Page 27

Nate’s poisonous words rang in my ears no matter how many times I tried to ignore them.

They weren’t going away. When Red placed his hand on the small of my back and lit up like a lightbulb on a Christmas tree as he spoke about me to these people, the ringing finally subsided.

I’d be the first to admit I felt a sense of belonging when Red was with me.

Only, he was part of the dreamworld that wasn’t meant to last, so I couldn’t get used to the feeling.

“Something wrong?” Red asked once we were alone again, giving me a confused look.

I swallowed, my throat suddenly feeling dry. My eyes clung to his as I placed a hand on his arm and leaned in, going in for a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Nothing at all. I’m going to see if I can find Sherrilyn and talk up my man.”

Don’t look too much into it. It was for selfish reasons because the sooner he got the investment from Mark, the sooner this would end.

And if anyone deserved this, it was Red.

He worked really hard and didn’t depend on his family’s money as much as you’d think he would.

He wanted to make it on his own, to bring the company to new heights, paving a way for himself and a legacy he could pass down to his kids, and I respected that. Immensely.

Passing a waiter holding a silver tray of drinks, I paused. “Excuse me, are those alcoholic?” There were a decent number of pregnant women on this boat, and many of the waiters were carrying non-alcoholic beverages. I needed something more than that.

He nodded. “Daiquiri, ma’am.” He nudged the tray toward me, and I took one, holding it up for a second before bringing it to my lips and letting the liquid dance on my tongue before swallowing a sip.

“Thank you,” I said, my eyes scanning the crowd for Sherrilyn.

And. . . found her. She was chatting with a woman who looked like she was in her third trimester, the both of them laughing at something.

My plan was to stand back and wait until they were done, but it seemed I didn’t need to do that because the woman walked away shortly after their fit of laughter.

“Sherrilyn.” I broached her, a hand on her arm as I tried to get her attention and have her turn around.

“This party is magnificent,” I noted, smiling sweetly so she didn’t think I was being sarcastic.

Not that she’d ever think that. I hadn’t known her long, but I happened to know that she thought very highly of herself and probably never for a second assumed someone would be mocking her.

She smiled, her cheekbones on full display as she beamed from ear to ear.

“I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself, Jadey.

” Okay, so that nickname is sticking. “It’s not a party, though.

It’s a welcome sail. Parties are very different than this”—she gestured her hands, signaling around the boat—“but you know that.”

“Of course,” I replied, nodding. How could I have possibly referred to it as a party? Someone cuff me. “I have to say, your vow renewal couldn’t have come at a better time.”

She angled her head and switched her glass from one hand to the other, her wedding ring hitting the glass with a loud clank. “Why is that?”

I waved a hand between us, chuckling. “Oh, Red has been working so hard I feared he might experience burn out. It’s just, I don’t have the heart to tell him because he has so many sound ideas for Lyons Enterprises.

This time next year he’ll be looking to start the process of going public.

” Thankfully, I could speak to this, since when I’d worked with him, I’d learned an IPO was being planned.

The corners of her lips curled up, but not in a genuine way, more in a condescending way.

It was the first time I’d seen that from her.

What did I say? “I respect what you’re doing, but I don’t involve myself in my husband’s business affairs, specifically investment opportunities that come across his desk.

His gut has gotten him this far, and I have the utmost confidence in him.

Inserting myself where I don’t belong would be a horrible mistake that could only result in disaster.

” She stared at me, her eyes growing small as she pressed them together.

“You see what I’m saying, don’t you, Jadey? ”

I hated (read: despised) that nickname, especially when she used it in a way that insinuated I was stupid because I was a lot of things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.

If Red didn’t have so much riding on this, I would have given her a piece of my mind and told her what I really thought.

Instead, I put on a phony smile. “Absolutely. I suppose wanting our men to succeed and supporting them in that endeavor and getting entangled in their business affairs, as you put it, are two very different things. It won’t happen again. ”

She nodded, her hand delicately grazing my arm as she moved to walk away from me, her eyes focused on something or someone behind me. “It’s been lovely chatting. I do hope you and Red enjoy the rest of the welcome sail.”

