Trick (22 page)

I shake my head and look to my left and right. “Dad, there’s no one even here.”

“Harvey Mills,” Dad says, extending his hand to Gunner. “And you are?”

“Gunner Hunt, sir, pleasure to meet you.”

Dad squints at Gunner like he may recognize him. Maybe from that time in the greenhouse when he walked in and Gunner was still shirtless and buttoning the fly of his jeans.

“Gunner. Huh. So, you’re the one that got this new career all lined up for my girl?” Dad asks, his voice just on the side of being harsh.

“No sir, I just got her to a director. She did the rest on her own. It’s her talent that got her the job.” Gunner puts a protective arm around me, and I lean into his strength.

My father nods noncommittally and excuses himself to go find Claire.

“Thank you,” I whisper, turning to look up at Gunner.

“For what?” he asks.

“For what you said. To my father.” I watch Gunner’s jaw work back and forth. “What is it?”

“It’s just...I don’t like the idea of you feeling embarrassed about yourself or what you do, baby.” He sets his hands on my shoulders. “This whole big production, isn’t it supposed to be about you doing what you love?”

“Yes,” I whisper, feeling like I’m about to wilt.

“I don’t think it would be too hard for your father to acknowledge that you are pretty damn amazing is all.” He pulls me close and is about to kiss me when the door bursts open, and Daisy runs at me, arms wide.

“I heard there was gonna be a killer party here!” she hollers.

I laugh and shush her while my father and Claire frown from across the room.

“Do you always have to be so damn crazy?” I ask, crushing her in a hug.

“I have every right to go a little crazy when my best friend accomplishes her dream! I already scoped out tickets online. I’ll be there, front row, opening night, screaming and cheering for you,” she promises, and I kiss her cheek.

“It’s Broadway, not some rock concert, you crazy thing,” I scold. Gunner stands to the side and smiles wryly.

Daisy turns her attention his way suddenly. “Hot mother of all that’s holy. You clean up damn nice, Gunner Hunt.”

He takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. “You look very beautiful, Daisy.”

She fans her face and giggles, turning to me. “He can sure as shit turn that charm on, can’t he? So, is there gonna be dancing at this party? Oooh, drinks!”

We watch Daisy beeline to the bar and flirt like crazy with the handsome young bartender. Gunner shakes his head, but he’s laughing. Before we can say another word, guests start to spill in.

Most are my father’s friends and business acquaintances. Claire thought ahead enough to invite the girls from my dance class, and it’s wonderful to see them, because they actually want to know every detail of the audition and the rehearsal schedule. Daisy and Gunner always listen politely, but they don’t want to hear everything a million times the way other dancers do.

I’m just beginning to relax and enjoy the party when Claire taps her glass and everyone stops talking and looks to the front of the room. My father is holding up a glass of champagne and waiters are buzzing around, making sure everyone has a glass.

“I’m so glad you all made it here today. As you may have heard, we have had some exciting news in the Mills family. My daughter, Harlow, has been accepted to dance on Broadway.”

I feel my cheeks go pink, and I can’t keep the smile off my face. I’ve waited a long time for something like this, and it feels so good to hear my father talk about my dancing with pride in his voice. Everyone claps and there are lots of murmurs from the crowd that sound impressed.

“Now, as good as that news is,” my father says over the buzz, “what Harlow doesn’t know is that I’ve set her up so that when she comes back from this little dance run, she’ll be able to take her place at my side and become the vice president of accounts. I’ve already talked to your
college about finishing your business degree after this leave of absence. And, Clay, I think we’ll have to get you two on a few, er,
business
dates when she gets back, right?”

The audience turns to look at Clay, who smiles and gives an awkward little wave. I’m holding the glass in my hand so hard, I’m afraid I’ll break it, and my hand shakes so much, I slosh champagne over the rim. I blink hard, trying like hell to hold back the tears.

