Page 8 of Wild Card
“It ain’t about who needs you, Ruby, it’s about what's best for you. How do you ever expect anyone to ever take you seriously when you work in a place like that?”
“I don’t need people to take me seriously.” I turn my head to look at him. “I have fun working there.”
“Yeah, well, things change; life ain’t just about having fun, Ruby. It’s time you started thinking about your future.” He pulls up at the valet station, tossing his keys at the guy who greets us without even looking at him. “Come on, there's some people here I want you to meet.” He opens the door for me, taking my hand and helping me out. Then, kissing my cheek, he leads me inside.
“Here they are.” Brett’s dad’s voice bellows across the room, and he greets us both with open arms. “Marion. Roger. You know Brett, but I don’t believe you’ve met the lovely Ruby yet.” Mr. Porter introduces me.
“Pleasure to meet you both.” I hold out my hand.
“We’ve heard a lot about you,” Roger tells me. “This young man is very taken with you.” He winks at Brett, who smiles proudly.
“I hope all those things you heard were good.” I look over my shoulder toward Brett and laugh nervously. It’s real fancy here, and I’ve never felt more out of place. I spy a waiter carrying a tray of champagne, and when he stops beside us, I take one gratefully and knock it back to help take the edge off.
“Go careful, we don’t want you getting tipsy,” Brett whispers, pretending to kiss my cheek and digging his fingers into my hip as he slides his hand around my waist.
I want to remind him that I can handle my drink far better than he ever could, but I decide to refrain and smile politely at our company instead.
“Marion was just telling us about the charity work she does,” Mr. Porter explains. “I told her you volunteer, yourself.” He raises his eyebrows at me as a prompt.
“Oh wow, that's great, what charity do you work for?” I take his conversation opener and roll with it.
“I manage the finances for the Wilson trust,” she tells me, looking down her nose at me and my spilling cleavage. “I also help organize the annual gala. We’re holding it here this year,” she boasts.
“Wow, that's amazing. I just hose down the kennels at the animal shelter. Oh, and once a week, I visit the old folks' home and spend some time playing whist and listening to their stories. There’s this one guy there who?—”
“Delightful,” Marion cuts me off with a fake smile, before looking up at her husband and looking anything but impressed.
“Well, I enjoy it. Have to do something to keep me outta trouble.” I raise my shoulders and take another sip from my glass.
“Come on, it looks like Bill’s ready to make his speech.” Brett takes my arm and drags me away, and I can tell from the look on his face that he’s not happy with the way things just went.
“Well, she was stuck up her own ass,” I mutter under my breath as he gets us a spot right at the front of the crowd.
“Marion Underwood is a very well-respected woman. You could learn a lot from her.” He speaks quietly from the side of his mouth while the man whose party this is rattles out a speech about all his successes.
“She’s a bitch,” I tell him, recalling that tiresome look she gave her husband.
“Now, I believe someone here wishes to say a few words of their own. He’s a fine young man who’s showing lots of promise for the future of our town. Mr. Brett Porter.” I look in shock at the man who’s speaking when I hear him say Brett’s name, and when he lets go of my hand and steps up on the platform, I wonder what he’s got to say as he takes the microphone.
“I promise I won’t keep you all too long.” Brett flashes that charming smile to everyone listening. “Tonight is a special night for Bill; he’s opened the door to a lot of opportunities for the people of our town. He’s never too busy to lend an ear, and I think us all being here in this club he owns proves how successful he’s been in business.” I hear a few mumbles of agreement come from behind me and clap my hands when everyone else does.
“I was speaking to Bill a few days ago, and I asked him if he’d share with me what the secret of all that success is. Do you know what he told me?” Brett’s looking directly at me now, like he’s expecting me to know the answer. “Bill told me that he couldn’t have done any of this without having a good woman by his side.” His tone turns softer. “Come on up here, Ruby,” he summons me, and I shake my head while my cheeks turn red.
“Come on, don’t you go shy on me.” He laughs, stepping down and taking my hand so he can drag me up in front of everyone.
“Ruby Saunders.” He turns me to the side so we’re facing each other. “I got some mighty big plans, not just for us, but for the future of this town, too. There’s only one woman I’d ever want to be by my side.”
I shake my head even more fiercely when he drops down on one knee. “Will you marry me?” I watch his lips move as he says the words, and I don’t know if it’s the shock or theembarrassment that makes me burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
“I’m sorry.” I try to pull myself together and stop, but seeing him on his knees asking me to marry him just seems so ridiculous. I’m only twenty-three years old; I haven’t even thought about marriage. Not to mention the fact me and Brett have barely been dating a year.
“Ruby.” Brett looks up at me, his fierce eyes urging me to stop.
“This is a joke, right? Is Esmé in on this? Did she put you up to it?” I look around the room at all the startled faces, expecting to see her. There’s no way she’d miss this. “She keeps telling me she’s gonna get me back for that time I told Kurt Norris that she was hot for him.”
“Ruby, this isn’t a joke.” Brett stands back up, turning his back to the crowd and piercing those wild eyes directly into mine.
“Brett, you don’t want to get married; we’re too young.” I hear the nerves in my voice as I try to laugh all this off.