“Thank you,” I said, but it came out as more of a mumble because I felt awkward since she’d already checked out of the conversation.

I turned around and saw her raise a hand and call out someone’s name before getting their attention, their eyes growing wide and mouth hanging open as they let out a happy squeal.

And what was that bull about inserting myself where I don’t belong ?

What was that, some sort of knee-jerk reaction for rich people?

Know your place. Yeah, well, maybe the problem was they actually believed there were limits people needed to stay within.

Ever heard the saying the world is your oyster ?

The problem was you heard such a nasty, demeaning sentiment once, then again, and it continued eating away at you, and you began believing it, that you needed to know your place. It was hard to erase those thoughts and change your mindset, especially when you did see what they were saying.

I could have ruined this entire thing for Red, this really good thing he had going, all because I didn’t know what I was doing. I tried helping, and guess what? I potentially made it worse. So much worse.

Arms fell around my waist, a head on my neck, and lips nuzzling my ear, and I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Red.

So I stacked my hands on top of his and grazed my thumb over the top of his hands, understanding the appeal of being in someone’s warm embrace.

Especially at places like this. It grounded me somehow.

But this was all for show, of course.

“Don’t be mad, but—” I stopped short, turning in his arms and planting my lips on his, reveling in the way he tasted like salt and champagne.

Intensifying the kiss, he grazed his tongue over my bottom lip, tugging on it with his teeth before pulling back entirely. “Want to finish that sentence now?”

Not necessarily. “I talked to Sherrilyn about your company and tried to show her how it would be a good idea if Mark invested.” When his jaw hardened, I clarified. “I didn’t say it as bluntly, though. I just didn’t want to give you a blow-by-blow. Didn’t think you’d want that, either.”

His hands on my shoulders, he drew them down, rubbing my arms as he went. “It didn’t go well, did it?”

I studied his expression, waiting for him to say something more.

Was he acting calm, like it didn’t faze him in the least, because we were in public?

We all knew Red didn’t like to cause a scene and thought anyone who did was a fool.

I was thinking about Nate and his stupidity at our engagement party in case you were curious.

“It didn’t, much to my surprise. She doesn’t involve herself in his business dealings.

” I raised a brow, licking my lips. “It’s strange, honestly.

Even though I don’t work at Lyons Enterprises anymore, I still want to help.

And I know all of this is”—I stopped and looked around before dropping my voice—“fake, but if it were real, I know I’d do anything for the man I was with to make sure their dreams come true.

” I shrugged, taking a sip of my drink. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

Geez, did I really need to hold the whole conversation?

When I removed the glass from my lips and swallowed, I went on.

“Maybe she’s right, though, and it wasn’t my place. When will I learn, right?”

“Hopefully, never,” Red answered, his eyes intense, a darker blue than I’d ever seen them.

I rolled my eyes. “Be serious. I could’ve blown up everything you’re trying to do here. It would’ve all been for nothing. And you deserve to get Mark’s investment.”

“I am serious.” He slammed his teeth together. “If Mark wants a woman who falls in line, a woman like Sherrilyn who doesn’t step in and tell him when he’s being a schmuck in business or otherwise, then good for him. I, however, don’t want that. It’s fucking boring.”

“Pretty sure you don’t want a screwup either.”

“You’re not a screwup.”

“Oh, I know,” I lied. I couldn’t help myself, you know, what with the nonstop hysteria built up in my throat and threatening to come out.

I smiled the best I could, the corners of my lips wavering slightly.

“Good thing this will be over soon so that I won’t hold you back any longer from finding that woman who will gladly tell you when you’re being a dick. ”

“Schmuck,” he clarified.

“Same thing.”

“If same means different.”

No, different was different, and that was exactly what our worlds were. So incredibly different, which was why I needed to leave when the clock struck midnight for fear he might come to see what Nate saw—and forced me to see, too.