Читать книгу The Mills & Boon Ultimate Christmas Collection - Мишель Смарт, Kate Hardy - Страница 51
ОглавлениеWith one day until the party, things ramped up at the lodge. Deliveries were coming thick and fast, and Amory directed everyone with the assiduity of a railway conductor while I was busy tearing my hair out in the office.
“Tim, I totally understand, he wants it perfect – but he has to remember we’ve had less than a week to make this happen. And we’re in Evergreen, not exactly a hive of activity where I can step out at any hour for supplies.”
He sighed, and I could hear his frustration down the phone. “I know, I know. I don’t think he really gets it.”
I softened a little. “Look, tomorrow he will be so totally wowed with what we’ve done he won’t notice the things we didn’t do. We’re about to start decorating – full Gatsby Roaring Twenties-style – and I promise you, you’ll be searching the crowd for F. Scott Fitzgerald himself, that’s how amazing it will look.”
“Thanks, Clio. I know you’ve worked miracles to get it done on time and we’ve kept throwing curveballs. Maybe once this is done we can have that drink?”
“I’d love to catch up with the gang again, Tim…”
“With the gang? Not just us two?”
I thought of Kai, of the fact that ever since I’d told him how I felt he’d somehow managed to avoid me. To be fair, after everything with my mom, I hadn’t exactly been looking for him or in the right frame of mind to talk about it all. But still…
I sighed and tried to say what I needed to in the clearest way, but I really didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “Tim, I’m sorry, but I don’t think just the two of us dating is the best decision. Honestly, I think we’re more suited to being just friends. I know we used to have something special, but I think you’re caught up in the past. Things are different now.”
He let out a soft groan. “I had a feeling that was coming,” he said. “I wish things weren’t different, Clio. But I understand. Maybe there will be someone for me at the party, a girl I can sweep off her feet.” He laughed as if he was joking, but part of me thought he was serious. Maybe he was really ready to love again. I hoped he’d find someone sweet and at the same stage in life as he was.
I felt lighter now I’d finally spoken up. It was better that he knew I was only interested in him as a friend. “Well, if you’re really interested… your secretary Vanessa seems a little smitten with you.” I’d spoken to Vanessa close to a hundred times that week, and she’d always steered the conversation back to Tim, her voice dreamy.
“Vanessa? No, I think you’re mistaken. Vanessa doesn’t say more than two words to me. We correspond by email even though her office is attached to mine.” Love! We really made it hard for ourselves. My matchmaker hat flew on…
“Let’s see what some Gatsby sparkle does,” I laughed, already wondering how I could maneuver them under some mistletoe.
He laughed. “See you tomorrow, Clio. And thanks again.”
Once I hung up, I emailed Vanessa. What? So, the matchmaker instinct was strong in me.
Timothy mentioned how much he’s looking forward to dancing with you at the Gatsby party. I hope you have your dancing shoes at the ready…
She replied instantly:
He did?!
I left it at that. Sometimes the only way forward was when someone gave you a little shove.
***
In the ballroom, Isla’s face was dusted with glitter, and she sneezed before greeting me with a quick wave. “We’re going to be sweeping up gold for the next ten years,” she laughed as she tied a bunch of balloons together and put them by the cocktail bar.
Scotty ran underfoot, leaving a trail of debris in his wake. To say he was quite enamored with the decorations was an understatement and none of us wanted to begrudge him his fun.
That was until Scotty munched on one of the feather boas and Micah suggested we put the puppy outside while we finished up.
Amory’s eyes flashed and she lifted Scotty to her chest. “You… you MONSTER! It’s freezing out and you want me to put a poor defenseless animal outside for the sake of one piddly feather boa?”
“He’s got a real fur coat,” Micah added unhelpfully. “And a faux-furry jacket to boot.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You are truly despicable! When you and Isla have your first child I will remember this, and instead of getting a gold locket for their first lock of hair, you’re now getting silver!” She stomped off and it was all I could do not to laugh.
Micah let out a snort. “What the hell!”
I shook my head, “Let’s just keep going. I’m sure you’ll convince her to go back to a gold locket soon?” I laughed and we continued decorating.
On the table we had vases full of feathers, the tips dipped in gold, and glittery candles, and strings of pearls were draped over the back of each chair. The photo booth was set up in the corner with props: moustaches on sticks, feather boas, black and gold cigarette holders and pearl necklaces.
