscent of something out of the classic Hollywood movies his mother loved to watch. The dress swirled around her like liquid silver, hugging her long legs and voluptuous body. The Veronica Lake hairstyle she wore added to the Hollywood effect.

Every head turned to observe her entrance. Of course he’d noticed her beauty before. What man wouldn’t? But tonight she looked stunning. It was her personality that rubbed him the wrong way.

“And here’s who we have to thank for the elegant venue,” he said, indicating Laura as she approached.

He introduced Laura to Mrs. Stokes and Sherry. “Laura served as the chair of the marketing and PR committee. Her advertising agency recently wrapped up a PR campaign for the Waldorf, and Laura convinced them that holding a fundraiser at their hotel for such a worthy cause would be good PR.”

“That’s marvelous, Laura!” Sherry said. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Laura said with a smile.

“Ah, there’s Senator Briggs.” Mrs. Stokes turned to Sherry. “Let me introduce you.”

Josh watched as Sherry and Mrs. Stokes approached a portly man with a comb-over.

Laura leaned in and whispered, “Ass kisser.”

Not tonight, Josh thought. He wasn’t going to spar with her tonight. “Goddess.”

Laura recoiled as if she’d been slapped. “What?” 

He gazed into her blue eyes. “You look like a movie star from Hollywood’s glamour days.”

“Who are you, and what have you done with Josh Ryan?”

He laughed. “I’m too excited to fight with you tonight. In fact, I don’t think I’ve told you what a terrific job you did heading up the PR committee. I really appreciate it.”

“Thanks.” She waved her hand, dismissing the compliment. “It’s what I do. But don’t think for a minute that when this is all over I’m not going to go back to loathing you.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He offered her his arm. “And why do you loathe me, exactly?”

“Because you’re just too nice a guy,” she said, as if it should be obvious.

Josh had just completed a final
circuit of the ballroom when he saw Darcy and Blake approach. Darcy was the glam to Laura’s glitz. Draped in a dress the color of dark plums, her graceful petite body left him longing to pull her into his arms. She’d piled her golden brown hair on top of her head, leaving some curls to float around her face, and her green eyes sparkled with excitement and wonder.

He’d meant it when he told Laura she looked like a movie star, but Darcy looked like royalty. Blake, on the other hand, gave a good impression of 007 in his white dinner jacket.
Always got to one-up everyone.

The awkwardness between him and Darcy had waned but lay just beneath the surface of good manners and appropriate public behavior. He still couldn’t look at her without thinking about the taste of her lips or the silkiness of her skin. And he couldn’t bear to see Blake’s arm around her without feeling jealousy’s bite. His inner caveman yelled, ‘Mine!’

“Wow! Josh, this is
amazing!
Really.” Darcy scanned the room as she spoke.

“She’s right, Josh. It’s impressive,” Blake confirmed.

“Thanks. You know the saying, ‘It takes a village.’ Well, it truly took a village to put this together.”

Darcy stretched to place a kiss on his cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”

Josh’s cheek burned where her lips touched him, and he resisted the urge to touch his face to see if she’d branded him with her kiss.

“The table is this way.” He led them to the front of the stately room, near the stage. “Laura’s already here, and so are Kelly and Daniel. You should see Daniel,” he continued. “He looks very handsome in his suit, but you’d think someone forced him to wear a noose the way he keeps pulling at his collar.”

The large round table would seat Darcy and her family, Blake, Laura, Kelly, Daniel, Mark, Chris, Martin, Cindy, and himself, giving them an uninterrupted view of the evening’s speakers, one of whom was Kelly.

Several women who have used the Legal Fund’s services planned to speak briefly about what it meant to them, followed by former Jets’ defensive tackle, Jordy Jacobs, whose late mother was a recipient of the Fund’s services when Jordy was just a teenager.

“Mom, are you nervous?” Daniel asked.

Kelly looked around the crowded room, and placed a hand to her chest. “God, yes!”

