Page 61 of Hale Yes (Highway to Hale #1)

“Apparently,” I say, lowering my voice, “Angelica insisted the ice sculptures be delivered and placed by noon, even though the service was a good four hours later. She was devastated that they were already half melted by the time the reception started.”

“And how exactly is that Rory’s fault?” Helix asks, taking a drink of his drink and wincing at the taste.

“It’s not. He was trying to explain to her that ice sculptures were made of, you know, ice, which melts. And that it was her own fault for insisting they arrive so far ahead of the actual wedding.”

Helix blows out a breath through pursed lips. “Bet that went over well.” He leans close. “How long do you give this marriage? I say they’ll either be divorced or one of them will be in jail within six months.”

I glance over at my sister, who’s pouting and glaring at her new husband, who seems to be well on his way to complete drunkenness. “To be honest, I’m not sure they’re going to make it to the honeymoon.”

“Serves her right. Seems like all she’s done is complain the entire day.”

It makes me a little sad, not because I wish my sister well. I couldn’t care less about her happiness. I’m disappointed because my father obviously paid a small fortune for this party to celebrate a marriage that already seems to be on the rocks.

I take a sip of my pink drink and practically gag on the sweetness. “What the fuck is this?” I croak, holding up the glass and staring at it.

“Ah, that, my dear, is the signature cocktail of the wedding. It’s called the Clutterbuck Love Fizz.

The bartender told me all the ingredients were specifically chosen by the charming new Mrs. Clutterbuck herself.

I think he’s purposely pointing that out to everyone so no one thinks he came up with it. ”

“Don’t blame the poor guy. It tastes like syrup.”

Helix pushes his away. “I’ll go get us a beer… unless you’d prefer wine.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Pushing your luck, Hale.”

He laughs and heads back to the bar, returning a few minutes later with two IPAs, which we both eagerly glug to get rid of the sugary taste of the Clutterbuck Love Fizz.

“Can I ask you a question about what you told me last night?” I ask, once half of my beer is gone.

He nods. “Of course.”

“What happened to Kayla, if it’s not too uncomfortable for you to talk about?”

“She was sentenced to three years in a mental health institution.”

“Three years? But it’s been five. Is she out?” Panic wells up in my chest at the thought of that woman roaming free.

“She’s not out. She found out I was paying for her stay at a private facility and decided that meant I loved her. The institution carefully monitors all outgoing mail, but she somehow found a way to start sending me letters.”

“Oh my god!” I gasp.

“Yeah, that violation added a few more years to her sentence. Kayla’s mom is actually a really nice lady, and she keeps me up to date with what’s going on.

We talk about once a year after court evaluations are done.

She said Kayla refuses to take the prescribed medications, so as long as she’s being uncooperative, it’s highly unlikely they’ll release her.

She also refuses to acknowledge what she did was wrong, so that doesn’t help her case. ”

I don’t say it aloud, but I hope they never let her out.

Helix changes the subject. “Would you come upstairs with me when this is over?”

“To your room?”

He smiles. “Not for that … unless you’re offering.”

“I’m not.” Am I? No, definitely not.

“Okay,” he says easily. “I have something I’d like to give you. Let’s call it phase one of the wooing.”

I look around the room. Rory and Angelica are arguing again, my father is hiding out around the corner of the bar, and Ma is running around looking harried.

Most of the guests have left already, even though the newlyweds have yet to make their grand exit.

I guess all Angelica’s antics have left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.

“You know what? Let’s just go now,” I tell him.

Helix seats me on the couch in his suite while he retreats to his bedroom, returning a moment later with a slender box wrapped in shiny blue paper.

“This is for you.”

I stare down at the prettily wrapped package and pick at the tape as Helix sits on the adjacent chair. “What is it?”

“A loaf of bread,” he says sarcastically.

Rolling my eyes, I pull off the paper and open the box to find a nameplate like you would see beside an office door. It reads:

Nicolette Bell, M.D., Ph.D.

Laboratory Director and Head of Research and Development

Hale Laboratories

Picking it up, I stare at the words, trying to decipher what exactly is going on here. “What is this, Helix?”

“It’s your new job,” he says softly.

My head shakes side to side in denial. “No, Director of Research and Development is your job.”

His blue gaze is intense and piercing. “Not anymore. I’ve turned in my resignation.”

I leap to my feet and gape down at him. “You can’t resign, you nimrod.” Shaking the metal nameplate at him, I protest, “And you can’t give me your job.”

“It’s already done,” he states calmly. “And I’m not giving it to you. You’ve earned the position. If you reject the offer, we’ll have to shut down the lab until we can find someone else to run it.”

Blinking about fifty times in the span of two seconds, I scoff. “And what about you?”

“If you’d like me to come work for you, I’d be happy to. If not…” Helix averts his eyes to a spot on the wall to my left.

“If not, what?”

He brings his gaze back to me. “If not, I’m moving to London with Remi.”

Alarm bells ring inside my head, and my nerve endings spark into a frenzy. “You’re moving?” My voice is about two octaves too high, and I realize how very much I don’t want him to go.

Helix wets his lips and stands, taking one long step until he’s only an inch away from me. “If things don’t work out with us, I can’t stay, Nicolette. I can’t live close to you if you’re not mine.”

“B-but Houston is your home.”

“You’re my home,” he retorts, reaching down to tap the plate with the tip of one finger. “You deserve this, and it’s what I want more than anything. You’re smarter than me, you have more degrees than me, and you’re older than me.”

“You could have left out that last one,” I say wryly, earning me his signature half-cocked smile, but it fades almost as soon as it appears.

“Please accept it. I believe in my heart that you are what’s best for the future of Hale Cosmetics.”

My feelings are raw on the surface of my skin when I whisper, “I don’t want you to move to London.”

“Then I would happily apply to be your lab manager. Or whatever position you want me in. Would you like me to send over my resumé?”

I snort out a laugh. “You’ve officially lost your damn mind.”

“There’s no rush. Take your time thinking about it and let my father know when you’ve made your decision.

” Helix rests a gentle hand on my cheek.

“I love you more than anything in the world, Nicolette Bell, but that’s not why I’m doing this.

I’m doing this because you’re the best person for the job. ”

Inhaling a shaky breath, I say, “I’ll think about it.”

Taking a step back, he asks, “Would you like to ride home on the jet with me tomorrow?”

Of all the decisions I’m now facing, that one is the hardest to answer, but I finally say, “I think I need some space from you right now. I’ll just take my scheduled flight.”

Helix nods solemnly. “Whatever you want, queenie.”