Page 48 of Always Knew It Was You

“No kidding.” His wife echoes. “I like her.”

I grin. “I think I like you too.”

“Yay!” Ally laces her arm through mine and continues on the story as I try to maintain my stiff, elegant walk. Thankfully, we soon get to the top of the staircase and enter a grand ballroom that puts the Pink Hotel to shame. Seriously. One wall seems to be solely dedicated to intricate glasswork, there are large windows covered by silk damask curtains, and the white marbled floors sparkle under the crystal chandelier.

The minute we get to the foyer, I make a beeline to the bathroom. I’m not sure if it’s the nerves or the dress I’m wearing but I suddenly really need to pee.

I turn a corner following the signs when I hear the sounds of commotion.

“Are you kidding me? Just what kind of trash do they have working here, huh?”

In a near-empty hallway, a shorter balding man in a suit is screaming at what looks to be a server, with a tray and broken glass at her feet. “Do you have any idea how much this costs?”

“I’m sorry, sir!” She wrings her hands, seemingly distraught.

“Sorry? Sorry! You think sorry is going to fix this mess.” He has a mildly European-sounding accent. “You stupid, stupid girl.”

And then he does something shockingly infuriating. He draws his hand back as though to hit her.

I immediately step out into the hallway. “Don’t you fucking dare touch her.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MICAH

The second Carly is out of earshot, Ally delivers a swift, painful thwack to my arm.

“Ow.” I grasp my arm, feigning pain. “That hurt, Ally.”

Her eyes glitter menacingly. “I’m going to hurt you a lot worse if you don’t tell me what’s going on here. Who is that?”

“I already told you. She’s my fiancée,” I tease. “Or were you not listening?”

She narrows her eyes suspiciously, but I merely waggle my eyebrows in response.

I didn’t necessarily expect to meet Ally at this party, but it’s a good thing I did. No one knows how to spread gossip better than good old Ally Wilcox nee Petrova.

Her family is old money, and they move in pretty much the same circles as my grandfather, so news will get back to him in no time.

“Iwaspaying attention,” Ally responds, “but I’ve also known you since we were practically in diapers. There is no way Micah Landing, the whore of the seven seas, is getting married. Not without some serious intervention. Right, Jamie?”

Jameson nods, and his wife uses it as a confidence boost. She crosses her arms over her chest.

“Look, what’s going on? Is this a scheme of yours? Is she an actress you hired?”

“You think I would go as far as to propose to someone for a scheme?”

Her face shows her slight doubt but she shakes it off. “I mean that seems more believable than you getting married. I thought hell would freeze over before that happened.”

I shrug. “Well, I’m not going to pretend like it was entirely my choice.’

“Aha! I knew there was a catch.”

I grin. “My grandfather and I had ‘the talk.’ He thinks it’s time for me to settle down and… I can’t help but agree with him. I’m nearly forty, and not getting any younger. The whole party boy lifestyle is getting old, and I don’t want to be the single fifty-year-old still chasing his youth at the club.”

“Ah.” She nods sagely. “So this is some kind of arranged marriage situation.”

“Not at all,” I say. “I like Carly. We’ve known each other for a few years already and we meet up whenever I travel. It’s always a fun time with her. Now I’m not going to say that we’re a match made in heaven or anything, but I like her more than I’ve ever liked anyone else I’ve been with.” I pause on that thought, realizing that it’s not a total lie. I try to recall any woman who has affected me as much as Carly, someone who I enjoy spending time with as much as I do with her, and I can’t. No one even compares. Odd, considering I’ve only known Carly a short while.

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