“I don’t need protecting.”
“You don’t get to pick and choose.” He held out his arms. “This is the whole package. No substitutions. Either you want it, or you don’t.”
She glared at him. “You’re missing the point.”
“No, Bijou. You are.” He smiled sadly at her and backed out of the gazebo.
She took a step toward him, but he’d already turned his back, leaving her alone. A brisk wind gusted through the trees, and she wrapped her arms around herself, feeling alone—and angry, because she didn’t have to be.
Chapter Twenty-four
The piglet trotted through the staged apartment, investigating the new space. Chance followed less enthusiastically.
It was in the Marina, close to his boat slip. The top floor apartment had a small balcony where you could sit and watch the sailboats cruise on the bay. The view was amazing—with a panorama that spanned from the Golden Gate Bridge to Alcatraz. It had two bedrooms and was a pet-friendly building with an outdoor space where Ante Up would enjoy rooting around.
Best of all, the living space was large, with a huge connecting dining room that could easily fit a handmade French grand piano.
“It’s kind of perfect, isn’t it?” Chance said, hands in his pockets.
His porcine roommate lifted his snout in the air, agreeing.
“I know why you like it here. I saw the way you were looking at that poodle that got into the elevator with us.”
Ante Up gave him a piggy leer.
“The only problem is I’m not sure we have any reason to stay in San Francisco.”
The pig looked at him like he was an idiot.
He was. Chance couldn’t disagree.
The clacking of the real estate agent’s shoes on the hardwood floor made him turn around. “What do you think?” she asked.
Chance shrugged. “This apartment is perfect.”
“The great thing is that small pets are welcome.”
“A definite plus.”
“I hear a ‘but’ in your statement,” the real estate agent said with a worried smile.
Because KT wasn’t moving in with him. How perfect could any place be?
He shook his head. “I’m going to need to think about it.”
“A place this great isn’t going to stay available long. As you know, rentals are in high demand in the city.”
“I’ll keep all that it mind. Ante Up,” he called.
His little pig came prancing out of the bathroom. Chance tipped his head to the door, thanked the agent again, and trailed his pig out the door.
At the Carrington-Wright mansion, Elise sat in the front room, papers spread on the low table in front of her. She was studying them from over the rims of her reading glasses when they walked in. “You look in need of refreshments.”
Ante Up headed straight to her, standing next to her and gazing up adoringly.
She scratched under his chin as she called on the house phone for tea and snacks. Then she waved Chance to a chair and said, “What have you two been up to today?”
“We looked at apartments.” He stretched his legs out, exhaling. “It was exhausting.”
Ante Up huffed in agreement.
“I take it you didn’t find anything promising.”
“We did,” he said unenthusiastically.
She gave him a measuring look as one of the maids brought in their snacks. Elise thanked her with a warm smile and then picked up a cookie and held out a broken-off piece to Ante Up. The pig snatched it eagerly.
Chance looked at Elise with a raised brow.
“Really, darling, everyone needs a treat every so often.”
“He’s going to get fat.”
“He’s just big-boned,” she said as she fed the pig another piece.
It was something KT would have said, and it made him yearn for her.
He looked at Ante Up, who gave him a smug grin back. “You think you’re in hog heaven right now, but it’s the treadmill for you later, buddy.”
Ante snorted and patiently waited for more.
“Stop brooding and tell me what’s wrong, Chance.”
“Am I brooding?”
She gave him an amused look. “Are you really going to try to deny it?”
“No, I just wondered.”
“This involves Karma, of course.” At his surprised look, she rolled her eyes. “I recognize the signs from Prescott’s recent foibles in love.”
“She broke off our engagement.”
She stared at him. “Chance, you know you’ve become like my own son since you’ve been here?”
“Yes,” he said warily.
“Then you won’t take it the wrong way if I say I’m tempted to smack some sense into you.”
He smiled ruefully. “Am I that hopeless?”
“Not hopeless, darling, just clueless. But you’re a man. You can’t help it.”
“I think there was a compliment in there somewhere.” He took a scone from the platter on the table. “I’m just not sure where.”
