Gold Shimmer (18 page)

Somewhat appeased that he said he’ll discuss it further, I cast an apologetic gaze to Calder and follow Celeste’s dad. My steps slow as we approach the Hemming family standing in the entryway. I instantly look at Beth next to Jake and Ben and then the guys’ parents.

Just as I raise my eyebrows in a “what’s going on” question at Beth, she moves to give us space. Gregory falls in line beside Beth. When he turns to face the room, I slide into line next to Ben.
Why didn’t Celeste mention this part of the event?
With anxious anticipation knotting my stomach, I keep my gaze on Celeste’s dad while Phillip raises his voice above the crowd.

“Can we have everyone’s attention please? Gregory has an important announcement to make.”

Celeste’s father raises his hands to get the people to settle down. Once everyone turns to face us, Gregory says, “As you know, I invited you here to garner your support for my campaign, but there’s also another reason our friends and colleagues are gathered here tonight. “I’m pleased to announce the merger of the Carvers and the Hemmings’ families through my daughter’s engagement to Phillip’s son.”

I turn wide eyes to Beth, shocked that she didn’t mention she was getting engaged. When she gives me a “what?” look, I shift my gaze away. It’s bad enough that she just saw surprise on my face; If it’s Jake, I don’t want her to see the worried concern reflected in my eyes.

Gregory is droning on, happily soaking up the moment. “Phillip and I have been neighbors and close friends for nineteen years, and we couldn’t be happier that our children are going to marry and officially make us a true family. Congratulations to Ben and Celeste!”

As I jerk my attention to Gregory’s face, Ben slips his hand around mine. Folding our fingers together, he whispers in my ear to be heard over the hoots of congratulations and clapping. “Mrs. Ben Hemming. How does that sound? I promise to give you a massive diamond tomorrow. My dad was adamant we announce it today.”

It’s so hard not to immediately jerk my hand free. Ben seems like a nice guy, but this is the strangest engagement announcement.
Why didn’t he say something to me about it earlier? He didn’t even hint at it. And why didn’t Celeste warn me?

All I want to do is bolt, but I can’t. This is a freaking nightmare. The idea of being Jake’s sister-in-law, even a fake one for an evening, is too much for me. As nausea quickens in my belly, I force a smile as the ladies approach to congratulate us. The moment they walk away, I stiffen when Jake moves behind us and throws his arms over Ben and my shoulders.

“Well, isn’t this just nice and cozy? I didn’t think you had the balls, bro.”

The blatant anger and sarcasm in his voice is only for our ears, but I don’t miss the wince in Ben’s expression when his brother tightens his arm hold on his neck. I don’t want Jake touching me at all. Resisting the urge to punch him where it counts, I jam my elbow in his rib and say lightly, “Nice and tactful, Jake.” The only reason I’m able to keep a pleasant look on my face is because Jake’s obviously pissed.

I’m still going to kill Celeste for not warning me about this. But as much as Jake leaning close and whispering in my ear, “You have no idea just how nasty I can be, Celeste,” freaks me out, my mind fixates on the most important question to come from this announcement—what the hell was Celeste doing messing around with Calder if she knew she was getting engaged to Ben?

Calder!

My gaze shifts to where I left him before I had to walk to the front of the room. He’s not there. I murmur my thanks to the few more people who approach to offer congrats to Ben and me, while furtively scanning the room for Calder’s broad shoulders. I can’t find him anywhere. He probably left. I don’t blame him; I wouldn’t stick around. I clench my hand into a fist knowing today was probably the last time I’ll ever see him.

My stomach twists with so much fury and regret that I shove Jake’s arm off my shoulder without a second thought as to who might see.

Shrugging free of his brother’s hold, Ben glares at Jake and reaches for my hand once more. “Ignore whatever he said.”

“She knows she picked the wrong brother,” Jake sneers in a smug tone.

“I—I need to go to the bathroom.” I pull from Ben’s grasp and quickly walk toward the foyer, heading straight for the bathroom.

What kind of person invites the man she’s sleeping with to her house to watch her get engaged to another guy? Did Calder know he was just a friend-with-benefits? What twisted mind-fuck trip is Celeste on?

I pull the phone Celeste gave me out of my purse, and my hands shake as I fumble through typing a text.

Me: I just got blindsided with an engagement announcement. It’s bad enough that I’m having to pretend not to be shocked by this, but how the hell could you do that to Calder? Call me immediately or I’m going to walk back in there and blow your precious cover.

“Y
ou can’t tell them, Cass! Please. I promise that I didn’t know they were going to announce the engagement tonight.”

I lock the bathroom door behind me. Holding the phone tight, I rock my jaw back and forth so I don’t scream at her. “Yet you think it’s okay to lead Calder on like that? What happened to, ‘he was the best thing that ever happened to you lately’?”

“He was…is. My marriage will be in name only. It’s just a business arrangement. Nothing more.”

“Did you tell Calder that?” I say in a tight voice.

A pause. “Not yet.”

“Well, that’s a damned shitty way for him to find out.”

