Van
Skylar Butler turned to the woman at his side and back to us. “Mr. Sherman, may I introduce my date for the evening, Elizabeth Sanders.”
Elizabeth.
Beth.
I nodded with a smile. “It’s a pleasure. I’ve heard about you.”
Nodding quickly, she released Butler’s arm and came closer to Julia. “I asked Skylar to bring me here, hoping you’d be here.”
“Beth, we have nothing to say to one another.”
Beth swallowed as she rubbed her lips together. “I want you to know that I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
Every instinct told me to seize Julia’s hand and save her from this moment. As those thoughts went through my head, an observation caught my attention. It was Julia. While Skylar Butler was a mealy measly wannabe and Beth was a bundle of nerves, my woman was confident, radiant, and calm.
The calm in the storm.
She reached out, placing her left hand on Beth’s arm. Perhaps it was because her right hand was holding her glass of champagne or maybe beneath her gorgeous smile, my woman was also a quick thinker and a bit devious. Nevertheless, with her fingers on Beth’s arm, Julia’s engagement ring shone like a beacon in the storm.
Beth wasn’t the only one to notice the new ring. Though neither she nor Butler verbally commented, their expressions gave away their surprise.
It was Julia who spoke. “Don’t apologize, Beth. I have no ill will toward you.” She smiled up at me. “Without your announcement, I would never have driven to Ashland, never have met Van. I would have never known that feeling when two people unite, the flutter in your stomach that accompanies unchartable, intense chemistry. Believe me when I say I’m grateful. Without your announcement, I would have lived my entire life without that.” When Beth didn’t respond, Julia added, “I’m content. I won’t accept your apology because I owe you gratitude.”
“Julia,” Butler said, standing taller. “I was wrong about what I said about Beth.” He nodded toward her. “I was shocked. The baby is mine, there’s no question, and Beth and I are going to have it.”
Julia’s smile softened. “I’m sure you’ll be immensely happy.”
“We need to talk about our house.”
The house they were building together.
“I’ll have our attorneys contact you for more information,” I interjected. “Julia deserves her share.” With that, I splayed my fingers behind Julia’s back. “If you two will excuse us, I believe Julia was telling me about something she wanted me to see.”
Her blue gaze came to mine. “Is there anything you haven’t seen?”
Fuck.
Okay. That did it.
I was taking Julia to her room and fucking her for what she was doing to me. Her strength, wit, and comebacks were making me hard. Butler’s expression, from the corner of my eye, was priceless.
I offered Julia my arm. “Shall we.”
“We definitely shall.”
“Have a nice life,” I said as we left Butler and Beth in the dining room.
Instead of heading out to the crowd, Julia led me into the kitchen where the noise level tripled. A team of cooks and servers scrambled about. Motioning for me to wait, Julia went into the kitchen work area. As she floated amongst the chaos, she was a stunning red light shining in the sea of white and black uniforms. I watched as she went to an older woman, hugging, and then talking. When she returned, her smile was intact.
“That was Rosemary. She’s basically the house manager. Everyone listens to her. I asked her to make sure you and I were seated with Vicki.” She reached for my hand. “Come this way.”
Turning a corner, she led me up a back staircase.
Once we were halfway up, I whispered. “I feel like I’m sneaking into your bedroom.”
“You are.”