Darcy took the seat next to her and, grasping the hand in Kelly’s lap, gave it a squeeze. “You’ll be great. Just speak from the heart. Oh, and picture everyone naked.”

Daniel’s eyes grew big. “What? Ewww!”

“It’s just a little speaker’s trick to calm the nerves,” Josh explained as he took the seat on the other side of Daniel.

“That wouldn’t calm
my
nerves. It would make me want to hurl.”

“Daniel,” Kelly admonished.

“Darcy, thanks again for contributing to the auction.” Josh gave her a warm smile.

“You’re welcome. I don’t know how much money it will bring, but I’m happy to help.”

Kelly’s eyes lit up. “What did you contribute?”

Laura chimed in as she sat down, “Dinner with
NY Times
best-selling author Darcy Butler.”

“I have to bid on that.” Kelly shook her head. “Oh, but I’m sure I can’t bid enough to win.”

Darcy lifted a glass of champagne, a look of confusion on her face. “We’re friends. Why should a friend have to bid on dinner? We can have dinner any time.”

“Aw, thanks Darcy,” Kelly replied, her eyes bright with pleasure.

“Told you we’d get $500 a ticket,” Laura whispered, as she adjusted Josh’s tie.

Josh glanced around the room quickly filling with wealthy patrons. “Yes, you did. And you were right.”

“Joshua Michael Ryan, this is no fun!”

“The event?”

“No. You being so agreeable. I can’t wait for this night to end so we can get back to normal.”

Josh just grinned as he took a sip of champagne.

Chapter 38

The evening was in full swing when Darcy slid into the empty chair next to Josh and leaned over to whisper in his ear, “Wow, Josh. You have to be proud of what you’ve accomplished tonight. I know I am.” She scanned the room full of New York’s Glitterati. “This could be
the
social event of the year.” Being close to him, inhaling his crisp, clean scent flooded her brain with sweet, sexy memories.
Down, girl.

“Thanks, Darcy. That means a lot to me.” He gazed into her eyes and she momentarily forgot about Blake, and the roomful of people, until Josh broke the spell. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight? But, then again, you always do.”

Darcy could feel the warmth of his compliment all the way down to her toes. Was that a sign, or was he just being nice? Unable to answer, she turned her attention to the ballroom.

Blake was speaking to the Mayor. Daniel and his mom were out on the dance floor looking adorable . . . and relaxed, Kelly having already delivered her speech. When she’d finished, there hadn’t been a dry eye in the room, including Darcy’s.

She recognized members of the media working the room, in search of valuable photo ops and sound bites. Laura was talking to a reporter from the NBC network, in her element as the center of attention, however momentary that fame might be.  

Darcy had noticed Laura and Josh getting along. When Laura had adjusted his tie, Darcy thought she’d entered an alternate universe—one she didn’t like. Their constant harping on one another was oftentimes grating, but this open friendliness got on her nerves.
Don’t bring it up. Don’t bring it up.
  

“You and Laura are getting along well.”
You just had to bring it up.

“Yeah. She’s very professional when the situation calls for it. I have to admit she’s been . . . pleasant all evening. And she did a terrific job with the marketing. I couldn’t have gotten all of these people here without her help.” He gestured to the elegantly clad assembly. “She’s been my right arm for the whole event, from planning to execution.”

“Who’s been your right arm?” Laura pulled out the chair on the other side of Josh and sat, the slit in her evening gown revealing her long, Victoria’s Secret model legs.

“You, who else?” Josh patted her arm.

Darcy felt an irrational stab of jealousy.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Thelma and Louise.”

Darcy’s heart stopped. “Doug!” His tie was slightly off-kilter and he reeked of bourbon.

Josh and Laura stood, shouldering in front of Darcy.

“If it isn’t Doug Lansing, Cheating Bastard,” Laura said. “What are you doing here? Hell spit you out?”

“I’m here to claim my prize. Dinner with
NY Times
best-selling author, Darcy Butler,” he said in derision as he swayed on his feet.

