I slowly turn to face him, my breath racing, and press myself against the door to give us more space. “And?”
“I didn’t imagine it. You are stunning, Mina Blake. Any man would be lucky to have you on his arm. I’m honored that tonight, it’s me.”
Nathan presses a hand to my lower back and I glance up at him, waiting for the punchline. The hint of evil to vindicate Fallon’s concerns.
All I see is the boyish charm I’ve come to know and love.
He looks completely genuine.
The car waiting in the parking lot isn’t Nathan’s. This one is sleek and black and belongs in movies, not parked outside my apartment. Ms. Markowitz steps outside to stare, as do the Dietzes, and the frat boys a few doors down, all of them whispering excitedly as the driver emerges to open a door for me. This isn’t typical for Lime Tree Bay Apartments. If I wasn’t the one climbing into the car, I’d be staring and whispering too. Nathan tosses me a knowing grin as he lowers himself into the seat beside me.
“I probably should have warned you about the car and driver.” The crook to his smile says he doesn’t mean it.
“Why didn’t you?”
“I wanted to see the look on your face.”
If Fallon could see this version of Nathan, she’d take back everything she said. His eyes shimmer like dew on blades of grass, bright and warm as they hold mine. Gone are the thorns and frozen barbed wire.
“Was it worth it?” I ask.
“Completely,” he responds, threading his fingers with mine as the driver pulls out of the lot.
The car slows to a stop in front of The Hutton Hotel, which, according to Fallon, started as a sprawling colonial style house on the beach with more rooms than family members when Nathan’s mom was a little girl. The extra space disquieted Nathan’s grandmother—Rebecca Hutton—a woman with a heart big enough to love the whole world and the brains to know a business opportunity when she saw one. It didn’t take long for the extra rooms to become a bed and breakfast, and for the bed and breakfast to become a full-blown resort. Last year, the family opened a second hotel in Bliss, South Carolina with Angela and Garrett spearheading the project. Fallon says it’s as charming as the one in front of me and just as successful.
Behind the old house, the ocean stretches out until it kisses the horizon. Several tents have been set up on the beach, with temporary walkways and flooring to accommodate fancy footwear. A string quartet plays quietly, the music dancing in and out of the ocean waves crashing rhythmically against the sand. After the auction, a live band will take their place to allow for dancing. There’s an open bar where servers load trays of appetizers and champagne to float fluidly through the crowd once the guests arrive. There are tiki torches and strings of lights and the view is so striking it doesn’t look real. How does someone like me end up in a place like this, wearing what I’m wearing, on the arm of a man who grew up thinking any of this is normal?
It's elegant and excessive and I don’t want to think about what it costs. Events like this are what placed a giant chip on my shoulder the first day I met Nathan. Growing up poor, I resented those who had money to burn. But this entire evening is dedicated to raising money for a charity that helps little kids dealt a bad hand like me.
Maybe I was wrong to judge. To assume. To lump people into groups and categories without taking the human factor into account. None of us fit neatly into boxes.
Nathan and I make our way toward the bar and are instantly enveloped in a herd of Huttons. A man I don’t recognize hangs back, arms crossed, glaring at me like I’m an unwelcome addition to the group. He’s as tall as any of the men in Nathan’s family but lacks the feeling of warmth I’ve come to expect from the Mason’s and Angela’s…hell even Nathan himself. If ever there was a Prince of Darkness, it’s this guy.
“I thought I said you’d be better not to come at all than to show up with a dazzling and spectacular woman on your arm,” an older woman says to Nathan. She sounds stern but looks friendly and is downright stunning. Her blonde hair is swept up and back, with tendrils framing her face. She’s wearing black pants with wide legs, a fitted blazer, and sky-high heels.
Having those two words aimed at me sends my heartrate into overdrive. I grip Nathan’s arm, smiling weakly as I decide if I’m supposed to respond.
“Breathe, HM.” He presses a kiss into the top of my head, inhaling deeply. “Aunt Maisie is simply confirming what we already know. That dress looks amazing on you.”
The gesture is so sweet, so familiar, so easy, I do exactly what he said and breathe a sigh of relief.
“You need stronger adjectives, son. ‘Amazing’ doesn’t begin to describe what’s happening here.” Nathan’s mom gestures between us and I get the distinct impression she’s not talking about the dress. That maybe, just maybe, she’s talking about us.
Nathan presses his palm against my lower back, his thumb brushing lightly against my spine. I lean closer, smiling despite myself.
“Is this her? The one who’s bringing our dear, sweet Nathan back to life?” A young woman with a mess of dark curls, a shit-eating grin, and a short black dress with fabulous red heels appears at my side. She’s several inches smaller than everyone else with a personality that towers above us all.
“Mina, this is Garrett’s little sister Charlie, down from New England,” Angela says. “Charlie, this is Mina the miracle worker.”
Charlie waves over a passing server to grab a champagne flute. “Angela told me you’re putting yourself up for auction. Believe me, you’re not going to regret it. I did it last year and it was an absolute blast. It’s the whole reason I flew down again this year.”
“We all know the real reason you flew down is still deployed right now.” Garrett smirks at his sister. “There was a real chance Nick would be home in time to be here. You rolled the dice and now you’re here and he’s not.”
“Hey!” Charlie drops her jaw and slaps his arm. “Do I like flirting with a hot Marine? Yes! Who wouldn’t? But do you really think I’d spend this much on a dress and fly to Florida simply to flirt with Nick Hutton? Sheesh. Big brothers. Am I right?” She gives me an exasperated eye roll before continuing. “I’ll tell you, growing up in a small town, with a single dad doing his best and failing, I never ever saw this in my future. But Garrett made all this money and one thing led to another and here I am, reaping the rewards of his success.”
“Reversals of fortune.” Maisie Hutton smiles gently. “It’s why I named the foundation what I did. Younger me would never have believed this could be my life. I didn’t have it easy growing up and through a combination of hard work and good luck, I’m here. I want to do everything I can to pay it forward.”
This is so not the way I’ve pictured people with money. This entire family is trying to sprinkle some of their good luck onto the world. If only I could catch some of it for myself, I’d use it on Mom in a heartbeat.
“I’ve thought the same thing so many times since I met Nathan,” I say. “Younger me wouldn’t believe this is my life. I wish I could share some of it with Mom.”
“Have you given any thought to letting us spoil her here at The Hut?” Angela asks. “And before you tell me you can’t afford it, we’ll give her the friends and family discount. The whole package, totally on the house.”
And there’s the rub. This relationship, this…whatever it is…with Nathan is too new for me to profit off his wealth. I’m not going to be someone else who takes from him, or his family. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Would she qualify for Nathan’s new adult program at ROF?” Garrett asks. “Forgive me for making assumptions about your mother’s situation, but if she’s unemployed due to long-term illness and drowning in medical bills, she sounds exactly like the type of person he’s trying to help. And since you kind of have an in…”
“Oh, no, no,” I say as the tall man I haven’t been introduced to yet shoots Nathan a disgusted glance. “Mom and I are gonna be okay.”
I just have to work a little harder for a little longer to get us there.
Nathan breaks eye contact with the stranger and meets my gaze, thoughts ticking across his face.
Who is that guy? What’s he doing here? Why do I get the distinct impression he doesn’t like me?
The group chatters, tossing banter around like confetti while I hang on Nathan’s arm. I’d hoped we’d have time to talk about us, maybe figure out who we are to each other, but that seems more and more like a pipedream. Though the night is young, the company is fabulous, and the view is straight out of a movie. Maybe I should worry less about putting pressure on the evening and let myself enjoy this once in my lifetime experience.
