“You look stunning.”
She stepped as close to him as she could without touching his body. Heat emanated between them as she took her time, making sure his gaze locked on her own so he could feel her words. Understand them to their full extent. When he breathed in, slow and deep, she spoke. “Thank you.”
Wes’s smile told her he understood the depth of her words. He nodded, held out his arm for her to take.
“I don’t even know any moon phases,” he said as she locked up.
“We could look them up.”
“I’ll pass, thanks.”
Laughing as they took the elevator down, she patted his arm. “You can borrow the magazine when you drop me off if you want.”
Wes looked down at her in the dim lighting. The musty smell of old elevator broke through the scent of his cologne and there was a smudge on the mirror she didn’t want to get near. Despite all of that, with him looking at her, wearing this dress, she felt like Cinderella on her way to the ball.
Dangerous territory. Life didn’t end like the fairy tales. But maybe for tonight, just one night, she could pretend it did.
27
Something shifted inside of Wes as he walked through the doors with Hailey. It felt like his insides were virtual Tetris pieces, falling slowly, giving him enough time to put them in the right place. Hailey in that dress. He couldn’t breathe. He tried. He really did. He pulled in a half breath, it got lodged in his rib cage.
“Are you okay?” Hailey turned to him. In the soft glow of twinkle lights and large paper lanterns that decorated the room, he could see concern etched into her features.
“Fine. My breath caught. That’s all.” He couldn’t look at her while he was feeling this much. “I’ll get us a drink.” He pulled his arm from her hand and walked toward the bar.
Chris had rented a loft that people used for a variety of events from weddings to parties like this one. He’d hired a bartender, a couple of waitstaff, a caterer, and a DJ. There’d been serious arguments over the DJ among his staff.
“You okay, man?” Chris asked, coming to meet him at the bar.
“Yeah.” He couldn’t get more words out than just the one.
Chris clapped him on the back. “Hailey looks gorgeous.”
Wes grunted, asked the woman tending bar for a shot of whiskey.
“Whiskey? What’s wrong with you? Make it two, please, Stella,” Chris said.
“Nothing. Just need a drink. Let it go.” If he couldn’t sort it out in his head, he couldn’t talk about it with one of his brothers.
“Okay,” Chris said, drawing the word out like he used to do when they were younger.
The shot burned, making his eyes water. It was a moment. That’s all. He got caught up in … what? Hailey? He’d been caught up in Hailey for months now, but tonight felt different. If he was being honest with himself, which he usually was, things had been feeling different for a while now.
“Anything else?” the bartender asked, watching him carefully.
“Red wine and a beer, please.”
“I’m glad you guys came even if you’re being weird. The girls really like Hailey.”
Wes’s head whipped toward his brother. “Of course I like Hailey.”
Chris just stared, his jaw working but no sound coming out.
“That’s not what you said, is it?”
Chris shook his head slowly, his eyes wide.
The bartender put up his drinks. Wes set some money down, gave Chris a warning look, and walked away. All he had to do was get through tonight by reminding himself what they were building as friends was a hell of a lot sturdier than any romantic relationship could ever be. But her body in that dress, her gaze locked on his, her smile. He should have ordered two shots.
Stacey and Everly were asking about her dress when he brought her wine.
“There was no card?” Everly asked, smiling at Wes.
Hailey held his gaze even after he passed her the wine. “Nope. No card.”
Stacey looked at him, whistled through her teeth. “You Jansen boys clean up good. How’s it going, cutie?”
Wes was glad to be in a room that was mostly lit by strands of white lights. Warmth swamped his skin, particularly his face. “I’m good. You ladies look beautiful.”
Everly wore a pale pink dress that was pretty yet understated. The real statement came from the pink Converse she wore on her feet. Stacey’s dress also reflected her personality. It was vibrant and bold.
“Thank you,” Stacey said. “I love getting all dressed up. What do you think of Hailey’s dress?”