Micah had convinced Kai to stop the renovations he’d been doing on the chalets to help us decorate and they’d already draped the ceiling in black tulle, which cascaded down elegantly. I’d tried so many times to get his attention lately but he’d been running here and there. Worry gnawed at me – maybe I’d put him in an uncomfortable position by sharing my feelings?
Snapping myself out of any anxiety, I looked at the rest of the room, trying to get my head back in the game. We’d hung various art deco signs saying things like: Drop it like F Scott, and Prohibition ends here. I was giddy with how great the ballroom looked. It was completely transformed, and you’d never have recognized it from the bridal expo we’d held just over a week ago.
Sailing back into the kitchen, Cruz had everything under control. I could tell by the way he glided around humming, his chef’s whites pristine, foodie smells scenting the air. “All OK?” I asked.
“Smashing, dollface.”
I laughed.
“I’ll mind my potatoes then!” I trilled in my best attempt at a flapper accent, and sashayed out. We were on track! This party was going to propel guests back to the twenties, and who didn’t want to spend some time in the jazz era?
We had a few hours until the guests were arriving so I went to find Amory and check she was OK after her spat with poor Micah, who was still confused over how he’d upset her. It was only that Amory had fallen hard for her canine progeny, and her protectiveness for Scotty knew no bounds.
Taking the steps two at a time, I found Amory talking earnestly to Isla halfway up the stairs about how to apply eyeshadow for the smoky-eye effect.
“We’re all set, pretty much,” I said.
“Why don’t we get ready together and I can show Isla how it’s done?” said Amory when I caught up.
“Let’s! The jazz band is arriving in an hour, and we’ve got to help Aunt Bessie set up too. So let’s get our skates on.”
I let them go ahead and watched them giggle like schoolgirls as they ran up the rest of the stairs, Scotty going at double speed to catch them on his little legs. I couldn’t wait to transform myself into a flapper.
After a quick shower, I joined the girls in Amory’s suite.
“Oh my God, Isla, you look like Clara Bow herself!” She was draped in pearls and had an exotic and intricate feathery headpiece attached, with her hair curled and tucked up. Amory had applied her makeup perfectly – smoky eyes, ruby-red lips.
“Thanks, Clio! I feel like I’ve dunked my head into wet cement, but the mirror certainly says otherwise.”
I laughed, remembering Isla rarely wore makeup and was usually more comfortable wearing work clothes than sequined dresses and heels.
Amory clucked her tongue. “I’m so proud,” she joked, and began getting herself ready, including applying false lashes encrusted with diamantes that made her look every inch a twenties movie starlet.
An hour and a bit later we sparkled and shimmied as we walked downstairs, in a mixture of sequins, beads and pearls, on a cloud of sultry perfume. They sure knew how to dress to impress back in the jazz era.
Micah was waiting at the bottom of the stairs and held out a hand to Isla, kissing her sweetly on the cheek and murmuring in her ear. Cruz was still in the kitchen so Amory went to show off her Charleston moves to him there. I was about to head out on my pre-party check, but gasped when I saw Kai standing off to the side, a thumb looped in the pocket of his three-piece suit. The wavy-haired athlete had vanished and been replaced with a suave and sophisticated specimen of a man. Was it hot in here? His blue eyes shone appreciatively as he gave me a slow once-over.
“It’s clear to me now that you were born in the wrong era, Clio…”
“Likewise, mister.” We stared into each other’s eyes and I wondered why he’d been avoiding me. I wanted to ask him, but Aunt Bessie walked in, arms laden with boxes. Besides, it smacked of desperation, didn’t it? Better to pretend all was well, and save my pride.
“There you are, you glamourpuss. Can you take this please?” Aunt Bessie drawled.
Kai, ever the gentleman, stepped forward. “Here, let me take those.”
She gave him a saucy eyebrow waggle. “If I was younger…”
“Aunt Bessie!” I said, faux-shocked. She was a flirt from way back when.
“What? He looks good enough to eat.”
Laughter burbled from me. “Let’s get you set up.”
From the boxes Aunt Bessie unloaded a range of donuts, burnished gold and black to suit the theme.
“They’re so pretty, Aunt Bessie!” I said, ogling a tray of mini gold-glitter donuts.
“I’ve got the most amazing cake pops too, done with edible black lacquer, so shiny you can see yourself in them.”
