Sexy in Stilettos (A Sexy Contemporary Romance), Page 36

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Be brave, Jaya. You can do anything. In the last two weeks she'd done everything from standing up to her father, to leaving an old job for an even more terrifying new job, to skinny dipping, to seducing a man and having sex in all kinds of places she never thought about before. It was more than she'd lived in the ten years since her mother's death. If she could face those things and the new gold in her bedroom, she could face a room full of family, friends, and clients.

  The clients she'd never had a problem facing. But somehow knowing she was going to hijack Tamara's thank you and welcome-to-my-wedding speech made the butterflies in her stomach jump and wiggle. She wished for Alec. But he was a crutch. She knew it. He was the force that propelled her, but she didn’t need him.

  He’d already changed her more in two weeks than anything else had. Love could do anything to someone. She inhaled a deep breath. Along the way to her table, she made stops, greeting those she knew. Her target in sight, she kept moving forward. All she needed was ten minutes with Brett James and she'd be done.

  The loudspeaker went off and Tamara's jaunty lilt addressed the crowd.

  Moving faster, Jaya worked through the crowd. If she could just get him aside for five minutes.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us on this special occasion. Over the course of the week, we've played a little and laughed a little, and now on the day I take the next phase of my journey in life, I wanted to recognize the people who have helped me get here.”

  Jaya slipped into the seat next to James. “Hello. Mr. James. Nice to see you again.”

  He turned to face her, surprised. “Oh, yes. Jaya isn't it?” His gaze flitted back to Tamara and to her again. “The resemblance really is uncanny, you know.”

  She gave him a beatific smile. “Yes, we’ve been told that from time to time.”

  He chuckled. “What can I do for you?”

  “You know, you’re a hard man to get a hold of.  I must have called your secretary a dozen times.”

  “I had no idea you were trying to reach me. Carol, my secretary, is a bit of a battleax. When I’m on vacation, she insists I’m on vacation. She won’t put anything through unless it’s life or death and sometimes, not even then.”

  “Well I wanted to speak to you about your upcoming project for the All-Tech conference. I want to make sure there are some aspects of the service you're aware of.”

  “Sure. I have to tell you, that Battlestar reference sealed the deal for us.” He grinned. “But can we discuss in the morning? I already told your father that I want you heading the team. Your pitch was the most innovative and tailored. Everyone else pitched us like we were a bunch of marketing geared folks.  They don’t understand the Tech Geek set. They think we care about leggy models and bright colors.  Models are nice, but I’m more interested in the next piece of tech.”

  Now was her chance.  “Mr. James—”

  “Brett, please.”

  First name basis, okay.  “Brett, I’m sure my father is going to mention this in the morning, but I feel I have to tell you that I’m no longer with Trudeaux Events.  Derrick Cooley will be in charge of your event.”

  He frowned.  “You mean the one who attempted to distract me with pretty colors and not much substance?”

  “I’m unaware of what he may have presented to you.”  Look at her, learning to be politically correct. “But he’s got a unique skill.  I’m sure—”

  Brett’s frown didn’t lighten up.  “I’ll be discussing this with your father in the morning.  Can I ask, what events company did you move to?”

  Her brain blanked.  Of all the plans not to have come up with.  “JT Events.  I’m an independent consultant.  One of my first events will be the Westhorpe gala at the end of the year.”  Holy cow, had she just said that?  Had she created her own company on the spot?

  The frown lines on Brett’s forehead disappeared.  “The Westhorpe gala?  That’s no easy feat.  Adele Westhorpe is known to be a—handful.”

  “She’s not so bad.” Maybe she was, but no one would hear that come out of Jaya’s mouth. 

  “Tell you what.  How about I give you a call after I speak with your father tomorrow?”

  Jaya felt her head jerking up and down, but the synapses in her brain didn’t fire enough to recognize actual words.  But she got the gist.  She had the All-Tech account if she wanted it.  Holy shit.

  “I suppose we can talk in the morning. Make sure to enjoy the champagne.” Now, time to get out before she did any damage.

  He raised his glass. “Don’t you worry about that. I'm on my fourth glass.” He looked around. “Where is your date? I assumed you’d be here with the Westhorpe guy? That was him with you at the rehearsal dinner, right?”

  Her breath caught and she frowned. “Westhorpe?” A nervous giggle escaped her lips. That bad feeling that had been following her around like a lost puppy squeezed tight around her. “No. His name is Alec Danthers.”