Wes swallowed but couldn’t erase the feeling that he had something lodged in his throat. “It looks amazing on her.” He’d seen the look in her eyes when he zoomed in on the pictures she’d sent him from the changing room.
She’d clearly wanted that dress and it was easy to see why. She wasn’t the type of woman to splurge on herself even if she had the money. He knew because her gift to herself for her rise in sales had been buying ad space.
It brought him great joy to buy the dress for Hailey, have it delivered, and know she’d be coming with him tonight wearing something she loved.
“I love that there was no tag. It means the gift giver just wanted you to enjoy it. It’s not about them. It’s very thoughtful,” Everly said, her voice barely audible over the instrumental Christmas music. She smiled at Wes like she could see through him.
Wes shook his head, took a long drink of his beer.
“Hey, how was your date?” Stacey asked as Rob joined them.
Wes choked on his drink, coughing loud and rough.
“You okay, bud?” Rob put an arm around Stacey, pulling her close to his side.
He nodded because he couldn’t speak just yet. Hailey’s eyes were filled with concern before she pinned Stacey with a much clearer one. “It wasn’t a date. It was dinner with him and my cousin and her husband.”
Stacey nodded, leaned her head on Rob’s shoulder. “But he asked you out again.”
Everly sent her friend a warning glance. Wes could feel Stacey pushing his buttons as surely as if her manicured red nails were poking through his skin. Or maybe she believes what you’ve been selling. You keep saying you’re friends. Why wouldn’t they ask her about her date?
“He did?” Wes sounded like he’d swallowed gravel.
Hailey nodded. “He did. He came into the shop but honestly, I was so swamped thanks to Fiona’s tweet, I was barely able to acknowledge him. I had my best day of sales ever.”
The others cheered, raised their glasses. Everly smiled, darting glances between him and Hailey. Chris joined them. Noah and Grace would be a bit late but were joining as well.
“Why are we all huddled in the corner? Mari and Mason want to get the Secret Santa going right after some food,” Chris said, taking Everly’s hand, bringing it to his mouth, pressing his lips to it.
“We’re watching your brother learn how to drink beer,” Rob said, his smile wide.
Wes glared at him. “I’m hungry.” He turned, walked toward the buffet table of finger sandwiches and appetizers.
Hailey joined him a moment later. “Are you really okay?”
Her shoulder brushed his; he nearly winced with the current that zipped through his bloodstream. It was the perfect storm. That’s all this was. Beautiful woman who made him laugh, had a little piece of his heart as a friend, and Christmas—the sappiest time of the year. Those things were working against him, making him feel things he didn’t. Then how do you explain that this isn’t the first time?
“I’m fine. Sorry. I just felt a bit off. That dress does look beautiful on you,” he said, loading his plate with little bacon-wrapped pastries.
When she put her hand on his arm, he stopped, turned toward her.
“They were teasing, you know.”
He swallowed past the rawness in his throat. “I know. I think you should believe what Everly said. Someone just wanted you to enjoy something you deserved.”
“I’m not sure what they think I might have done to deserve it. But I’ll stop wondering about the gift and just enjoy it.” Her gaze told him they both knew the truth and somehow it made him feel closer to her. Like her secret coded messages. IAU.
He smiled, his chest loosening. “Exactly.”
There. Tonight would be fine. She understood him. This wasn’t one of her movies—he’d sat through The Holiday and Love Actually the week before. He wouldn’t admit it to her but he’d enjoyed them both. He could enjoy them with her because she knew he wasn’t built for a ring on his finger and a white picket fence.
“Thanks for bringing me tonight,” she said, before picking up a small plate.
At least, with this, he could be honest. “There’s no one I’d rather be here with.”
* * *
Wes pulled up to Hailey’s building. She insisted he didn’t have to walk her to the door but he ignored her protests. He’d stopped after his shot and beer. Hailey and the other girls had carried on.