We went briskly back to work, setting up her dessert table. Before I knew it, cars were crunching the gravel and our first guests arrived, drawing excited squeals from us all. Amory and I would usually be hosting a party near Times Square, waiting for the ball drop, but here we were, making Cedarwood Lodge the place to be. Even though we were technically working, it felt like a fairy tale come true to be sashaying around the lodge in a flapper dress.
Taking a moment, I watched as everyone got into position. We were getting more organized, my team, like a finely tuned machine, and I beamed with pride.
“Well, everyone. Let’s go welcome our guests to the jazz age and show them one hell of a party!” Amory whooped and we swarmed to the entrance.
Amory welcomed guests, checking them off the guest list, while Micah showed them the way and Isla handed them a glass of champagne as they floated past.
Men wore dapper suits and women were dressed flamboyantly. I was impressed people had made such an effort, as it wasn’t always the case – but who didn’t like the glitz and glamour of another era? The romance, the poetry, the shunning of rules and regulations in the twenties. It was impossible not to smile at the women speaking huskily, or throwing their heads back, laughing hard, as if they were truly transported to another time.
When Vinnie arrived we fussed and fawned over him and his guest of honor, Mr Whittaker. As soon as they even thought about another drink their champagne flutes were refilled. When one of them fumbled with a napkin, another was pressed into his hand. When I sailed past them for the third time, checking everything was going well, both of them were smiling as Amory regaled them with a hilarious story.
The jazz band played the Charleston, and people danced and kicked up their heels. They tangoed and foxtrotted, only stopping to guzzle champagne as though it was water. Even the most sedate of guests was inspired to join the others on the dance floor. The tap of high heels made me smile; this was what I wanted for the lodge – fun, frivolity, dancing!
With the party in full swing, the guests’ sunny faces and raucous laughter high in the air, I signaled to the girls that it was time to take a breather – safe in the knowledge everything was on track, the skill-hire staff were working well, and everyone was having fun. Tim was wooing his clients and gave me a thumbs-up whenever I dashed past him. Maybe he’d hire Cedarwood every year for parties. The possibilities were endless!
Amory and Isla huddled by a wall, sneaking their first glass of champagne and gossiping about the guests – who had the prettiest dress, and who danced like no one was watching.
“Look how happy they are,” Amory said. “This is one of the best parties we’ve ever done, Clio, and we’ve done some truly spectacular ones.”
“I think so too,” I said, grinning as I sent up a silent thank you to F Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, for making the jazz era so fashionable and so much fun to recreate.
Isla sipped her champagne and, as she craned her neck back to sip, a slim necklace she was wearing caught the light. I hadn’t noticed it when we were getting ready. It was truly beautiful, a delicate constellation of stars, shimmering and twinkling under the lights.
“What’s the symbolism of your necklace, Isla?” I asked. “It’s gorgeous! Is it to do with the stars Micah named after you?”
She flushed deep scarlet, bringing out the freckles on her nose. “Umm, yeah. We, ah…” She frantically waved Micah over, who was restocking the champagne behind the bar. When he got to her, they clutched hands, and he searched her face for clues. It must have dawned on him because he nodded. “We were going to wait until the party was finished before we asked you, but…”
“Ask me?” Isla darted a nervous glance up at Micah, and he grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “Oh my God, ask me what?” I had a feeling I knew what it was and goose bumps broke out over my skin in anticipation.
“So, ah… would you and Amory be our wedding planners?”
Amory and I jumped and squealed as quietly as we could. Which under the circumstances was pretty damn loud, but hey, this was the most amazing news! There was nothing quite as romantic as planning a wedding, but to plan the wedding of two of your best friends, well, that was even better.
I grabbed Isla and gave her a hug, “You’re getting married!” I pulled Micah into the hug, and Amory clasped her hands around the outside and we were one big circle of shrieking joyfulness. I was immediately in the realm of neither here nor here, stuck happily mentally planning their big day… A winter wedding, the lodge lit up with fairy lights, their special constellation twinkling above, an ice sculpture, white roses, simple yet elegant…
“You guys… oh, you’ve made this year end on the highest of notes.” I waved Kai over, and Amory dashed to the kitchen to get Cruz, and came back with a bottle of bubbly under one arm and a bewildered Cruz in the other.
“Will you do the honors, Micah?” She handed him the bottle.
The cork popped, and foamy bubbles raced up and over. As flutes were filled, I said, “On behalf of Cedarwood Lodge, and all who inhabit the grand old dame, I’d like to congratulate Micah and Isla on their engagement.”
