Finn had changed me, and I had no desire to go back to being that girl.
He took another sip of his drink, then grabbed both of us another one, stepping even closer to me. “Let’s go sit over there. They’ll think we’re off flirting and maybe getting a head start on those trust fund babies, and we can drink. Maybe spend some time getting to know one another since we’ll be married soon…”
“You are flirting with me,” I said, narrowing my eyes on him. “The question is: why bother?”
“Dude, I’m respectful of the fact you have a man back in Cali,” he said, his eyes drifting down my body. “But I’m not dead. I see a pretty girl? I flirt. Don’t look too much into it. Although…wait. Scratch that. I did ask you to marry me.”
I laughed and led him into the sitting room. “You’re horrible.”
“If our parents knew we were wandering off together, they’d be cackling with glee. I can picture them now, standing on the sidelines and rooting us on.” He lowered his voice. “No, son, you have to move slower. Make it last. It’s not a rush to the finish line, boy. Conserve your energy for round two. Stapletons always have a round two.”
I choked on my drink and gasped for air. “Oh my God.”
“Too much?” he asked as he sighed and leaned against the wall.
“Nope. It’s just enough,” I said, grinning. “You remind me of…well, my boyfriend.”
He narrowed his eyes. “If you’re going to ask me to stand in for him in a dark bedroom, I’ll have to say…yes. Absolutely yes.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Totally something he would say.”
“He sounds like a smart guy.” He finished his drink and sat down on the couch. “Come. Sit. Tell me about this paragon of a man.”
“Well…” I took a sip and sat down next to him, setting my full glass down on the table next to his empty one. “He’s a Marine. And he surfs. And rides a bike. And he’s the sweetest guy ever. He treats me so…so great.”
I broke off and played with the sun necklace. There weren’t enough words to encompass all that was Finn.
“Mm.” He tapped his fingers on the side of the couch. “Sounds like Mommy and Daddy will love him.”
I snorted. “You have no idea, but I don’t care.”
“The heart never does,” he said softly.
His words reminded me of Mom’s, and all that “the heart is right or wrong” crap. I considered him. He looked awfully melancholy. “What about you? You have a girl back in San Francisco?”
“I did.” He lifted a shoulder and offered me a twisted smile. “But we broke up when I found her in bed with her professor.”
“Ouch.” I patted his back. “Sorry.”
“Eh, it’s okay.” He leaned his elbows on his knees. “It’s not like she was the one or anything.”
I pursed my lips. “Do you believe in that?” I asked.
“I do.” He turned to me. “Don’t you?”
“I do. I mean, I found him.” I picked up my drink. “So I know it’s real.”
“I’m kind of jealous.” He nodded. “Enough about me. Drink that and we’ll go back in. It’s time to act the part of the spoiled rich kids.”
I finished my half-empty one and picked up the full glass, resting my chin in my hand. “You’re so different from them.”
“You are, too.” He watched me, his green eyes sparkling with life and kindness. “I wonder why?”
“I…” I paused and tapped my finger on my lips. “I don’t have a freaking clue.”
He laughed. “Me either. Maybe it’s the generation we’ve been born into.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I thought of Cory, who was the epitome of what my parents had to have been at my age. “Then again, maybe we’re just freaks.”
“Maybe,” he agreed, laughing. “But the best kind.”
I chugged the rest of my drink and stood up, smoothing my dress over my thighs. “You ready to go into the ranks again?”
“Yep.” He rose to his feet and offered his arms. “Shall we?”
Such an old-fashioned phrase. I dropped into a curtsy, grinning up at him before taking his arm. “We shall.”
I locked arms with him and we headed for the double doors that would lead us into the room where everyone—waitstaff, cook, house staff, and bodyguards—would be mingling with senators and governors. All dressed alike, all eating and drinking the same stuff.
We pushed through the doors and walked into mayhem.
24
Everyone was mingling and chatting, and the noise was incessant. Mr. Richards’s kids were running around pretending to shoot at each other, and the conversation was deafening. I cringed and tightened my grip on Riley’s arm. Suddenly, the empty sitting room seemed a heck of a lot better place to be. At least I could hear myself think.
Riley scanned the room. “Holy crap, this is insane.”
“Yeah.” I sighed and patted his arm. “Welcome to the Wallington Holiday Dinner.”
“It’s…different,” he said, grinning.
“Ah, there you are,” Mom said, smiling at me and then smiling even wider at Riley. “We were wondering where you two got off to.”
Riley nudged me and I bit down on my tongue to keep myself from laughing.
“Oh, you know, Mrs. Wallington.” He bowed at the waist. “Just talking and getting to know one another. Your daughter is fascinating.”
“Perfect.” Mom clapped her hands. “Come, come. There are refreshments of the spirited kind for you, Riley, and some sparkling cider and soda for those of you who aren’t twenty-one.”
I rolled my eyes. “Otherwise known as me.”
“Yes, dear,” Mom said, patting my arm. “Well, I’ll leave you two young ones to yourselves as I mingle. Ta-ta.”
I cringed and waved. “Bye.”
“She’s too cute,” Riley said, smiling after her. “My mom is nothing like her. She’s a bear disguised as a sheep.”
I looked at his small, blonde mom. She looked sweet and rich, like the rest of the women in the room. She talked to her tall, gray-haired husband, while a few feet away Larry and Christy talked between themselves.
“If you say so. She looks harmless enough.” I smiled at him and untangled myself from his arm. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go talk to some of the staff.”
He bowed. “Have fun.”
I nodded and made my way over to Finn’s dad. He saw me coming and turned to me with a smile so much like Finn’s that it hurt to see. “Carrie, doll. You look gorgeous tonight.”
I smiled and hugged him. “You do, too. Very dashing.”
“Thank you.” He patted his thinning belly, sweat covering his forehead in a thin sheen. He looked exhausted. “I love these dinners.”
“So do I.” I pointed to an empty row of chairs. “Come, sit with me.”
He smiled and followed me. “You’re worried about me.”
“You look tired is all,” I protested. “Are you feeling well?”
“As well as a man my age can feel, yes.” He sat down and stretched his legs in front of him, then turned his shiny blue Finn eyes on me. “Getting old is no fun, doll.”
“I’m sure,” I said, sitting down beside him. “Besides that…are you well?”
He looked at me, his brow furrowed. “I’m fine. I’m just worried about my son.”
“O-Oh.” I reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing tight. “He’s fine, I’m sure. He knows how to take care of himself, and I’m sure he wouldn’t want you to worry about him.”
God knows I’m doing enough of the worrying myself.
He froze and raised a brow, his eyes locked on mine. “Do you know him?”