“Chance, you need to decide what you want.” She poured tea for both of them. “You came here to set down roots. What does that look like?”
“Like a room full of music and light, with KT curled on the couch with a guitar in her lap,” he said without hesitation.
“Then you have your answer.”
“More like a lot more questions.”
“You seem to land on your feet, regardless.” She leveled him a no-nonsense look. “So what do you want?”
“KT.” It didn’t require any thought.
Elise sat back. “Then get the girl.”
“Okay.” He nodded. “I have no idea how I’ll do that, but I will.”
“Good. I like Karma, and then you’ll have to come visit me.”
“I’d visit you regardless.”
She smiled at him. “You’re a good boy. I’m glad you came to stay.”
His phone rang. He looked at the unfamiliar number and apologized to Elise as he answered. “Chance Nolan.”
“Chance, this is Steve Hall. We met at Roger Leif’s party.”
“Yes.” He frowned. “How can I help you?”
“Roger said that he didn’t ask you to join his firm.”
“True,” Chance said, wondering where this was going.
“His stupidity is my gain. My firm specializes in high-yield ventures, what others would call risky. We’re in no way as big as Paragon, but we have a lot to offer, in compensation and freedom. I’m looking for forward-thinking, creative people, and from what I know of your background, you sound like a perfect addition to my team. I’d like to invite you to come in and take a look around. Does Monday sound good?”
“That’s great,” he said, a little stunned. “Thank you.”
“My assistant will send you the info. Looking forward to this, Chance.”
“Me too.” He got off the phone and turned to Elise.
“You work fast,” she said with a lift of her brow.
“It’s my luck.”
“You make your own luck.” She patted his arm. “Don’t forget that, and don’t let Karma forget that.”
Chapter Twenty-five
“You don’t look your usual cheery self,” Eve said as she slid a cappuccino across the bar. “I feel like I should offer you something stronger to go with your coffee.”
Bijou smiled faintly, holding her cup in her hands. “Something stronger, like a cinnamon roll?”
“If you’re asking for a cinnamon roll, I know something’s wrong.” Eve held up a finger and smiled at a couple who walked into her coffeehouse. “Excuse me a sec.”
Bijou nodded as she sipped her coffee. She didn’t mind a moment of quiet. Not that things had been noisy at home. Just the opposite, actually. KT had barricaded herself in her cottage, and her mom and dad were rehearsing for the concert. The noisiest thing lately had been her own thoughts, which were relentless.
The front door chimed open and Rosalind walked in, sporting a long garment bag and a wide smile. She walked over and pulled out a stool with her foot. “You’re going to drop to your knees and profess your undying love for me when you see this dress. Here, take it while I order tea.”
Bijou took the bag, trying not to notice the glimmering red through its plastic window. She recognized the fabric, of course, and part of her wanted to tear open the bag and try on the dress her friend had made for her.
Rosalind ordered her beverage and came to sit next to her at the counter. “Did you look at it? It’s going to look fabulous on you, if I say so myself.”
Bijou stared at it longingly as she carefully folded and placed it on the stool next to her. “I’m not sure what the point is.”
“Is your mother still being stubborn?”
“To put it mildly. I thought she’d relent if she knew KT was more interested in classical music, but she’s enforcing her ultimatum, especially now that KT isn’t really getting married.”
“I can’t believe KT had the wherewithal to fake an engagement.” Rosalind wrinkled her nose. “Have you talked to her?”
“I’ve tried, but she’s barricaded herself in her cottage and won’t open the door except for the pizza delivery guy.”
“Maybe you need to hijack him and hold her pizza hostage.” She smiled her thanks to Eve, who set her tea in front of her.
“The crazy part of this whole thing is that KT seemed really upset about calling off the engagement. I think she’s really in love with him.” Bijou turned to her friend and lowered her voice. “Do you think it’s my fault they broke up?”
“KT has the responsibility there, doesn’t she?” Rosalind sipped her tea, ever pragmatic. “You know the real shame about this entire situation?”
“What?”
“The wedding dress I designed for her won’t get to appear in
Rolling Stone
.”
“You already designed her dress?” For some reason that made her really sad—for KT.
