Larkspur Dreams

Thirteen


Lark gasped. “No,” she whispered.

Everett offered her his arm. She hesitated and then finally circled her arm through his. Why would Everett do this? Granted, the man who pinched her was obviously a womanizer and deserved to be punished, but not like this. And did Everett say something about declining a job and a raise? How could this be happening?

Lark could barely contain herself. She wanted to put everything back the way it was. Right now.

She walked arm in arm with Everett through the crowd and watched it part like the Red Sea. Their stride toward the main doors didn’t let up, but she could hear voices in the crowd. “Way to go,” some guy hollered. And then a woman’s quiet voice not far from them said, “Thank you, Everett.” The only negative comment along the gauntlet was an almost whisper, “You’ll be sorry tomorrow.” Or maybe it was the voice screaming in her head. Her heart sank. She’d dreamed the evening would always be remembered. How brutally true that wish would turn out to be.

Once outside in the foyer, Lark pulled away from Everett. “I’ve kept quiet because I didn’t want to embarrass you, but you can’t do this. I won’t let you.”

Everett led her to a secluded alcove that was surrounded by tall palms. “It’s already done. There’s no turning back.” He folded his arms. “And I don’t regret it. Granted, I didn’t really plan on losing my biggest client tonight, but Sylvester has been harassing women for a while now. Someone had to speak up.”

“But you said something about a job there and a raise. Did Sylvester offer you Zeta’s job?”

“It doesn’t matter now. It’s the right thing to do.”

Lark noticed a flicker of something in his eyes. Could it be doubt? Regret? Who knew? She couldn’t fully discern his heart. But she did know it was the most heroic thing any man had ever done for her. “I shouldn’t have slapped him. Maybe I could have just growled at him or said something fierce.”

Everett laughed. “I don’t think you have a fierce bone in your body.”

“Well, I guess I have a fierce slap,” Lark said. “It’s just my mother always taught me to defend myself if a man ever tried to take advantage of me.”

“Remind me to be careful,” Everett said lightly.

“You’ve lost so much. Would you please be serious?” Those are some pretty curious words coming out of my mouth. People had been lecturing her on that same subject for years.

“Lark.” Everett sat down in one of the overstuffed couches and looked up at her. “I don’t want you to—”

“I am so sorry.” Lark felt a panic surge through her—an emotion she wasn’t used to.

“No.” He shook his head. “I should be apologizing to you for bringing you to a party where—”

“Honestly, I had no idea that man owned the whole company.” Lark glanced around to see if they could be heard. A group of people stopped near them and then walked on by.

Everett took hold of Lark’s hand. “You’re not hearing me. It doesn’t matter who Sylvester is in the company. He has no right to manhandle my lady friend or any woman. Am I right?”

Lark sat down next to him. “What will you do now?”

“Well.” Everett released her hand and locked his fingers together. “Look for some more clients through my network.” He looked back at her. “And. . .pray. It’s time I took my faith seriously again.” Everett let out a long breath of air. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I’m still hungry. Are you?”

Lark nodded, but what she really wanted was to help Everett. To hear him work out his frustration from the evening—to talk about his future plans if he chose to share them with her. And she needed to make sure all was well between them. It mattered to her. Now for some reason, it mattered more than ever.