Page 63 of Prudence
“Then I?”
His features gentled as he focused his gaze on me, his tender look stealing some of my breath. “Then you came back into my life and reminded me of all the reasons I needed to get back to who I was, who Iam.”
Emotion caught in my throat. I didn’t know what to say. Finally, I reached out and squeezed his hand. “I’m glad I … I’m glad I helped. Who you are is pretty amazing.”
His soft look transformed into something more heated, and I realised we were standing in place, gazing at each other while the tension thickened between us. The bubble was broken when Aidan called, “Hey, you two, catch up!”
We caught up to the others and found them holding a lively chat about whether Alanis Morrisette could be considered a staple musician of our generation.
“She was a few years before our time, I’m telling you,” Aidan argued. “My older sister, Marie Claire, was obsessed with her as a teenager, and she’s firmly Gen X.”
“But I feel like I heard her music a lot growing up,” Nuala countered.
“Right, but that would’ve been nineties nostalgia.”
“He has a sister called Marie Claire?” I asked Derek quietly. “Like the magazine?”
He smirked. “Aidan’s mother is a fashion fanatic. She goes to Paris every year for their fashion week.”
“Must be nice,” I said, remembering the giant house Aidan had grown up in where he’d hold parties when we were younger. He’d been known as one of the richest boys in town back then, but with his restaurants, he’d clearly become a success in his own right.
“Wow, looks like a sold-out show,” Nuala commented as we reached the entrance. Whatever tickets Aidan had managed to snag allowed us to bypass the regular queue and head straight for the VIP area.
“The event manager here is a regular at one of my restaurants,” Aidan explained. “He gets me tickets for all the best shows.”
“And this is the first time you’ve invited us,” Tristan responded, feigning offence. “Noted.”
“Hey, you’re lucky I don’t have a lady friend in my life at the moment. Otherwise, I’d have invited her, and none of you would be here right now.”
“You really know how to make us feel special,” Nuala said on a chuckle.
I felt a warm palm meet my lower back as we entered the VIP area close to the stage. Tingles danced along my spine when Derek leaned in and asked, “Want anything to drink?”
I sucked in a sharp breath because he was so close I could smell his spicy cologne, and it did strange things to me, I replied, “Sure, I’ll take a gin and tonic.”
His smile was hot enough to make me melt as his gaze drank me in. “Be right back.”
“Don’t bother to offer me a drink,” Nuala commented with a tut as Derek went in the direction of the bar area. He turned to her, walking backwards, “I’ll bring you back a chardonnay.”
“Thank you!” she shouted at him before directing her attention to me. “Something’s different between you two.”
“What do you mean?” My pulse spiked because I knew exactly what she meant. Only a couple weeks ago, her brother had ignored my very existence. Now he looked at me like he was constantly thinking about pulling me into his arms and ravishing me. And yes, it was just as tingle inducing as it sounded.
“Well, he’s talking to you for a start. He also seems so much calmer lately, not to mention he’s quit drinking an entire bottle of whiskey three times a week and dodging his barber. It’s like he’s started making a real effort again in all areas of his life.”
Nearby, Aidan and Tristan were busy chatting up two leggy brunettes who must’ve either been models or actresses because they had that glossy sheen about them that markedthem as famous people. I was completely out of the loop about celebrities, so I didn’t recognise them.
“I think that’s more because of your dad’s health scare and how he’s now had to take over running all the hotels,” I said to Nuala.
“The improvements were happening a while before all that. And anyway, I’ve seen how you two have been looking at one another. I mean, I always saw it, even back when we were teenagers, but I never wanted to embarrass you by pointing it out.”
“No qualms about pointing it out now, though,” I replied wryly.
Nuala laughed and laced her fingers with mine. “Oh, Milly, life is too short. We all have to face our real feelings sooner or later.” She studied me for a moment before continuing, “What Gigi said back in the car, about Derek and Paloma, don’t let it mess with your head. My brother was always dutiful in his marriage, but I know him better than anyone, and I saw how he was never completely happy with her. He got two incredible kids out of the relationship, but there was a point where he and Paloma diverged. They inevitably wanted different things, and I know for a fact that Derek will never go back to her. He’s still fond of her as the mother of his children, but as far as romance goes, no, that won’t be happening.”
My lip quivered because Nuala was being so kind saying that to me, but I was still worried about opening myself up to him. It had been a while since I’d been in a relationship. I’d been so focused on raising Deirdre and dedicating myself to my career. I hadn’t been in the headspace to truly fall for the handful of boyfriends I’d had over the years. But with Derek, not falling was impossible. I was already in too deep. I also worried how Gigi might react to her father seeing someone who wasn’t her mother when it was clear she yearned for them to get back together.
“I’m still terrified,” I whispered to her, and she squeezed my hand.
