That seemed to perk Randy up. He grinned as the light turned green and he put the truck into drive.
“Yeah? Well, good, because I was hoping you’d go with me.”
Juliette stiffened. “Oh…”
“Vi can come,” Randy said quickly. “I only have two tickets, but I’m sure we can pick another one up—”
“No, that is totally cool!” Vi piped in from the backseat. “I don’t even like flowers. You guys should go.”
Say yes! The voice urged when Juliette could only sit and stare at her hands curled in her lap. This was what she wanted. It was what she needed. She had to make this work.
“I would love to go,” she heard herself say, and the hollowness in her voice was painfully evident even to her own ears.
Bad person. Such a horrible, miserable, rotten person. She didn’t deserve Randy. He certainly didn’t deserve the screwed up mess that she was. He’d been nothing but good to her and all she could think about was how wrong it felt being in that truck with him. She should tell him. He needed to know that there was a very good possibility that she might never love him. That they might never be more than two awkward strangers.
“Juliette?” She must have made a sound, because Randy was darting concerned glances her way. “You okay?”
Tell him!
But the words remained stubbornly lodged in her throat. Instead, she was smiling and nodding as though she wasn’t an absolute coward.
They arrived at the theater and did what they always did; they got their tickets, their popcorns, and made their way to the proper door. Juliette had no idea what movie they’d decided on. She didn’t even watch it. She spent the entire hour trying not to stare at Randy’s arm taking up the entire armrest. She knew he wasn’t doing it to be an ass. He was no doubt hoping she’d do the normal thing and put hers next to it and she should, because that was what people dating did. They held hands at the movies. They kissed. They cuddled. What they didn’t do was flinch every time their shoulders brushed.
The movie ended and everyone rose. She followed Randy’s back down the aisle with Vi right on her heels.
“Are you guys hungry?” Randy asked as they left the theater and made their way to the truck.
“I have school tomorrow and homework to finish,” Vi said. “But if you guys—”
“I actually have to start work really early tomorrow,” Juliette blurted. “I should make sure I have clean clothes.”
Randy nodded. “Fair enough.” They arrived at the truck and he yanked open her door. “But we’re still on for this weekend? The event starts at like eight so I can get you at seven, if that works for you?”
Juliette nodded. “I’d really like that.”
Chapter 33
The low chatter of voices, the soothing hum of flutes and violins rolled along the smooth sheets of glass sweeping high into the evening sky in a gleaming dome over a breathtaking sea of colors. The conservatory brimmed with people Killian had never met and had no desire to meet now, but he remained and greeted each one politely. Somewhere in the mess was Maraveet. She hadn’t spoken to him since their argument, but he could feel her frothing anger and disappointment like an icy breeze. He made a mental note to track her down before the night was over and hopefully calm some of her feathers.
In the meantime, he circled the room, playing the ever gracious host. He laughed and talked like his bowtie wasn’t choking him, like his suit wasn’t uncomfortably too tight. It was all in his head, but it still made him want to tear it all off and go home.
“Killian McClary!” Nelson Miles cut through the crowd of silk and gems, large palm extended. “Good to see you again.”
Killian plastered on his required smile and turned to greet the man. “Mr. Mayor, I’m glad you could make it.”
“Of course. Of course!” He released Killian’s hand. “Wouldn’t miss it. Nora couldn’t stop talking about it for weeks.”
Small and fairy-like in her green sequined gown, Nora smiled at Killian. “A garden is just what this city needed. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”
Killian offered her a smile and the inclination of his head. “Not nearly as beautiful as you look tonight, Mrs. Miles.”
Her pale cheeks flushed. “You’re too kind.”
Mayor Miles tucked a gentle arm around his wife’s tiny waist and drew her comfortably into his side. It wasn’t a possessive gesture, but one that spoke of a long, happy relationship.
“She does look stunning this evening, doesn’t she?”
The color on his wife’s face amplified, but the shimmer of pleasure in her green eyes contradicted the playful swat she gave her husband.
“Stop that.”
Chuckling, Mayor Miles turned back to Killian. “Tell me what made you think of building such a splendor.”
“My mother,” Killian answered honestly. “She had a love of flowers and gardens. I wanted to share that love with the city.”
“Oh how sweet,” Mrs. Miles whispered. “Well, you did a wonderful job. I’m sure she would have loved it.”
Killian started to open his mouth to respond when a movement by the entrance caught his attention. The words he’d been formulating dissolved in a fog that settled thick across his brain. His mouth went dry even as his heart gave a violent jolt in his chest.
Juliette.
She wore the dress he’d given her on Halloween. The Grecian gown rippled along her lithe frame in a wave of white satin and glittering gems. The silver threads glistened with her unhurried movement. She’d done her hair up in a twisted updo that left her shoulders bared and her face framed by subtle curls. She wore no jewelry, except his mother’s pendant and the sight of it nestled against the soft skin of her chest was nearly his undoing. Then he spotted the hulking figure standing next to her, one hand settled lightly on the small of her back and the burst of joy he’d felt at seeing her thawed into a dark plume of rage.
“Killian?” Mrs. Miles had a dainty hand on his arm and he realized, with a shock, that his fingers had balled into fists. “Is everything all right?”
Forcing himself not to do something absolutely insane like grab the bastard who had his hands on Juliette and pitch him straight into the pond.
“Yes, forgive me, but I must find someone.”
Excusing himself, he headed in the opposite direction of Juliette. He fought to keep his strides slow and even when all he wanted to do was plow through the whole crowd in search of his meddling sister.
Maraveet stood by a fountain, a flute of champagne in one hand, her clutch in the other. The lights built under the water reflected off her gold gown, making the sequins glitter, which in turn reflected off her skin in shivering sparkles. She glanced up when Killian approached.
“Why?” he demanded without missing a beat.
“Sorry?”
He moved in closer, hoping the short distance would remind him to keep his voice low. “Why did you invite her?”
Maraveet blinked. “Who?”
“You know who!” he hissed through his teeth. “Juliette.”
Maraveet’s face went from surprised to absolutely blank in the second it took for him to blink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If she is here, then maybe she bought a ticket like everyone else. It is a public event, after all.”
He hadn’t considered that. He hadn’t considered ever seeing her again, especially not at a charity event, not with another man.
“She needs to leave,” he decided, more to himself than Maraveet.
“All right.” She raised her glass to her red lips and took a sip. “You tell her.”
Just like that, Maraveet turned on her heels and slinked through the crowd, leaving him alone to figure it out. He glanced over the room, wondering if it was large enough to avoid her. There were certainly enough people and if he just paid attention to where she was the entire night, he could easily keep out of her way.