Sparked (36 page)

“No matter how long,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said, seeming to relax a bit.

Her lips looked so soft and full in the twilight. How could he resist them?

He leaned down and kissed her, exploring her mouth with his tongue, twisting his hand around the delicate nape of her neck, and teasing those ruby lips until she was kissing him back with the same fervor. 

When they finally parted, he had half a thought to ditch the whole party and have her right there. But that could wait. Tonight was about showing her off, about finally taking a stand.

“Come on. Let’s try to have some fun tonight. What do you say?”

“All right,” she said. She smiled as though the smile itself was her sword. The act was so brave he felt his heart swell. He wouldn’t deny that tonight would be hard. They would be the subject of ugly gossip and scornful stares. But he was prouder than ever to have her by his side.

The party was already in full swing by the time Clayton and Cora arrived. They could hear the big band music and see finely dressed people swarming inside as they drove under the awning of the wide drive leading up to the McPherson Supper Club.

Clayton opened the door for Cora and tossed his keys to the valet. Then he noticed Cora tugging on her dress, trying to smooth her already perfect hair. The nerves were practically radiating off her.

“You look incredible,” he said.

She peeked inside before saying, “Everyone in there looks so elegant. I feel like a fraud.”

“You’ll put them all to shame,” he said, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm. He had no doubt she would be able to hold her own in the crowd. In terms of beauty alone, she was hands down the loveliest creature there. And almost none of them had had the benefit of her kindness, her zeal, or her smile. He was almost jealous of them—getting to experience her for the first time.

He led her into the crowded ballroom. The place was packed with guests holding champagne flutes and practically shouting to each other over the spirited music from the twenty-piece band on stage. The lights were dimmed and candles were flickering from all the tables, which were clustered around a large, crowded dance area. Glittering silver streamers and festive silver balloons shaped like stars hung from the ceiling, making it almost feel as though they were outdoors.

“It’s lovely,” Cora said. Her eyes were bright, taking it all in. And not for the first time, Clayton felt a renewed sense of appreciation for his life when he could see it through her eyes.

Then he felt a hard tug on his elbow.

“Excuse me, I need to borrow my son for a moment,” the voice came from his father, who, from the looks of it, was raging mad. He was probably sore from losing their bet, but Clayton wasn’t about to let him go back on his word.

Clayton took a deep breath. It was now or never. “Father, I’d like you to meet Cora Murphy.”

Cora’s nervous smile faded when his father didn’t even bother to look at her. 

“I need a few words with you, son.” The last word was almost a threat.

“Let go,” Clayton said, keeping his voice even. He clutched Cora’s hand while his father pulled him in the opposite direction.

“Don’t make a scene,” his father growled. “I only need you for a moment, and then we can forget all of this.”

Did his father mean he would be willing to accept Cora? Clayton felt a surge of hope that he might be able to heal this rift with his family before it truly began. 

Clayton eyed Cora apologetically, “Get us some punch? I’ll be right back.”

She nodded and headed toward the bar, though worry furrowed her brow and doubt clouded her eyes. This was not the way Clayton had hoped things would go.

“What is it?” he asked his father.

“Come with me.”

Reluctantly, Clayton followed his father through the crowd toward the front of the room. But when he got up on stage as the band was finishing their song, Clayton balked.

“Come on. I have an announcement to make and I need you by my side.” 

Announcements weren’t exactly rare from his father, considering the bank sponsored most of the events in town and was spearheading this one. But Clayton had no idea what sort of announcement he could possibly want to make that required him to be up on stage with him. Perhaps it was about the community lending initiative. Reluctantly, he climbed the stairs and stood next to his father, who was picking up a microphone.

“Thank you all for coming tonight. We appreciate the generous donation you’ve made to the Briggs Foundation. Please consider making an additional gift. The more you give, the greater our reach.”

This was all very routine. It was the same sort of speech he gave at every event. Clayton scoured the crowd for Cora, and spotted her at the very back of the room, hovering near the door with two glasses of punch. He winked at her and saw the curve of a smile touch her mouth.