  “That’s a good point,” he conceded. “But whether he likes it or not, he’s Royce Westhorpe’s oldest son. I met him in passing with his mother a couple of years ago. I didn’t get the chance to talk to him at the rehearsal. I was hoping to catch up with him tonight.”

  Jaya's heart hammered. The rush in her ears drowned out all other sound. Excusing herself, she forced her body erect. She cleared her throat hoping she didn’t look as befuddled as she felt. Westhorpe? “He was unavailable tonight.”

  “Always a shame to leave a beautiful woman unattended. Please make sure to save me a dance.”

  She gave him a wooden smile and excused herself, desperate for escape. As Jaya made her way back to her table, her legs trembled. Just like that, it had been as easy as a conversation. Brett James wanted her to manage their conference.  And in the same breath, he’d told her the man she thought she’d been in love with wasn’t who she thought.

  She tried to process what that meant. He’s a Westhorpe? She had a contract with Adele Westhorpe. Would the matriarch go back on the deal? Not likely. She may have given Jaya the job because of Alec, but Jaya was good and she knew it. And after everything, she didn’t want to go back to Trudeaux. She could do this all on her own. At the same time, the All-Tech was the epitome of everything she’d ever wanted to do. 

  Too busy mulling over her choices, her brain didn’t register Alec’s lean frame in the doorway of the reception hall until she’d already walked past him. As dawning hit, she stopped, teetering on her heels ever so slightly. Her breath locked in her lungs and she couldn’t breathe.

  His voice was low. “I hope I’m not too late.”

  “I don't know what you’re doing here, but I don't need you.” Jaya brushed at the skirt of her dress as she stalked past him. She’d made it through this much of the wedding without him, so why did she feel a pang at the mere sight of him?

  He nodded. “Okay, I deserve that. But hear me out.” He took a step toward her.

  The pull of his magnetism made her struggle for a minute, but she managed a step back. She'd already spent too much time trusting and believing in him. “I'm not sure exactly what I’m supposed to hear out. You mean about the part where you abandoned me when I needed you? Or about the part where you’re a fucking Westhorpe?” She sniffed.

  His shoulders stiffened and his lips thinned. “I’m not a Westhorpe. I’m nothing like my old man. Besides, he didn’t want me, so it’s not like I have a birthright to claim.”

  “Semantics, Alec. Adele Westhorpe is your step-mother. You may not consider yourself a Westhorpe, but you have all the trappings. God. I’ve been so stupid.”

  “No, wait.” He put up his hands. “Shit, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. I wasn’t supposed to be here more than two days. You assumed I was a bartender, and for that night I was. I just didn’t tell you I was also the son of Royce Westhorpe. I never tell anyone. I’m ashamed of him.”

  She shook her head, unwilling to let him get
out of it that easily. “You didn’t need to lie to me, Alec. I wasn’t after your money. You must have chuckled about poor Jaya. ‘She doesn’t even know I own the damn hotel.’”

  “Come, on, it wasn’t like that. The penthouse suite is Max’s. I want to be as far away from the Westhorpes as possible. I’m nothing like them. I spend more time exploring the world than following corporate greed.”

  “Oh, of course. Your adrenaline rushes.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I'm such an idiot.”

  “Jaya, I came after you because you're the only one who made me feel something. I'd been chasing a rush for so long, I didn't know I could feel that rush with anyone.”

  “’Oh, and to ante up the adrenaline, let me lie to her and string her along.’ I don’t even know what to say. Did you fix your emergency, at least? Your matter of life and death?”

  “I was able to find my brother. Caleb’s arranged a deal for him with his contacts at the FBI. I think he’ll be okay.”

  “So just like that, everything is okay?”

  He frowned, his beautiful face taking on harsh lines. “No, not quite, but it’s on its way.”

  She sighed. “Well, at least it was worth it.”

  “I'm sorry, Jaya. My dad, he was like Max.” Softer, he added, “Like me, I guess. He couldn't stick around long. He left my mother when she was pregnant with me. I never knew who he was until my mom died and I found her documents. I went to find him so I could avoid the system. He didn’t exactly want me around, but Adele took me in. Treated me like her own. Even after they had Max. She forced the old man to be a father.”

  “I'm sorry you had it rough, but it doesn't make up for your actions, Alec. I never want to see you again. I'm done.” As she walked away, her eyes were dry. No use wasting any tears on him. The man she loved didn’t exist.