Kai and Cruz shook Micah’s hand in turn, slapping him on the back the way men do, and hugged Isla, kissing her on the cheek. Tears welled in my eyes; it felt like the most enchanted moment and I was so thrilled they’d shared it with us tonight of all nights, when magic was in the air and anything could happen.
We clinked glasses and toasted the happy couple. Everyone around me was falling in love and yet I couldn’t even get Kai to spend a moment with me without dashing off with some excuse thrown over his shoulder. Maybe I’d always be the wedding planner, never the bride.
One of the waiters bustled over and tapped me. “Ready for the countdown?”
“Is it that time already?” I asked. The night had flown past. It felt like it had only just started and here we were on the cusp of a new year. Time sure did fly when you were having fun.
“Yep, I’ll get the mixologist to count it down?”
“Please.”
The mixologist had turned out to be seriously popular among the guests – not only could he mix a good gimlet but he laughed and joked with the crowd, making them feel special. And it definitely helped that he was easy on the eye… Amory had chosen well, and I hoped to secure him for every future Cedarwood Lodge event. If we could continue to tempt him out to the wilderness of Evergreen, that was.
“Ready for a new year?” I asked my friends, eventually settling my gaze on Kai. He took my hand and squeezed it, giving me a look loaded with meaning. But what that was exactly, I didn’t dare interpret.
The countdown started as everyone paired up and raced outside to the decked area to watch the fireworks. Ten. Nine. Eight. We all chorused, a whole group of people together in one moment in time. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. I felt Kai pull me away from the crowd. Two. His arms closed around my waist and all I could do was stare into his eyes. One. Cheers rang out as the fireworks lit up the sky in a riot of color. But I didn’t see them at all because Kai’s lips were pressed firmly against mine, and I felt as if I was floating. Here I was, surrounded by my friends, a deck full of strangers, and Kai exactly where he should be – with me. Did this mean he felt the same, or was it the magic of New Year’s Eve rubbing off on him?
The world spun dizzyingly around as the opening to ‘Auld Lang Syne’ rang out and the guests joined in… this truly was the most magical of moments. That song always made me cry, dammit, and I tried very hard to rein in my emotions, which were scattered like marbles.
Amory came up behind us. Once again interrupting a moment between me and Kai, and completely oblivious to it. “Before we get back to work, let’s share our New Year’s resolutions,” she said, dragging Cruz behind her. “You first, Cruz.”
Cruz, the only one not in a suit, still looked handsome in his chef’s whites. “I want to find the perfect recipe for beef wellington and I’m willing to put in weeks of practice. Is anyone willing to be my taste tester? I warn you, it’s going to be a lot of fun…”
Amory raised a brow. “Oh sorry, darling, but I’ve signed up to be Aunt Bessie’s new taste tester. And I might be a little busy fulfilling my own resolution – to buy every kitten-heeled Jimmy Choo I can get my hands on. It’s such a hard life.”
“You, Clio?” she said, turning to me.
“I…” I froze as all eyes were on me, worried I’d blurt out something about Kai.
“OK. We’ll come back to you. What about you Kai?”
Kai blushed and averted his eyes.
“You two are useless,” Amory remarked, turning on her six-inch heels and sauntering off into the crowd as the mixologist gestured for her help. Guests were clinking glasses, and some were locking lips under doorways laced with mistletoe.
Micah and Isla were called away by guests, but Micah paused before he left and whispered to me, “When you know, you know.” He was referring to his marriage proposal, and I gave him a quick squeeze.
We’d been through a lot, Micah and me. Sometimes we’d been there for each other, and sometimes we hadn’t, but now he’d found the perfect girl. One who loved him unconditionally, who didn’t take him for granted, who didn’t stomp all over his dreams. He’d known she was the one from the moment he saw her, and I’d been there and caught the moment Cupid’s arrow had struck his heart. When you know, you know, he’d said. And I couldn’t help thinking his sentiment applied to me too. Hadn’t I known it the first time Kai had jumped from the cab of his truck?
I had recognized him, yet I hadn’t met him before, or something primal had happened, because the world had got brighter, music had sounded sweeter, laughter had come quicker, and all of that paled when he wasn’t here. And I couldn’t let that happen again.
Shuffling on our feet, we tried to talk, but the music had been turned up and I soon found myself pulled back to the party – ensuring everyone’s champagne flutes were filled to the brim and bidding farewell to a few guests as they left, slightly wobblier than when they’d arrived. I grinned when I saw Kai get strong-armed into dancing with a foxy seventy-something-year-old who wouldn’t take no for answer.
