The REASON Series - the Complete Collection (41 page)

My fingers gently glide along the smooth silver.
 

"You don't need to wear it all tonight."
 

I don't jump because I've had a feeling he was watching me. "I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll wear it."

I nod my head enthusiastically. "Of course I will."
 

I turn around to face him. He is standing there barefoot, in dress pants, no shirt, and his hair is still wet and dripping slightly.
 

The sight of him has me weak in the knees, but a huge weight dissolves almost the instant that I look into his bright, brilliant blue eyes.

"Hi, beautiful," he says and smiles that gorgeous smile he has that no doubt has the ability to bring any woman to her knees.
 

"Hi," I breathe.

He makes no move toward me, so I cross the room to him and throw my arms around his chest. I accidentally touch the wings on his back, and a tremor runs through his body.
 

He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head.
 

"I missed you," I mumble into his chest.
 

"I can tell. I missed you, too."
 

He rubs along my back, and my body shakes in response. A desire to be closer to him grows hot within my body and it frightens me. I don't have a clue what this means. I've never felt anything like it before.
 

"You look beautiful," he says quietly.
 

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now, we need to leave in about twenty minutes. Will you be ready?"
 

I nod into his chest once again and he pulls back slightly.
 

"Good. Now we both need to get dressed," he says, kissing the top of my head again and pulling free of my arms.
 

I reluctantly let him go.
 

He turns toward the other bedroom and I see his beautiful wings shimmering across his back, vivid and alive.

THIRTY-TWO

I change quickly, starting with the shoes. I slide them onto my feet and crisscross the laces up each calf. Standing straight again, I replace the tan bra I'm wearing - which would’ve worked well for the dress I'd planned to wear - for a white, lacy one. I also pull on a pair of white lace boy shorts to match. I’m relieved to notice that although the back of the dress is open, it will still cover up my bra.
 

I slip easily into the dress and guide one bracelet over each of my wrists. I cannot bear to part with the locket he gave me earlier, so I decide to leave it on, too.
 

I cannot help but smile at the beautiful woman staring back at me in the full-length mirror. She is elegant, graceful, and classically beautiful. With her hair pulled back off of her face and cascading down her back, she looks like Cinderella, ready for the ball.
 

I'm overcome by the idea of what people will think, seeing me on Mikah's arm. I will become the center of attention; I can feel it already.
 

"Get a grip," I say quietly to myself. I've never cared what anyone has thought of me. Why start now?

I feel a tingle of excitement right as the knock comes. "Viv, it's almost time to go."

"I'll be right there," I say back loudly.
 

I reach for the little purse I bought yesterday to go with the dress I'd originally planned to wear. That dress is similar to this one, but it will sit unused in the closet. I wonder if Celeste can return it for me.

I sneak one final sideways glance at myself in the mirror. My bump is more pronounced from this angle, but for some strange reason, it's a very welcome sight.
 

When I step out from the bedroom, I see Mikah standing at the breakfast bar with his back to me. The candles are still lit, but the light over the bar is on. He's changed his pants. He's now wearing white pants.

I take a few steps in his direction and he turns toward me. As he turns I see that a thick silver stripe runs up the outside of his pants and that he is wearing a silver vest and tie under his white jacket.
 

I can't help the fascinated smile that spreads across my face at the fact that we match.
 

"Hello, beautiful," he says, and I blush. Not from his words but because I actually feel beautiful.
 

He walks toward me, his eyes raking me up and down, taking me in. The dress covers my feet completely. Only he and I will know that I wear only skimpy ballet slippers on my feet.
 

"You look gorgeous," he breathes.
 

The desire to kiss him is burning through my body, and I can't help but look up at him, hoping that maybe he’ll finally kiss my lips.

But he goes for my forehead instead. Ever the gentleman.

I smile.
 

I step back slightly and turn around so that he can see the whole dress. It is a lot lower cut than I'd thought, and the sheer material barely covers the top of my butt.

When I come back around he is staring, slack-jawed, breathing heavier.
 

Desire flares in me again.
 

He extends his elbow to me, an offer, and I take it.
 

"Shall we?" he says.
 

"Yes." My voice sounds husky to my own ears. I want to stay at home tonight with him, but I know that won't happen.
 

Andrew and Red are waiting for us when we emerge into the hallway, both of them dressed in black tuxedos with matching bow ties. Red is holding my jacket, but Mikah quickly takes it from him. He opens it up and presents it to me to put my arms in, and I do.

He offers me his elbow once again, and we're off down the hall toward the elevator.

THIRTY-THREE

After a short drive in the limo we arrive at the Millennium Hotel downtown. Outside are people standing around and what seems like a never-ending stream of flashbulbs going off. Press? Photographers? Why?
 

Then I see the bright red carpet that extends from the street into the hotel.
 

"Take a deep breath, Vivienne, you look beautiful."
 

I do as Mikah has asked and I feel calmer almost instantly.
 

"Good job. All you have to do is stay close and smile. I will handle the rest."

I nod, not sure of my voice right now.
 

Red is at Mikah’s door, and I see Connor coming down the carpet to meet us. I would much rather have Andrew. Though I trust Connor, especially after today, I like Andrew better.
 

It's almost as if he's sensed my preference; instead of joining Red, Connor walks to the front of the car and Andrew gets out. I see them exchange some words, and Andrew comes around as Red opens the door.
 

Mikah steps gracefully out of the car, his long fingers buttoning up his jacket as he stands.
 

Then his hand comes back into the car, extended in invitation, and I take it, sliding across the bench seat. As I step out, Mikah is quick to wrap his arm around me to steady me.
 

