The fact that she’d keenly note Ethan’s absence, not just physically but emotionally as well, sent a little jolt through her system. When had he started to mean this much to her?
“You all right?” Ethan asked.
“Yes.” She forced a quick smile and checked her appearance a final time. “Let’s get going.”
Natalie and Alex had a penthouse not too far from Ethan’s—no, the corporate—condo. While The Lloyds Development’s place reflected more masculine sensibilities, the Damons’ home had a warmer, softer tone that showed a feminine touch in the soft leather couches that invited people to sit and relax, pretty lace curtains, and vivid jewel-tone accents in the midst of the warm honey and cream wallpaper.
Natalie hugged Ethan and Kerri both. Natalie was dressed even more casually than Kerri expected: a pink and gray fitted shirt and a denim skirt that ended a couple of inches above her knees. She hadn’t bothered with shoes, which somehow made her seem even more fragile and feminine than usual. Kerri couldn’t think of a time when her best friend hadn’t looked delicately female, even when she’d donned her most severe power suit.
Alex, dressed in a red polo shirt and khakis, came out from the kitchen holding an uncorked bottle of Merlot. His frame wasn’t as large as Ethan’s, but she could tell he worked out. He was different from what Kerri had imagined. She thought he’d be more like her grandfather—aloof, awash in wealth and all it entitled him to. Alex was clearly used to wealth, but he didn’t wrap himself up in it. He seemed comfortable with who he was, and even if he didn’t have a penny to his name, he’d still have a commanding presence and a sharp intellect in his eyes.
As he came closer, Ethan casually put his arm around Kerri’s waist. Natalie made the introductions, and Kerri shook Alex’s hand. He was almost her type, tall and dark—though from the looks of him, completely unmanageable. But the skin-to-skin contact created nothing in Kerri, unlike the stomach-flipping sensation Ethan’s touch induced in her.
Alex smiled. “So happy to finally meet you, Kerri. Heard a lot about you.”
“Likewise. Natalie simply can’t stop talking about you.”
“Is that so?” Alex looked fondly at his wife.
“She’s lying, as usual,” Natalie said. “I stop talking about you at least twice a day.”
Alex planted a kiss on her cheek, which caused Natalie to giggle.
Kerri raised an eyebrow. Natalie was so not the giggling type. On the other hand, she had never had a man who adored her purely for herself, not for who her family was.
“Let’s go in,” Alex said. “I’m afraid we haven’t prepared anything home-cooked.” He cast an amused glance at his best friend. “I know Ethan’s been spoiling you.”
“I have offered to teach you,” Ethan said.
Alex widened his eyes. “Your grandmother’s super-secret family recipes?”
“Well, no, not those.”
“Then what’s the point?”
“You aren’t using your kitchen to its fullest potential.”
Alex shook his head and mimicked Clint Eastwood. “A man’s got to know his limitations.”
“Our limitation was having just got back, we had to cater,” Natalie explained. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Have you ever seen me say no to free food?” Kerri teased.
They all laughed and moved to the dining room, where an interesting arrangement of plum blossoms occupied the center of a large cherry table. Natalie poured some wine for herself and passed the bottle to Ethan.
The menu consisted of beautifully prepared Peking duck and other complementary Chinese dishes. Natalie served everything, with some assistance from her husband, and said, “I so missed this stuff. I love European cuisine, but there’s something about American Chinese.”
“And she blurted out just how much she missed it while eating foie gras. In Paris, yet.” Alex gave her a soft kiss on the mouth, then turned to Ethan and Kerri. “Thank god the waiter didn’t hear.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “The French and their food pride.”
Kerri had assumed Alex would be a bit too intense, even dominating. But he was all charm and easy words. He also looked at Natalie with a love so pure Kerri’s chest ached. She wanted to know what it was like to belong and be loved unconditionally.
Not for you, Kerri. That’s not for you.
Career. That was all she could really depend on. Not because it cocooned her, but because it was less likely to disappoint her. She could work at it without becoming too attached. After all, it was just a string of jobs. If one didn’t work out, she could always get another. But people were different. They were individual, irreplaceable, and their emotions didn’t remain constant. She couldn’t afford to entrust her happiness to anybody.
Not even her own mother had cared about her happiness.