“But that’s not what I’m up here to talk about. As it turns out, I have a very special announcement of a personal nature to make.”

His father motioned to someone, but Clayton couldn’t see who. He noticed waiters coming out of the dining room, circulating the crowd with fresh trays of champagne.

“You see, my son has found someone very special.”

Clayton’s eyes snapped to his father. Was he really about to publicly endorse Cora? He’d hoped for a civil conversation between Cora and his parents tonight, that was all. This was more than he ever dreamed possible. His mouth curved into a curious smile.

“The two lovebirds have been trying to keep it a secret, have a few final kicks before the end of the summer I suppose, but his mother and I aren’t blind.” He slapped Clayton on the back as everyone laughed. “You don’t need to hide it anymore, kid. We know. And we very much approve.”

Clayton beamed. He felt pride welling up in his chest at his father’s generosity toward Cora. Even though his father was clearly upset, he was keeping his word. A gesture like this would certainly garner her acceptance into their crowd. It would make things easier on all of them. He glanced out toward her, and saw that she was smiling too. There was light in her eyes, a confident set to her posture.

But then he saw something else, and his entire opinion changed in an instant. Violet was being led up the stairs by a waiter, looking just as shocked as Clayton.

“So tonight,” Clayton’s father said, “I’d like to officially announce the engagement of my second son, Clayton Anthony Briggs, to the very lovely and very accomplished Violet Miller.”

Violet’s eyes snapped to him, wide and hopeful and overcome with emotion. She put a hand to her mouth in surprise like she thought …
Oh, God.
Did she think Clayton was about to propose?

No. This couldn’t be happening. The joke was on Violet too. His father intended to humiliate them both if Clayton didn’t fall in line.

The crowd erupted in hearty applause.

Clayton turned to his father with fire in his chest. “What is this? We had a deal.”

His father dropped the mic down to his side. “Accept your loss gracefully, son. You’ll thank me for all of this one day.”

Clayton was flabbergasted.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” the crowd cheered.

He glanced over at Violet who suddenly looked panicked. Her fingers were balled in her skirt. Tears clouded her vision and the look in her eyes seemed to be demanding him to look at her, look at her,
look
.

It was only then that it occurred to him to look for Cora, to reassure her that this was all a mistake—a terrible trick concocted by his parents. He scanned the crowd for her and spotted her staring at him from the same place she was standing before. The glasses were no longer in her hands. And the look on her face—that look.

Oh god.

He shook his head to try to tell her it was all a mistake, but she ran. He had to catch her. He took one step toward the stage stairs, but Violet was by his side in an instant.

“Please don’t leave me alone up here, Clay,” she whispered. “Please.”

What could he do? This wasn’t fair to her either. He took Violet by the hand and bolted off stage, trying to spot Cora. But people kept getting in their way. 

“Congratulations, son.”

“Come on, let’s see that kiss!”

“You make such a lovely couple.”

“I always knew you two would end up together.”

He dodged through them, not even bothering to acknowledge their comments. His father could explain it to them; he certainly wasn’t going to.

“Cora!” he called, letting go of Violet’s hand, letting the crowd swallow her behind him. 

But he could no longer see Cora anywhere. She had already made it outside, and he was only halfway through the room—just past the dance floor.

“Clayton. Come back here,” his father called after him.

There was an air of confusion in the room—a bubbling of gossip as quick and popping as the champagne they all sipped. But then the band started up again—a loud happy song Clayton couldn’t place.

“To the happy couple!” the bandleader said into the mic, then started singing lyrics about everlasting love.

Clayton barreled through people—now all headed to the dance floor—fighting his way to the door. Finally, he saw an opening in the crowd and dashed toward it.

He raced through the endless room to the exit. But it was too late. She was already so far gone he couldn’t see her, didn’t know which direction she’d fled.

“My car,” he said to the valet.