I look over for Gunner, just wanting to have him hold me in his arms, but he’s not by my side. I’m about to bolt out the door, but I look up and see Gunner jumping onto the stage where my dad is still standing.

“Uh, thank you for the lovely words, Mr. Mills,” he says dryly, and a few people laugh. My heart knocks hard in my chest.

“Yes,” my father announces loudly. “Let’s toast to my daughter, Harlow—”

“Not yet.” Gunner’s voice echoes through the room. My dad leans close and murmurs something low into Gunner’s ear. Gunner’s face gets a look of fury, and one hand balls into a fist, but he doesn’t say a word for a second.

“What in the hell is going on?” Daisy asks, suddenly at my side. The crowd around us is whispering pretty much the same thing.

“I only have a minute to say this,” Gunner says, and my father scowls. Everyone in the room looks up at him. “So I’ll be quick.
I grew up on the wrong side of town, with no one giving a shi—excuse me. With no one giving much of a care how I turned out. And I didn’t do much other than live up to everyone’s low expectations.”

The room is silent, like we’re all holding our breath, waiting for his next words.

Gunner points to me. “Then I met Harlow Grace Mills. And my life changed. Because she has the biggest heart and the best soul of any person I’ve ever known. A few weeks ago, I got the chance to watch Harlow dance.” He shakes his head, his smile making my heart jump in my chest. “I’ve seen a lot of beauty in my life, but nothing can hold a candle to watching Harlow glow when she dances. And, much as I hate to see her leave Piedmont, I love that other people will get to see that passion. Get to come close to that beauty. I know that watching Harlow do what she loves changed me. It made me ashamed for wasting time. I want you to know how proud I am of you, Harlow Grace. And how much I love you.” He locks eyes with me and his voice goes hoarse. “Cheers.”

My father grimaces, but is forced to clap along with the explosion of whistles and cheers from the crowd.

“Holy hell, that boy is going to have a good night with you, isn’t he?” Daisy asks.

I laugh and she pushes my arm. “What are you waiting for?” she demands. “You better run to him.”

And I do. As fast as I can, I run into his arms and kiss him in front of everyone. “You hate speaking in front of people,” I say into his ear.

He crushes me close. “There’s nothing I hate so much that I’d let it stand in the way of making the girl I love happy.”

“Oh, Gunner. Thank you so much. I love you.” I look into his eyes and my knees go weak. “Can we leave?”

“C’mon, kitten. I think this party has peaked.”

We race out, laughing, to his car, and he drives the opposite way from his house. “Where are we headed?” I ask.

“I think we need to send you off right.” That’s all he says, and I sit tight as we pull up at the cemetery.

He comes around to open my door and pops the trunk. There are two packed bags and, lying next to them, a bouquet of yellow roses and one of daisies.

We walk silently, first to my mother’s headstone. Gunner stands, feet apart, hands clasped behind his back, as if he’s at attention. I sink to my knees and lay the yellow flowers on her grave. I bow my head, but I don’t say a word, because the tears are falling too hard and fast for me to get a handle on my voice. But I know that my mama would understand what I’m feeling. I know she’d be so happy that I was going to dance. And that I’d have a man like Gunner at my side.

I stand after a few long minutes and brush the grass off my knees, then walk with Gunner and watch as those big, strong hands that always touch me just right place the delicate bouquet on the earth. He lays his hand flat on the top of the stone, and, though he looks emotional, he opens his mouth and says, “Mama, I miss you so much. It hurts every day. But what hurts most is that you never got a chance to meet Harlow. You would have loved her as much as I do. I know that.”

His voice goes raw, and I stand near him, glad when he wraps me in his arms.

“Thank you for taking me here,” I say softly.

“I promised you once I’d be the one to go with you. I’m sorry it took me this long to make good on it.” His mouth is tight with regret.

