Cole told me his plan, Mitch quickly amended, backpedaling fast. I only meant that anything that wont fit on his credit card will fit on mine. Dont you want to be a fairy princess for just one night?
A longing burned deep in Jennys green eyes, and he knew in that instant she was the fairy princess. Shed been the cautious, perfect child for her mother, the professional, meticulous employee at the TCC, and the chic, sophisticated city girl for Emily, but deep down inside, Jenny wanted to be the princess.
She needed this dress. And she needed the whimsical house and the custom furniture. And Mitch vowed to himself that he would move heaven and earth to make those things happen for her.
Suddenly, Emily appeared from her change room, and her eyes went wide when she saw Jenny. Wow. Thats sure not you.
Its not, is it? And some of the light went out of Jennys eyes.
Cole moved closer to stand next to Mitch.
But isnt that the point? Mitch quickly put in, feeling almost desperate. For Jenny to buy something completely different? When is she going to get a chance like this again? Its hand-painted silk, he parroted the sales clerk. Just came into the store today. One of her- he gestured vaguely to the clerk across the store -favorite designers.
Both Jenny and Emily blinked at him in surprise.
I overheard, he defended.
Emily took another look at the dress. Well, maybe, she allowed.
Once in a lifetime, Mitch repeated. Then he lowered his voice for Jennys ears alone. A dream.
Jenny hesitated for a long moment. Then she turned back to the mirror. She pivoted, letting the skirt swirl around her thighs.
Itll look great on the dance floor, Mitch dared. You need some white satin sandals, low heels, maybe a ribbon at the ankle.
What the hells up with you? Cole muttered beside him.
Shut up.
That might look good, said Emily. Really, what the heck?
Jenny smiled, and Mitchs chest went tight. It was a perfectly natural reaction, he assured himself. Hed never claimed that he didnt admire Jenny, only that he wasnt any good for her. He wanted her to be happy. She deserved it.
Nine
The awards had been handed out by the governor, the speeches made, dinner was finished and Mitchs distinguished plaque for the Youth Outreach Award was parked with the others on a table for attendees to admire. As the best days in Mitchs life went, this would probably rank as the worst.
Hed made it through his short speech, thanking all the right people, but all he could see was that Jenny was with Jeffrey instead of him. And echoing inside his brain were his doctors words from earlier this morning. His worst fear had been realized today. Mitch was never going to play football again.
He hadnt said a word to anyone, and now he was standing on the sidelines as the dancing began, accepting congratulations from friends, acquaintances and strangers while watching Jenny in Jeffreys arms.
He should have talked her into the gray wool blend instead of the rainbow silk after all. He resented the way the delicate dress flowed around her sexy legs, a splash of color in a sea of monochrome. Her hair was styled in a crown of braids, wisps flowing free over her temples and along her neck. And shed found a pair of white silk sandals. The heels were higher than hed pictured, but they were strappy and delicate, rhinestones winking around her slim ankles.
She was perfect, and it was all for another man.
He took a deep drink of his single malt.
She disappeared from his view, and he reflexively shifted, nearly knocking into an older gentleman in a tux, who scowled at Mitch, his bushy brows drawing together. Mitch gave a perfunctory apology, not particularly caring that the man might be someone important.
He wove his way through the crowd, trying to come to terms with the fact that he wasnt a pro football player anymore. What was he now? Just a guy with a nest egg and no career, whose services would soon not even be required at the TCC. Theyd have a new president, and Mitch would have little to do and nothing of value to contribute to the community.
He came closer to the edge of the dance floor, telling himself to stop wallowing in self-pity. But watching Jenny laugh in Jeffreys arms made everything that much worse. Jeffrey should let go of her. He needed to let go of her right now. In Mitchs raw, emotional state, he needed Jenny in his arms, not in his teammates.
Scratch that. He and Jeffrey werent teammates anymore.
Mitch stuck his glass on an empty tray stand as the music changed from one song to the next. The band was sticking to classics, with the occasional jazz tune tossed in. No pop and no rock, and apparently no country, even though this was Texas.
When the floral arrangements were two feet high, the main course was Kobe beef and Newfoundland lobster, and the average carat weight per woman was in the low double digits, he supposed Keith Urban was out of the question. Still, he had an urge to scoop Jenny up, get rid of his bow tie and jacket, and head for the nearest honky-tonk where they could kick back.
He craned his neck, scanning the floor. Where had she gone?
He craned his neck, scanning the floor. Where had she gone?