“It might be a minute, sir. It’s a bit buried now.”

“As fast as you can,” he said, and the valet raced off.

“Where do you think you’re going?” His father had finally caught up to him. And it wasn’t just him. Clayton’s mother was right behind him.

“I’m going after her,” Clayton said. “I have to explain what you just did.”

“No, you’re not. You’re staying right here.”

“We had an agreement. You said you’d give her a chance. How dare you do that to her? Humiliate her like that? And Violet, too. Do you have any idea what it took for Cora to show up here tonight? She was terrified.”

“As well she should be,” his father said. “You don’t try to swindle the Briggs family and get away with it.”

“Swindle? Do you have any idea what she’s been through? How she’s had to fight, just to be with me? Her brother hit her when he thought we were together.
Hit
her.”

“Are you certain of this?” his mother asked. She seemed appalled.

“Yes. She puts herself at risk every single time she sees me. And everything she’s done—every single thing—has been to protect either her little sister or me.”

His father blustered. “Of course she’s making you believe that, but—”

“She’s not making me believe anything. I’ve seen it all first hand. She never once tried to take advantage of me. It’s you who’s manipulating the situation, not her.”

“Don’t you get it?” his father asked. “The marriage
is
the con. She’s pulled the wool over your eyes so thick you can’t even see it anymore.”

How had his father learned that he was planning to propose? Besides himself, there were only two people who knew that. “I’m marrying her because I want to marry her. I love her, and you’re just going to have to accept that.”

“Come to your senses, boy. That’s out of the question. You absolutely cannot marry her.”

“You’ve tried to raise me to be a good person. And I know I don’t always do things in the same way you’d do them, but I do try to do the right thing in my own way,” Clayton said. “I’m the best version of myself when I’m with her. If you gave her a chance, you would see that. I love her, father. She’s what I want. She’s the only one I want.”

“Are you insane? If you even mention her again—God help me, I’ll change the terms of your trust fund. You won’t get a single penny.”

“Lowell, wait—” his mother tugged at his father’s arm, trying to pull him back.

“To hell with my trust fund,” Clayton said.

His father yanked away from his mother.

“You’d really throw it all away on that girl? You’d choose a Murphy over your own family?”

“Don’t make me choose, father. Because you won’t like my decision.”

Finally, the valet came around with his car. Clayton shoved a wad of cash into the boy’s hand and jumped into the car without even opening the door.

“Don’t you dare leave while I’m talking to you,” his father said.

“We’re done talking.”

“Let him go, Lowell,” his mother said. “I mean it.”

And something about the look in her eyes finally got through to his father. Lowell stepped away, looked at his wife.

Clayton didn’t wait to see what their conversation would entail. He started the car. But he only got ten feet before he heard another voice.

“Clayton! Wait!”

Clayton hit the brakes and turned to see Violet rushing toward him. She put her hands on the car door, breathless.

“Let me come with you.”

“Vi—” 

“Not for that. I know—I know it’s not me. I know you don’t want me. I do. I just … I want to help.”

“I’ve already lost enough time.”

“Please, just let me help you. It’s the least I can do.”

“I can handle this on my own.”

“She’ll trust it more if she hears it from both of us. Please, Clay.”

“Fine. Get in.”

Violet yanked the door open and slid inside as Clayton peeled out of the long driveway.

“I need to tell you something,” she said. “I did something terrible. This is all my fault.”

Clayton’s jaw set into a firm line as Violet explained what she had done—going straight to his parents after they’d met in the jewelers and telling them he was about to propose.

“I’m so sorry, Clay. Really I am. I thought she was trying to hurt you, to take advantage. I was wrong.”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Clayton said, though he felt little generosity toward her in that moment. “Keep your eyes open for Cora. She couldn’t have gotten far.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Cora

Cora raced through the wooded path that led down from the supper club toward the town below. She was going so fast she didn’t even feel it as the branches ripped at her dress, caught in her hair. Tears were crashing down her cheeks, threatening to drown her.