“She’s not having dinner with you,” Josh ground out. “We’ll gladly give you a refund.”

“Don’t want a refund. Want my prize,” he slurred, reaching out to grasp Darcy’s arm.

“Touch her, and you’ll draw back a nub,” Laura warned through clenched teeth.

“What’s going on?” Blake joined the group, pulling Darcy back and into his arms.

Doug aimed his blurry glare on Laura, grabbing her by the wrist. Josh noted that for a drunk guy, his reflexes were quick. “You bitch. Still fucking anything that moves?”

“All right, that’s it.” Not wishing to cause a scene, Josh grabbed Doug’s arm and twisted it behind his back, restraining him, before signaling to security. “Mr. Lansing has had too much to drink and could use an escort to a taxi.” He released his grip on Doug’s arm and handed him off to the burly security guard. “We wouldn’t want him to
become
the news story, now would we?”

Doug chose the better part of valor and went with the security guard, but not before a parting shot at Darcy, “You always were a little princess,” he spat. “Too good for everyone else.”

An awkward silence fell among the group, but the other nearby guests hadn’t caught wind of the near scuffle.  

“That was fun,” Laura muttered, as she rubbed her offended wrist.

Josh took Laura’s wrist and examined it. “You okay?”

“Oh sure. Asshole is nothing I can’t handle. Thanks, though.”

“You okay, Darcy?” Josh asked.

Darcy noted the look of concern on Josh’s face and nodded. “I’m fine.”
Sort of.
Her insides shook like a martini shaker in a bartender’s hands. She hadn’t seen Doug in person in years and he had to pick Josh’s event to resurface in her life.

“Good,” Josh said before turning to Laura. “Want to dance?” he asked, as he slid his hands up Laura’s arms to her shoulders.

Laura looked at Josh in surprise. “Um, sure.”

Darcy watched as Josh escorted Laura out onto the dance floor with his hand on the small of her back, a dull ache beginning in her chest.

“How about you? Are you sure you’re all right?” Blake kissed her temple.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Who was that guy, anyway?”

“No one important.” Darcy didn’t feel like drumming up the past by discussing what Doug had done to her.

“Come on.” He led Darcy out to join the other couples swaying to a romantic waltz-tempo and pulled her into the circle of his arms. She leaned her head against his chest, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Laura and Josh. Her two best friends were finally getting along, so why wasn’t she happy about that?

Josh and Laura swayed to the music, her arm
s around his neck, his around her waist, but a respectable distance between them. In her heels, she stood face-to-face with him.

“What a dick,” Laura muttered.

“If you’re talking about Doug the Dick Head, no argument there.”

“Cheating Bastard.”

Josh snorted. He hated what Doug had done to Darcy, but as far as he was concerned, Doug didn’t deserve her anyway. “You really hate him.” It was a statement, not a question.

“What’s not to hate, after what he did to Darcy?” Laura turned in Darcy’s direction. “I wanted to reach my hands down his throat and pull his balls out.”

Josh winced, but couldn’t argue with that reaction. 

“Her self-esteem took a big hit, and to this day, she won’t watch that network’s news.”

Josh remembered all too well the changes he saw in her.

“I didn’t know what to do to help her. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m not exactly Dear Abby when it comes to love.”

“You’re a good friend to her,” Josh said. “That’s all that matters.”

“There you go again, being nice to me. Cut it out before I start to like you.”

Josh laughed and gave Laura a quick spin before pulling her back in his arms. “I’m surprised you don’t have some international hunk on your arm tonight.”

Laura huffed out a laugh. “I’m working. Men and work don’t mix.”

After a few moments, Josh asked, “Why do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Sleep with one jerk after another?” Josh felt Laura go stiff in his arms but he just held her tighter.

“Well, so much for Mr. Nice Guy,” Laura grumbled.

“I’m serious. You’re worth so much more than you give yourself credit for.”

Laura’s brow furrowed in thought, a flicker of confusion, before she laughed it off. “He’s ba-ack.”