He waves, and I hear people shouting his name. Through the wave of flashbulbs I try to focus on where I'm going and what I'm doing, but it's hard; all the flashing lights are disorienting.
 

"Breathe," Mikah says.
 

I take a deep breath and smile. He releases my waist in exchange for taking my hand. I would much rather be closer to him, but it's hard to walk that way. I follow him along the line of cameras down the red carpet. Red and Andrew are right next to us.
 

About halfway up, he leans into my ear. "We're going to pause, face left, smile, then turn around and do the same on the other side. Then we will go straight in."

"Okay," I say with a little more confidence.
 

Two more steps and he stops and turns left, his hand leaving mine and coming to rest on the small of my back. I smile, and a flurry of flashbulbs go off in my face. I find it hard to look straight ahead. After a couple of heartbeats, we turn around to face yet another onslaught of flashes and more people shouting his name.
 

After another heartbeat I hear Mikah say, "Okay, let's go."
 

We turn back toward the door and make our way into the hotel almost double-time. I'm blinking rapidly, trying to clear the dark spots in my vision.
 

"Good evening, Mr. Blake," a gentleman in full livery says. "Right this way."
 

He leads us toward a bank of elevators. The spots are slowly subsiding, but I don't really get a chance to look around at the entrance of the hotel.
 

We reach the elevators and someone else in full livery is standing inside, holding the door. We all step in, and the doors close.
 

I hear Mikah let out a huge breath. "Glad that's over," he says.
 

I giggle a bit. "That was awful," I say, and all three men laugh.
 

Mikah looks down at me. His eyes are a vibrant green tonight. He's excited about this for some reason. "You look gorgeous," he says and smiles warmly at me.
 

I nudge him with my shoulder. "You don't look too bad yourself," I say back, surprised by my momentary lack of filter.
 

He smiles wider. "Thank you, Ms. Callahan." Whoa, where'd that come from? But his eyes are alight with even more excitement at my words.

After a few more beeps the doors finally open into a reception area. Off to the left are several coat racks behind a table.
 

"May I take your coat?" he asks.
 

I nod, suddenly nervous.
 

I turn my back toward him as I undo the two buttons in the front. He gently slips the jacket from my shoulders. A shiver runs through me as his fingers gently stroke along my shoulder. He hands my jacket to the lady at the table, who takes it and hands him a ticket in return. Once the exchange is done, he grabs my hand and we turn around.
 

Ahead of us is a set of double doors and a sign overhead that reads
Ballroom
in gold lettering.

I notice very quickly that the majority of the guests in the ballroom ahead are wearing black. There are a couple of red and blue dresses scattered throughout, but Mikah and I are the only ones in white.
 

Mikah leads me into the ballroom, which is huge but not packed full of people. Round tables surround a small stage and dance floor, and I'm suddenly anxious; I have no clue how to dance. I secretly hope that Mikah won't ask me to.
 

We work our way through the crowd. There are waitresses walking around with trays of glasses full of what I think is champagne. Mikah stops one of them and takes a flute from the tray. "Would you please get the lady some cider?"
 

"Yes, sir," she says, and she heads off, making a beeline for a table at the far end that is covered in full glasses and champagne bottles.
 

"Thank you," I say to Mikah, and he looks down at me, a quizzical look on his face. "For the cider," I add.
 

"Of course. Don't want you to be thirsty." He smiles.
 

"Mikah." A woman's voice carries over the hum of conversation, and I turn my head in its direction. Walking toward us is a woman with medium blond hair, cut into a cute pixie style, and bright brown eyes. Her floor-length black dress shimmers in the light.
 

I look at Mikah, who raises his glass in her direction as she approaches.
 

"Hello, darling," she says and places her hands on his shoulders to gently kiss each of his cheeks. I watch in awe. "You look fabulous."

"So do you."
 

She looks expectantly at me.
 

"Sydney, this is Vivienne," Mikah says.

Recognition registers on her face and she smiles warmly at me. "Vivienne, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
 

I'm at a loss, but Mikah doesn't miss a beat. "Vivienne, Sydney is my senior partner and my right hand. She's the reason I've been able to take these last couple of weeks off."

"Oh, hello." I smile and offer her my hand. "It's an honor to meet you."

She takes my hand and we shake.
 

I can feel the pride washing off of Mikah. I too am surprised by my own poise and confidence. It's not something I've ever had to do, but it seems to come naturally to me.
 

The waitress has returned with my cider. I take the glass from her.

"Likewise,” Sydney says. “I will let the two of you mingle and I will see you at dinner."
 

"Thanks, Sydney," Mikah says, and she's off, just like that.
 

I can see by her confidence and the way she greets people along the way that she's very comfortable with who she is and what she's doing here.
 

I take a sip of my drink. It's good. Sweet, but not too sweet, and bubbly.
 

"Come ‘ere, I'd like to show you something," he says.

THIRTY-FOUR

He guides me by the small of my back toward a room to our right. As we approach the doorway I can see that the room has a domed ceiling of glass and that there are tables scattered around the room.
 

When we enter, I notice that each table has something on it. I can see everything from bottles of wine to books to a computer, and then some of the tables just have signs on them.
 

"This is a silent action." Mikah pauses his steps and turns toward me. "All the items in this room have been donated by someone in attendance. So whatever the winning bid is on an item, that money all goes toward the charity for tonight's event."

"What is tonight's charity?" I ask, rather anxious to know.
 

He takes my hand and leads me to a small round table on the left-hand side of the room. Upon the table is a sign that reads: