Page 60 of Right With You
I patted her arm. “Strong woman.”
We both laughed knowing she didn’t need strength to resist Jack. She was completely gone for Kenny, and he for her, and they were both good friends with Jack, who was apparently a really good guy.
I wove my way toward where I’d seen Calla Saint and Jenna Halter, nerves amping up a little bit, when someone stepped in front of me.
“Hi, oh, sorry. I don’t mean to waylay you, but just wondered if we could talk?”
Odette smiled apologetically but all this meant was that her beautiful, perfect face was both pretty and sincere and… wow. The ice blue gown she wore accentuated her eyes and she looked like a Norse goddess. Honestly, the woman needed to chill out because the rest of us mere mortals didn’t stand a chance.
“Uh, sure. Yeah. What did you want to talk about?” I asked as I stepped closer to a bistro table and fiddled with the edge of the tablecloth draped over it.
She set down a champagne glass she’d been holding, then startled. “Wait, you need one of these. Do you want a drink?”
“Sure. Yeah, I’d love one, actually, but it’s no?—”
She looked around, her hair swishing in golden curls around her, and a waiter literally came jogging over from one of the bars nestled against the wall a few feet away.
“Could she have a glass of champagne?” she asked, smiling prettily.
“Yes, of course. One moment,” he said, breathless to do her bidding.
She turned back to me. “Okay, so I know you want to get back to Luc, but I just wanted to clear the air between us.”
My face likely spelled out the confusion without me having to say anything, but I still said, “The air?”
“Mr. Devereaux suggested Luc and I marry years ago, mostly thanks to our family’s heritage and maybe some business connections. It’s always been something my parents had planned on—bankedon, if you get my meaning.”
She’d lowered her voice conspiratorially and spoke like we were in on to something together.Odd.I didn’t know where this was going, but I’d certainly stick around and find out.
“I hadn’t met Luc or seen him in real life, and frankly, I didn’t need to. Everything I know is from his family, and I barely know them.”
She didn’t want this any more than he did.Interesting.
The waiter returned with a glass of champagne for me and one to replace hers which was still half-full. We both offered him thanks before he stepped away and we continued.
“So, if you don’t mind my asking, why are you here?”
She sighed and a sadness shadowed her face. “My family doesn’t approve of the person I would choose. I’ve tried to convince them, but they have their motives and don’t seem concerned with me or what I want.”
“That’s so… medieval. They think you’ll just get married to someone you barely know and thenstaymarried for their sakes? Is there a dowry young Luc would get for taking you off their hands?” Fury on this woman’s behalf pumped into my bloodstream.
She grimaced. “They have their reasons for believing I would, but it’s actually the opposite.” Her expression turned cagey for a moment, and she glanced away. When she turned back, that pleasant, placid expression had taken its place. “So here I am, going through the motions, but I have no intention of doing anything to undermine you and Luc. The way he looks at you… that man has no interest, even if I had a heart to give away.”
A flashbulb of joy burst in my chest, and I bit my lip, but a laugh still jumped out. “I don’t mean to laugh, I just…”
“You don’t mind hearing your fiancé’s in love with you? I can’t imagine it’s a bad thing.” She held up her champagne flute. “To true love. May it prevail.”
There was a hope shining out of her, like maybe if she toasted to true love enough times, she’d get to have a happy ending for herself and the one she loved.
Could Luc love me? Could I love him? She seemed so certain, and she was so kind with her words. I had no idea where reality fell—maybe he’d taken notes from Jenna and Jack McKean and any other famous actor he’d worked with. He’d certainly managed to keep me in the dark as to how he really felt—or maybe he’d simply convinced everyone else he was in love.
I touched the edge of my glass with hers, smiling at her in full agreement with her toast. I wished for her sake, it would.
And though she wouldn’t recognize it or realize what it meant, I feared the hope in her eyes was echoed in mine.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Luc
