Page 10 of Theo (Stone Brothers #6)

EIGHT

LACEY

I t was yet another cocktail party. These people lived for damn cocktail parties where they could show off their designer clothes and jewelry and talk about boring shit like stocks and real estate.

I'd put on a simple green dress and matching green pumps.

George had bought me a diamond necklace a few months back, but I decided to wear the string of pearls I'd inherited from Grandmother Josie.

I was on my third cosmopolitan when George found me. I'd discovered an alcove just outside the main reception room where I could disappear for a few minutes and take a breather from vacuous small talk.

"There you are, honey." He raised a fatherly brow at the drink in my hand. "How many of those have you had? Don't want the bride to wake up with a hangover." He was holding what I was sure was his third or fourth scotch on the rocks. Apparently, a groom hangover was acceptable.

"This is my third," I said plainly and then drained the glass.

He took the empty glass from my hand and set it down on the small writing desk in the alcove.

"There are some people I want you to meet," he said, excitedly.

He took my hand before I could agree. We walked through the maze of gathered guests in the room.

Joan had ordered expensive bouquets to display in massive silver vases throughout all the reception areas.

There were almost more flowers than people and their perfume mingled with the array of expensive perfumes and colognes.

It was a little like walking around the cosmetic counters in a department store where, on every corner, you met a salesclerk wanting to spray a sample of perfume on you.

We were heading to a group of three men, all of whom were wearing expensive black suits. Two of the men had the obligatory graying temples, while the third man was too bald for sideburns, or gray, for that matter.

"Gentlemen, here she is, Lacey, my future wife.

Lacey, this is Randolph Meyers, Edgar Farrington and Joseph Nettles of Meyers, Farrington and Nettles.

They have law offices in New York and Los Angeles.

" George was practically gushing as he spoke.

"They have some very influential and powerful clients, and they just happen to be looking for new associates. "

Edgar Farrington was the first to speak. "George mentioned that you graduated top of your class at NYU."

"I did." I smiled. It seemed I'd landed in the middle of a job interview for a position I never applied for.

"Where are you working currently?" Nettles asked.

The question caused George to wince. I went right on with the unexpected interview.

"I'm working for Justice for All." I lifted my chin and smiled.

"Justice and Fall. Are they in Virginia?" Nettles asked.

"No, it's Justice for All," I said clearly. "They're everywhere."

Farrington and the bald man, whose name I'd already forgotten, caught on before Nettles.

Farrington wore a very disappointed expression.

George did too. But he wasn't ready to give up yet.

"But Lacey was being considered as a junior partner at Vox and Hogan in New York," he said hastily.

This new information brought back their eager smiles.

"Why did you leave, if I may ask?" Farrington said. He seemed relieved to learn that his time had not been wasted on someone who only practiced law online and for the masses, no less.

"Oh, well, Carl Vox kept grabbing my?—"

George took hold of my arm. "Excuse us, gentleman, I just remembered we need to settle something for the wedding reception." George dragged me back through the crowd. He was holding my arm tightly enough that I yanked free of his grasp.

"You're cutting off my circulation," I said angrily.

George glanced around at the few guests nearby and smiled. "Don't forget there are canapés out on the veranda. Delicious. I recommend the caviar." He took hold of my hand gently but still managed to drag me like a rag doll hanging at the end of a kid's arm through the crowd.

We returned to the place we'd started, my secret alcove. George's face was red with anger. "What the hell was that?"

"You ambushed me with a job interview in the middle of a party, and I've told you a number of times that I like working for Justice for All. I'm not suited to one of those big law firms. They suck."

George waved off my comment. "You're being childish. I told you; you've had too many drinks tonight."

"You know what? You're right." I pressed my fingers to my temple. "I'm feeling a little lightheaded. Too much excitement, I suppose. I think I'll head up to my room for the night. I want to look fresh and beautiful for the big day." I smiled, and he knew it wasn't a gracious smile.

"Look, don't be mad." George blocked the alcove doorway with his body. "I'm just looking out for our future. It will be amazing. Me a top surgeon and you a top lawyer, we'll be a power couple that will shake up society."

"There's only one problem with that," I said.

"What's that?"

"You haven't asked me if that's what I want.

I don't want to be a power couple. I just want us to live our lives, be happy and healthy, and, frankly, fly under the radar instead of through it.

I hate these huge gatherings. I just want us to have quiet nights at home after a long day of work and take the occasional trip.

That's what I want. Guess we should have discussed our dreams more before we committed to each other. "

George frowned. "We'll talk about this later."

"When? After the wedding? That seems a little too late."

"Marriage takes compromise," he said and reached up to push a strand of hair off my face. It was a gesture that I should have viewed as tender, but knowing George, he was just worried I'd look messy in front of his friends.

"Right. Compromise. Make sure to look it up because I'm not sure you grasp the full meaning."

"What's that supposed to mean?" His tone had sharpened, and my posture straightened in defense.

"Uh, let's see. You just ambushed me with an impromptu job interview in front of three men who I would never work for all because you have decided to take control of my career."

George shook his head. "I can't talk to you when you're like this."

"Like what? Being honest and direct?"

"You've had too much to drink," he repeated. "Go upstairs and get some rest. I'll make excuses for your absence."

"Glad to escape this party, and yes, please do make excuses.

I'm so concerned about what all these people, mostly strangers, mostly people who I would never be friends with, will think of my absence.

" I sidled past him out of the alcove, grabbed a glass of wine off a server's tray and hurried to the stairs.

I reached the sanctuary of my room and shut the door behind me.

I leaned back against the door for a moment to collect myself and gulp down the wine.

This was the night before my wedding. I should have been nervous and excited and deliriously happy.

Instead, I was terrified—terrified that I was making the biggest mistake of my life.

I couldn't believe I was thinking that way.

I'd been out of my mind with joy when George proposed.

He was everything I'd looked for in a match.

Or at least that was what I'd told myself.

My parents were over the moon, and my friends were plagued with the proper amount of envy.

But after the three-karat ring slid onto my finger, George started to become far more controlling and colder, if I really thought about it.

I'd hoped that sudden urge to take over my life choices would fade, but it'd only grown stronger.

I kicked off my painful shoes, whipped off my dress and plunked down on the bed in my bra and panties.

I picked my phone up off the nightstand and scrolled through meaningless posts just to get my mind off everything.

I followed Jules Stone's Instagram. She'd posted a few action shots of Theo in his downhill race.

In one picture he was flying through the air like he had wings.

He was always fearless, a true daredevil.

I loved that about him. I loved a lot about him.

And there I was in one of those vulnerable moments where my emotions were frayed and everything around me was spinning.

I scrolled to his name. He came up quickly because we'd just spoken.

Hearing his voice had sent me back in time, to a time when being in love was breezy and wonderful and everything was easy.

"Wish I'd never left Trayton," I texted and sent it before I could change my mind. I put the phone down. It was Friday night. Theo Stone would be out partying, having a good time. He knew how to do that like a champ. He was probably with a woman. That thought gave my heart a tug.

I rested back and closed my eyes. Maybe I could dream myself out of this whole damn situation. "What the hell have you done, Lacey?" I asked myself. The liquor was making my head and eyelids heavy. With any luck I'd sleep right through the rest of the weekend and miss the whole damn wedding.