Having a good time so far? came Jeffreys deep voice.
A blast, Mitch responded drily, determinedly swallowing his misery, bracing himself for an up close view of Jenny in the dress. But when he turned his head, she wasnt with Jeffrey.
Shes out on the dance floor. Jeffrey had correctly interpreted Mitchs expression.
You left her there alone? That was even worse.
Shes got a new partner.
Who? Mitch demanded.
Jeffrey chuckled. I didnt get his name.
Mitch strained to look, but couldnt catch a glimpse of her dress. You didnt tell her I was going to be here, did you?
Was I supposed to tell her that? Jeffrey accepted a glass of wine from a passing waiter.
Mitch declined another drink. I saw her expression of shock when my name was called at the podium.
Yet she wasnt sitting anywhere close to you.
Dont get cute. I thought you would have given her a heads-up is all. Mitch took a step back to get out of the line of circulation around the dance floor.
Why didnt you tell her yourself?
I barely saw her this week. Except in the office. And in the office, they were being careful to stick to business.
She told me about the dress, said Jeffrey.
That was Cole.
Cole said it was you.
Cole has a big mouth. Mitch changed his mind about the wine and caught the next waiter who came by.
So, why are you turning yourself inside out watching me dance with her?
Mitch grunted a noncommittal answer. So he didnt want Jenny at the mercy of a player like Jeffrey. That was simply good taste.
You dont want to date her, Jeffrey pointed out, watching Mitch a little too closely.
Of course I dont want to date her. But I dont want you to date her, either.
Noble sentiment. If you were her father, and if this was the nineteenth century.
Ha, ha, Mitch mocked.
Seriously, Mitch. Am I making my point out there? He cocked his head to the dance floor. You need to either start dating her yourself or step aside.
I already stepped aside.
The hell you did. You havent taken your eyes off her all night.
I cant see her now.
Shes to the left of the band.
Mitch zeroed in. He felt a little buzz of relief at seeing her proper stance with her dance partner. He could live with those six inches of airspace between them. But he wasnt so crazy about the guys expression, nor about the way he kept glancing at her cleavage.
Tell me something, Mitch.
Yeah?
That guy shes dancing with? What do you want to do to him?
Rip his head off and kick it through the uprights.
I rest my case.
You have no case.
You cant take out every guy who wants to sleep with her. Because take a good look at her, Mitch, lots of guys are going to want to sleep with her.
It better not frickin be you.
Itll never be me.
Mitch didnt trust that promise, not one little bit. Why not?
Because youre my friend, and because I know whats going on here.
For a split second, Mitch thought Jeffrey meant his shoulder injury. But he quickly realized it was impossible for Jeffrey to know what the doctor had said.
Whats going on here? Mitch asked.
Whats going on here is that youve been sacked one too many times behind the line of scrimmage, and its resulted in serious brain damage. Otherwise, youd be out there on that dance floor with Jenny. Shes incredible, Mitch. And she said she wants to date you. But, oh, no, youre so busy protecting your dating future with generic blonde bombshells, that you-
Thats not what this is about, Mitch growled.
Jeffrey snorted. The hell its not.
Give me one reason why I should take advice from you.
Because I screwed up. I had my chance with Celeste, and I blew it. I have to start all over again. His voice went lower. You watched me screw up, so now you dont have to.
Its not that simple, said Mitch, even as his thigh muscles quivered with the need to cross the hall to Jenny. He tried to tell himself it wasnt fair to Jenny to date her. But a growing chorus in his brain kept telling him he wouldnt hurt her. He liked her too much to ever let himself hurt her. He honestly didnt know which side of the argument to believe anymore.
Songs about to change, Jeffrey warned.
Mitch swore under his breath. Giving in, he took the first few steps toward the dance floor.
Mitch was heading her way. Jenny watched him weave through the crowd on the dance floor. His gaze had locked on hers, and his jaw was set to a determined angle, shoulders square, stride eating up the distance between them. Judging by the flare in his blue eyes, he was either going to ask her to dance or have her arrested.
The strains of the music faded around her, and she relaxed her hold on her partner, stepping away.
Thank you. She smiled and nodded to the man shed just met, drawing away and switching her attention back to Mitch.
She drew a little hitch of a breath, letting her arms fall to her sides and reflexively moistening her lips. She felt pretty tonight in a way she never had before. It was the dress, the hairstyle, the subtle makeup and the delicate shoes. And there was no denying, it was also the way men regarded her.