Hours later, the party was winding down; women carried their heels and men had shrugged off their coats. The last partygoers were sitting around drinking the rest of the champagne. The party had been a roaring success but it wasn’t quite over yet. By the photo booth Timothy stood with Vanessa, his assistant. They had their heads bent conspiratorially and, before I could avert my eyes, they kissed, and I smiled, glad Tim would find his own happy ever after, because he deserved someone to love. All they’d needed was a very gentle hint and they’d realized… Love was so simple for some.
“Go,” Amory said, tapping me on the butt.
“Go where?”
She pointed to where Kai was standing outside on the deck, fairy lights twinkling above him, his hands deep in his pockets. He cut a fine figure standing under the moonlight with soft snowflakes drifting down.
I gave Amory’s hand a squeeze and went to him.
Sensing my presence he turned and gave me a heart-melting smile. I smiled back; I couldn’t help it – even if Kai was about to break my heart and announce he was off again, being around him just made me feel lighter.
“Clio, I’ve been heartsick at the thought of leaving…”
I couldn’t speak. I just stared at him, my hand tingling in his. Eventually I managed to nod.
“When I wake up,” he whispered, “I’m thinking of you. When I sleep you inhabit my dreams. Your smile, your laugh, the way you cry to Bonnie Tyler when you think no one can hear…” He tailed off and a smile crept onto his face.
Oh God.
“Your ability to burn toast, and blame the toaster, the way people flock to be in your spotlight. I’ve been so torn about everything, not wanting to appear like the lost soul I was. How do I say how I feel without putting any more pressure on you?”
“What do you mean, Kai?” My breath caught. What pressure?
“You know, when I found out I was adopted I ran, took my things, cursed them all and got lost in the biggest country I could find. And now I see that for what it was. Without knowing the truth, without reconciling the past, I wouldn’t have found you. I would still be in Australia catching waves, and building other people’s houses, but missing something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.”
“So…?” Was this goodbye?
“It was you, Clio. That’s what’s been missing from my life. And now I see I had to make sense of the past to be able to live for the future. And I hope that future will be with you. Here.”
“You’re staying at Cedarwood?” My legs were like jelly, but I fought the urge to stumble into his arms. It was all too good to be true. I was sure it was a dream and any minute I’d wake up. But I needed real words this time, real answers, not just the press of his lips against mine.
“If you’ll have me. I told my boss I wasn’t coming back. Leaving you would be like someone turning off the sun, and I just want you to know, you’ve changed me, made me whole again, and even if you don’t feel the same way, I will always love you for that. For what I know can be…”
“I can’t believe you’re really going to stay.” I grinned, while my heart thrummed so hard I was sure he could hear it.
“For the last month I’ve been trying to find a building job closer to Evergreen so I could be near you. Just on the off-chance, in case you had the same feelings for me.”
“But wasn’t it obvious how I felt?” Golly, I was clearly useless at expressing myself to him. “I told you! I kissed you, I made it quite clear, didn’t I?”
“Well, there was Tim calling every three minutes, and with your history and all… I wasn’t sure if you meant it. And I had to get myself together, first, before I admitted it to you. Then there was my parents, my job. I had to be sure I was in the right space and was making the right choice by you, Clio. And if you’d have chosen Tim, then I would have respected that. But the last thing I wanted was to admit how I felt about you and have you tell me you loved someone else. And I had to make peace with who I was, and who I want to be. Which is here, with you, for as long as you’ll have me.”
“Tim is just a friend, but how did you even know it was an issue?” Before the words left my mouth, I knew.
“Amory,” he said, laughing. For once I wouldn’t scold her about sharing my secrets. “She told me you weren’t interested in Tim like that because you were head over heels in love with me.” That minx!
“Head over heels? Well, I guess I am.”
My pulse raced, and I wanted to pinch myself to make sure this was real. That the blue-eyed Australian boy in front of me was really staying at the lodge, because he wanted to be with me. I was the girl Amory had dubbed icy heart – but Kai had proven a heart could be thawed, it just took the right person. It took Kai. A man who’d managed to sweep me off my feet with his sensitive soul, his zest for life, and his passion. “I hope you stay for ever, Kai.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Clio. I promise you that.”
He lifted my chin and pulled me in for a swoon-worthy kiss, and while I still felt dizzy with desire for him, I also felt something else, something like hope and the promise of for ever. Right here, in the place we all felt at home.