“I feel terrible about that. I’ll apologize to him as soon as I get back.”

“Give me his number. I’ll do it.” I need to do
something
.

“No, this is my fault. I will go see him and apologize in person.”

“I doubt that’ll do much good,” I snap, feeling personally guilty for how much today had to have hurt him, especially after what happened between us in the garden. My emotions are so fucking wrapped up in Celeste’s drama…to the point I’ve only made things worse. I should be glad that Calder probably despises Celeste now. And thrilled that he left without saying a word, but all I can think about is how he just got hammered with one of the worst lies ever. Betrayal.

“All I can do is try, Cass.”

At least she sounds regretful and upset. I expel a frustrated sigh. “Your fiancé seems pretty happy right now.” As soon as I say that, it occurs to me that Ben did hint at his interest. He’d said, “You’re making me reconsider.”
Shit, and here I thought he was talking about which political party he was supporting.
“I don’t think Ben sees this marriage arrangement the way you do, Celeste.”

“Wait…Ben?”

My stomach bottoms out at the surprise in her voice. “You were supposed to marry Jake?”

“Well, yeah…I mean, he’s liked me since we were teens. I always assumed it would be Jake,” she says slowly, then heaves a sigh. “I didn’t mention it, because I didn’t expect Jake to be there tonight. He hates politics.”

I can’t believe anyone would consider a sham marriage in modern times, but I’m almost done with this craziness, so what do I care. The fact that Ben is a part of this drops my opinion of him considerably. “What time are you getting back? I don’t think I can deal with the controlling men around here much longer. I quietly told Phillip off earlier, but I came so close to loudly cursing him out.”

“What did he say to you?” Celeste asks, her voice suddenly tense.

“Nothing. He just tried to shut down Calder becoming your bodyguard. He was worse about it than your father. What the heck is going on with him?”

“Phillip has his own agenda,” she says quietly, then perks up. “Did you really tell him off?”

“I told him to mind his own business and that I can take care of my own.”

Celeste giggles as if she can’t stop herself. “That’s fantastic. I’m sure he was pissed.”

I shrug, then remember she can’t see me. “I don’t care. By the way, I tried, but your father nixed the idea for Calder as your bodyguard.”

“I’m not surprised,” Celeste grumbles.

“Okay, so back to me getting
back
to my own life. When can I meet you to hand off your car? I don’t think my nerves can take much more.”

“I just now got here. I’m the last appointment of the day and they’ve stayed open late for me. Honestly, I probably won’t be back until around midnight, so I need you to continue to be me until then.”

“Midnight?” I hiss quietly into the phone.
Where did she go? Timbuktu?
“I can’t stay here another minute. I guess I can just leave after the cocktail is over and drive around until you call me.”

“No, I need you to keep being me, Cass. That means you’ll need to continue to be present and seen with my family. I’ll text you where to meet me once I get back to town.”

“But Ben—”

“I doubt Ben will try anything tonight—he’s never tried with me. Hmmm, maybe he wants his dad to bankroll his practice. Anyway, if he does try to get affectionate, just claim a horrible headache and escape to my room.”

“I thought I had to be
seen
,” I say, unable to keep the annoyance out of my comment.

“You will be. Trust me. Beth will know if you’re there or not. So please say you’ll stay a bit longer. I just need to make it through tonight.”

“Fine,” I say on a sigh, telling myself that I’m almost done.

“See you later,” she says before promptly hanging up.

As soon as I end the call, I hear deep voices in the foyer. I turn off the light in the bathroom and crack the door.

Jake is standing there talking to his father. He’s obviously angry by the way he’s gesturing. “You know I’ve always wanted her—”

His father rumbles.

“Bullshit, Dad—”

Phillips says something harsh in a low tone I can’t make out.

Jake lowers his voice, but then he gets angry again and I catch the tail end of it. “—lied to me!”

Phillip gets in his son’s face, his own red with anger. I strain to hear and just catch his last few words. “—riding on this.”

“I’ll going to kill that little prick,” Jake grits out.

“Never threaten family, Jake,” Phillip snaps in an angry tone, then narrows his gaze. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“Fuck this shit! I’m out of here.”

When Jake leaves, I quietly close the door. I can only assume they were talking about Celeste and Ben’s engagement. There was definitely a battle of wills going on.

After a full minute, I leave the bathroom, but then pause when I step into the empty foyer. Phillip is leaning against the wall near the entryway, his arms crossed as if waiting.

He watches me move my keys out of the way as I slip my phone into my small clutch. Lifting his eyes back to my face, his gaze narrows to slits. “Don’t even think about it. You’re going back in there and putting on a happy face the rest of the night.”

I drop my keys beside my phone and snap my purse closed with a decisive click. He must think I planned to leave. I hold his gaze with a steady one. “I’ll do what I please, Phillip. Stop trying to order me around.” As I start to pass him, I call lightly over my shoulder, “Otherwise, I might just become your worst nightmare.”

His scotch-warmed breath brushes next to my ear, his words a harsh grate. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect what’s mine, Celeste. Don’t force me to show you how ruthless I can be.”