“It’s perfect for her, too. Tiniest bit rock star in deference to your heritage, but simple at the same time to honor who she is.” Rosalind smoothed a strand of hair back into her twist. “It’s quite brilliantly done, if I say so myself.”
“Great, now I feel worse.”
“Try your new dress on,” her friend suggested. “I promise it’ll make you feel better.”
She looked at the bag next to her. “I can already tell that dress is magic.”
“But?”
“I won’t be performing.”
“You will.” Rosalind patted her hand briskly. “You always work to get what you want. You’ll find a way.”
The only way she could see was if KT performed, and that wasn’t going to happen, especially since she’d betrayed her sister.
She hadn’t been learning nice things about herself.
Bijou faced her friend, lowering her voice. “Do you think I seek my parents’ approval?”
Rosalind pursed her lips. “Everyone does. It’s a biological imperative, I think.”
“I’ve just been wondering if maybe I shouldn’t just hold my own concert.” Voicing Will’s idea sounded as crazy now as it had the other night.
“That’d be risky,” her best friend said, taking on her rational business mien. “But bold. You have a name, so you’re not completely starting without anything. I know you don’t like to capitalize on your parents, but you’d be daft not to. You have a pedigree, use it. You have what it takes. How clever of you to realize it.”
Actually, Will was the clever one. He’d believed in her more than even she had herself.
She’d been thinking about that a lot, too.
“Are you writing again?” Rosalind asked.
She sighed, hanging her head. “I’m trying.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m forcing myself to sit down and bang out a mediocre song every afternoon.”
“That’s a start.” Rosalind sipped her tea. “Not every song is going to be a hit, especially after a long slump like you’ve had. You’ll be struck by inspiration.”
She had been, only she’d pushed him away.
As if reading her mind, her friend said, “What happened to that bloke you went on a date with?”
“Nothing,” she lied as she slipped off the stool. She picked up the garment bag. “I’m excited about this.”
“Why don’t I believe that?” Rosalind said with an amused smile. She kissed Bijou’s cheeks. “Try it on, darling. I may be tooting my own horn, but that dress will bring miracles.”
“Good, because I need a couple miracles.” Bijou waved to Eve as she left the café.
When she arrived home, she’d meant to hang up the garment bag and do a long workout. But the dress kept winking at her as she stripped out of her street clothes, and she couldn’t help put it on.
It hugged her like a dream. It was a halter, snapping comfortably behind her neck and baring her shoulders. Long in the back, the shortness in the front showed off her legs. Every time she moved, it shimmied like it was breathing and alive.
She slipped on a pair of silver heels from her closet and looked in her three-way mirror. Rosalind had outdone herself. She pictured wearing it on stage, the way the light would reflect off of it, and how it’d make her pop, and she sighed sadly.
There was a light knock on her door, and her dad poked his head in when she gave the okay. His eyes widened when he saw her, and he adjusted his glasses. “I was going to ask if you wanted to go for a run, but you’re not exactly dressed for it, are you?”
“Oh, Daddy.” She went to him, tears in her eyes.
He opened his arms and soothed her. “There, there, Ruby Red,” he crooned, the same way he always had when she was little and had a nightmare. It should have been ridiculous now, since she was a foot taller than him, but it was still comforting.
“Come sit with me.” He led her to the window seat and sat with her. Lifting her chin, he frowned as he wiped the few tears that had escaped. “What’s this about?”
“I made a mess of everything. I just wanted KT to perform so Mom would let me, but now I’ve messed up everything for KT.”
Her dad smiled gently. “You need to give your sister a little credit for where she’s landed herself. That girl is stubborn, but she’ll figure it out. As for you …”
“Yes?” she prompted.
He tipped his head. “Have I told you about the time your mother and I played Harbor Fire?”
“Harbor Fire was the concert that set you and Mom on the map.”
“Yes, and they rejected us from the lineup. We were two unknown kids who had nothing but a rusted out Chevy Vega and a couple beat up guitars.” He smiled fondly in his memory. “Your mother and I had been trying to get a record deal for a couple years. Months of traveling in the car, camping out to save money, eating rice and beans because it was what we could afford.”