“Forget all that. We’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”

He leads me back to the car, and, again, we travel away from the house. The drive is long, and it’s so dark, I don’t know where we are at first. But Gunner squeezes my hand and we pull up at a place that is familiar once I look again.

“Gunner?” I’m confused about why we’re here.

A young man runs out of the office to meet the car. “Mr. Hunt?” he asks. Gunner nods. “Your cabin is ready.”

We drive down the path the boy points out and come to the cabin where we first made love.

Gunner parks and comes around to get my door, grabs the bags, and leads me to the cabin. When he opens it, it’s been cleaned and decorated beautifully. There are flowers everywhere and candles on every surface.

“Gunner? What is all this?” I ask, looking around in wonder.

But Gunner Hunt doesn’t answer me.

Because he’s on his knee, a small black box in one hand.

My hand jumps to cover my mouth. “Gunner? W-w-what—”

“Harlow Grace, you’ve been my North Star, the love of my damn life, and the one person who loved me even when I didn’t deserve it at all. I’ve been a jackass, a jerk, a stupid, blind idiot. But you opened my eyes to love. Right now I’m on my knees begging you for a second chance. I know I screwed up before, but if you agree to be my wife, I promise you that you will never want for a damn thing, because I will provide for you, everything for you. You will never shoulder a single burden alone. I will cherish you and support you for the rest of our lives. If you’ll just let me.”

I’m shaking so hard, I back up to the door, grabbing the frame for support. “Are you...? Is this...? Are you proposing to me?”

Gunner looks down at the box in his hands, then up at me. “Hell, kitten, I’m trying to. Are you saying ‘yes’?”

“Yes!” I run to him, fall to my knees, kiss his mouth, run my fingers through his hair. “Yes, yes, yes!”

He stands up, laughing nervously. “Good Lord, I was scared for a second that you were going to bolt on me.” He takes my left hand and slides the ring onto it gently.

I gaze down at it, gorgeous and sparkling on my finger. “It’s so beautiful! It’s perfect! Gunner!”

I take his face in my hands and kiss him deeply, and he walks me back to the bed, laying me back with gentle pressure.

“I remember exactly what you looked like that night we came here. How your hair was all over the pillows and your eyes were so wide...you were so gorgeous. Like an angel.” He drags his fingertips down my cheek. “How the hell is it possible that you’ve you gotten more beautiful since then?”

“I love you so much,” I breathe, just a second before Gunner Hunt, my future husband, leans his head down to kiss me, to love me, to be with me completely and never let me go.

E
PILOGUE

HARLOW

“So, when do you have to be at the theatre?” Gunner asks, his voice sleepy under the covers.

“Two hours.” I stretch my arms over my head and point my toes. “When does your flight leave?”

“Tomorrow afternoon,” he yawns. “Your father wants me to check out some land in Boston.”

“Boston?” I repeat. “And then?”

“Back up here. I think your father built an office in New York just so I could come here and keep an eye on you.” He pulls me close under the covers and kisses my neck, down my arm, my hand, his lips brushing possessively over the ring that marks our status as an engaged couple. I love the story of how he got it, and I make him repeat it to me at least once a week.

Daddy was, surprisingly, a pretty quick convert to the idea of the two of us together. Or maybe my father just likes to pretend everything was his idea when he loses. Because he started to invite Gunner over for dinners. And, after a few discussions about his businesses, Daddy found that Gunner had a brilliant mind for analyzing problems.

Never in a million years did I think Gunner would accept my father’s offer to work as a location scout for the real estate arm of the business. He shocked us all by agreeing to a one-month test run. Winds up my rebel bad-boy
fiancé can work his way around boardrooms and build-sites just as comfortably as he ever managed a bar counter. While he’s away, Jared is watching the bar and keeping an on eye on the house.

“We have time for a bath,” I suggest, and Gunner gets up, walks across my loft, and turns the tub on.

I snuggle down, listening to the water run and watching the very sexy image of naked Gunner walk across the room.

“See something you like?” he teases.