“Don’t lose hope, Merritt.”
But at the moment, that’s exactly how she felt. Hopeless.
FIVE
Are you going to sit there staring at me all night?” Merritt’s brown eyes appeared black in the low light of the club. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Gus softened his expression. “I’m sorry you’re having a rough night.”
She quieted for a moment. “I’m a big girl. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I wasn’t. Just being polite.”
Her gaze fixed on his. “That must’ve been difficult for you.”
A snarky comment popped into his head, but after seeing her cry when talking with Adelia earlier, he stifled his reply.
She took a sip of her champagne as she looked around, no longer acknowledging his existence.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked, again attempting politeness.
Her eyes widened as they met his again. “With you?” Laughter burst out of her.
“Yes, with me.” Part of him was glad his comment had made her laugh, but the other part was insulted at the rejection. “I’m a pretty good dancer.”
“I’d rather do the chicken dance on the bar.”
Gus raised his eyebrows. “I know the D.J. I’m sure that can be arranged.” He stood and walked toward the stairs. “I’ll go speak with him.”
Merritt was immediately at his back. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, wouldn’t I?”
She maneuvered around him, blocking him from going down the steps, and pushed him backwards.
“Hey!” He gripped the nearby railing. Her tiny little body was stronger than it appeared, but barely moved him.
She chuckled and headed down the stairs toward their friends. He watched her move across the dance floor. Her confident, sarcastic side was such a contradiction to the emotional, teary-eyed girl he’d seen earlier.
He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on her conversation with Adelia, but he couldn’t help that he’d been within earshot. He felt bad that she’d been denied the money to expand her business. The disappointment of hoping for something so badly and having that hope dashed in a moment was an emotion he was very familiar with, and he had an unexpected urge to help her in some way. It was why he’d shown a bit of kindness earlier and invited her to dance.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Adelia raced over and grabbed his hand, pulling him toward their group. “It’s New Year’s Eve!” she cried. “Out with the old and in with the new!”
“Yeah!” he cried over the music.
“This is going to be the best year of our lives. Am I right?”
“Right!”
They danced the night away, and for a little while, he forgot about his family troubles and everything that had happened. He let the music and these moments with friends take over, and he felt more alive than he had in a while.
“It’s almost time!” Adelia declared.
With less than a minute left until the new year, excitement buzzed through the crowd. Their little group gathered together and counted down.
“5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1. Happy New Year!” they all shouted as confetti rained down.
Adelia hugged Gus and gave him a friendly peck on the lips. Giovanni and Whitney made out on the dance floor. Adelia hugged Merritt. And then Merritt let go of her and turned around, and suddenly, she was facing Gus.
She looked up at him hesitantly. He wasn’t sure if he should hug her or not. They weren’t friends. They barely knew each other. But still, something inside him wanted to reach out to her.
Their gazes held for several awkward beats.
“Happy New Year,” he said.
“Happy New Year,” she replied.
There was confetti stuck to her eyelash and in her hair, and his fingers twitched with the urge to run his hand over her smooth shoulder-length hair and brush it away. But she turned and walked away, saving him from acting on his foolish instinct.
When they arrived home in the early morning hours, Gus retreated to the pool house. He glanced at the week’s accumulation of envelopes on the table by the door—junk mail, bills, and a few Christmas cards. He tossed a couple to the side to read later, then noticed a large cream-colored envelope with his name written in fancy calligraphy on the front. He knew before opening it what it was.
The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of Genevieve Anne Willis and Sebastian Kurtis Schultz on Friday, the twenty-first of February.
He continued reading, noting that they were getting married in Montana, where the two had been living for the past couple of months. Genevieve had taken a job there last summer and, once they were engaged, Sebastian couldn’t stand being apart from her, so he’d moved there too. His brother, always the romantic of the family.
He flopped down on the couch with the wedding invitation in hand and stared at it. He’d always admired his brother, even though he often felt like he was living in the shadow of Sebastian’s greatness. Sebastian had done everything right. He was perfect. The golden boy. He excelled in school, graduated with honors, started working at Schultz Chocolate right out of college. He had the complete adoration of their father and had moved into the position of president when Dad had decided to work less at the company. Then he met a girl, fell in love, proposed, and now they were weeks away from getting married.
Gus hadn’t done anything the “right” way. He’d barely gotten through college before moving to California and partying away his twenties. He’d worked off and on at Schultz over the years. Kept things casual with women. Never had a steady girlfriend. Never been in love. Sure as heck never proposed. Never even been close to marriage.
His brain stuttered to a halt on that thought. Marriage meant stability and commitment. It meant settling down and getting serious. And suddenly, Gus had an idea. A crazy idea, but possibly the most brilliant idea he’d ever had. His mind pieced together a plan, and he couldn’t wait to put it in motion.
SIX
Augustus Schultz is here to see you.”
Merritt wasn’t sure she’d heard her receptionist correctly. “Can you repeat that, Connie?”
“There’s an Augustus Schultz here to see you.”
She left her office and slowly moved toward the lobby. The idea that Gus was standing at the front desk of Merritt Cosmetics was inconceivable. There was no reason she could think of, barring something to do with Adelia, that he would be there. But sure enough, there he was.
Gus gave a small wave as she approached, then he looked around the lobby. “Nice place you’ve got here.”
“Thanks.” She was confused and slightly annoyed at the interruption in her workday. “Can I help you with something?”
“I hope so.” He looked around again. “Is there somewhere we can talk privately? Maybe we could take a walk.”
“A walk?”
“Yeah, it’s probably best if we talk away from your office.”
Her curiosity was piqued, but she was hesitant to go anywhere with him. “What’s this about?”
“Just give me five minutes. I promise it’ll be worth your time.”